Are demons still present today?
Categories: Bible Questions and AnswersWe were studying the expulsion of demons from Legion into the swine and they all ran into the Lake and were drowned. The question was “were these demons (devils) present for Jesus to expel to show his power for the others around, or have they always been and still are present?”
A: The key verse to remember here is Mark 16:17-20. “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” Notice the signs in verses 17-19, 1) Cast out devils, 2) Speak in tongues, 3) Take up serpents, 4) Drink poison, 5) Heal the sick. Now notice what the purpose of these signs was in verse 20 — “confirming the word with the signs.” Once the word is confirmed there is no more reason to have the signs. Has the word been confirmed today? Yes. See Hebrews 2:3,4. See also 1 Corinthians 13:8-10. Prophesies, tongues, and special knowledge were all to be “done away” when that which was perfect came. What is that which was perfect? The complete revealed will of God (James 1:25 “perfect law of liberty,” Jude 3 “the faith which as once delivered unto the saints”). There is no need for signs now because the word has been confirmed and delivered.
Now, casting out demons was part of this confirming the word according to Mark 16:17-20. Now that there is no need to confirm the word, there is no need to cast out demons; hence, there is no need for demons to roam around in the world today. We see rather that the scriptures say they are now reserved in torments unto judgment (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6).
So to answer the question, the demons were around solely for the purpose of Jesus and the apostles to be able to expel to confirm the word. They are NOT around today; there is no reason for them to possess people today.