Instead of clearing up myths and superstitions about demon possession, Hollywood, in their horror films, has added to the fear and confusion. What can we know for sure?

First, demon possession was a fact and not fiction in ancient history. According to both the Old and New Testaments it actually existed. Nine times in the New Testament do we read of people who were possessed of demon. Jesus met a man in the synagogue who had an unclean spirit, and He cast him out (Mk. 1:23). In the second chapter, He cleansed a man of unclean spirits who dwelt among the tombs. In the next chapter, the daughter of a Syrophenician woman was cleansed of an unclean spirit. Luke 9:42 told of a man who besought the help of Jesus because his son possessed an unclean spirit, and Jesus healed him. Mary Magdalene was cleansed of seven devils. And, there were other examples.

Second, demons were intelligent spiritual beings. Hence, these instances were not cases of diseases or mental illnesses. In Mark 1:24, the unclean spirit recognized Jesus as the Holy One of God and asks: "(A)rt thou come to destroy us?" In Acts, chapter 16, Paul and Silas cleansed a slave girl" who was possessed with a spirit of divination, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying." When Jesus cast the unclean spirits out of the men who dwelt among the tombs, they referred to themselves as "Legion" because they were many, and desired to be cast into a herd of swine when then ran down into the sea and were drowned. (Lk. 8). All this shows that they were intelligent beings.

Third, demons often possessed innocent people. Not only did they possess men and women, but even innocent children. No one invited these devils in to possess their bodies. They suffered greatly from such evil possession. One young boy experienced seizures and would often fall into the fire. Others were wild and not in their right mind.

Fourth, unclean spirits possessed extraordinary powers. The man (one writer says two) who lived among the tombs possessed great strength so that he could not be bound. The slave girl in Acts 16 possessed the spirit of divination. The unclean spirits recognized Jesus as the Son of God.

But we also want to know about the possibility of demon-possession today. According to God's word, demon possession is a phenomenon which existed to a large degree during the personal ministry of Christ and to a much lesser degree during the lives of the apostles. Demon possession is mentioned only twice in Acts as compared to several times during the personal ministry of our Lord. There was a great cosmic conflict between Christ and Satan. The Devil and his forces were allowed unusual power during the life of Christ, but Christ's power proved to be far superior to all the forces of Satan. This power was given for the same purpose as all other miracles - to prove that Christ is indeed the Son of the Living God. Therefore, the Devil and his demons were turned loose for a time so that this could be effectively demonstrated. When the seventy returned with joy saying that even the demons were subject unto them, Jesus replied that He had beheld as Satan fell as lightening from heaven. (Lk. 10: 18). This could only mean that the Devil would lose his power in the realm of demon possession. When Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave His disciples the necessary gifts to deal with cases of demon possession. But, according to the last part of the thirteenth chapter of I Corinthians, the age of such powers has come to an end. We must conclude, therefore, that with the passing of the apostles and their power passed also was the age of demon possession. No such power is now needed. In Ephesians 4:8, when Jesus "ascended upon high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." What was led into captivity? Not sin, for we have sin still with us. Not temptation, for all are tempted still. Not death, for we still have death. Go on down the list. There is only thing He has led away into captivity, and that is demon possession.