Origin of demons

[Esaias]

What is the origin of demons? What exactly are they?

I do not see any evidence they are 'fallen angels', a theory which seems more at home in the Silmarillion than in Christian doctrine. Assuming for the moment there WAS an ancient angelic rebellion, Scripture speaks of 'the angels which left their first estate' as being 'reserved under chains' until Judgement, not roaming around possessing people.

Angels are beings of immense power, scripture is clear on that. An evil angel would not be limited to bodily possession of an individual making them act lunatic.

Seems demons in scripture are what modern man calls 'mental disease' of the psychosis kind. Schizophrenia, dementia, MPD, psychotic states, etc seem to be more along the lines of demonic possession.

Some have concluded that 'demon possession' in scripture is simply an archaic and ignorant superstitious reference to mental illness, and that Jesus accomodated the ignorance of the times by using their terminology.

This seems implausible however. A mere mental disorder does not declare its own name, demand not to be tormented prior to Judgement Day, or request to be transferred into a herd of swine, for example.

Interestingly, the Bible teaches two things clearly - the gods of paganism are demons, and the gods of paganism are 'nothing'. The word 'daimon' or 'daemon' or 'daimonion' in the Greek are related to the mind. They were viewed as little gods by the common people but the technical and philosophical meaning had to do with 'Genius', ie the subconscious source of inspiration in a person's mind.

So it's all your head, right? Yes... and yet no. Unclean spirits/demons are spoken of in Scripture as really spirits of some kind. They seem to use the brain/mind of whatever they are inhabiting - thus a demon in a human is able to speak, has the gist of a personality, etc... but in a herd of swine simply act out as a horde of deranged animals. Perhaps demons are not 'persons', or personalities per se, but take on the personality or adopt the mental capacity or intelligence of whatever they possess, whether of humans, or pigs.

In any case, whatever they are, where did they come from?

ALL things were made by God - that would include evil spirits, unclean spirits, demons, etc.

Is there a scripture I have missed or overlooked that explains their origin and purpose?

Your thoughts?

(And no, I do not accept that they are the souls of the people killed in the Flood, wandering around trying to get back into a body, lol.)

[Praxeas]

Could "darkness" refer to a blindness?

[Dordrecht]

ALL things were made by God - that would include evil spirits, unclean spirits, demons, etc.

I don't think they were created that way.
They were not created as being evil.
They decided to become evil.

[shazeep]

plus, it seems Esaias has mingled the spirits cast from heaven for rebellion with the Nephilim?

[Moonlightpixel]

This is unrelated but I have a question.
What can a person do with the gift of discernment?
I thought of one: Become a therapist.

[BrotherEastman]

What is the origin of demons? What exactly are they?

I do not see any evidence they are 'fallen angels', a theory which seems more at home in the Silmarillion than in Christian doctrine. Assuming for the moment there WAS an ancient angelic rebellion, Scripture speaks of 'the angels which left their first estate' as being 'reserved under chains' until Judgement, not roaming around possessing people.

Angels are beings of immense power, scripture is clear on that. An evil angel would not be limited to bodily possession of an individual making them act lunatic.

Seems demons in scripture are what modern man calls 'mental disease' of the psychosis kind. Schizophrenia, dementia, MPD, psychotic states, etc seem to be more along the lines of demonic possession.

Some have concluded that 'demon possession' in scripture is simply an archaic and ignorant superstitious reference to mental illness, and that Jesus accomodated the ignorance of the times by using their terminology.

This seems implausible however. A mere mental disorder does not declare its own name, demand not to be tormented prior to Judgement Day, or request to be transferred into a herd of swine, for example.

Interestingly, the Bible teaches two things clearly - the gods of paganism are demons, and the gods of paganism are 'nothing'. The word 'daimon' or 'daemon' or 'daimonion' in the Greek are related to the mind. They were viewed as little gods by the common people but the technical and philosophical meaning had to do with 'Genius', ie the subconscious source of inspiration in a person's mind.

So it's all your head, right? Yes... and yet no. Unclean spirits/demons are spoken of in Scripture as really spirits of some kind. They seem to use the brain/mind of whatever they are inhabiting - thus a demon in a human is able to speak, has the gist of a personality, etc... but in a herd of swine simply act out as a horde of deranged animals. Perhaps demons are not 'persons', or personalities per se, but take on the personality or adopt the mental capacity or intelligence of whatever they possess, whether of humans, or pigs.

In any case, whatever they are, where did they come from?

ALL things were made by God - that would include evil spirits, unclean spirits, demons, etc.

Is there a scripture I have missed or overlooked that explains their origin and purpose?

Your thoughts?

(And no, I do not accept that they are the souls of the people killed in the Flood, wandering around trying to get back into a body, lol.)

Don't know whether or not you read non canonized scripture or not, but the book of Enoch sheds some pretty good light on your question. Just a thought.

[mizpeh]

I don't think they were created that way.
They were not created as being evil.
They decided to become evil.

God made all things good.

[mizpeh]

Could "darkness" refer to a blindness?
I think it is a term to contrast with "light". Esaias should consider doing a study of the word, darkness, in the NT.

I think of the 'chains of darkness' as the fallen angels being bound up so that their minds are absolutely darkened that they can no longer do good.

[justlookin]

It does seem there's a difference between a fallen angel and a demon, but where and when demons originated is anyone's guess. If they are Nephilim, this would mean there was no demonic activity until after the sons of God/daughters of men interaction which immediately preceded the flood. Maybe so.

[Moonlightpixel]

Do people with the gift of discernment travel on mission trips?
If they do, then I need to tell people what my gift is!

[Dordrecht]

Do people with the gift of discernment travel on mission trips?
If they do, then I need to tell people what my gift is!

How does this relate to the subject of the thread.
Maybe you should start a new thread.

[Praxeas]

I think it is a term to contrast with "light". Esaias should consider doing a study of the word, darkness, in the NT.

I think of the 'chains of darkness' as the fallen angels being bound up so that their minds are absolutely darkened that they can no longer do good.
That's what I meant by blindness

[Abiding Now]

Jud 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.



I believe that demons are fallen angels and that they are "reserved in everlasting chains under darkness", just as satan was restrained/watched (see Strong's G5083)/reserved and because God is "watching", satan and his fallen comrades can only do what God allows. Example: satan had limitations that God enforced in the book of Job.

[Aquila]

The term "demon" is a generic term that encompasses devils (fallen angels) and unclean spirits. Many believe that some "unclean spirits" are spirits that originated here on earth. Many believe that they are the disembodied Nephilim of Genesis 6 who drowned in the flood. Others believe that these are spirits of the "unpurified" or "impure" dead who are essentially damned and desire to haunt and/or torment the living with fear and various maladies as they roam the earthly plane. Some believe that these are both. These are known as "dybbuks" in Judaism and various rabbinical writings.

Unclean spirits desire to inhabit human bodies more than fallen angels do. This is because they once had bodies of their own. They desire to "live out" their lusts and desires through their host, ever enticing them into deeper and deeper levels of various sins and unhealthy habits... or even heinous acts. Some unclean spirits are jealous of the living and seek to bring sickness and various maladies to inflict suffering upon the living. Either way, be the possession a fallen angel or an unclean spirit, exorcism is the only remedy.

[Abiding Now]

The term "demon" is a generic term that encompasses devils (fallen angels) and unclean spirits. Many believe that some "unclean spirits" are spirits that originated here on earth. Many believe that they are the disembodied Nephilim of Genesis 6 who drowned in the flood. Others believe that these are spirits of the "unpurified" or "impure" dead who are essentially damned and desire to haunt and/or torment the living with fear and various maladies as they roam the earthly plane. Some believe that these are both. These are known as "dybbuks" in Judaism and various rabbinical writings.

Unclean spirits desire to inhabit human bodies more than fallen angels do. This is because they once had bodies of their own. They desire to "live out" their lusts and desires through their host, ever enticing them into deeper and deeper levels of various sins and unhealthy habits... or even heinous acts. Some unclean spirits are jealous of the living and seek to bring sickness and various maladies to inflict suffering upon the living. Either way, be the possession a fallen angel or an unclean spirit, exorcism is the only remedy.

To me, demons and unclean spirits are one and the same, to believe other wise is to believe in haints. :heeheehee

[Aquila]

To me, demons and unclean spirits are one and the same, to believe other wise is to believe in haints. :heeheehee

:lol