Devils In The Bible

The Word Devil

Before we begin going through the many spirits in the bible, I need to explain the word devil for you so we have a proper understanding as we read this term in the future. Many “Christians” these days do not actually understand that the word devil is not always associated with Satan. They want to blame Satan for their every problem and thought, yet many of their issues surface within their own choices.

The easiest way to prove to you that a devil is not always speaking about Satan is to show you its plurality. The word “devils” is used 48 times in the bible, and there are many possession stories where we have multiple devils being spoken about within a single individual. Such as these;

Deuteronomy 32
17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

Matthew 12
43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Mark 5
8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

Notice how in both of those instances, we see there are multiple spirits, multiple devils, looking for a single place to reside within someone’s mind or body. We also see from Deuteronomy 32 that devils can be called gods because the bible says they sacrificed to devils, to new gods that came newly up. This means that the many references to the gods of the people, the god of this world, those possessed with devils, are speaking about different spirits depending on the context. It also means that new devils can be formed (“new gods”), just like new people can be born, but we will cover this in a later section.

Additionally, the bible shows that even outsiders understand this fact, as you can see from this woman of Canaan in Matthew 15,

22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

This woman understands that her daughter is vexed with a nonspecific devil, which while it is a singular term, it is an indefinite article that is not particular to any specific title. Meaning she is not speaking specifically about Satan or she would have said possessed with the devil, indicating a known article.

Similar to angels, which have a sort of hierarchy and purpose, each angel for a specific task, devils have a similar system in their ranks.

How Devils Operate

In this portion I want to explain a bit about how devils operate within the body and mind. Above I described the fact that devils have a hierarchy in which there is a leader, chiefs, messengers, etc.. just like a normal military or company. This can be shown through many verses, but we will use an example from Luke 11,

13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
14 And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.
15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.
17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.

In this example, there is a devil within the people that is being cast out by the logic within the question of verse 13. As you can see, the people present in this scenario do not understand the concept of prayer, so they are being taught. Then we see in verse 14 it says “And he was casting out a devil”, meaning through this expounding in the preaching, the dumb (meaning mute) devil had filled the minds of the people on this specific topic. When the explanation is fully provided, the devil is removed, and that idea within their mind came to light (the dumb spake), causing the people to wonder at the thoughts they were having from this understanding. Just as angels are messengers of understanding to the mind (which is why some action always occurs when they arrive, like a prison door being opened), devils are messengers of confusion, causing inaction or a improper reaction to certain situations.

Therefore, concepts or ideas have a hierarchal structure to them, and in this instance, the teaching of Beelzebub is chief here. Similar to how Paul states in Romans 15,

20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.

It is through the preaching of the name of Christ that a foundation of understanding is laid within the mind. That makes it the most important topic for belief, being the chief wisdom required for guidance of the mind. As 1 Peter 5 says,

1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Peter is stating that he is an elder (part of the hierarchal structure of leaders within the bible), in which the books he teaches from build upon the foundational understanding of salvation through his teachings of the sufferings he witnessed spiritually. His task within your mind is to feed the flock of your thoughts (clouds, like wooly sheep) through the example you see of his character within the bible. And being an elder, he is stating that he is under the chief Shepherd, because he cannot alter the foundational understanding of salvation, only build upon it.

The same is true of devils, as you can see above. Beelzebub in this example is part of the house of Satan, and his teachings are of the most importance amongst that line of thinking. Picture Moses and Aaron, Moses was the face of the law through his interaction with the LORD, and Aaron was his chief priest which taught and guided the people. The purpose of the New Testament is to remove the bindings of the law from the people of God. Therefore, the devil present within those people created an inability to think of spiritual concepts in a new way, because a change of thinking is contrary to the teachings of the law.

The interaction that is occurring in Luke 11 is like you would see today where people accuse me of being a devil (teaching things contradictory to the bible), and yet people’s minds are being opened to new understandings of the bible itself, so how could I be against the bible? I cannot cast out bad spiritual concepts if I am against the bible, because that would make things worse for a devil, causing a house divided against itself. A devil attempts to close the eyes of your understanding so that you cannot utilize the word of God for your healing, which is why the devils are always dumb, blind, mute, or lame.

Part 1 - Satan

Section 1: The Law

We will begin this section by describing what Satan’s power is, and how he utilizes it over man, so that I can better expound other portions of his character later on. The first thing you must understand is that the law of carnal commandments is what gives the knowledge of sin, which then brings death to your mind. Think about it, when you used to believe in a set of man-generated commandments, they would cause you to feel condemned, and therefore you believed in your own death. As Romans 7 says,

6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

The concept of sin arises out of the law and uses the commandments to hold you in the condemnation that it brings forth within your mind. The law is holy, just, and good, it teaches good things, knowledge about how to behave oneself. However, it can be used by outside forces for evil, and becomes even worse when it is situated in ignorance. Devils, false prophets, or even your own mind (before wisdom), can misconstrue the law for evil, and use that condemnation to bring death through bondage. When someone stops moving through time, you consider them dead, and bondage is what inhibits your spirit from growth. It keeps you in the same place while weighing you down, until your body matches your spirit.

Romans 7
5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

1 Corinthians 15
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

Romans 8
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

This is the power of Satan, he understands this concept. As Hebrews 2 says,

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Which is also experienced within the gospels, where people are bound by the law and it inhibits their spirit from feeling healthy again, thereby bringing infirmity. As we see in Luke 13,

11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

Proverbs 17
22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Section 2: Crooked Darkness

This next part will explain the concept of darkness and how it applies to the law and the people who experience the law. In the previous section, I expounded upon a story from Luke 13 where a woman was bowed together in infirmity, and could not be made straight. That scene should help you to understand this verse from Isaiah 42, and how it relates to the bondage of the commandment,

16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

As you can see from this example, to be under the law, bound by its infirmity, is to be in darkness. A crooked path is one that is out of joint, it needed to be straightened by the Spirit of life and freedom in order to walk properly within the mind. That is why the story from Luke 13 said I laid my hands on her, it is the hands of the dendrites within the mind, using teaching to straighten the spirit of another so that they can think clearly without condemnation. It opens the eyes of the blind, by opening the wisdom transferred to the nucleus (eyes) of your neurons.

Matthew 6
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

Acts 26
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

One of the main themes within the bible is the fact that those who teach the law (the Pharisees and Scribes) did not even know the law themselves. They taught for doctrine the commandments of men. Therefore, the law was never profitable to the people, because it would always be utilized by false prophets and devils to construe their minds. However, sometimes the bond becomes so strong, forming a heart of stone within the believer in it, that they believe it is actually a good thing. As we see in Isaiah 5,

20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

And as I stated before, this is Satan’s power, using the law and prophets for condemnation, while deceiving you into thinking it is good. As 2 Corinthians 11 says,

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Christians today are what the bible calls a Jew, whom Satan works within to condemn others. Just as we can become a temple for the Spirit, they can become a temple for the law. As we see in Revelation 3,

9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

There is also another running theme within the bible of being cast into outer darkness. These are those who walk within the words of God (the kingdom), yet do not have the freedom of true faith and understanding, and thus are bound up by the law and cast out of the light.

Matthew 22
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

That is what is done to those who do not believe (being speechless, having a dumb devil), which is known as blasphemy, because they need to be refined by the fire of the law. As we see done in 1 Timothy 1,

19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

As well as, Revelation 21,

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Section 3: Darkness Upon The Deep

Part 2 - Beelzebub (in progress, ignore for now)

Numbers 25:14

Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites.

Deuteronomy 1:15

So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.

Joshua 22:14

And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was an head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel.

1 Samuel 2:29

Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

1 Samuel 9:22

And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.

Psalm 78

40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!

41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

42 They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.

43 How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan.

44 And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.

45 He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.

46 He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.

47 He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.

48 He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.

49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.

50 He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;

51 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

52 But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.

53 And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

54 And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.

55 He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:

57 But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.