Prof. Nathan Protus Uzorma
It is also fascinating to see that Plato’s students classified some demons as the disembodied spirits of the dead. Many Christians believe that “ghosts” if real are demonic entities and this will support that theory. From profound spiritual cum theological research, I came to the full conviction that demons are not disembodied spirits of the Pre-Adamite race.
The notion that influenced the above school of thought is pure mental conjecture. The only created beings revealed to have existed before the creation of man are angels. Though the rigid distinction between “angel and spirit” which this theory demands is questionable since scripture refers to angels as spirits as is evident in psalm 104:4; Heb. 1:14. The bible sometimes uses the term “angel” for the spirit of man as you can see in matt.18:10 and Acts 12:15.
The classical Greek meaning of the term “demons” denoting “the good spirit of the departed men of the golden age” as in Hesiod, philosophy is at variance with the constant cum uniform New Testament of the word. In the words of Merill Funger, “The word “demon” like other distinctive biblical words in Greek, was divinely molded through the pre-Christian centuries for its unique New Testament usage. To use its originally pagan concepts as the basis of a theory is totally unwarranted”.
The great Jewish historian Josephus was of the view that demons “are the spirit of the wicked that enter into men that are alive”. Demons are not the spirits of the deceased men this theory is apparently a reflection of the Greek philosophy and not in profound tandem with the bible.
On the other hand, demons are not the unnatural offspring of angels and ante-diluvian women. The reasons are obvious base on two premises. Premise one is that “the sons of God” of Genesis 6:2 are fallen angels who had intercourse with mortal women, producing a mongrel race, partly human and partly angelic, called Nephilim in Hebrew (fallen one) rendered “giants”.
The above refers “not so much on human size and strength, but to the Greek gegeness (earth born) and is used for the mythical titans, who were partly of celestial and partly of terrestrial origin. That these “sons of God” were angels and not “godly Sethites”, as some scholars maintain, is supported by the uniform use of the term in the Old Testament, where it appears restricted to angelic beings (Job 1:6, 2:1, 38:7)”.
The first premise of the above theory seems established; the second is mere supposition in the face of the silence of the revelation. It is mere speculation to imagine that the monstrous offspring of fallen angels and corrupt pre-flood women became disembodied spirits or demons after their bodies were destroyed in the deluge. “That the fallen angels who thus sinned were consigned to Tartarus is revealed in the new Testament (2peter 2:4-9, Jude 1:6,7), but the fate of their mongrel offspring is not told in scripture.
To say demon possession is merely a superstitious explanation of certain diseases is to say the least an abomination in the entire spectrum of my spiritual voyage. Such illusory concept does not and cannot be true. There are demons and they are unconfined fallen angels. In view of the Bible’s silence regarding the origin of demons, the best supported deduction from biblical hints, is that demons are fallen angels.
When Lucifer rebelled and introduced sin into a previously sinless universe, he drew with him a great number of lower celestial beings (Matt 25:41, Rev. 12 :4). These demons according to the word of God are free to roam the heavens under their leader prince, who became Satan, also called Beelzebub prince of demons”(Matt 12:24) “Satan and his angels” (matt 25:41) and “the dragon……….and his angels”(Rev 12:7).
For those philosophers and skeptics who are of the view that the doctrines and believe in demons is merely the creation of superstition and imagination and that the whole idea of demonism belongs to the world of fairy tale and folklore, and not to the sphere of Christian theology, I wish to remind you once again that you are already carried into “Babylon” the abode of destruction. I have always emphasized that the idea that Satan does not exist is a serious form of demonic manipulation designed to awaken the coarse cum carnal consciousness of the finite mortal which the resultant effect is damnation.
Verily I say to anyone with this kind of demented mentality of Satanism that you have strayed into bondage. The basis of this exposition is to reawaken the divine consciousness of Christ in you. This is an age of phenomenal progress in man’s conquest of the universe. Awestruck observers are flocking to the alters erected by science to revere human development and achievements in the realm of science.
Meanwhile, the divine alters (of God) are forsaken as naturalism in theology threatens to eliminate the supernatural from everyday thought and life. The situation is apparently ironical to Christians who see God permitting man to achieve feats bordering on the miraculous. Why should any become skeptical apathetic toward religious supernaturalism at a time when science is demonstrating how “close” the natural and the supernatural can be?
The word of God is very clear and attests to the reality of evil supernaturalism through the carrier of both Satan and his myriads of helpers called demons or evil spirits as is evident in Luke 10:17, 20. Satan is presented as Lucifer, the first and the most creature of God, who subsequently sinned (Isa. 14:12, Exodus 28:11). In his rebellion, Lucifer drew a multitude of angels with him and became “Satan” a Hebrew word meaning “oppose” or adversary”.
The arch deceiver Satan reigns over an organized kingdom of darkness, yes, organized in deep opposition to the kingdom of God. This opposition crystallizes in connection with man and God’s purpose for him upon the earth. The angels who followed Satan’s minions, the scripture not only presents a full orbed picture of Satan’s past, present and future, it further reveals the role of demons as Satan powerful helpers in his opposition to God and man.
On the other hand, the position of the Bible is very clear on the position of Lucifer and his empire of forces-demons. Lucifer the first of angel was created to have dominion over the earth (Job 38:1-7, Ezekiel 28:11-19). Satan was exalted and sinless before he rebelled and brought judgment and chaos upon the earth. The Old Testament is completely replete with demonological phenomena because since the fall of man in the great Garden of Eden God’s saints have been the object of Satanic attack.
In the New Testament, there is an overwhelming evidence of the existence of demons. The ministry of Christ Jesus exposed them in a higher way that he expelled them with divine authority. I will continue to infer that the concept that demons do not exist is a product of demonism infused by the arch-deceiver, Satan, in order to hoodwink the earthman. As one of his chief and prime purposes is to make evil appear as good in order to enable him advance his ignoble cum nefarious manipulations on people of God, nevertheless, man must be saved.
The crimes, atrocities and immoralities of ancient and modern society points to the fact that there are evil spirits that take possession of men’s minds and bodies and thus drive them to wickedness or depravity (Romans 1:24-32).
Some men believe in Satan and demons simply by experience; yes, because of constant attacks of the enemy, my close friend who studied philosophy with me who at the same time never shared in the believe of Satanic forces woke up to the Christian believe and spiritual responsibility of Satanic belief consequent upon spiritual attack he received. Don’t allow yourself to learn from such bitter experience.
Nothing in this life happens ordinarily. The actions of the drunkard, the criminal, the libertine, the psychically and emotionally disturbed, the dope addict, the gambler and suicidal person (John8:44, Luke 22:3) are often caused by influences beyond mental or physical injury or disease. The strongest evidence outside the bible that wicked and unclean spiritual agencies can enslave their victims and drive them to self destruction is provided by people who deliberately plunge into evil fully aware of the disastrous consequences.