What Are Demons—and Where Did They Come From?
The question of demons—what they are, how they operate, and where they originate—has stirred curiosity and confusion for generations. Hollywood has offered its distorted versions. Folklore has embellished them with fear. But what does the Word of God actually say?
Let us set aside tradition and speculation and allow the King James Bible to speak for itself. In doing so, we’ll discover what Scripture truly reveals about these spiritual entities—and what it does not.
Demons by Another Name: “Devils” and “Unclean Spirits”
The King James Bible never uses the word demon. Instead, it consistently uses the terms “devils” and “unclean spirits.” The Greek word daimonion is translated as devil—though this should not be confused with the devil, Satan himself.
Consider Mark 1:34:
“And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.” (Mark 1:34)
This is not a reference to Satan personally, but to many individual evil spirits. These devils—distinct from fallen angels—are intelligent, willful, and recognize the authority of Jesus Christ.
Likewise, in Luke 4:33, we read:
“And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.” (Luke 4:33–34)
Here, an unclean spirit not only inhabits a man but also testifies to Jesus’ divine identity. These beings are spiritual and invisible, yet their presence is manifest through physical or psychological affliction in those they inhabit.
What Do They Do?
Jesus described their activity plainly in Matthew 12:43:
“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
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.
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.” (Matthew 12:43–45)
These unclean spirits have consciousness, intent, and strategy. They seek to re-enter and dwell in human bodies, indicating that possession is central to their mode of operation.
We also find a vivid description in Luke 8:30, when Jesus confronts a man possessed by many devils:
“And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.” (Luke 8:30)
These devils pleaded not to be cast “into the deep” (v. 31), suggesting an awareness of divine judgment. Instead, Jesus allows them to enter a herd of swine, which promptly rush into the sea and drown. The implication is powerful—these spirits are destructive, restless, and evil.
Are They Fallen Angels?
One common assumption is that demons are simply fallen angels. But the Bible draws a distinction between the two. While demons are active in the world—possessing and tormenting—fallen angels are said to be bound and awaiting judgment.
Read carefully:
“For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment…”
—2 Peter 2:4“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”
—Jude 6
These verses indicate that the angels who rebelled are not roaming free but are confined. They await a future reckoning. This leaves a question: if fallen angels are imprisoned, then who are the devils that Jesus and the apostles were constantly casting out?
The text demands another explanation.
A Possible Clue from Genesis?
Though the Bible does not explicitly state the origin of demons, Genesis 6 offers a mysterious episode that some believe holds a key:
“There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.”
—Genesis 6:4
This union between “the sons of God” (interpreted by many scholars and ancient Jewish tradition as fallen angels) and human women produced a hybrid offspring called giants (Nephilim in Hebrew). These beings were destroyed in the Flood (Genesis 7:21–23).
However, the spirits of these unnatural beings—neither fully angel nor fully human—are not said to be judged or confined like the fallen angels. This silence has led some to infer that the unclean spirits or “devils” that roam the earth may be the disembodied spirits of these ancient hybrids.
While the King James text does not confirm this origin, it remains the most plausible theory based strictly on the text and what it does not say.
Devils and Idolatry
Whatever their origin, the Bible shows that devils are intimately connected with idolatry and false worship.
“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.”
—Deuteronomy 32:17“Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils.”
—Psalm 106:37
These verses make plain that behind the images and idols of pagan religion are devils. These spirits do not merely tempt or deceive—they receive worship, crave sacrifice, and destroy lives.
The Apostle Paul reaffirms this truth:
“But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.”
—1 Corinthians 10:20
Thus, demons are not neutral forces. They are the spiritual powers behind false religion, leading people away from the living God.
Christ's Authority Over Devils
Though they possess power and cunning, demons tremble before the Lord Jesus Christ. Again and again, the Gospel accounts record their fear of Him.
“And the devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.”
—Luke 4:41
They recognized His authority and knew their time was short.
Even the disciples, commissioned in Christ’s name, experienced this power:
“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.”
—Luke 10:17
Though invisible to the natural eye, this spiritual war is real. Yet every evil spirit is subject to the Name that is above every name.
Their Future Is Sealed
The Bible is clear about the final destination of these wicked spirits.
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”
—Matthew 25:41
While this verse directly mentions Satan and his angels, it includes the broader category of rebellious spiritual beings. Their judgment is sure. The Lake of Fire awaits.
What We Know—and What We Don’t
To summarize, here is what Scripture reveals:
Devils, or unclean spirits, are real, active, and evil.
They possess and afflict, craving embodiment.
They are distinct from fallen angels, who are imprisoned.
Their origin is not explicitly stated, but Genesis 6 provides a strong clue.
They are the power behind idols and false religion.
They are subject to Christ and His authority.
They face eternal judgment in the lake of fire.
What we do not know with certainty is their precise origin. God, in His wisdom, has chosen not to give us the full backstory. But He has told us everything we need to know for victory:
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
—James 4:7
Final Reflection
In an age of spiritual confusion, we do well to return to the Word of God. Demons are not myths, nor are they misunderstood psychological symbols. They are real, malignant spirits that war against God and His creation.
But thanks be to God—we have a Deliverer. Jesus Christ came to destroy the works of the devil:
“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
—1 John 3:8
And by His power, the gates of hell shall not prevail.
Doc Burkhart
Faith & Values
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