What Can We Know About Demons?
1) Direct Answer
Demons are real, personal, unclean spirits. They are under Satan’s rule, they seek embodiment, they deceive, torment, and oppress, and they war against the Word of God. They fear the Lord Jesus Christ and are subject to His Name. A born‑again believer, sealed with the Holy Spirit, cannot be demon‑possessed, though he can be attacked or oppressed. Their end is judgment, and they cannot cross the Blood of Jesus Christ.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- What they are:
- The Bible calls them “unclean spirits” and “devils” (demons): Mark 1:23–27; Matthew 10:1.
- They are many and have ranks: “We wrestle… against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness, spiritual wickedness” (Ephesians 6:12). A “legion” spoke from one man (Mark 5:1–13).
- They are persons without bodies, they speak, reason, and beg (Mark 5:7–12). They seek rest and embodiment; when cast out, they wander and try to return to an empty life (Matthew 12:43–45). They can even enter animals (Mark 5:13).
- What they do:
- Deceive and teach error: “doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1). A lying spirit can influence prophets (1 Kings 22:21–23).
- Imitate the supernatural: a spirit of divination operated in a girl until the Name of Jesus drove it out (Acts 16:16–18).
- Afflict bodies and minds: Jesus rebuked a “spirit of infirmity” (Luke 13:11–16), a deaf and dumb spirit with seizures (Mark 9:17–27), and even rebuked a fever (Luke 4:39). The Scripture says people were “oppressed of the devil” and healed by Jesus (Acts 10:38).
- Their limits and defeat:
- They know Jesus and tremble (Mark 1:24; James 2:19). They begged not to be tormented “before the time” (Matthew 8:29).
- Authority is given to believers: “In My Name shall they cast out devils” (Mark 16:17). “I give you power… over all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19).
- The devil is one being, not omnipresent; demons are many (1 Peter 5:8; Mark 5:9). They are driven back by the Word and the Blood (Matthew 4:1–11; Revelation 12:11).
- A believer sealed by the Holy Spirit belongs to God; the wicked one cannot lay hold of him to possess his soul (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; 1 John 5:18; John 10:28–29).
- Open doors and resistance:
- Sin, bitterness, and occult involvement give place to the devil (Ephesians 4:26–27; 2 Corinthians 2:10–11; Deuteronomy 18:10–12; 1 Corinthians 10:20).
- We overcome by repentance and renouncing darkness (Acts 19:18–19), submitting to God and resisting the devil (James 4:7), standing in the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10–18). Some cases require prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29).
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- Demons are not imaginations; they are real spirits because they speak, know, fear, choose, and obey when commanded in Jesus’ Name.
- They crave bodies; an “empty house” is a target. Therefore deliverance without being filled with the Holy Spirit and the Word invites a worse return (Matthew 12:44–45).
- Not every sickness means possession, but all oppression and bondage trace back to Satan’s kingdom. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, so healing and deliverance are part of His victory (1 John 3:8; Acts 10:38).
- A Christian can be tempted or oppressed, but cannot be demon‑possessed in the soul when sealed by the Holy Spirit. Keep the door shut by walking clean, keeping the Word, and staying filled with the Spirit.
4) Reinforcing Counsel
- Expose and renounce all hidden works of darkness.
- Do not argue with demons; command them in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Keep your “house” filled—daily Word, prayer, worship, and obedience. The devil cannot cross the Blood line. Stay under the Blood, and stand on the Word, and the enemy must flee.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Attitude and Who is God?
50-0815 §43
...nd them five men gotten a hold of her. That's why she's bleeding like that." Said, "She can't get off her back, though she's been there for two years on her back." I said, "Well, I'll go over and see..." He said, "Don't do that." I said, "Oh, she won't..." And I walked over. Young in the way, not knowing exactly how to deal with demons. And you never know until you're inspired (See?)... Better be careful what you're doing then. Remember when some boys who didn't have the authority tried to do something like that? H...
The revelation that was given to me
60-0210M §16
...at's of the devil, and I'm here that God will never let it happen to me again." Quickly, He walked in front of me, asked me to stand up. And I stood up, and He said to me, "Knowest thou not the Scriptures?" And I said, "Well, the ministers doesn't know--doesn't--doesn't agree with this. If this is--would be of God, why wouldn't they have it?" He said, "It is the day now for this, this is the hour." I said, "Why was it that the--the--the--the demon powers of spiritualism knowed it." Then He said, "In the days of our...
Demonology, physical realm, part 1
53-0608A §64
...faith. And when God has pronounced anything, said, "Whatever things you ask, when you pray, believe you receive it, and hold onto it." God said so; it's got to be so! Amen. Demons! Faith in the Father, faith in the Son, Faith in the Holy Ghost, three in the One. Demons will tremble and sinners awake. Faith in Jehovah will anything shake. That's right. Oh, my! Certainly it is! Have faith in God. Look to Him. Don't you move. Stay right there. God said so!
Demonology
53-1120 §15
And at that time, when all them demons had seen their chief man defeated: they just begin to raise up out of wheelchairs, cots, stretchers, and everything else, and walk. That was the end of the meeting. They just, everybody was healed and walked out. That was it, everything. See? Just... Now, you see? When Satan was defeated there, the whole audience believed with one accord and went out. Now, if Satan is defeated in one case, why can't they do the same thing? See?
Questions and Answers
59-0628E §110
...in unto death. There's only one sin. Jesus said all manner of sin shall be forgiven the sons of man, but to blaspheme the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven. Now people say, "Well, blaspheming the Holy Ghost..." What is blaspheme? Means "to talk about, ridicule, make fun of, blaspheme." All right! What did they blaspheme Him? Telling that Holy Spirit that was within Him, making Him act and do the things that He was doing, they said, "He's possessed with Beelzebub, the devil. And that's the devil, a fortune-teller, in...