Demon Possession The Christian

Shows from theology, the Bible and counseling experiences that Christians can be affected by demonic activity. Equips believers to fight spiritual battles--and win.

A fascinating, wide-ranging survey examines the history of possession and exorcism through the ages.

2020 Center for Biblical Studies Finalist for Biblical Theology The truth about demons is far stranger--and even more fascinating--than what's commonly believed. Are demons real? Are they red creatures with goatees holding pitchforks and sitting on people's shoulders while whispering bad things? Did a third of the angels really rebel with Satan? Are demons and "principalities and powers" just terms for the same entities, or are they different members of the kingdom of darkness? Is the world a chaotic mess because of what happened in Eden, or is there more to the story of evil? What people believed about evil spiritual forces in ancient biblical times is often very different than what people have been led to believe about them today. And this ancient worldview is missing from most attempts to treat the topic. In Demons, Michael Heiser debunks popular presuppositions about the very real powers of darkness. Rather than traditions, stories, speculations, or myths, Demons is grounded in what ancient people of both the Old and New Testament eras believed about evil spiritual forces and in what the Bible actually says. You'll come away with a sound, biblical understanding of demons, supernatural rebellion, evil spirits, and spiritual warfare.

In this world there is a proliferation of reality shows and movies that focus on the paranormal and the supernatural realm. The resurgence of interest in the supernatural appears to be pervading every area of life, including the religious. While some scholars dismiss the notion of demons and demonic possession, others readily acknowledge their reality. In particular, bible scholars, ministers, and counselors have a vested interest in this area. However, their professional opinions may differ greatly as to whether a Christian can be demon-possessed. A major reason for this impasse is the ongoing influence of the Age of Enlightenment. It represents an anti-supernatural worldview that denies the existence of the spiritual realm. Thus, in order to by-pass the influence of the Age of Enlightenment on modern day interpretation of demon possession, this study presents the records of the early Church Fathers from A.D. 100 to A. D. 500. Their original accounts are presented, critiqued, analyzed, and evaluated to determine what they communicated about demon possession and the Christian. What was uncovered not only has major ramifications for the Church today, but also informs the world at large about the reality of the spirit world. The author holds a B.A. degree in Bible and Theology from Crown Bible College, a M.A. degree in Missions from Columbia International University, and a Ph. D. degree in Religious Studies from Trinity College and Theological Seminary. Over the past twenty-one years he has served as a Christian high school teacher, Christian radio DJ, pastor, and a college professor. He and his wife of thirty-three years, Vicki, are the proud parents of six wonderful Christian sons.

Demon possession in New Testament times was real, contends the author in the face of rationalistic denials. A study of the Gospels reveals that genuine demon possession had two distinctive elements: (1) insanity or idiocy of some sort, forming the natural element,Ó and (2) the confession of Jesus as Messiah, forming the supernatural element.Ó The author's research also led him to conclude that demon possession in the New Testament is a unique phenomenon in the history of the world, being confined indeed to the earlier portion of the ministry of our Lord.Ó Why did this phenomenon erupt when it did? The incarnation initiated the establishment of the kingdom of heaven upon earth. That determined a countermovement among the powers of darkness. Genuine demonic possession was one of its manifestations.Ó Entire chapters are devoted to historic demonology, medical aspects of demonic possession, the existence of genuine demonic possession, the New Testament narratives concerning the Beelzebul controversyÓ and the Gerasene affair,Ó and the alleged continuance of genuine demonic possession.

This study seeks to demonstrate that exorcism/deliverance ministry is an innately enthusiastic practice utilizing John Knox's classic study of Christian enthusiasm. The twentieth century provides an ideal arena for such a study since it frames a complete lifecycle for this rite from its infancy during the early decades, through its heyday in the 1970s and 80s, on to creeping routinisation by the end of the century. Two enthusiastic settings, Charismatic and Evangelical Fundamentalist, are identified and examined as the environment in which two related streams of exorcism/deliverance ministry was practiced. Finally, enthusiastic Sacramentalist exorcism is considered in order to establish the thesis that enthusiastic settings provide a conducive atmosphere for the emergence and practice of exorcism/deliverance ministry. Attention is paid to historical factors within the Charismatic and Evangelical Fundamentalist streams that underlie the development of this rite. As a result important secondary insights are gained into the tidal nature of enthusiastic movements, the role of itinerant preachers in the propagation of enthusiasm, the routinisation of enthusiastic practices and the manner in which enthusiasm overcomes institutional denominational boundaries. The study provides the foundation for future investigation of the manner in which enthusiastic experience is presented for apologetic purposes, the relationship between exorcism/deliverance ministry and millenarianism and the practice of this rite within non-Western churches.

A collection of demon possession experiences, case histories, studies, and conclusions from a wide range of professional people, including doctors, psychiatrists, scientists, historians, theologians, and college professors.