Demons - then and now

     Demons are spirits of fallen angels.  While many are temporarily confined to the bottomless pit, many are very active in world affairs today serving their master the Devil.  In fact demons are perhaps the major implementers of Satan’s deceitful agenda.

     And many of those imprisoned demons in the bottomless pit will be released during the rapidly approaching tribulation period to punish unrepentant mankind.  We’ll examine that aspect shortly.

     Demonic activity isn’t new.  Such activity was noted in ancient Israel as well as spoken of in the New Testament including the final book of the Bible, i.e. the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

     Let’s go back several thousand years and review a profound passage from the Psalms that describes the range of Israel’s sins.

     “They served their (Gentile’s) idols…They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters…”  Psalm 106:36-38a

     The Hebrew word for ‘demons’ is ‘devils.’  The Hebrew word for ‘sacrificed’ has several synonyms including slaughter and kill. 

     New born innocent children were slaughtered and offered to demons.  Such was an abomination to God.

     Demons influence the nonbeliever by impersonating idols made with hands.  Therefore, any sacrifice offered by a nonbeliever is by definition offered to demons.

     “...the things which the Gentiles (unbelievers) sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God…”  1 Corinthians 10:20

     But the influence of demons goes far beyond sacrifices; it includes false and deceitful teaching.

     “Now the Spirit expressly (explicitly) says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy…”  1 Timothy 4:1-2a

     Anyone who ‘will depart from the faith’ is called an apostate.  Paul warned that there would be great apostasy before Christ returns.

     Submission to demonic influence will accelerate during this age and come to a head during the great tribulation.  Regardless of the extent of tribulation hardship, the nonbeliever will cling to demonically inspired idols.

     The sixth trumpet judgment during the great tribulation describes the refusal of nonbelievers to repudiate demonic influence.

     Demons from the bottomless pit will be released to kill one-third of mankind and yet those who survive will not repent from demon worship.

   “But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk.”  Revelation 9:20

     Recall that demons are the implementers of moral evil and they influence the nonbeliever to cling to false gods.  The Greek word for ‘demons’ is the same as the Hebrew, i.e. ‘devils.’ 

     Non-repentant mankind will continue to place their trust in idols of gold, silver, etc.

     Then John lists several other activities that nonbelievers will not abandon.

     “And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.”  Revelation 9:21

     Murder (phonos) means slaughter, butcher, cut to pieces.

     Sorcery (pharmakeia) means drugs, occult, or magical incantation with drugs.

     Sexual immorality (porneia) includes any kind of sexual sin.

     Thefts (klepto) means not only to steal, but has the additional meaning to seize, or take by deceit. 

     Using the four preceding definitions, does killing the unborn by cutting them to pieces and selling their body parts fit the description of murder? 

     Does the legalization of marijuana fit the description of sorcery?

     Does the mandate by the Supreme Court to recognize the marriage between two people of the same gender fit the description of sexual immorality?

     Does the redistribution of wealth by way of taxation to fund activities performed by Planned Parenthood fit the description of thievery?

     If any of the above practices or activities are not initiated or sanctioned by God, where does the thoughts for such legislation, Supreme Court decisions, or executive orders originate?

     “Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.  But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast…This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.”  James 3:13-15