Tehom-at

Demonic History & The Rites of Exorcism

Chapter 4: Legion, For We Are Many

n an attempt to understand and express the motivation for demonic activity, some writers have made statements such as the following: “Accursed by God, doomed to eternal torment themselves, Satan and company found a new vocation in the temptation and corruption of man. With nothing better to occupy their time, they resolved to take out their ‘great wrath’ on mortals too foolish or sinful to resist their lures.” [1]

Having examined the Scriptural evidence, however, we know at this point that there is far more method to their madness than they would have the general populace of earth realize. In the past few chapters we have looked at the beliefs and characteristics of the demons. We have seen their origin and the prophecies of their final destruction in the Lake of Fire as typified by the Yom Kippur ritual of Leviticus 16. Yet while these two revelations furnish us with knowledge about the past and the future, demons are a concern for humanity now. (1Timothy 4:1)

We have traced the record of demonic activity as it relates to the human race from Eden’s garden to the worldwide corruption that resulted in the Flood of Noah’s generation. From there we saw Satan’s influence exerted upon Nimrod and his followers to produce a global, pagan government, (Genesis 11:1, 2) and we saw ceremonies given to the Hebrew people to teach them how to deal with the effects of their invisible enemies. Commandments were given against the worship of images and idols, in order to render useless the Adversary’s plans for diverting loyalty away from Yahweh, and warnings were provided that humans may know the danger of interacting with these creatures that are bent on their own preservation at our expense. (Leviticus 20:27, Deuteronomy 18:10, 2Kings 17:17, 1Corinthians 10:20)

In the last days, we are told that demonic activity will increase, for John writes, “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” (Revelation 16:13, 14)

Yes, even the demons can work miracles; even they are given much authority to manipulate the material world, and Satan is given the titles “prince of the powers of the air,” and “god of this world.” (Ephesians 2:2, 2Corinthians 4:4) If we would oppose these beings in Yahshua’s name, to fulfill our commission and “cast out devils,” (Mark 16:17) we must be sure

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that we are fortified with the necessary information. The best place to obtain this information, as mentioned in the last chapter, is the Book provided for us that is “given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2Timothy 3:16)

In the last section we began to look at how demons and their servants operate among and against humanity when we considered the incident between Saul and the woman of Endor. In this chapter we will expand on that study, to glean such relevant information as we can about the types of possession from the Scriptures furnished for us at so great a price.

Aside from the Scriptures listed above that deal with prohibitions against idolatry and the interaction between humans and spirits, we find instructions on how to deal with other humans who had come to engage in these practices. In particular, the Bible told the Israelites, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” (Exodus 22:18) Before we continue, it is important for us to keep two things in mind.

First, the commandments given to Moses at that time were designed to keep the budding nation pure, and therefore the penalties for many transgressions were both immediate and final. In New Testament times, a witch will certainly be put to death, but not by man. The Scriptures tell us that on the Day of Judgment, those who did not rely on Christ for their protection and power will find that they have rejected the very relationship that would have preserved them through the flames of wrath. The Almighty says, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:7, 8)

The Old Testament has been criticized by some commentators because it appears to portray a “vengeful God” who has no patience for sinners. Quite the reverse is true; He established “a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation,” (Exodus 19:6) in order to teach the Heathen His way. Remember, “We love Him, because He first loved us.” (1John 4:19) In order for Yahweh’s arrangement to work, to reach out in love to those who have not known Him, His priesthood must be dedicated, and His nation must be righteous. If it was enough that Israel should have a merely intellectual knowledge of His law, there would have been no need for all the warnings; but the Messiah, the “express image” of the Father (Hebrews 1:3) directed some of His most stern rebukes against hypocrites. (Matthew 23:13-36)

It is important for readers to understand the intimate link between the Old and New Testaments, the uniform doctrine between them, the natural progression of revelation, and the consistent (though ever-increasing) bank of information provided about the fallen angels.

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Second, we must define precisely what a witch is, from a strictly Scriptural and spiritual standpoint.

The reason for this clarification is that Christians are commanded to help witches in the very instructions that indicate we are to cast out evil spirits. (Matthew 10:8) Quoting an author whose work we have already cited in a previous chapter, “During the Middle Ages and right down to the eighteenth century people were often regarded as sorcerers when in reality they were merely possessed by one or more demons. It sometimes happened, besides, that witches would put so much energy into their evocation of the Devil that, instead of becoming their obedient servitor, he would forcibly take possession of them.” [2]

With the information provided by this document thus far, the reader might rightly be induced to make two changes to the above statement, in order to render it perfectly accurate. First, the blurred distinction between sorcerer and demoniac goes back much further than the Middle Ages. The medium of Endor, to whom we have been exposed last chapter, was clearly not in control of the situation, although she had made a reputation for herself as being one who could evoke the spirits of the dead.

Second, understanding what we do of Lucifer’s plans for humanity, and the principle of I.O.C. (Illusion of Control), rather than claiming “it sometimes happened” that the demon being evoked would take control of the situation, we must come to the conclusion that the demon was always in control. If demons are what the Bible says they are, then they are the counterparts to angels, who are “greater in power and might” than human beings. (2Peter 2:11) This is obviously not merely “physical” power, since they are spiritual beings.

While they are no longer pure in mind, and therefore not as wise as they were in service to the Almighty, demons are no less intelligent; the difference is that this intelligence now manifests itself as cunning. From the beginning of demonic history till the end, in the very closing chapters of the Book of Revelation, we find demons acting with purpose, and with some degree of mental acumen. While they operate out of desperation, to be sure, (Revelation 12:12) they are methodical. Between the knowledge of the demons and the natural creativity inherent in man (for he is created in the “image” of the Creator Himself – Genesis 1:27) complex and highly sophisticated religions were generated. These were specifically designed to appeal to the pagan mind; and the history of the ancient world attests to the success rate of these idolatrous systems. Even modern religions, even most forms of Christianity, have proven themselves unable to entirely shake free of these superstitions and myths.

Again, if demons are what the Bible says they are, a sorcerer or sorceress who can actually manifest mystical powers is always the victim of at least a

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low-level possession, and to this degree of possession we may give the name Anchorage.

Why this title? Figure 4.1a shows an ordinary bar magnet. It consists of two “poles” of magnetic activity commonly referred to as the “north” and the “south.” If the lines of magnetic force associated with the bar could actually be seen, they would fall along the curved, gray lines of the diagram. These lines, while invisible, have a real orientation – the effects of which can be seen. This orientation is well known to anyone who has ever used a compass: one end always points north. Essentially, the north pole of the magnet can always be determined by allowing it to move freely.

Now, the human brain consists of a vast number of neurons. (Fig. 4.1b) These neurons, the network of which composes the nervous system, consist of a cell body (the bulge at the top) and a long strand called the “axon.” Nerves work by sending electrical signals through gaps called “synapses” that connect the network together at the thin biological “wires” that come from both the cell body and the end of the axon.

Whenever electrical energy passes through a conductor, a magnetic field is generated. In a single neuron, through which electricity flows in the course of activation, this field is insignificant for all practical purposes. On the other hand, when the neurons are lined up in parallel, as they are in the upper portions of the brain, unique signatures can result. (Figure 4.1c) Thoughts, even the elements of consciousness itself, are thought to result from the synchronized electrical activity that takes place in the brain. Truly, we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14)

Before the reader comes to the conclusion, based on this information, that we can “read thoughts” by virtue of these electromagnetic signals, there is

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more to the story than that. Researchers state that, “Even when a tight correlation is found between some experimental manipulation and some neural measure, one cannot conclude that the measured activity is a direct manifestation of the cognitive process thought to be associated with the manipulation. Instead, it may reflect cognitive processes that occur downstream from the process of interest, or be incidental to it.” [3] Basically, each individual set of neurons may be part of more than one mental “circuit,” and the firing of a particular area of the brain does not necessarily imply that the “thoughts” associated with that pattern are occurring. In short, while some information about specific categories of thoughts can be extracted, we can’t read minds.

The story is further complicated. Certain sections of the brain do not contain neurons that are arranged in neat, parallel orientation. Figure 4.1d shows the “jumble” of neurons located in some parts of the organ, from which no clear electromagnetic signal can possibly be detected. Most students of this field of science believe that thoughts, memories, etc. are determined by the way in which the neurons of the brain interact, and what connections exist. If that is the case, every human has a unique pattern of connections, and so no general system of associating specific thoughts with measurable activity can be derived in the foreseeable future.

If a demon has bound itself to an individual, setting up a parasitic residence around the consciousness, it may be able to get a “read” on the person’s intentions – but not actual thoughts. We know that consciousness is affected by the presence of a demon, because one who has been set free from possession is said to have been restored to his “right mind.” (Mark 5:15, Luke 8:35) There is a limit to their inter-psychic perceptions, however. The Scriptures tell us plainly, “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” (1Corinthians 2:11) The answer to Paul’s rhetorical question is given in the second half: no one.

Now, some may point out that it says no “man” knows the things of other men, but demons and angels might. This is excluded by the second part, however, that says “save [except for] the spirit of man.” This excludes everything, and every being, but a man’s own spirit. Similarly (because Paul draws a direct parallel), no angel or demon knows the “things of God,” “not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”(Matthew 24:36) As with the Old Testament references we saw in previous chapters, the term “man” in Biblical language may refer to any being, whether physical or spiritual in nature.

The implication is clear: while demons may be able to read something like the spiritual equivalent of the electromagnetic neural signatures, thus tapping into emotions and intentions, they cannot read our actual thoughts. We note that a spirit can tell the general state of one’s mind, as indicated by

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the fact that one who is cast out perceives that the “house” in which he formerly dwelt may be “empty, swept, and garnished.” (Matthew 12:44)

This is particularly true if those signatures are very strong (such as during the age of puberty), and so the paradigm we have examined from Scripture and neuroscience can help us to understand, for example, the well-documented poltergeist activity, which tends to occur most often around young adolescents. [4] The few quotes following here move our study forward quite smoothly.

“Although we know a great deal more about the functional neuroanatomy of psychotic and paranormal belief than we did a century ago, when the American neurologist George Beard wrote about the topic, […] we are still far from being able to pinpoint, in a physical sense, those brain loci giving ghosts a permanent housing. Nevertheless, as cognitive neuroscience enters the 21^st Century, it is increasingly successful in identifying interactions between distributed neural systems and the experience of and the beliefs in forces whose origins some of us project into the outside world.” [5]

This author appears to be coming from the standpoint that at least some supernatural effects (including those attributed to so-called “ghosts”) can be produced by the human mind alone. However, other authors have realized a problem inherent in this theory: by what possible mechanism can these physical effects be accomplished?

One writes, “The source of the energy needed for the mechanical work done in poltergeist actions is, of course, an interesting problem.” [6] After examining a few unsatisfactory possibilities, he concludes, “…the assumption of energy withdrawal from the medium would seem to be at the present undecidable. Additionally, it may be said that it is not (as things now stand) an essential assumption, because the energy required may, for all we know to the contrary, be drawn from an external source.” [7]

Bible-believing Christians know exactly what that “external source” turns out to be. An evil spirit, which has bound (or anchored) itself to a human in such a way that it can read the general intent, may execute the perceived will of that individual in order to further the I.O.C. This is what supernatural occurrences are all about, and the human may not even be aware of the transaction; indeed, when dealing with poltergeist activity this ignorance is precisely what makes the circumstances so troubling to the individuals and their families who are involved.

Just as Yahweh does not “require” sacrifices, but instituted them for our sake, so occult disciplines that employ objects, rites, mantras and ceremonies merely utilize the props of the “game” demons are playing with humans in order to lead them further astray. When they cannot confuse, fallen angels deceive. True witchcraft requires no paraphernalia but a willing, corruptible soul and evil spirits with an agenda. The more complex

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and esoteric they can make their interactions with humans seem, however, the more appealing these interactions become to the non-Christian mind.

While poltergeists dramatically demonstrate the irrelevance of the sorcerer’s “equipment” when dealing with true magic, the ancient documents we have seen so far (and the Bible itself, for that matter) show that historically, demons have been content to have their human hosts jump through “hoops” in order to keep them busy, foster the I.O.C. and induce in them a sense of pride. The importance of this last factor to the demons’ plans is quite difficult to overstate.

For the average occultist, the spells and rituals they believe they have mastered are often carefully guarded secrets. Much of the draw of occultism involves the excitement that comes with being initiated into the “inner circle” of wise ones who have access to special powers, and communication with invisible spirit guides. The widespread occurrence of “mystery religions” in various ancient cultures is testimony to the effectiveness with which demons have used human pride in leading us into perdition.

The major sin of witchcraft, and the origin of those associated sins which have led to countless cases of possession, is pride.

It is pride that motivates a witch to seek protection and power outside the will of Yahweh. It is pride that leads the idolater to offer oblations to the god of war in order to ensure victory, or the god of the harvest to ensure food. The intentions may be good – this is very important to realize when dealing with individuals who practice “white magic,” that which is allegedly intended to benefit mankind. The magic-user may be attempting to heal someone, or to save the village from famine by resorting to the invocation of a false god. But of course, the ends do not justify the means. The Almighty is able to provide for our needs in this world, (Matthew 6:25-34) and He is the only Provider of eternal life for the world to come. (John 14:6, Jude 1:25)

Remember, “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” (1Samuel 15:23) Rebellion, stubbornness, all these go back to pride. It is important to remember that this pride may not be the individual’s own. By that I mean, a human may be raised in a pagan culture, and his or her involvement in witchcraft may simply be a product of the society.

That being the case, the pride was that of the individual’s ancestors, and the consequences of that sin has rippled down through the generations. (Exodus 20:5) Exorcism, and subsequent evangelism, is a delicate surgery in such a case, but it must be accomplished if the soul will ultimately be free. “He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” (James 5:20)

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Having defined a “witch” as the Bible does, and consequently described one form of possession, Anchoring, we turn back to the Scriptures to obtain information on another, related type: Influence.

The acute reader may notice that two different terms have thus far been used when describing a human’s reliance of demonic activity. The first was “evocation,” that which was attempted by the woman of Endor. The second was “invocation,” and that was used when speaking about the appeasement of the gods/spirits for the purpose of obtaining some benefit (e.g., victory in war or a good harvest). This is not an arbitrary distinction. Evocation, or “Summoning,” is when an occultist attempts to cause a manifestation of a spirit in some detectable form. Invocation is when an occultist attempts to cause some secondary effect using a spirit’s abilities. In other words, if a pagan priest sacrifices an animal (or human) to the gods in order to obtain a blessing, this is an invocation. If he wishes to summon forth the spirit in order to converse with it, or to command it directly, this is an evocation.

Now, both of these are illusory in terms of the flow of control. The “god of this world” and his colleagues cannot be summoned at the whim of a human being. They cannot be contained in a circle drawn in ink, or salt, or blood. The “prince of the powers of the air” and his angels cannot be appeased by a sacrifice, (what practical good would it do a spiritual being anyway?) or charmed by those that “peep, and that mutter.” (Isaiah 8:19) They can, however, be very pleased by the vast number of people they can get to fear, respect or participate in, these practices.

For an example of an attempted invocation, and a look at the level of possession called “Influence,” we have quite a record available to us. The Scriptures tell us of the following incident.

“Then said Elijah unto the people, ‘I, even I only, remain a prophet of Yahweh, but Ba’al’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks, and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under. And I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under. And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of Yahweh; and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God.’

“And all the people answered and said, ‘It is well spoken.’

“And Elijah said unto the prophets of Ba’al, ‘Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first, for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.’

“And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Ba’al from morning even until noon, saying, ‘O

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Ba’al, hear us.’ But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

“And it came to pass at noon that Elijah mocked them, and said, ‘Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.’

“And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. And Elijah said unto all the people, ‘Come near unto me.’ And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of Yahweh that was broken down.

“And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of Yahweh came, saying, ‘Israel shall be thy name.’ And with the stones he built an altar in the name of Yahweh; and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, ‘Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.’

“And he said, ‘Do it the second time.’ And they did it the second time. And he said, ‘Do it the third time.’ And they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

“And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, ‘Yahweh, Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art Almighty in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that thou art Yahweh Elohim, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.’

“Then the fire of Yahweh fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, ‘Yahweh, He is Almighty; Yahweh, He is Almighty!’” (1Kings 18:22–39)

While witches, sorcerers and occultists in general may be content in many cases to worship “forces” or “principles,” a priest of a pagan religion generally knows he is in the service of an intelligent entity. The priests of Ba’al were attempting to invoke their god and cause an effect – in this case, “fire from heaven.” (Revelation 13:13) They believed this god to be a sentient being capable of perceiving their prayers, and they must have gotten this idea from somewhere.

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An occultist, or a victim of poltergeist activity may not be aware of the presence of an entity, at least not one Anchored in them, but a priest of a demonic religion is at least under Influence, this second level of possession. At this level, the evil spirit begins to affect the behavior of its host. A spirit that is Anchored may affect the world around the host, but the behavior of the individual is not directly altered due to its presence. Of course, a witch will act like a witch, particularly if her spells are successful, but that is a reaction to the effect, not the cause – the spirit itself.

With Influence, the host may get “vibrations,” these being feelings or impressions of what the spirit would like done.

The above statements deserve some clarification. A pagan priest is only one type of individual under the Influence of a demon; it is not limited only to those who have consciously chosen to serve evil spirits. In addition, Influence does not necessarily mean that the priest himself receives any mystical communication from the spirit world. Just as with the effects of idolatry, the founder of that system of priesthood may have received the initial impressions, and those of the resulting order merely follow the second-hand directions of the demonic being. In this case, the victim is merely suffering from the results of this second level of possession, and may be converted without an “exorcism” per se.

An occult priest who is also a “mystic” is, however, directly suffering from the level of possession being described. And, as stated, the victim need not be a pagan priest. Genuine psychics may also fall into this category, although there will be more said on this when discussing the third type of possession. Additionally, the realm of Influence is where the line between spiritual activity and mental disease begins to blur. Someone who is under Influence may “hear voices,” and in some cases the force of these communications causes the character to fragment, leading to Multiple Personality Disorder and related maladies.

Spiritual activity may not be the only cause of these diseases, of course, but the demons do have access to the mental mechanisms that result in those conditions. Those who engage in idolatry end up with what is called in the Bible a “reprobate mind,” (Romans 1:28) and the records of the early Church mention individuals who participated in questionable spiritual practices. The historian Eusebius quotes Miltiades, an author who opposed a false, spiritualistic doctrine called the Montanist Heresy. Miltiades writes, “… the pseudo-prophet speaks in a state of unnatural ecstasy, after which all restraint is thrown to the winds. He begins with voluntary ignorance and ends in involuntary madness …” [8]

The parallel symptoms manifested by both the Montanists and the priests of Ba’al are not difficult to discern. We see that the effects of Influence may ultimately be the same regardless of what the victim believes his true condition to be. While with Anchorage the possessing spirit is passive,

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during Influence it begins to assert its presence, albeit in a subtle way at this stage.

It must be deduced that since most pagan religions do not know they are worshipping demons – at least, most are not aware that the demons they are worshipping are antagonistic – Influence is the primary method used by demons to produce the false religions of antiquity. Any higher level of communication between demons and humans would have eventually revealed the spirits’ nature. I explain this statement below.

While I point out that “most” idolatrous religions do not know they are worshipping demons, there are some exceptions to this. A sect of Kurds in Iraq known as the Yezidis worship Taus-Melek (the peacock angel), knowing that he is a fallen archangel. [9] In this rare case, however, the demon appears to have transmitted information on a higher level than mere Influence, but to have given false information about its descent from Heaven. The Yezidis in fact, as one of the Diabolist groups to which I referred in a previous chapter, unwittingly believe that their devil-god is the true benefactor of mankind, much like the titan Prometheus of the Greek legends.

Historically, it has been seen that it is very easy for the demons to use their Influence, combined with fallen man’s natural desires and fears, (e.g., the fear of death) to produce both their various pantheons, and the sets of rites and ceremonies associated with each deity. The fallen angels have been more than happy to receive this wasted worship, (Deuteronomy 32:17) and have inspired their victims to produce great volumes of literature describing complex, though dangerously misleading, accounts of the spiritual world and afterlife. The Egyptian and Tibetan “Books of The Dead” come immediately to mind, and Appendix B consists of a list of spirits in the Scriptures, including many of the fallen angels and references pointing out the worship they have inspired in Bible history.

As human wickedness has increased down through the centuries after the Flood, the demonic hold has only strengthened. As more men are given up to the worship of Araphel, the worship of individualism, freedom and self, more authority has been given to our spiritual enemies to draw humans away from allegiance to the Creator. While Yahweh does not tempt humans, (James 1:13) He does allow accusations and their resulting trials to come from our demonic enemies, often in direct proportion to our level of faith. We are told, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1Corinthians 10:3) Note carefully that Paul is in full agreement with James; Yahweh will suffer (i.e., “allow”) certain levels of temptations, always within the bounds of the human’s ability to overcome, but does not Himself bring the temptation to bear.

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This does not mean matters have improved over the years. Yahweh can protect only those who trust Him, (2Samuel 22:31) and as the faith of mankind in general has waned, the attacks on humanity are no longer mere “temptations” to mislead us, but have become attacks seeking to destroy the human spirit. The Scriptures tell us, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (1Timothy 4:1) And again, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good; traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of Yah, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” (2Timothy 3:1-5)

We know that in the very last times the deceptions will be so artful, so deadly, that even those who will ultimately be saved are rescued only by a divine outpouring of mercy. (Matthew 24:24) We know that those who are overcome by demonic influence will become so violent and irrational that even those who are destined for life will be saved from death only by the intervention of the Almighty. (Mark 13:20)

As mentioned earlier, there are “higher levels” of communication between demons and humans than Influence, as exemplified by the religious doctrines of the Yezidis. Rather than merely having a demon reading an individual’s thought patterns, or subtly influencing behavior through subconscious or psychological means, in the third degree of possession the individual is fully aware of the spirit’s presence, and communicates with it directly. This form of demonism, which we will label Tutelage, involves, as the name implies, a relationship between human and fallen angel in which the spirit becomes a “teacher” of sorts.

In a sense, the episode that transpired between king Saul and the pseudo-Samuel is an example of Tutelage. It is not a standard case by any means, and for a number of reasons. First of all, a third party (the medium) was involved. Second, the entity was manifest outside of Saul’s physical body, so I use the term “possession” loosely. It is an accurate term, however, since the ultimate aim of possession is to control human behavior – and Saul’s behavior was certainly affected by his encounter. Third, a human generally seeks a demonic mentor in the hopes of improving his or her earthly experience; while this was Saul’s intent, his desired result stands as a sharp contrast with what actually happened to the first king of Israel.

Now from the woman’s point of view, this was a clear example of Tutelage. She was described as one who “had a familiar spirit,” (1Samuel 28:7) and the Scriptures cast even further light on the term, stating that at least some of those who “had” familiar spirits spoke with them. “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass

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through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter (Hebrew: sha’al – to ask) with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.” (Deuteronomy 18:10)

Although examples of this form of demonic activity are quite rarely attested in the Old Testament, warnings to avoid those who have demonic tutors abound. Since a human who has interacted with a demon to the degree that the spirit actually talks back is obviously aware of its presence, his or her ability to do damage to the faith of one seeking advice is that much greater. The warnings, therefore, were well given, if Yahweh desired a people whose beliefs and practices were to be free of satanic influences.

We have seen thus far much activity by demons in the Old Testament. We have witnessed their influence on human religious practices, their determination to stamp out worship of the true God. We have come to see the way they undermine the truth by means of mediums, sorcerers, and even false prophets. The Book of Numbers points out that there are indeed individuals with the prophetic gift who have taken these abilities (provided for the benefit of mankind) and sold them to the service of Satan. Balaam, for example, was obviously a genuine prophet, in that he spoke with Yahweh, (Numbers 22:9, 10) and spoke for Yahweh, (Numbers 22:35, 23:4-10) albeit against his will in the latter case. Despite the fact that he was genuine, it does not follow that he was “true,” as this latter word generally connotes honesty and integrity. Though Balaam had a genuine prophetic gift, he was “false” because of the things he did with that gift, attempting to further the cause of the demons. (Jude 1:11)

We turn here, in this latter part of the middle chapter, to an examination of demonic influence in New Testament times. While the first half of this book has been devoted to establishing what the Bible reveals about the mindset and overall goals of demonic forces, the second half will focus on our chief goal, learning how to deal with demons according to the prophecies and promises of Yahshua the Messiah. (Mark 16:17) We begin our examination with a look at how the tactics of the evil spirits have changed over time, and what they were attempting to accomplish in first century Palestine, during the earthly ministry of the incarnate Savior.

It is interesting to note that, Biblically, Yahshua Himself was the first Exorcist. While there are some Jewish legends describing incidents in which Moses, Aaron and Solomon overcame various fallen angels, no definitive doctrine may be derived from these tales, and most appear to date from authors in the years after Christ, when the examples of the Savior and apostles were already before them. In fact, as we have examined in our previous chapter, Yahweh’s people in the Old Testament were instructed to deal with demons through the Sanctuary-centered rituals and ceremonies provided to keep them free from sin. (Leviticus 16:2-23:27, 28) No commission was given to individuals to deal with demonic entities. The

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order of the day was 1) avoid them and 2) remain ceremonially pure, that they should find no way of entrance.

Yahshua is the first individual of which it is ever said He “cast out devils.” This is the first appearance of the procedure in the Bible: “And when Yahshua was come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. And He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she arose, and ministered unto them. When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick.”(Matthew 8:14-16)

This close connection between the casting out of evil spirits and the provision of physical healing is a constant theme in the New Testament, and one that we will not overlook. We will also, in the next chapter, examine the idea that the spirits were cast out “with His word.” The first mention of exorcism (although the Matthew 8 passage is the first description of it) also includes the idea of using verbal commands, for it records the protests of those who will ultimately be lost, “Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?’ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22, 23)

That passage provides us the additional information that the power to cast out devils is in the name of Yahshua itself, not specifically the faith of the exorcist (in some cases) and even those who were not His dedicated followers were able to send demons back to the tehom, or the “deep” mentioned in Luke 8:31. “And John answered and said, ‘Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.’ And Yahshua said unto him, ‘Forbid him not, for he that is not against us is for us.’” (Luke 9:49:50)

New Testament references to spiritual activity show a sharp increase in the level of authority under which the demons operate. We read, for example, “And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, ‘Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Yahshua of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.’” (Mark 1:23, 24)

Again, “there met Him out of the city a certain man which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. When he saw Yahshua he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, ‘What have I to do with thee, Yahshua, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.’ (For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him; and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) And Yahshua asked him, saying, ‘What is thy name?’ And he said, ‘Legion,’ because many devils

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were entered into him.” (Luke 8:27-30) Mark, who writes a parallel account, reveals that the source of the information about the number of demons was the spirit itself, who replied, “Legion, for we are many.” (Mark 5:9)

If we go strictly by the Biblical information, exorcism was a “new” gift, given to men under Yahshua’s authority; and it was given in response to a new level of threat from the spiritual world. With the possible exception of the antediluvian world, we do not read any explicit cases of demons having such control over their human victims as they do in the Gospels. The concept of a demon entering into a human is also more developed in and after the Gospels than any previous books. We do read in the Old Testament, “the Spirit of Yahweh departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Yahweh troubled him.” (1Samuel 16:14)

Of course, it is an evil spirit “from” Yahweh there in precisely the same sense that He “sent” Satan to trouble Job, (Job 1:12) and “sent” a lying spirit to utter falsehoods from fallen prophets. (1Kings 22:23) As we noted earlier, the Almighty permits temptations and demonic interference in precise proportion to the trials we need to develop faith. (1Peter 4:12, 13)

But of the incident with Saul, the only effect we see the demon having on the monarch is that his mood darkened and he became violent. This is a strong case of level 2 possession: Influence. Whether or not Saul was aware that his problem was demonic is not revealed in the text, but we certainly do not read of the spirit speaking through him or forcing him to do anything explicitly against his will.

In the examples from Mark and Luke, we have the demons addressing Christ, and uttering information that the human host would have no reasonable way of knowing. The evil spirits recognized the Holy Spirit in Yahshua immediately, and protested His presence among them. We find also that the demons were able to act, in addition to speak, through their resident bodies by that time. The Gadarene demoniac (from Luke 8) was able to break even chains with which he was bound, and we have other examples such as this: “And when [the disciples] were come to the multitude, there came to [Yahshua] a certain man, kneeling down to Him, and saying, ‘Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is lunatick, and sore vexed; for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.” (Matthew 17:14, 15)

It is written, “And unclean spirits, when they saw Him, fell down before Him, and cried, saying, ‘Thou art the Son of God.’” (Mark 3:11) Now, the spirit itself would not “fall down” as such, but – as we see from the more descriptive examples in other places – the person possessed by these spirits would fall down. “And they brought [the man] unto [Yahshua]; and when he saw Him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.” (Mark 9:20)

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We find all these examples of demons taking full control over a human host. This is of an even greater degree of possession than we have seen before. As I mentioned above, I am using the term “possession” in a very general way in this book. When most people think of possession, they think of a person being completely “taken” by an evil spirit in the manner described by the Gospel’s verses. This is actually, according to the convention adopted here, only the most extreme form of possession: Dominance.

Even regarding Anchorage, the least form of possession in which the demon is content to merely “read” what signals it can from the individual, and perhaps act on some of them in order to foster pride or confusion, the person has “given in” to the spirit’s intentions. This giving in may be ever so slight, but it is enough to open a doorway for the soul to be led away through the subtlety of our spiritual enemies. It is indeed, as stated elsewhere, a form of possession.

From the incident with Legion, described in Luke 8, we learn something significant. Figure 4.2 provides a diagram of the mechanics of possession. The Scriptures tell us that a human being consists of two elements, and the union of these two elements generates a third. To wit, “And Yahweh Elohim formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7) A second witness, in death: “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” (Psalm 146:4)

Man has a body, and in a living man there dwells a “spirit” or “breath” that signifies life. When the body and spirit of life are combined, a “soul” is produced, and this soul is the region of thoughts. Now a demon, a spirit being to which a non-corporeal intelligence is attached, has access to man by the spiritual part of man. If this spirit is overshadowed by the evil angel, we find that even the body is naturally affected, since – as the diagram indicates – the soul is an overlap between the two.

Now, the body by itself is not the soul, and the spirit by itself is not the soul. (Matthew 10:28, 1Thessalonians 5:23) At the same time, the spirit and the soul affect each other, so the demon has access to the human’s thought stream (in the soul) because it partakes of the spirit. We must keep in mind that the demon is not thereby able to read the thoughts outright, but it can be Anchored in them, or use Influence to affect them. If the demon exerts

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itself on the human’s senses, it will be able to communicate in an open way, as seen in the cases of Tutelage outlined in the Bible. If the demon is further able to affect the soul so completely that it can bring the body under subjection, this is Dominance.

What the Legion-related Scriptures tell us is that more than one demon may attach itself to a single victim. Figure 4.3 shows that while the area in which the demons reside (i.e., the spirit) is the same, the number of demons may be great. While most cases in the Bible speak of “an evil spirit” troubling an individual, in some instances there are several entities at work. This will become extremely important when we look at the actual casting-out of demons, but the idea should be kept in mind from this point forward.

Now, Dominance may be the most overt “theme” of demonic activity in the New Testament, but it is not the only one. We see the evil spirits using Influence on the enemies of the Gospel. We read of a striking case of demonic Tutelage in the book of Acts. “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.” (Acts 16:16)

What we are noticing is a culmination of demonic activity centered on first century (A.D.) Palestine. The demons used more overt means to establish their hold on man, and the frequency of cases appears to be much higher than average, whatever an “average” level may be taken to mean. What reason could there be for this sharp increase in Biblical reports of possession?

The answer is surprisingly simple. Just as Yahweh will step in and assert Himself when Satan is close to accomplishing the second stage in his plan for humanity, so the army of Lucifer will use every opportunity to upset, confuse or delay the movements of the Almighty and His people. The demons had known for some time that a Messiah figure would appear among human beings. Even their own captive humans, the then-corrupt hierarchy of Judaism under their Influence, knew the place of His appearing.

We read in the Gospels, “When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judaea.’” (Matthew 2:3-5a)

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While the Judeans knew the place, the visiting eastern Magi provided the time: “Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.” (verse 7)

Now, while the demons understood many of the prophecies associated with the Messiah, it appears that at least some of them did not know (or fully accept) that His mission at that time was to offer Himself as a Sacrifice (Isaiah 53:5) not to bring in the open Judgment and His everlasting Kingdom, His yet future role. (Daniel 7:13, 14; Romans 14:10) This is the very reason why many demons, upon recognizing Him, asked in terror, “Art thou come to destroy us?” (Luke 4:34) At the very least, those who knew that “the time” for judgment was still future (Matthew 8:29) were concerned that He had singled some of them out for a preview.

Understanding the demonic mind allows us to realize exactly why they asked Him this and similar questions. They had a definite plan for humanity, and once again they had succeeded in corrupting the major religious influence on humanity, the Jewish priestly system. Just as it appeared that institutionalized wickedness would overspread the earth, the Messiah appeared, and they recognized Him. Believing that the time of their judgment had come, they attempted to use extraordinary efforts to maintain their hold on humanity. Yahweh permitted this, not merely because (due to a lack of true religion) there were many accusations to bring against the humans of the day, but also because the Son would be among humans.

We are told, “And as Yahshua passed by He saw a man which was blind from his birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Yahshua answered, ‘Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.’” (John 9:1) The Almighty allowed demons to make themselves more visible in the time of the Messiah so that people would openly see that He indeed had power over all the infirmities of man, be they physical or spiritual, and that they would believe more readily in His divinity.

The Scriptures inform us of these things plainly. Paul tells us, “the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that [sinners] are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20) The ordinarily invisible conflict was made manifest, so that men would glory in the power of the Most High. Furthermore, the apostle writes, “And having spoiled Principalities and Powers [two classes of demons], He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15)

Now, we begin to understand what was happening in the first century. Now, the reader may also understand an additional reason for the writing of

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this book on exorcism. In the last days, we are told this of Christ, “He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” (2Thessalonians 1:10) More clearly, the true convert says, “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Although the Apostles began with the perfect Example before them, they did not have a full knowledge of their own mission. The Messiah said when He was among them, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” (John 16:12) Solomon points out that the way of righteousness is one that is ever increasing: “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” (Proverbs 4:18) Although we are, in Christ, complete at every stage, the apostles acknowledged that there would be continual teaching, continual growth, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13)

Light has increased. Though the physical presence of Christ is no longer with us, He has not left us comfortless. The Spirit of Truth has been given to all who believe, (John 16:13) and there comes a day – very soon – when the Body of Christ on earth, His Bride, His true Church, will so perfectly represent the character of the Messiah, it will be as if He walks among men again. He will then be “glorified in His saints,” and the Bible says that this united, harmonious and holy people will “follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 14:4) They will be “without fault before the Throne of God.” (verse 5)

When Satan sees these people appearing (and they have already begun to appear!) he will know that his time is very short. Indeed, he knew it two thousand years ago, (Revelation 12:12) but when he sees this final group of saints, those nearing the very perfection of Christ, he will once again exert his utmost efforts to stamp out the faithful and deny the sovereignty of Elohim. Once again, Yahweh will remove His restraining power so that His Son can be glorified in the person of His saints, and the prophecies concerning their commission to “cast out devils” will be fulfilled in most dramatic fashion.

The final conflict draws near, and we will very shortly come face to face with a “legion.” The Spirit of the Most High bids us, “Prepare.”

References:

1 – Fallen Angels and Spirits of The Dark, Robert Masello, 1994, The Berkley Publishing Group, p. 16

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2 – Witchcraft, Magic and Alchemy, Grillot De Givry, translated by J. Courtnay Locke, 1971, Dover Publications, Inc., New York, p. 153

3 – “Interpreting Event-Related Brain Potentials,” Leun J. Otten and Michael D. Rugg, as published in Event-Related Potentials, edited by Todd C. Handy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Press, 1995, pp. 12, 13

4 – Can We Explain The Poltergeist?, A. R. G. Owen, 1964, Garrett Publications, NY, p. 335

5 – “From Haunted Brain to Haunted Science: A Cognitive Neuroscience View of Paranormal and Pseudoscientific Thought,” Peter Brugger, as published in Hauntings and Poltergeists, Multidisciplinary Perspectives, edited by James Houran and Rense Lange, 2001, McFarland & Company, Inc.

6 – Owen [4], p. 336

7 – ibid. p. 338

8 – The History of The Church From Christ to Constantine, Eusebius, translated by G. A. Williamson, © G. A. Williamson, Penguin Books, p. 164

9 – A Dictionary of Angels, Including The Fallen Angels, Gustav Davidson, The Free Press, A Division of Macmillan Inc., 1965, p. 286

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