Scholars Crossing Department for Counselor Education and Faculty Publications and Presentations Family Studies 1981 A Biblical View of Demonology James A. Laine Liberty University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/ccfs_fac_pubs Recommended Citation Laine, James A., "A Biblical View of Demonology" (1981). Faculty Publications and Presentations. 55. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/ccfs_fac_pubs/55 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Department for Counselor Education and Family Studies at Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications and Presentations by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. I I i f by Dr. James A. Laine ... with foreword by Stan Scott A BIBLICAL VIEW OF DEMONOLOGY By: ::br. Jamej ..A. J!aine ::b.B.:1. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 6 Part I. Background Chapter used by permission I. Language. 12 Revised Standard Version of the Bible Copyrighted U. Origin of Demons 15 1946, 1952,©1971, 1973. Part U. Examination of the Scripture III. Old Testament. 22 IV. New Testament . 28 Matt. 4:23-24, Matt. 8:16-17, Mk. 5:1-20, Matt. 10:1, Lk. 10: 17-20, Matt. 12:22-32, Matt. 12:43-45, Matt. 15:21-28, Mk. 9:14-29, Lk. 4:31-37, Lk. 9:49-50, Acts 19:13-16, Lk. 13:10-13, The Gospel of John, Acts 16:16-18, 1 Cor. 10: 14-22, Eph. 6:10-28. Part III. Application V. Questions Arising from Popular Demonology of Our Time .......... 66 Can A Christian Have A Demon?; Strongholds; Ruler Demons, Demon Groupings and Demon Names; Con­ versing With Demons, The Power of the Blood and Other Formulas; The Power and Province of Demons; Deliverance By the Numbers. ©1981 James A. Laine VI. Summary. 86 Appendix Breakdown of Elements in New Testament Deliverance 87 Bibliography 88 fOREWORD Just to simply sit under the ministry of Jim Laine is to have an inner voice say ... "Here, is a man who loves his Lord ... and is anointed by God! To hear Jim pray ... teach ... share the Word ... is to lmow that you are in the presence of a servant of God ... who, himself, is in the presence of the Almighty! It has been my distinct pleasure to consider Jim a personal friend . it has also been my joy to serve the Lord with this laborer for the Master, on many occasions. Because I truly believe this young man ... is a man of faith ... a man who reflects the compassion of Jesus . it pleases me to be able to help exhibit still another facet of the ministry of Jim Laine ... the ability to expound the truth in the printed page. In an age of 'the blind leading the blind' in a time when sound doctrine is being ignored by seekers with 'itching ears' ... it is most important to 'rightly divide the Word of God' . in the hopes of correcting damage done by some who have 'zeal, without knowledge!' The book you are about to read ... researched exhaustively, and written by Rev. Dr. Jim Laine . reveals the scriptural truths concerning the subject of 'demons' ... there has been much damage done to the Body of Christ by teaching that has been misleading and has caused a spread of fear. The purpose of this volume is to cause a peace to flow over each believer ... to build an assurance and a confidence in every Child of God. As you read, your Spirit will bear witness with the truth ... because this book does not contain personal experiences .. but basic Biblical truth, about the authority of the Christian and the limits of the enemy. Read on ... and let the joy of Jesus rise up in you, for the Glory of God! Stan Scott 5 We must learn to deal with demons, but we must do it God's way. INTRODUCTION Pagan sources are frequently used by God's people in their quest for knowledge. Very few people have sought to define what demon­ In the last ten years there has been a great rise in attention possession really is in biblical terms. Even Christian authors who given to the demonic. A great many books purporting to be are respected for their view of scripture use examples drawn from biblical or theological works have been written on the subject. their experience rather than Biblical criteria. Complicating the Prayer groups and ministers have arisen whose sole reason experiential approach is that fact that these studies also show for existence appears to be the study and treatment of demons. that demon experience and demonology varies from culture to Deliverance seminars and services abound. culture and from sect to sect. While all of this claims to be in a Christian context, the As we will see in our study, even Acts 16: 16 is an indication question arises as to how much of this material is truly Christian that Satan and his demons adapt their deceitful practices to the and how much is modern paganism. Most of the books are written local culture. We also know that Satan is a liar and the father of from an experiential viewpoint rather than from Bible fact, lies, In. 8:44. He cannot be trusted in any situation to present and most of the adherents to this teaching seem more deeply himself as he actually is, since his whole approach is through bound in superstition than the unredeemed. deception. No cultural, literary, or historic material is free from This question takes on greater importance when we examine his manipulation. Not even Jewish superstition can be trusted the fruits of these ministries. While some truly seem to be helped, because that superstition itself was under Satan's control. In truth, we as Christians must look to Jesus' teaching to find the truth. many others are harmed emotionally and spiritually, and the The Word of God alone can be our authority. vast majority are left in theological conflict. My own counseling calendar is frequently filled with cases of people who, having been For the purpose of this study we will base our theology only to a ministry which specializes in "deliverance," have come away on biblical evidence. We will view some non-Christian sources, but more bound than they were before they went. They are fearful, we will only give credence to the Word itself. This, of course, confused, and misinformed. The concepts of self or flesh and presupposes a belief that the BIBLE is the true authoritative demonic or spiritual have become irrationally confused. The main inerrant Word of God. It also presupposes a disbelief in all cause for this seems to be that the attention of these ministries arguments against the validity of scripture such as the accom­ is on the demonic instead of on Jesus Christ. Because of this, the modation theory. Jesus went out of His way to "show His own adherents are more vulnerable to Satan than they think, and DISBELIEF in the popular demonology of His day, save in so Satan rejoices at the attention. far as disease caused by alleged demon possession was concerned. As Dr. William Menzies Alexander, a doctor of medicine as well The Bible clearly teaches the existence of demons and the as a student of divinity, showed some years ago, 'He commanded reality of Satan. It teaches us how to deal with them and overcome His disciples to gather up the fragments, thus discouraging the them. idea that demons lurk ill crumbs. He had flO faith ill the ceremonial Therefore, it is our responsibility to clearly study the Bible's washing of hands; so repelling the notion that spirits may rest on theology concerning these beings and our relationship to them so unwashed hands. He asked a draught of water from the woman of that we will not be duped by Satan or left vulnerable to his powers. Samaria and thereafter entered the city; proving that He had no 6 7 fear of borrowed water and no belief in local shedim. He retired I pray that the reader will pray before you read, asking that repeatedly to desert places alld fasted in the wildnerness; therein God would teach and that you will be open. Far too often we try rejecting the poplliar conception that the waste is the special to make the scripture say what we want it to say or what we haunt of eJdl spirits . .. The association of demons with animals believe it should say, rather than truly trying to understand is in conflict with Christ's assertion of God's special care over what it really does say. I have made an earnest attempt to be them.' In a word, apart from the context of disease and the open. I have had to change some long-held beliefs now that I have possible exception of the storm on the lake, Jesus makes no truly been confronted by the Word. reference to deJlils, though the COlll!ersations around Him were full of references to them. He makes an exceptioll when He talks Please do not deny anything presented without first prayer­ about certain types of illness. Theil He does seem to accept the fully submitting yourself to the authority of the scripture. J!iew of demon possession. There is a significance ill sllch a All scriptural quotations used will be from the Revised marked exception. "I Standard Version unless otherwise indicated. It is clear that Jesus was not accommodating His contem­ poraries since He displayed beliefs concerning demonology which went against the rabbinic doctrine of demons.