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Chapter 31
Agency of Evil Spirits
THE connection of the visible with the invisible world, the ministration of angels of God,
and the agency of evil spirits, are plainly revealed in the Scriptures, and inseparably
interwoven with human history. There is a growing tendency to disbelief in the existence
of evil spirits, while the holy angels that "minister for them who shall be heirs of
salvation" (Hebrews 1:14) are regarded by many as spirits of the dead. But the
Scriptures not only teach the existence of angels, both good and evil, but present
unquestionable proof that these are not disembodied spirits of dead men.
Before the creation of man, angels were in existence; for when the foundations of the
earth were laid, "the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted
for joy." Job 38:7. After the fall of man, angels were sent to guard the tree of
life, and this before a human being had died. Angels are in nature superior to men, for
the psalmist says that man was made "a little lower than the angels." Psalm 8:5.
We are informed in Scripture as to the number, and the power and glory, of the heavenly
beings, of their connection with the government of God, and also of their relation to the
work of redemption. "The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His
kingdom ruleth over all." And, says the prophet, "I heard the voice of many
angels round about the throne." In the presence chamber of the King of kings
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they wait--"angels, that excel in strength," "ministers of His, that do His
pleasure," "hearkening unto the voice of His word." Psalm 103:19-21;
Revelation 5:11. Ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands, were the
heavenly messengers beheld by the prophet Daniel. The apostle Paul declared them "an
innumerable company." Daniel 7:10; Hebrews 12:22. As God's messengers they go forth,
like "the appearance of a flash of lightning," (Ezekiel 1:14), so dazzling their
glory, and so swift their flight. The angel that appeared at the Saviour's tomb, his
countenance "like lightning, and his raiment white as snow," caused the keepers
for fear of him to quake, and they "became as dead men." Matthew 28:3, 4. When
Sennacherib, the haughty Assyrian, reproached and blasphemed God, and threatened Israel
with destruction, "it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out,
and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand." There
were "cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains," from
the army of Sennacherib. "So he returned with shame of face to his own land." 2
Kings 19:35; 2 Chronicles 32:21.
Angels are sent on missions of mercy to the children of God. To Abraham, with promises of
blessing; to the gates of Sodom, to rescue righteous Lot from its fiery doom; to Elijah,
as he was about to perish from weariness and hunger in the desert; to Elisha, with
chariots and horses of fire surrounding the little town where he was shut in by his foes;
to Daniel, while seeking divine wisdom in the court of a heathen king, or abandoned to
become the lions' prey; to Peter, doomed to death in Herod's dungeon; to the prisoners at
Philippi; to Paul and his companions in the night of tempest on the sea; to open the mind
of Cornelius to receive the gospel; to dispatch Peter with the message of salvation to the
Gentile stranger--thus holy angels have, in all ages, ministered to God's people.
A guardian angel is appointed to every follower of Christ. These heavenly watchers shield
the righteous from the power
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of the wicked one. This Satan himself recognized when he said: "Doth Job fear God for
nought? Hast not Thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he
hath on every side?" Job 1:9, 10. The agency by which God protects His people is
presented in the words of the psalmist: "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about
them that fear Him, and delivereth them." Psalm 34:7. Said the Saviour, speaking of
those that believe in Him: "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones;
for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My
Father." Matthew 18:10. The angels appointed to minister to the children of God have
at all times access to His presence.
Thus God's people, exposed to the deceptive power and unsleeping malice of the prince of
darkness, and in conflict with all the forces of evil, are assured of the unceasing
guardianship of heavenly angels. Nor is such assurance given without need. If God has
granted to His children promise of grace and protection, it is because there are mighty
agencies of evil to be met--agencies numerous, determined, and untiring, of whose
malignity and power none can safely be ignorant or unheeding.
Evil spirits, in the beginning created sinless, were equal in nature, power, and glory
with the holy beings that are now God's messengers. But fallen through sin, they are
leagued together for the dishonor of God and the destruction of men. United with Satan in
his rebellion, and with him cast out from heaven, they have, through all succeeding ages,
co-operated with him in his warfare against the divine authority. We are told in Scripture
of their confederacy and government, of their various orders, of their intelligence and
subtlety, and of their malicious designs against the peace and happiness of men.
Old Testament history presents occasional mention of their existence and agency; but it
was during the time when Christ was upon the earth that evil spirits manifested their
power in the most striking manner. Christ had come to enter
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upon the plan devised for man's redemption, and Satan determined to assert his right to
control the world. He had succeeded in establishing idolatry in every part of the earth
except the land of Palestine. To the only land that had not fully yielded to the tempter's
sway, Christ came to shed upon the people the light of heaven. Here two rival powers
claimed supremacy. Jesus was stretching out His arms of love, inviting all who would to
find pardon and peace in Him. The hosts of darkness saw that they did not possess
unlimited control, and they understood that if Christ's mission should be successful,
their rule was soon to end. Satan raged like a chained lion and defiantly exhibited his
power over the bodies as well as the souls of men.
The fact that men have been possessed with demons, is clearly stated in the New Testament.
The persons thus afflicted were not merely suffering with disease from natural causes.
Christ had perfect understanding of that with which He was dealing, and He recognized the
direct presence and agency of evil spirits.
A striking example of their number, power, and malignity, and also of the power and mercy
of Christ, is given in the Scripture account of the healing of the demoniacs at Gadara.
Those wretched maniacs, spurning all restraint, writhing, foaming, raging, were filling
the air with their cries, doing violence to themselves, and endangering all who should
approach them. Their bleeding and disfigured bodies and distracted minds presented a
spectacle well pleasing to the prince of darkness. One of the demons controlling the
sufferers declared: "My name is Legion: for we are many." Mark 5:9. In the Roman
army a legion consisted of from three to five thousand men. Satan's hosts also are
marshaled in companies, and the single company to which these demons belonged numbered no
less than a legion.
At the command of Jesus the evil spirits departed from their victims, leaving them calmly
sitting at the Saviour's feet, subdued, intelligent, and gentle. But the demons were
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permitted to sweep a herd of swine into the sea; and to the dwellers of Gadara the loss of
these outweighed the blessings which Christ had bestowed, and the divine Healer was
entreated to depart. This was the result which Satan designed to secure. By casting the
blame of their loss upon Jesus, he aroused the selfish fears of the people and prevented
them from listening to His words. Satan is constantly accusing Christians as the cause of
loss, misfortune, and suffering, instead of allowing the reproach to fall where it
belongs-- upon himself and his agents.
But the purposes of Christ were not thwarted. He allowed the evil spirits to destroy the
herd of swine as a rebuke to those Jews who were raising these unclean beasts for the sake
of gain. Had not Christ restrained the demons, they would have plunged into the sea, not
only the swine, but also their keepers and owners. The preservation of both the keepers
and the owners was due alone to His power, mercifully exercised for their deliverance.
Furthermore, this event was permitted to take place that the disciples might witness the
cruel power of Satan upon both man and beast. The Saviour desired His followers to have a
knowledge of the foe whom they were to meet, that they might not be deceived and overcome
by his devices. It was also His will that the people of that region should behold His
power to break the bondage of Satan and release his captives. And though Jesus Himself
departed, the men so marvelously delivered, remained to declare the mercy of their
Benefactor.
Other instances of a similar nature are recorded in the Scriptures. The daughter of the
Syrophoenician woman was grievously vexed with a devil, whom Jesus cast out by His word.
(Mark 7:26-30). "One possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb" (Matthew 12:22; a
youth who had a dumb spirit, that ofttimes "cast him into the fire, and into the
waters, to destroy him" (Mark 9:17-27); the maniac who, tormented by "a spirit
of an unclean devil" (Luke 4:33-36), disturbed the Sabbath quiet of the synagogue at
Capernaum--all were
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healed by the compassionate Saviour. In nearly every instance, Christ addressed the demon
as an intelligent entity, commanding him to come out of his victim and to torment him no
more. The worshipers at Capernaum, beholding His mighty power, "were all amazed, and
spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power He
commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out." Luke 4:36.
Those possessed with devils are usually represented as being in a condition of great
suffering; yet there were exceptions to this rule. For the sake of obtaining supernatural
power, some welcomed the satanic influence. These of course had no conflict with the
demons. Of this class were those who possessed the spirit of divination,--Simon Magus,
Elymas the sorcerer, and the damsel who followed Paul and Silas at Philippi.
None are in greater danger from the influence of evil spirits than those who,
notwithstanding the direct and ample testimony of the Scriptures, deny the existence and
agency of the devil and his angels. So long as we are ignorant of their wiles, they have
almost inconceivable advantage; many give heed to their suggestions while they suppose
themselves to be following the dictates of their own wisdom. This is why, as we approach
the close of time, when Satan is to work with greatest power to deceive and destroy, he
spreads everywhere the belief that he does not exist. It is his policy to conceal himself
and his manner of working.
There is nothing that the great deceiver fears so much as that we shall become acquainted
with his devices. The better to disguise his real character and purposes, he has caused
himself to be so represented as to excite no stronger emotion than ridicule or contempt.
He is well pleased to be painted as a ludicrous or loathsome object, misshapen, half
animal and half human. He is pleased to hear his name used in sport and mockery by those
who think themselves intelligent and well informed.
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It is because he has masked himself with consummate skill that the question is so widely
asked: "Does such a being really exist?" It is an evidence of his success that
theories giving the lie to the plainest testimony of the Scriptures are so generally
received in the religious world. And it is because Satan can most readily control the
minds of those who are unconscious of his influence, that the word of God gives us so many
examples of his malignant work, unveiling before us his secret forces, and thus placing us
on our guard against his assaults.
The power and malice of Satan and his host might justly alarm us were it not that we may
find shelter and deliverance in the superior power of our Redeemer. We carefully secure
our houses with bolts and locks to protect our property and our lives from evil men; but
we seldom think of the evil angels who are constantly seeking access to us, and against
whose attacks we have, in our own strength, no method of defense. If permitted, they can
distract our minds, disorder and torment our bodies, destroy our possessions and our
lives. Their only delight is in misery and destruction. Fearful is the condition of those
who resist the divine claims and yield to Satan's temptations, until God gives them up to
the control of evil spirits. But those who follow Christ are ever safe under His
watchcare. Angels that excel in strength are sent from heaven to protect them. The wicked
one cannot break through the guard which God has stationed about His people.
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