Demonic Activity … Then and Now

“When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way.

Mattew 8:28 (Italics and boldness mine)

I have come to take note of the demonic activity that seemed to be so prevalent during the time of Christ’s earthly ministry. I am no scholar, by any means, just a simple follower and observer of the word of God and the times that we are now living in. It is easy to see as we look back at the days of Christ, that there were massive amounts of demonic activities and appearances.

As they were going out, a mute demon-possessed man was brought to Him. After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed, and saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel”. But the Pharisees were saying ‘He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.'”

Matthew 9:32-34

It seems as though Satan, after his numerous tries during the 40 days of temptation, sent out his many demons (fallen angels) to proclaim to and intrigue the masses of Jerusalem and the Galilean regions that the Son of David had indeed come. They (the demons) would appear as mental illnesses, physical illnesses, and chronic illnesses, as we read in the Scriptures. The bible tells us that all of these demons were cast out by Jesus, and even some by His disciples. It appears to be a very active time in history, doesn’t it?

They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Garasenes. When He got out of the boat immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain; because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs, and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones.”

Mark 5:1-5 (bold type added for emphasis)

Consider the detail that the Scriptures give us about the activity of these demons, sometimes referred to as ‘unclean spirits‘. This particular account in Mark tells us a lot about how the demons operated. This one unclean spirit makes the man strong, over-powering everyone who tried to contain it. He gave the man an appearance of super-strength. And then the Scripture goes on to tell us what this demon was tormenting this man with. He was physically assaulting this man, causing him to ‘cut’ himself with stones; the man was so tormented that he was heard ‘screaming constantly‘, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains. Notice, they were ALL dry areas, demons hate water!

Now let’s fast forward to the days we are living in, the last days, as we refer to them. Almost every scholar, teacher, Pastor, and those who study the Scriptures with an eye toward the eschatological will say with some certainty, that we truly are living in the season of the Lord’s return. I will go even further and add that many of us are also looking up and awaiting His glorious return in the clouds to call us up to where He is. That being said, I would like you to see one reason why I believe we are in such a season.

You have to admit that in the past 30 years or more, that there has been an increase in pharmaceutical activity, especially when it is applied to what the world calls, ‘mental illness’. There are many similarities between the behavior of these folks, both then and now.

  • The super strength
  • Violent behavior
  • Screaming and lashing out, symptoms of ‘possession’
  • Cutting themselves, self-harm Increase in activity as the close of the age nears

There is one huge difference though. We now live in an age of “technological advance”, where we can use our “extensive knowledge” and bring an end to the suffering of so many that are afflicted with various mental diseases and maladies. I love how they (these numerous “professionals”) have a vast number of titles for each disease. They seem to think that because they are our “betters” that we wouldn’t notice that ALL of the symptoms seem to be the same! They love to add this drug (pharmakea?) with that drug, and then they add another after another until the poor soul is so tortured and damaged by the DRUGS they have been forced to take, that they no longer have the symptoms they started out with; now they have a whole new list of complaints that are thrust upon them by the DRUGS that they are given!

The very practice of medicine has become such a side show that we have forgotten, by choice, that these are actually demons causing these diseases and simply put, we are seeing an incredible uptick in para-normal activity, all due to the soon return of the Lord Jesus. I see it as the very whiff of the presence of the Lord, the demons tremble and the workers of darkness fear for they know their time is short.

Satan hasn’t been cast to the earth just yet, as Fructenbaum says in his book, “The Footsteps of the Messiah”, to his fourth “abode”. But when he is finally cast out of heaven and down to earth, no longer having access to the throne room of God, his days as the accuser of the brethren will be over and his reign of terror on earth will begin. Until that time, we watch and scan the skies for our Redeemer, our King, and our God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

What an amazing time to be alive! I pray that I made some sense out of all of this. Please don’t consider this as “thus says the Lord”, but it is just one “watcher’s” take on the time of the signs. God bless you all. Remember this:

“But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near.”

Luke 21:28