Chapter 86 - Demon-Possession

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Satan understands that he and his angels were replaced by humanity as the primary object of God’s love and affection. Therefore, he views the human race with great hatred and jealousy. Thus, Satan ever schemes to destroy the human race in the only manner still available to him, by the spreading of falsehood through a campaign of strategic lies. He intends to distract from his own failure and weakness.

Through his campaign of lies, Satan intends to accomplish more than influencing human behavior. If permitted, he wants to actively control human behavior. Many presume it is achieved through “demon-possession.”

Used 13 times in the New Testament, “demon-possession” is translated from the Greek word daimonizomai (dahee-mon-id'-zom-ahee). It is used 13 times in the New Testament. (Matthew 4:24; 8:16; 28, 33; 9:32; 12:22; 15:22; Mark 1:32; 5:15, 16, 18; Luke 8:36; John 10:21) “Demon-possession” is commonly defined as “a condition of being inhabited and dominated by demons.” [1]

Ownership

There are some problems with the idea of “demon-possession.” First and foremost, it connotes ownership. But who actually has ownership of mankind?

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Biblical Path of Ownership

God created the original, eternal earth and its angelic inhabitants. Consequently, He possessed the right of ownership for the original earth and its angelic inhabitants. Relative to His selflessness, God does not obligate angelic or human beings to exist in a state of union with Him. Instead, He selflessly allows them the freedom of choice.

The devil and his angels chose to rebel against God by challenging His nature. Therefore, they were necessarily banished from the presence of God. Thus, the angelic population of the kingdom was significantly reduced.

Congruent with the rebellion, the original heavens and earth were rendered chaotic. They became characterized by waste, ruin, emptiness, and darkness.

God renovated the chaotic heavens and earth and populated them with a new type of creature, the human race. Consequently, He possessed the right of ownership for the renovated heavens and earth and their human inhabitants.

God appointed the first man, Adam, as the representative/representational head of the human race.

Satan did not fail to notice that God had chosen to replace him in His kingdom with inferior human beings. It was clear that he had been replaced not only according to position and authority but also as the primary object of divine love and affection. Motivated by intense hatred and great jealousy, Satan schemed to deceive Adam into abdicating the authority of his representative/representational headship.

Adam surrendered (abdicated) his God-given authority over the renovated earth to Satan for Eve. As a result, Adam received life with Eve, and Satan received the authority to rule the fallen earth, the “domain of darkness.” Adam’s rebellion against God resulted in the fall of mankind and his habitat, the renovated earth.

Concordant with the success of the scheme, the human race was necessarily separated from God in the realm of satanic authority (“domain of darkness”; realm of sin and death). By his deception, Satan gained authority over the degenerated heavens and earth and their fallen human inhabitants.

According to the eternal plan to vindicate His nature, God provided the opportunity for the redemption of the human race. To redeem means to recover ownership of something lost. It typically requires the paying a price.

Through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, God paid the price necessary to defeat Satan, strip him of every last vestige of authority, reestablish His own authority over the heavens and earth, and thereby justly gain the right of ownership for its fallen human inhabitants.

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Satan deceived Adam into surrendering his God-given authority to him. As a result, he received the right of ownership for the human race.

The divine fulfillment of the stipulations of the Eternal Covenant changed everything. The blood of the covenant, the blood of the cross, was the price necessary to transfer the right of ownership for the entire human race from Satan back to God.

God paid the ultimate price to purchase the right of ownership for the entire human race. For the transfer of ownership to occur, however, human beings must exercise the free will God provided and accept His offer of redemption. As a result, there are two types of people in the world: believers and unbelievers. The believer, willing to accept the divine offer of redemption, has surrendered the ownership of his life to God. The unbeliever has not.

Nevertheless, God holds the right of ownership for the unbeliever. Therefore, Satan does not have the right of ownership or the ownership of any human being during this present age.

Satan deceived Adam into surrendering his authority granted by God. As a result, he gained authority over the degenerated heavens and earth and their human inhabitants. However, Satan’s reign of authority lasted only from the fall of mankind until the end of the Old Testament era.

At the end of the Old Testament era, Satan was utterly defeated by the blood of the cross, the blood of the Eternal Covenant. As a result, his authority over the degenerated heavens and earth and their inhabitants was revoked.

Concordant with the revocation of his authority, Satan’s “house” (“domain of darkness,” realm of satanic authority; realm of sin and death) was justly “plundered.” (Matthew 12:29; Mark 3:27; Luke 11:22; cf. Isaiah 49:24-25) Therefore, all of the “property” (skeuos, skyoo'-os; “objects which are possessed - 'goods, belongings, household furnishings”) in his “domain of darkness” was “carried off,” including the fallen human race.[1] The analogy begs the question: if the human race is no longer subject to the authority of Satan, what are his rights regarding humanity?

Possibility or Ploy?

According to the Bible, satanic lies, footholds, and control are real. But what about demonic inhabitation, domination, or ownership? Is it a possibility, or is it merely a ploy designed to give Satan an advantage in spiritual warfare?

By the divine fulfillment of the Eternal Covenant, Satan was utterly defeated. He was bound; disarmored; disarmed; and “rendered powerless.” (Matthew 12:29; Mark 3:27; Luke 11:22; Colossians 1:13; 1 John 3:8; Hebrews 2:14) Therefore, Satan was exposed as shattered, empty, and defeated. (Colossians 2:15) Concordant with his utter defeat, Satan’s “house” (realm of authority; the “domain of darkness”) was “plundered,” and his “property” (fallen human race) was “carried off.” (Matthew 12:29; Mark 3:27; Luke 11:22)

Through his defeat, Satan was stripped of all authority and lost the right of ownership for the human race. It was transferred to God.

Satan’s defeated quality of life was, to say the least, meager. Characterized by failure and weakness, he was no longer capable of inhabiting, dominating, or owning human beings.

Due to his limited ability, Satan quickly learned he had only one remaining strategy. As previously mentioned, it was to spread falsehood through a campaign of strategic lies.

Jesus said of Satan, “he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44) A liar by nature, he cannot be expected to be truthful. Therefore, it should not be a surprise Satan would lie about his own authority or lack thereof and his ability to “possess” and thus inhabit, dominate, or own human beings. His effort to convince otherwise is nothing more than a satanic ploy. It is a lie designed by Satan to give him an advantage in spiritual warfare.

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Old Testament Era

In the Old Testament era, before the defeat of Satan, demonic inhabitation, domination, or ownership was a possibility for unbelievers. However, it was not a concern for believers.

In the Old Testament era, Satan had authority over the degenerated earth and its fallen human inhabitants. Unredeemed, they were separated from God, citizens of the “domain of darkness” (realm of satanic authority; realm of sin and death), and subject to his authority.

In contrast, “demon-possession” was not a possibility for believers during the Old Testament era. They were privileged to have experienced redemption by faithfully looking forward to the fulfillment of the promised, redemptive work of the Messiah. Therefore, they were justified from all sin, provided with new, regenerated life, awarded citizenship in the kingdom of God (realm of divine authority), and thus, legally positioned under the gracious authority of God. As a result, Satan lost the authority to “possess” and thus inhabit, dominate, or own believers from the Old Testament era.

According to the Bible, demonic inhabitation, domination, or ownership was only possible for a specific group of people in one era of history. It was only a concern for the unbeliever in the Old Testament era before his right of ownership was transferred from Satan to God.

The Old Testament era ended with the death and burial of Jesus Christ and consequently, the defeat of Satan. In confirmation of his defeat, Jesus was resurrected, ascended, seated, and exalted. It initiated the New Testament era.

New Testament Era

In the New Testament era, “demon-possession” is not a possibility for either unbeliever or believer. At the beginning of the era, God fulfilled the stipulations of the redemptive Eternal Covenant. Therefore, He purchased the right of ownership for the entire human race. The price was the blood of Jesus Christ. Thus, the right of ownership for the human race was transferred from Satan to God. As a result, Satan does not have the right or authority to inhabit, own, or dominate any human being, unbeliever or believer, during the New Testament era.

Nevertheless, a liar by nature, Satan never fails to lie about his insufficiencies and thus his inability to “possess” human beings. Consequently, the world and even the church continue to believe “demon-possession” is possible.

End of an Era

In the Bible, “demon-possession” is discussed only in the gospels and the book of Acts. The timing is significant.

Satan became more active at the end of the Old Testament era because he knew his defeat was imminent. He knew Jesus was about to be crucified and therefore, he was going to lose the right of ownership for the human race. Satan wanted to do everything in his power to prevent it.

In the gospels, “demon-possession” is mentioned only at the end of the Old Testament era before the death and burial of Jesus Christ. It is not referred to after Christ initiated the New Testament era through His resurrection, ascension, seating, and exaltation.

The gospels contain the stories of several people who were “demon-possessed.” (e.g., Matthew 4:24; 8:16; 28, 33; 9:32; 12:22; 15:22; Mark 1:32; 5:15, 16, 18; Luke 8:36; John 10:21) It should be noted, all of them were unbelievers who existed at the end of the Old Testament era before the New Testament era was initiated. Like all unbelievers of the Old Testament era, they were citizens of the “domain of darkness” (realm of satanic authority), subject to satanic authority, and therefore susceptible to “demon-possession” and thus satanic ownership.

The book of Acts also discusses the stories of people who were “demon-possessed.” (Acts 5:16; 8:7; 16:16-18; 19:11-16) They were unbelievers who had experienced demonic inhabitation, ownership, and domination before the death and resurrection of Christ and after its fulfillment had yet to hear the Good News (the reason for Paul’s missionary journeys). As a result, the people mentioned as “demon-possessed” in the book of Acts were effectively Old Testament era unbelievers.

Remedy or Reinforcement?

Is the presumably long and difficult process of “casting out” demons an actual remedy for “demon-possession”? Or is it just another lie used by Satan to reinforce the idea of “demon-possession”?

The Greek word translated “cast out,” ekballo (ek-bal'-lo), is used 85 times in the New Testament. (e.g., Matthew 7:22; John 12:31; Acts 13:50; 16:37) It is translated variously as “bring forth, cast (forth, out), drive (out), expel, leave, pluck (pull, take, thrust) out, put forth (out), send away (forth, out). Relative to the New Testament context in which it is used, the Greek word ekballo can mean “to cause to go out or leave, often, but not always, involving force …”[1]

To be “forced to leave” has a very different meaning than to be “cast out.” It does not imply a demon “possesses” (inhabits; owns; dominates) a human being and thus, its influence originates internally. Instead, “forced to leave” suggests the influence of the offending demon is not internal but external. Rather than “cast out,” the demon must only be “forced to leave.”

The “casting out” of demons from someone who is “possessed” is a satanic lie that has been repeated for so long it has become entrenched thinking. Contrary to his actual position of defeat, shame, and impoverishment, the falsehood of “demon-possession” serves to provide Satan with the appearance of authority, power, and the right of ownership for humanity. Consequently, it diminishes Jesus Christ and His profound work of redemption.

Conclusion

It is important to remember Satan’s status. He was utterly defeated by the redemptive work of Christ. As a result, he was exposed as shattered, empty, and defeated. (Colossians 2:15) In addition, Satan was “Rendered powerless,” his “house” (realm of authority; “domain of darkness”) was “plundered,” and his “property” (human race) was “carried off.” (Matthew 12:29; Mark 3:27; Luke 11:22; Hebrews 2:14) Consequently, Satan owns nothing.

The idea of “demon-possession” in this present age is a lie. Satan does not possess the right of ownership for the human race.

God purchased the right of ownership for the New Testament church by the blood of the Eternal Covenant, the blood of the cross. The church consists of people who accepted His offer of redemption and therefore, the amazing benefit of His ownership. Both parties, God and mankind, came to an agreement. God views the agreement as eternally binding. Consequently, the New Testament church is fully owned by Him.

During this present era, the New Testament church, fully owned by God, does not “struggle” or “wrestle” with satanic ownership and thus, "demon-possession." Its “struggle” is “against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

The New Testament church does not “struggle” with the internal schemes of the devil. Its “struggle” is with his external schemes. They originate not from earthly places but “heavenly places.”

© 2026 James Hiatt

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