Modern possession
Some believe that the majority, and perhaps all, of the senseless crimes of violence, torture, perversion and hatred committed in the modern world can be attributed to the actions of
8 min read
Possession
This direct assault covers what the Bible refers to as “demon possession,” the outright control of human personality by the power of a wicked spirit. It also extends to such activities as soothsaying, occultism, spiritism (or spiritualism), and related black magic arts such as astrology, fortune telling, …
Demon possession is defined by the a human who has become inhabited or “taken over” by a demon and who cannot, consequently, exercise his own will – Mark, Chapter 5, ver. 12.
First, the Bible itself is very careful to distinguish between mental illness and demon possession. The writers of the Scriptures were certainly aware of this distinction. One of them, Luke, was a physician himself and was certainly acquainted with the distinctions between diseases and mental illnesses, as well as demon possession.
In Matthew 4:24 a careful distinction is made between those who were afflicted by diseases, those who were demon possessed, and those who were lunatic or mentally ill. Luke refers to the same thing in Luke 4:40-41.
It should be noticed that ancients also had a sort of faith in the prophetic words spoken by those whom they believed to be possessed by demons, and this was sometimes a component of ancient oracles. Later, exorcists of the Church have tried to improve its knowledge of demons and theology by asking precise questions to the (demons that occupied) possessed.
The case of Judas
Judas Iscariot was chosen as the twelfth apostle by Jesus and later betrayed him. At first glance, the Lord could be considered faulty for having put his trust into a
8 min read
Cases of possession in the New Testament
Cases of possession are numerous in the New Testament and Jesus appears a the great figure of the “Exorcist” among his people. This practice seems to be inherited from the
8 min read
Familiar spirits
One of the activities of evil spirits mentioned in the Bible is that of “familiar” or “divining” spirits. These demons appear to have the ability to rouse the dead from
8 min read
Symptoms of Demonic Possession
Demon possession may last for relatively brief periods of time for any one individual. The rest of the time, the victim of demon possession may appear normal by social standards.
8 min read
