THEOLOGY OF DEMONOLOGY

                                      THEOLOGY OF DEMONOLOGY

Course outline

1.    Introduction

2.    The origin of Demons

3.    The Existence of Demons Today

4.    The Doom of Demons

5.    Records of the Oppressed

6.    Requirements for Deliverance Ministry

INTRODUCTION: What is Theology? What is Demonology?

THEO- God, Logy- Study: Theology means study about God.

Demon- Evil Spirit, Logy- study: Demonology means study about demons or study about evil Spirit.

Theology of Demonology: Theology of Demonology means Biblical doctrine about demons. i.e. What the Holy Bible teaches or says about demon most especially their existence, origin, personalities, operations or activities. God's disposition and even our expected disposition towards them.

WHY STUDYING DEMONOLOGY: There are some reasons regarding studying this subject, they are as following:

i.      To inform us of the multiplicity of the world: the existence of world(s) other than the physical like   

        the spirit world.

ii.     To know where they came from may be from God or just by self existence.

iii.    To warn us of the impending dangers surrounding us and our need to be watchful.

iv.    To acknowledge that which is given to us as inheritance, God has given or provided weapons of     

         warfare and of course weapons of victory (like the name of Jesus, blood of Jesus etc.) at our            

         disposal; to counter and defeat these foes and as well destroying their works.

v.      To know the protection of God that is available unto us.

vi.     So that the work of God may progress.

vii.    That the devices of the devil might be known unto us.

viii.   To know their categories and how they work.

ix.     To know how they work in man/believers.

x.      To know the set of people that cannot be ruled by demons.

xi.     To know the strategic way of dealing with the demons.

ORIGIN: Demons were initially in heaven before being debased along with Lucifer (Satan) and eventually driven into the world after Lucifer's fall (Rev 12:3-4; 1:20, Isa 14:12-14).

EXISTENCE: Numerous surrounding us moving swiftly and silently about on their nefarious mission against man. Rev. 12:3-4, 1Pet. 5:8.

PERSONALITIES: (a) Spirits- fallen angels  (b) Immortal.

ROLES/ACTIVITIES: Generally evil or negative to God and man: anti-God and anti-men; doing all that is negative to the will of God and especially those that are ready to serve God.

a.     TOWARDS GOD: They attempt to destroy mankind, debase, oppose and supplement God's work.

b.     TOWARDS MAN: They strive to defeat, oppress, depress, obsess, blindfold, deceive, enslave, afflict, tempt, possess and even kill. John 10:10, Job 1:2.

EXPECTED CHRISTIANS DISPOSITION: 1Jn 3:8. Son of God was manifested to destroy the works of Satan. God expects us to wage war against the demons destroying their works. James 4:7 says submit unto God and resist the devil............God expects us to resist all the encroachments and the onslaughts of the demons against us. Matt 10:7-8, Mark 16:17 and Luke 9:1.

THE ORIGIN OF DEMONS

The Bible is rather hasty in answering this question and several answers are presented for our consideration; the first of the following theories is generally accepted now.

1.    When Satan sinned against God in Isa 14:12-20, Ezek 28:11-19; some say that he did not sin alone but was the leader of a groups of angels. When Satan fell he and his angels were cast out and these fallen angels have become demons. In Matt. 12:26, Satan is presented as a king over a kingdom of lesser demons, i.e., he has some demons that are under him working for him.

2.     Some see in Gen 6:1-6, as angels coming to earth and having sexual relationship with woman. The offspring were giants and some say that these became demons after death. Others explained this passage as the intermarriage of the godly line of Seth and the ungodly line of Cain. If this were so, what would have caused the children to be giants, superhuman beings? Gen 6:2. The same expression, "Sons of God" occurs in Job 1:6 where the "sons of God" came to present themselves before the Lord. The sons of Seth certainly did not have access to the heavenly, inferring thereby that these were angelic beings.

3.     A third explanation is that demons are the spirits of a pre adamic race that perished between the first two verses of Gen 1; and is described in Jer 4:23-26. Where it says "..................there was no man..............", inferring that there had been living being there at one time.

                                             THE EXISTENCE OF DEMONS TODAY

Scriptural testimony is clear that there were an abundance of demons at the time the Saviour was here on earth. Man today in a boasted age of science and enlightment dismisses the Biblical claim as a mere remnant of medieval; superstition or an amusing joke. New Testament writers confirm that they believed in demons and John in Rev. 9:20 speaks of a time yet future (the time of the Great Tribulation) where men will continue to worship demons. Many pagan today are ardent spirit worshippers. As a modern witness as to the existence of demons several of us living in Manila can testify to the unenviable priviledge of seeing demon possessed people and hearing the demon speak through the lops of these people.

                                                            RECORD OF THE OPPRESSED

1.    Anthony of Egypt, has conflict with demons face to face.

2.    Martin Luther tells of the repeated attempts by Satan to interfere with him and his ministry by        attacks in the form of ghostly noises, poltergeist phenomand etc. The devil once even manifested himself to him.

3.    The John Wesley family underwent the poltergeist attacks which disturbed the peace of the rectory at nights with loud knocks raps on the walls and beds, phantom footsteps objects, flying about mysteriously and apparitions.

4.    St. Theresa suffered much Vexation and oppression at the hands of Satan, experience at a time direct attacks spiritually, mentally and physically so also did Cured'Ars, J jean Marie vianney, A.B. Simpson and some other pioneers of the gospel.

As we know our place in Christ and the work of redemption (Eph. 2:6, Col. 2:12-15) we also need to

i.    Recognise our enemy

ii.   His method

iii.  His strength

iv.   His practices.

Notes taken from 'Essentials of Demonology' by Langton; "Biblical Demonology" by Uger and "Angels and demons" by Needham.

Belief in the existence of evil spirits has prevailed among all the known people of the world from the earliest times of which we have knowledge. Among primitive and savage people, these spirits are thought to be departed ghosts which have come back to annoy the living.

Those professing to see demons have seen them in human form, as well as animals and hybrid form of various sorts; ordinarily demons are invisible spirits. Jesus accepted without rumor, belief in existence of demons and the Gospel of Mark tells many stories of Jesus casting out demons. Some question whether demons and spirits exist today; we strongly belief that they exist.

                                 REQUIREMENTS FOR DELIVERANCE MINISTRY

1.    SALVATION: The one who will deliver another must himself be first delivered. Salvation is an experience, living a life of regeneration, born of the Spirit. Jesus Christ is the deliverer and he who will deliver somebody must receive such authority from Him. The gentiles pretended that they can cast out demons but Jesus said Satan cannot cast out Satan or else his kingdom will be divided. Acts 19:13-16 gave an example of certain gentiles who cast out demons in the name of Jesus of whom the demons not only refused their command but dealt deadly blows on them. Gentile appease i.e., beg or silent demons which in turn result to temporal peace not as Jesus gives.

2.    AUTHORITY: The authority is for every born again Christian. It is not active until it is being   exercised James 4:7 tell us that demons will flee when resisted with authority. Satan is a roar to those who fear him and he is a run to those that resists him.

3.    THE WORD OF GOD: The word is your full sword of attack and at the same time, its also your    protection against the onslaught from the evil one "......................and He (Jesus) drove out the spirits with his word..........." (Matt 8:16). In Eph 6:17b, we read about "the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God". You must have the anointing of the Holy Spirit on the spoken (rhema) word to deliver people from the power of the devil.

4.    THE ANOINTING: It is the anointing that breaks (destroy) the yoke of Satan over a person's life (Isa 10:27, KJV). Jesus said (Luke 4:18a, 19) "The Spirit of the Lord is on me because He has anointed Me......to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour". He also says (Matt 12:28a), ".............I drive out demons by the Spirit of God.............." The anointing of the Holy Spirit works closely with us as we use our authority in Jesus Christ. "What is this teaching? With authority and power He gives orders to evil spirits and they come out" (Luke 4:36).

5.     FAITH: Mark 11:22 by faith we move into victory.

6.    DISCERNING OF SPIRIT: One of the nine gift of the Spirit that is responsible to denote the type of the spirit is necessary not only to recognize demons but to know their categories or hierarchy by which without the deliverance may not possible at times.

7.    WORD OF KNOWLEDGE: This is one of the nine gifts of the Spirit that helps to understand or know the leading of the Spirit without which it is hard to know how or what God said. Discerning of spirit reveals demons while the word of knowledge direct or give the best and quick method to overcome them.

8.     FASTING AND PRAYER: Matt 17:21, Mark 9:29. In the name of Jesus every kneel shall bow but there are some hierarchy of demons i.e. chief demons whose kneels may not bow unless the name of Jesus is mentioned in fasting and prayer.

               The fasting are in two ways:

               i.   The person who will minister and

               ii.  To whom will minister to.

9.     COUNT THE COST: Luke. 14:28-32. Jesus asked his disciples to count the cost before fighting any battle. Deliverance especially the casting out of demons is a ministry that opposes Satan face to face, it is an open confrontation against the Satanic force. It is the ministry that Satan aggressively opposes and hates since it quickly destroys his kingdom then other ministries. Because of this, Satan will plan the following:

a.   Kill or massacre such possible such person who operates it.

b.   He will discourage such if death is refused

  c.    He will apply distraction when discouragement fails.

d.   Influence others against such if distraction didn't work

e.   Loneliness will be applied if not loaded to others

 f.   Pride at last to make such see and boast on his achievement which is inability to give God the     glory.