There are many threads covering demon possession, and still many people are asking can it still happen today and in some ways still confused about the subject. I hope this thread can show some insight into the subject. Thank God for Good wisdom.
Many believe that evil spirits, called demons, can take over people’s bodies today. This was widely accepted in Europe hundreds of years ago. It is still believed by many in Africa in areas where the influence of Christianity is not strong. It is also a growing belief in America. A study revealed that about one third of all Americans believe that demons can take over the bodies of people. Is it true? Should we fear demon possession today? What does the Bible teach?
The Bible clearly teaches that evil spirits exist (
James 2:19). They are called “devils” in the King James Version and “demons” in other translations of the Bible. These devils or demons must not be confused with the Devil, Satan, the Tempter (
Matthew 4:11). There is only one Devil, but there are many demons.
In the Bible, we learn that demons entered into people and controlled them (
Matthew 8:28-34). They were under the power of Satan (Beelzebub), the chief of all evil spirits (
Matthew 12:24). They often caused sickness in the people they entered such as not being able to speak or see (
Matthew 12:22); insanity or madness (
Luke 8:26-36); personal injuries (
Mark 9:14-26); and other bodily infirmities (
Luke 13:11-17).
God permitted demons to possess certain people in the time of Christ and the apostles so that His power could be seen. Not only did Christ have power over nature, disease, and death, but He also had power over the spirit world. The Devil and his demons were proved to be powerless before the Son of God (
Colossians 2:15;
1 John 3:8).
Demons still exist,
but they do not possess people today. Today, we need to be concerned about Satan, the Devil, who tempts us to Sin and how he easily influences us today. (
James 1:14;
Matthew 4:3;
1 Peter 5:8).
