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.
Leading of the Spirit of God
55-0807E §63
That little lady sitting right there, second one in right back there, she's bothered with nervousness, too. Isn't that right, lady? See what I mean? This demon knows if that woman will halfway believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and I'm His prophet, that'll have to leave her. And that demon was calling to that one for help, for help to accumulate unbelief, but he's lost the battle. Sure, he has. Faith is gathering. Very nervous, upset, you're bothered about somebody else, too. That's a man. And that man's a...
Demonology
53-1120 §10
...and buried him. And many other stories in the Bible, like that. So, I've tried to be very careful. But there's one thing that I've always thought about. That God, by the power of His death at Calvary, has given to the church power to cast out evil spirits. Because Mark 16 said, "In My Name they shall cast out..." (Not, "I will"; "They will.") " In My Name they shall cast out devils." Is that right? "If they lay their hands on the sick, they shall recover." Now, that laying hands on the sick has been one thing, I'v...
Demonology, religious realm, part 2
53-0609A §102
Here not long ago I was up at Toledo, Ohio, having a meeting. (I'm going to close.) You see what I mean about demons? They are working. They are very religious, just as religious... Oh, they go to church every Sunday, repeat the Apostles' Creed, and sing the Doxology. Oh, my, just as religious as they can be. "Brother Branham, you mean that's the truth?" That's the kind of a spirit that hung Jesus Christ to the cross. And Jesus said, "You're of your father, the devil." Now, some of them said, "Oh, Russia's the anti...
The Manifestation of the Spirit
51-0717 §54
...of trouble. And you keep your children near you. And when I tell you to bow your heads, you do it. And remember this, as I start at the beginning of the meeting, so you'll know: I am not responsible. Let me say that again, because according to law, I am not responsible for anything that happens to critics during the time of the service. For be it assured to you, that these powers, which will be explained later in another service, they are absolutely demons that come from one and go to another. How many knows that'...
Questions and Answers
59-1223 §44
...Yes, sir! Even teach the Scriptures, the Bible. They sure do. Now notice! Jesus came to a bunch of men that was holy priests; and they kept the laws to the letter; and they were very, very religious. And Jesus ... John called them, said, "You generation of vipers (that's snakes), who's warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" When Jesus saw them, He said, "You are of your father, the devil." That was God saying that. Just as religious as they could be. Remember, when... The devil takes his man, but never his spi...