BIBLE STUDY FEATURE
BIBLICAL DEMONOLOGY by Dr. Merrill F. Unger
Christians need to be aware of the Biblical teaching on this important subject.
some place where they can no longer perpetrate their mischief?” But again, Scriptural reticence reveals that, while these questions involve admittedly great dif ficulties for finite creatures, at the best of imma ture spirituality and circumscribed vision and ex posed to the ravages of human sin and ignorance, they are by no means questions of primary import for faith and life, and practical godliness, and, hence, are developed only in the barest outline. In contrast, however, the subject of deliver ance from Satan and demons and of immunity from their incessant and baleful attacks, so vitally and indispensably practical to man’s temporal and eternal welfare, fittingly receives full and detailed treatment, not only being accorded large space and prominence on the sacred page, but also calling forth God’s vast, gracious, and all-efficacious re demptive plans and purposes in Christ. Demonology and the Need for Deliverance From whatever angle Biblical demonology is approached, whether it be the existence, the iden tity, the origin, the numbers, or the organization
“Biblical Demonology and Deliverance” T h e s t u d y o f Biblical demonology reveals the important fact, that, although Scripture is re markably reserved on some aspects o f demonologi cal thought, yet it is found to be strikingly full and detailed on some other phases o f the topic. For ex ample, in the examination of the question of the origin and the identity of demons, Scriptural re serve shows that the consideration of practical moment is not whence they came, nor precisely who they are, but that they actually do exist and that they are wicked and deleterious; they are per nicious enemies, to be ceaselessly resisted, and no “believer dare say he is exempt from peril.” In like manner, the Bible displays a noteworthy reticence in regard to such questions, involving deity and demonism, as the following: “How can demonism be consistent with the goodness and wis dom of God? Why did God create beings He fore knew would sin, and be eternally doomed? If, at the outset, the universe was without sin, why did not God keep it so for all time? And, if Satan and demons are the chief cause of misery and sin, why does not God immediately remove them to
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NOVEMBER, 1967
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