War Cry - August, 2015 Page 35

The War Cry | AUGUST 2015

But how did demons originate? Theories propose

that they are the spirits of wicked people; that they
have always coexisted alongside angels; that they are
fallen angels who joined in Lucifer's failed rebellion
against God; that they are the inhabitants of a civili-
zation before Adam that was destroyed by God; and
that they are the spawn of angels and people who had
sexual relations (see Genesis 6:1-8).

As portrayed in Scripture, demons have distinct pow-

ers. They are spiritually aware, as shown by their rec-
ognition of Christ's divinity (James 2:19). Paul makes a
glancing reference to the belief that they fill the earth

(Romans 8:39). Ancient Jewish teachers believed
demons were so prevalent that a person could not stick

a pin in the air without hitting one. They also believed
that demons liked to dwell in tombs. Many people

today feel uneasy in cemeteries, especially at night.

And many are afraid of demons possessing humans.

Demon possession is a frightening possibility. The

child of God need not fear, because demons cannot
possess someone who belongs to Christ. A soul cannot
be possessed by both the holy and the unholy. How-
ever, the unbeliever has no such defense.

Demon possession is not to be confused with mental

illness--even the ancient people distinguished mental
illness from demon possession. Christians need to be
aware, however, that although they cannot be possessed
by demons, they can suffer from demon oppression, per-
haps in the form of unexplained illness or confusion.

With that background we examine the story of

Legion. Though we don't understand how, perhaps
through his own devil worship or occult activity, the
man was possessed by so many demons he called
himself Legion. (Roman legions had as many as 6,000
men.) When Jesus appeared, the man rushed out in
torment. Jesus' appearance was like bright light to
eyes accustomed to darkness. Jesus spoke directly to
the demons--strange behavior if He did not accept the
reality of their existence.

In Jesus' day it was commonly taught that when

the Messiah came, demons would be destroyed. The
demons realized their imminent ruin and bargained
with Christ for their survival. Since they were in a
Gentile area, there was a herd of pigs nearby. They

begged to go into the swine and Jesus allowed it.

When the demons possessed the pigs, the ferocity of

their power and the torture their presence represented
caused the pigs to run wildly off the cliff and into the
sea, where they drowned. In Jewish teaching, water is
fatal to demons; the demons had inadvertently chosen
another means for their obliteration.

In "The Exorcist" and subsequent movies dealing

with demon possession, elaborate ceremonies cast
demons out of their hosts. Interestingly, Jesus did
not employ any of these ceremonial rituals. He simply

said, "Go!" It is important to remember that while
rituals help us, God is not, nor will He ever be, tied to
acting in accordance with anything devised by people.

Our God is infinitely creative in executing His will.

The demon-possessed man was then "fully clothed

and perfectly sane" (Mark 5:15). What was the reac-
tion to this grand miracle? "Then the entire town came
out to meet Jesus, but they begged Him to go away
and leave them alone" (Matthew 8:34). Apparently
they valued the pigs over this tortured man.

The man realized that life had totally changed.

Deeply grateful for what Christ had done, he wanted
to join others who followed Him around the country-
side, a living, breathing demonstration of God's power
to deliver. But Jesus would not allow this. Instead, He
gave him a mission that in its own way, was far more
difficult: "No, go home to your family, and tell them
everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful
He has been" (Mark 5:19). The man was to show the
difference in his life to his family and friends. If our

family can't see the difference in our life in Christ, it
is foolish to expect anyone else to.

A word of caution: some Christians become obsessed

with the study of demons and Satan. While you should
be aware and on guard, remember that Satan loves
nothing more than distracting us from witnessing to
the world about the saving power of Jesus Christ. If
you look at Satan instead of Jesus, the devil will keep

feeding you tantalizing tidbits while you focus on him
instead of Christ. Keep your eyes on Jesus!

Lt. Colonel Allen Satterlee

is Editor�in�Chief and National

Literary Secretary.

LT. COLONEL ALLEN SATTERLEE

Legion

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