This is an open-ended posting. It will become edited and further developed over time as more research is carried out through the course of personal theological studies.
Purpose & Background
Notes, observations, and a working cumulative draft of the topic. These notes constitute the thoughts, conversations, articles, and books surrounding the subject. To include Reformed (covenant or dispensational), Catholic, and Orthodox perspectives. No consideration is given to deconstructionist (progressive) perspectives for various reasons concerning their denial of the supremacy and authority of Scripture and the original meaning intended by its authors.
There are no conclusions drawn from these notes. Only posted here is material from self-discovery that corresponds to what is roughly interpreted from Scripture and speculated by tradition, historical/literary records, teachings, and books or texts with reference to primary and secondary sources. These notes and observations are simply here to assemble a coherent set of personal reflections concerning what exists in the Spirit realm and the bearing they may have upon people. There is no claim to full credibility assumed or accepted here. This is a dangerous subject matter.
Context & Attestation
“The seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons (daimonia; supernatural being hostile to God and anyone allied to Him) are subject to us in Your name. And He said to them:”
“I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits (pneuma; a supernatural self-aware entity with powers) are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”
Christ Jesus, Luke 10:17-20
Points of Concern
Associative Thoughts
- Creation of a demonic entry point where there becomes a connection between an individual and an evil spirit. A manifestation doesn’t always take place to indicate its presence as inhabitation persists.
- There is no such thing as “ghosts.” A visual experience of a presence that someone has is with an evil spirit 99% of occurrences (Lampert)1.
- All true magic at its core is inherently evil. Material consumed that is not consistent with the Christian faith should be filtered out (music, movies, literature).
- If a person dies when possessed, the spiritual connection ends and the soul that is a free agent of its own begins disembodied eternity as such. Minors under the age of 7 (age of reason) are unable to bring about demonic possession on their own.
- Demons that have nothing to gain from individuals who are already in disbelief likely would not commonly inhabit those who dismiss their existence. Evil spirits attack where they stand to gain something. Demons are understood as “happy” or content apart from where disbelief resides.
- Demons can become instruments of an individual’s sanctification.
- They only detract from sanctification when an individual gives in to them.
- To those affected, building virtue, through prayer, the Word, fellowship, and worship work contrary to their interests.
- The weakness comes from vicious persistence (vices) where they are the cause or root. They can also become contributing participants in addition to a person’s own predilections, mental health, or circumstances.
- Excellence in grace (abundant sanctifying grace) is the indwelling Spirit of God in the soul of your being. This is the adornment of the soul of all of the virtues.
- Building virtue and perfection in the process of sanctification can come from diabolical influences in a person’s life.
- As there are differences in the genetic makeup of an individual, there are different degrees of virtue that God permits or develops. God delights in variety.
- We should be working harder at those areas we’ve fallen to attain perfection.
- God allows demonic activity and possession for purposes of sanctification.
- Believers, those who are authentically in Christ on a path of sanctification, can become an instrument of humiliation and justice among demons. The humiliation is decreed as constant (Gen 3:14). The sin of pride brings the just punishment of the adversary in a continued and intentional way. “You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.”
- Gen 3:19 – memento homo quia pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris. “Remember, man, you are dust and to dust you will return.” Also, see Isaiah 26:19.
- As with the dispersal of nations at Babel when the population’s languages were divided, the rulership of evil spirits (Eph 6:12) was appointed over them.4 So it is with the fall of humanity. Both the fallen and the adversary were to join together in suffering. Whereas, the adversary eventually becomes the object of humiliation and suffering through the redemption, justification, sanctification, and glorification of the elect (those who trust in Christ).
- By denying and fighting the adversary we also become instruments of justice and punishment.
Activity Types
- Infestation
- Oppression
- Presence (location)
- Presence (object)
- Vexation (physical)
Self-harm, or self-inflicted suffering of some type. - Obsession (mental)
Preoccupation, or persistent thought activity around evil. Its presence can fracture, rupture, or cause slippage of an individual’s mind distinct from psychological distress. - Possession (inhabitation)
Degrees of Spiritual Conflict
Temptation (Ordinary)
Evil spirits introduce into our imagination images brought together from prior visual or mental states. Demons cannot make a blind man see or imagine color (Aquinas). They have to work with something that is already there.
God permitting, demons can use what imagination or visual history exists. Demons cannot do anything that God does not permit. Demons are on a short leash (degrees and types of temptation). Restrictions exist surrounding the nature of possession. The adversary often knows when they are removed or required to leave.
God does not hear the prayers of the adversary, demons, or evil spirits.
Everyone is a slave of Christ either willingly or unwillingly.
Temptations can appear in good, bad, or innocuous forms. Demons can suggest good things to good people to cause damage. Knowing what to do and not to do during spiritual conflict is a gift (discernment, counsel). Humility is necessary to keep perspective. Suggestions that form are subtle with increasing levels of intensity. To produce fear in order for a person to fixate or ruminate about a matter to figure out how to escape.
Where a person recognizes he/she could fall within temptation, that is where the hole is. That hole is the demonic target beginning with subtlety. It is precisely here that in faith the prayer must be to call out for deliverance, confidence, and protection.
Oppression
People are attacked from the outside, or by external means.
a.) Direct – Relationships, finances, property, health
On a personal level, directly responsible for evil actions that invite demonic activity.
b.) Indirect – Policies, rules, ordinances, laws, regulations, etc.
When other people do evil things to get demons involved in culture, society, church, etc. It is necessary to be in the Word, prayer, worship, humility, and repentance to keep clear of influences in these areas.
They work in the areas of despair, distress, and disappointment
Obsession
Psychological or mental state where a person cannot think outside of fear, lust, anger, or other thoughts around pressure, harm, or the works of the flesh (Gal 5:19-25).
Consistent thoughts that are psychological and habitual become intellectual vice (e.g. mental illness). They are set in motion or effect by external means (what someone or something does or says to a person). By comparison, diabolical obsession is set on or off without external stimulus.
When or if a demonic obsession is permitted, it at times can become a form of punishment. Where a person is unwilling to repent, or wants to sin in a certain area (or will allow something to happen) that in turn provides an opening for a state of demonic affliction as a product of sin. The proper effect of every mortal sin is possession. While the numbers of people who are diabolically influenced are high, the percentage of people who are possessed is very low (less than a fraction of a percentage). So even if someone opens the door to influence or possession, it is God who permits or denies entry. It is very rare that a demon is allowed into a person as a form of punishment (Ripperger)2.
The more sin people commit, the more empowered demons become and the worse spiritual conflict can get with specific individuals, cultures, or societies.
Possession
Very rare with occurrences at a fraction of a percentage (Ripperger)3.
People have periods of lucidity, but at other times they feel or experience what the evil spirit does. Yet some others blackout the whole experience.
A confession is a form of exorcism because any legal hold the demonic has on person breaks. Every time there is a decision to sin, and the inhabited person sins, that person attaches himself/herself to the evil spirit(s) within. When a person confesses sin, repents, and draws near to God through Christ, that legal hold is broken and the removal of evil becomes certain.
People who are partially possessed can be swayed to avoid spiritual disciplines and confession through influence and suggestion. It is assumed that positive emotional reactions are of God (which is what Luther thought). Demons who have access to human emotions can wreak havoc on individuals. This is another reason emotions are untrustworthy. They are able to cause positive emotions to certain pious practices, or they can block them. So it is necessary instead to follow reason enlightened by faith.
To keep people from being willing to suffer, demons will use any and all forms of influence and cause emotions possible or at their disposal (including fear). If an individual goes about seeking the demonic in an effort to root out influence, they will find that individual. So it is necessary to avoid seeking them out. Only deal with the situation when it surfaces, not before. Don’t go looking for a fight.
It is speculated that the highest level of spiritual warfare is with persons possessed and have decided to cooperate with the will of God and fight their way through it. It is through the spiritual war that contributes to a certain level of holiness is attained (compare Eph 2:10 and elsewhere to validate).
Permanency
“If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire,
[where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.]*
“If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell,
[where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.]*
“If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell,
where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.
– Christ Jesus, Mark 9:43-48, NASB
*Vv 44 and 46, which are identical to v 48, are not found in the early manuscripts
Citations
1. Lampert, Capturing Christianity, Interview with an Exorcist – (YouTube, October 22, 2020). Accessed 10/22/2020. https://youtu.be/nhhi7Fk3ueI
2. Ripperger, Sensus Fidelium, Levels of Spiritual Warfare – (YouTube, November 12, 2018). Accessed 10/15/2020. https://youtu.be/TMcvZaiBwe4
3. Ibid.
4. Heiser, Michael. The Unseen Realm. (Bellingham: Lexham Press, 2015), 110. Heiser, Michael. Demons. What the Bible Really Says About the Powers of Darkness. (Bellingham: Lexham Press, 2020), 213.
5. The Horrible Doctrine – Discipleship Journal Article. Issue 34. – https://exavius.com/2017/04/26/the-horrible-doctrine/. Accessed 10/15/2020.
