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The Occult

The term “occult” comes from the Latin term occultus, which means “hidden, secret, dark, mysterious, concealed.”[1] Many are not aware of how widespread and pervasive occult practices actually are.

Dr. Kurt Koch studied medicine and theology, earning his doctorate from the Tubingen school in Germany. He did itinerant missionary work in over 100 countries, across five continents, and has authored more than 100 books. He has also worked with over 20,000 people suffering from occult bondage over a span of 45 years of ministry.[2] Here is a short list of many such practices (generously taken from Dr. Kurt Koch’s book Occult ABC).[3]

Astrology has existed since the Sumerians, Accadians, Chaldeans, Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans. This is the “interpretation of human destiny, and a man’s future, by reference to the position of the stars at the moment of his birth.” (p.18)

Blood pacts occur when an individual cuts herself and signs herself over to the devil. “From that day on such people are no longer approachable on spiritual issues.” (p.27)

Charms are physical objects associated with magical, occult practices. “Families in which charming is practiced, whether actively or as a patient, are literally pursued by misfortune. Suicide, murder, serious and incurable diseases, and many other troubles abound in such families.” (p.135)

Ouija boards are a form of spiritualistic fortune-telling. It is known in France as the planchette and Germany as a psychograph. Participants seek spiritual guidance to spell out decisions or special knowledge by use of the board.

Palmistry occurs when a psychic reads someone’s palm. “The fact that palmistry is related to astrology is evidenced from the division of the palm into seven planet mountains.” (p.70)

Rod and pendulum use is one of the oldest forms of fortunetelling. “Diviners normally use a forked willow twig, although some use a rod of fishbone or one of steel… Others use a pendulum, that is, a metal weight attached to a thread.” (p.185) “Rod diviners and pendulum users maintain that the reaction of the rod or pendulum is caused by what they call earth rays. Earth rays of this sort are not known to science.” (p.187)

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a form of Eastern meditation. This refers to crossing from “conscious to unconscious activity.” (p.247) “During the meditation exercises, the mantra has to be repeated for twenty minutes. If one’s thoughts wander, one should not force oneself to use the mantra. That would mean that the conscious mind was checking and controlling the subconscious.” (p.248)

Spiritual mediums claim to have special knowledge of the future, past, or even the dead. This can be inherited from parents or grandparents. Koch writes, “If a person’s grandfather, for example, was a spiritist or a magician, then not only his children but sometimes both his grandchildren and great-grandchildren can be born with mediumistic tendencies.”[4] This can occur through magical experimentation and also transference. The demoniac that Jesus confronted had supernatural knowledge of who he was—even though he had never met Jesus (Mk. 5:7).

Other examples would include astrology (Isa. 47:14), casting spells, consulting the dead (Deut. 18:11), sorcery (Ex. 22:18), and witchcraft (Deut. 18:10).

Is the occult real?

Scripture claims that the occult is real. If we deny the reality of the occult, then we are denying the clear teaching of Scripture (Deut. 18:9-14; Lev. 19:26, 31; 20:6, 27; 1 Sam. 15:23; 2 Kin. 17:16–18; 21:6; Isa. 8:19; Mic. 5:12; Zech. 10:2). Paul and John warn against “sorcery” (Gal. 5:20; Rev. 9:21; 21:8; 22:15), and the book of Acts speaks about occult practice as well (Acts 8:9-13; 19:18-20).

Occult practices are universal throughout human cultures and human history. One of the best evidences for the reality of the occult is that these practices are virtually identical throughout the globe, and they have been for several thousand years. Koch writes, “No matter what the level of civilization, the methods used by that civilization remain the same. The form may change, but the underlying principles remain unchanged… The very real similarity between their practices has puzzled ethnologists, anthropologists and psychologists a great deal.”[5]

What could explain such similar practices throughout cultures? It seems farfetched to believe that these isolated cultures shared these practices with one another around the globe. It also seems equally improbable that human psychology would cause these independent cultures to create such similar methods of religious practice. Perhaps the striking similarities in occult practices across cultures suggest a common origin—possibly even a spiritual one, such as influence from Satan.

Many people claim that they have encountered supernatural phenomena. One study found that roughly half of Americans (45%) believe in ghosts,[6] and 1 out of 5 (18%) believe that they’ve been in the presence of a ghost.[7] This data doesn’t confirm whether these interpretations were accurate, but it shows that a significant number of people claim to have encountered spiritual beings, which makes it difficult to dismiss the subject entirely.

Rejecting the reality of the occult is a big gamble. If you engage in the occult and nothing happens, that’s the best-case scenario. At best, you will engage with a charlatan who is simply pilfering you of your money. But at worst you will engage with the demonic realm. McCallum writes, “The real problems come when occult power is real. Engaging in occult practices is like playing Russian roulette: You never know when the barrel is going to be loaded.”[8]

Why are people interested in the occult if it is so spiritually deadly?

The mystery of the occult and the “hunger for thrills”[9] drive people who live under a naturalistic worldview. It brings excitement into an otherwise banal and monotonous world.

Moreover, the occult makes big promises, making people feel powerful. Green writes, “Power over others is indubitably another attraction, especially for people whose employment and home life give them no power at all. There is a great excitement in making use of a power denied to the majority of men. It enhances the ego.”[10] The occult claims to bring the supernatural under your control. Isn’t this what people desire more than anything—to be like God himself? (Gen. 3:6)

Finally, the Bible predicts that people will stray toward false religion and the “doctrine of demons” at the end of history (1 Tim. 4:1; cf. 2 Thess. 2:1, 3, 9; Rev. 9:18ff).

How can we discern demonic oppression from mental illness?

Demons can cause illness. Demons took away a person’s voice (Mk. 9:17), hearing (Mk. 9:25; 12:22), sight (Mt. 12:22), and even the ability to move (Acts 8:7). Some demons can cause emotional distress (1 Sam. 16:14-23) and even convulsions (Mk. 1:26; 9:20; Lk. 9:39). According to Scripture, some illnesses are the result of demonic activity. But not all.

Demons are not the only cause of illness. Indeed, the Bible differentiates demonic oppression from medical illness. Specifically, the NT distinguishes between exorcism and demonic possession on the one hand, and general sickness and disease on the other (Mt. 4:24; 10:8; Mk. 1:34; 6:13; Lk. 4:40-41; 9:1; 13:32). This means that we need to learn to discern natural illness from demonic oppression.

Therefore, followers of Jesus need to discern between natural and supernatural causes of illness. Consider a practical example: mental health. If a person was suffering from severe depression, we should explore a checklist that covers all of our bases like this:

“Has the person been evaluated by their doctor?”

“Has the person been evaluated by a counselor or psychologist?”

“Has the person been taking their prescribed medication?”

“Has the person been getting enough sleep?”

“Has the person been exercising regularly?”

“Has been consistent in the means of growth?”

“Has the person struggled with loneliness or a lack of friendships?”

This list isn’t exhaustive, but it’s a good start. If none of these steps help the person’s depression, we should expand our checklist to include a spiritual cause. Indeed, when it comes to depression, it’s likely that a person is believing cognitive distortions of some kind. Some of these distortions could be self-generated beliefs, but some could also be intrusive thoughts from a demonic source. We don’t know. Regardless of their origin, prayer can only help a person to combat these false beliefs.

Think about it like this. In the Middle Ages, people thought that supernatural causes accounted for far more than what was warranted. For instance, many people wrongly believed that those with severe mental health problems must be demon possessed. Today, this is horrifying, and modern people can easily recognize this as an egregious error.

And yet, perhaps the pendulum has swung to the opposite extreme. In the modern world, most people never think to include a supernatural cause when it comes to mental illness. This is because most modern people hold to a worldview called methodological naturalism. According to this view, when we study a subject in the hard or soft sciences, we can only posit natural causes, and supernatural causes are excluded a priori.

Can’t we see that this is an equal and opposite error? At least in the Middle Ages people were open to both natural and supernatural causes. Today, we exclude supernatural causes without any justification whatsoever. If we suspect that someone is being spiritually oppressed, we should explore all of our options—not just the natural ones.

Demonic oppression exists on a spectrum. In our view, the expression “demon possession” is really a misnomer. The NT doesn’t use this term, and instead, it uses the term “demonized” (daimonizomai). This word implies a gradation of demonic influence.[11] Indeed, Jesus himself taught that there are degrees of demonic oppression (Mt. 12:45).

By contrast, the concept of “demon possession” implies that you have lost the agency of your free will, and someone else is controlling your mind and body. This might happen in extreme cases (Mk. 5:7-9),[12] but not always or even often. For this reason, we prefer the expression “demonic oppression,” rather than “demonic possession.”[13]

This is important when discerning demonic oppression. It means that not all people will meet all of the criteria for demonic oppression. Yet, they could still benefit from healing prayer. That being said, this list offers helpful criteria to identify signs of demonic influence.[14]

What are good criteria for discerning demonic oppression?

Schizophrenia, epilepsy, or psychosis might look similar to the depictions of demonic oppression in the Bible. However, these psychiatric and neurological disorders should be distinguished from demonic oppression. But how? Consider these eight criteria below that can help discern demonic oppression:

(1) Does the person demonstrate an inability to pray or say Jesus’ name aloud? People with mental disorders are often all too eager to pray. However, a person suffering from demonic oppression will often feel incapable of getting the words out. Specifically, the person will have difficulty saying the name “Jesus.”[15] In some cases, the person will even black out or fall asleep when someone tries to pray with him.[16]

Koch tells the story of suspecting that a woman was being oppressed by a demon. As a result, he began to pray with her, and she went ballistic. He writes, “As we prayed together the woman started sticking her tongue out at us and blaspheming. We noticed that when she was doing this, she was not completely conscious and as we finished praying she suddenly came to herself and asked, ‘Where am I? What’s wrong with me?’ She could remember nothing of what had just taken place.”[17]

(2) Does the person have no regret or conviction for blaspheming God? Those with a mental disorder often feel plagued with guilt for blaspheming God: “A demonically affected person will care little about his blasphemous thoughts, but the mental depressive will lament the fact that he is capable of thinking such things.”[18]

(3) Does the person demonstrate being unaware of any demonic oppression? If someone claims to be demon possessed, that’s a good sign that they are not. Green writes, “If a person proclaims with great confidence that he is possessed, take leave to doubt it. The demons are normally in no hurry to invite expulsion.”[19] Likewise, Koch concurs, “Anyone who is really possessed will neither realize nor broadcast the fact of his possession.”[20]

(4) Does the person speak in novel languages? It goes without saying that no mental illness could cause someone to learn a language out of thin air. Yet, a supernatural knowledge of languages is common among those who are severely oppressed.[21]

(5) Does the person inflict self-harm? This criterion is somewhat inconclusive, because those with mental illness often self-harm. However, demons also want to inflict harm on humans (Mk. 5:5; 9:22). This criterion could add to an already solid case of demonic oppression, but it is inconclusive on its own.

(6) Does the person demonstrate murderous thoughts toward loved ones? This criterion is also somewhat inconclusive, because evil dwells in the human heart. At the same time, Satan “was a murderer from the beginning” (Jn. 8:44), and he has come “to steal and kill and destroy” (Jn. 10:10). Therefore, it shouldn’t surprise us to see oppressed people turn violent. For example, king Saul had irrational and murderous thoughts toward David (1 Sam. 16:14, 15; 18:10-12).

(7) Does the person demonstrate an inability to be cured through medical means? This might seem obvious, but it’s a good place to begin. If medical care does nothing to help the individual, it could be a spiritual issue.[22] In some cases, patients have been given the maximum dosage of sedatives without seeing any effect. This could fit with the supernatural strength of the Gerasene demoniac (Mk. 5:7). Cover your bases with the medical solutions. But if nothing works, this should increase the counselor’s inclination to investigate spiritual solutions.

(8) Does the person have any occult practice in their family of origin? Individuals who have occult bondage in their personal history or family history are especially susceptible to demonic influence. Koch writes, “Charmers, spiritists, and sorcerers bring oppression on their descendants to the third and fourth generations.”[23] Thus if an individual has such a history, it would be wise of the counselor to investigate this further.

To repeat, demonic oppression exists on a spectrum, and so, a person doesn’t need to meet all eight criteria before we would consider them to be oppressed. Moreover, not all of these criteria are unique to demonic oppression: some forms of mental illness would also fit some of the criteria listed above. However, these criteria can help someone to have “discernment of spirits” (1 Cor. 12:10 NET) and to “test everything” (1 Thess. 5:21 ESV).

Can a true Christian be possessed?

Theologians debate whether or not an authentic believer in Jesus can be demon possessed. In our estimation, the answer to this question is, No. However, we will explore these two perspectives below.

OPTION #1. A true believer CANNOT be possessed

Advocates of this view would be Lewis Sperry Chafer, John Walvoord,[24] R.C. Sproul,[25] Graham Cole,[26] and Clinton Arnold.[27] In defense of this view, we can offer several arguments:

(1) Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit. This is repeated throughout Scripture (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 2 Cor. 1:21-22). In the ancient world, a seal from a king transferred his authority to the document. One scholar writes, “To give one’s seal to another implies the transference of authority and power.”[28] In our case, it was an earthly king who “sealed” us. God himself sealed us! Moreover, we haven’t been sealed with a dab of wax on a papyrus scroll. We have been sealed by the Holy Spirit himself.

(2) The sealing of the Holy Spirit precludes demonic possession. The Holy Spirit cannot coexist with a demon. Scripture says, “What harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God” (2 Cor. 6:15-16). These rhetorical questions advance the idea that the Holy Spirit cannot coexist with a demon in a person’s body.

Furthermore, the Spirit is infinitely more powerful than any demon. This is why John writes, “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 Jn. 4:4).

(3) There is no example of a true Christian being possessed in the NT. In some cases, believers are handed over to Satan, but even in these cases, they are not possessed (1 Cor. 5:1-5; 1 Tim. 1:20). This is a conspicuous omission—not merely an argument from silence. If genuine Christians could be possessed, we would expect to read something about this in the NT.

Advocates of this view (like myself) contend that an allegedly possessed individual was not really a true believer, or the person wasn’t fully possessed and merely “ensnared” (2 Tim. 2:26).

OPTION #2. A true believer CAN be possessed

What arguments can be offered in favor of the view that a true believer can be possessed by a demon? Advocates of this view offer several:

ARGUMENT #1. Experience demonstrates that true believers can be possessed. Experts in the field of occult bondage claim to have witnessed thousands of examples of believers being possessed. Koch writes, “Those who advocate the inflexible doctrine that Christians cannot under any circumstances be possessed, have usually had no experience of possession themselves.”[29] This argument led Dr. Merrill F. Unger to change his view on this in his published work. Yet several rejoinders are in order.

First, this is an argument from experience. Yet experience shouldn’t supersede the authority of Scripture. A man could say that he had an experience of God telling him it was good for him to commit adultery. But his experience was false. The Bible is our inspired and authoritative window into spiritual reality, and it is less reliable than anecdotes and experiential data like this. We should be especially suspicious of this argument given the fact that we are dealing with the experience of demons, who are set on deceiving us.

Second, even expert researchers like Dr. Kurt Koch cannot know for sure if these people were regenerate Christians, because he cannot see the heart. Some professing Christians might not actually be authentic believers of Jesus. We have read many anecdotal cases where a person was demon possessed, and the researcher interpreted this as a genuine believer being possessed. However, how can someone be so sure that the person was a true believer? True believers give outward signs of salvation, but these are never conclusive or certain.

Third, demonic oppression is on a spectrum—not a binary “either/or.” All believers experience demonic oppression to some degree, and some of these Christians might’ve been severely oppressed. But that doesn’t mean that they were completely possessed. As we have already argued, the expression “demon possession” makes it seems like this is an all-or-nothing proposition, but this doesn’t accurately describe this phenomenon of Scripture. The expression “demon oppression” more accurately describes the biblical language of being “demonized” (daimonizomai). Since being “demonized” is a spectrum, all Christians are “demonized” to some extent and at some point. Perhaps some cases appear to be full “10 out of 10” possessions, when really the person was only an 8 or 9 out of 10. This could explain much of the anecdotal evidence offered by those who believe that true Christians can be possessed.

ARGUMENT #2. Spirit-filled believers cannot be possessed, but carnal Christians can be possessed. Merrill Unger argues that deep unbelief and “serious and protracted sin”[30] can lead demons to possess a carnal Christian. Unger describes this as a “squatter,” who “settles on land without right or title or payment of rent.”[31] He points to passages where believers can be “ensnared by the devil” (2 Tim. 2:26) or “give the devil a foothold” (Eph. 4:27 NIV).

Everyone agrees that believers can be oppressed. But the question remains: do these passages state that believers can be possessed by Satan?

In 2 Timothy 2:26, the term “ensnared” (pagis) hardly means refers to taking control of an individual. This word is used to describe ensnaring an animal in a trap (BDAG, p.737), and it is the same word used of Peter catching people, rather than fish (Lk. 5:10). Clearly, this doesn’t mean that evangelism revokes a person’s free will! Likewise,

In Ephesians 4:27, Paul states that anger gives Satan a foothold. Of course, every believer has had unrighteous anger at one point or another. But surely this doesn’t mean that Satan had an ability to possess the person as a result! This simply goes far beyond the scope of the text.

ARGUMENT #3. The Holy Spirit already coexists with our sinful spirit. Unger writes, “The claim that the Holy Spirit could not dwell in the same body with an evil spirit overlooks an important theological observation. It might with equal cogency be asked how the Holy Spirit can dwell in our bodies, which are still possessed of the old nature and therefore subject to sin. Yet He does because of our redemption and the presence of the new nature.”[32]

This argument fails to recognize that the Holy Spirit can dwell within us because we have been legally declared innocent through the atonement of Christ (Rom. 3:21-26; 1 Jn. 2:1-2). Moreover, our old self died, and God gave us a new self through Christ (Rom. 6:1-13). We are a new creation because of Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). Of course, a demon has no such provisions! Consequently, this is a false comparison.

Conclusion

We do not believe that a true Christian can be possessed. However, they can be greatly influenced by Satan. If possession could be cast on a continuum of 1 to 10, we believe that a believer can experience an 8 or a 9—but not a full 10 out of 10. That being said, an 8 or a 9 is still quite serious! So, followers of Jesus can incur serious spiritual damage to their lives by flirting with the occult.

Finally, while this subject is debated, one subject is not. A demon cannot possess anyone who doesn’t freely accept it. As one writer explains it, “No one falls into salvation any more than someone accidentally gets possessed. It’s permission that is granted.”[33] We agree. Followers of Jesus shouldn’t fear demonic possession—unless, of course, they are actively seeking it.

How do we renounce demonic oppression?

While the Bible doesn’t teach that authentic believers can be possessed by Satan, it does teach that we can be oppressed by him. Yet, it also teaches that we can overcome any and all forms of demonic oppression through faith and prayer (Mk. 9:29; Mt. 17:20). To do this, we need to renounce Satan in prayer, and announce our new position and standing in Christ. Here is a collection of the best passages to pray through during these times:

Christ has overcome Satan

(Lk. 10:18) I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.

(Heb. 2:14-15 NLT) Only as a human being could Jesus die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

(Col. 2:15 NLT) In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

(1 Jn. 3:8) The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

(1 Cor. 15:57-58) Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

(Rom. 8:31) If God is for us, who is against us?

(Rom. 8:33) Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies.

(Rom. 8:35, 38-39) Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? … For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Rom. 16:20) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

Christ has all the authority in the universe (Mk. 2:10; Mt. 28:18).

Believers in Jesus have overcome the Evil One

(1 Jn. 2:13) I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.

(1 Jn. 4:4) You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

(1 Jn. 5:4-5) Whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

When we pray in Christ’s authority, Satan must flee

(Jas. 4:7) Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

(Acts 16:18) But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.

(Mt. 18:19-20) If two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.

Occult materials should be burned and renounced

(Acts 19:19) Many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Believers who possess occult materials should burn them. These materials create a “contract with the powers of darkness.”[34] By burning and renouncing them, the person severs that contract.

Prayer against occult bondage might need to be repeated until Satan flees

Satan cannot hurt us, unless we fall for his attacks. This is a battle of faith for those confronting demonic oppression. Jesus had to go back and forth with Satan at least three times in spiritual battle (Mt. 4; Lk. 4). Eventually, when Satan was defeated, Luke records, “When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time” (Lk. 4:13). If Satan can return after being defeated by Jesus Christ himself, we should expect the same treatment. Thus we shouldn’t be surprised if we encounter multiple attacks from the evil one.

When you pray over an oppressed person, continue to do so. Koch writes, “Occult oppressed people are still very vulnerable even after their actual deliverance. For this reason a small group of Christians should take it upon themselves to continue to care and to pray for them even after their conversion. If necessary the group need only consist of two Christians. They should meet together at least twice or three times a week for perhaps a quarter of an hour at a time in order to pray for the oppressed person. The best thing is for the subjected person to be present as well, yet this is not absolutely necessary.”[35]

(Mk. 9:25) When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.”

(Mk. 9:28-29) When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it out?” 29 And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”

 (Lk. 11:24-26) When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.

(Mk. 5:13) Jesus transferred the demons to a herd of pigs. We should pray that the demon would not transfer to another believer. Koch states that we should command, “Go to the place that Jesus tells you.”

Conclusion

If we believe in the truth of Scripture, we must conclude that occult bondage is very real and very dangerous. Yet, we can rebuff Satan’s attack, and when we do, he must flee from us (Jas. 4:7; Eph. 6:10-18). As believers in Jesus, we legally and rightfully belong to Him (1 Jn. 2:1-2). We have been bought, sold, and paid for on the Cross. Therefore, when we stand in our position in Christ, Satan must go.


[1] Kurt Koch, Occult Bondage and Deliverance (Kregel: Grand Rapids, MI. 1976), 16.

[2]

 Kurt Koch, Occult ABC (Kregel Publications: Grand Rapids, MI, 1986), 282.

[3] Kurt Koch, Occult ABC (Kregel Publications: Grand Rapids, MI, 1986).

[4] Kurt Koch, Occult Bondage and Deliverance (Kregel: Grand Rapids, MI. 1976), 39.

[5] Kurt Koch, Occult Bondage and Deliverance (Kregel: Grand Rapids, MI. 1976), 16.

[6] Ballard writes, “Polling shows that 45 percent of adult Americans admit to believing in ghosts, with 43 percent revealing that they believe ghosts can haunt either places or people.” Jamie Ballard, “45% of People Believe That Ghosts and Demons Exist,” YouGov, October 21, 2019.

[7] Heimlich writes, “Nearly one in five U.S. adults (18%) say they’ve seen or been in the presence of a ghost. An even greater share—29%—say they have felt in touch with someone who has already died.” Russell Heimlich, “See Dead People,” Pew Research Center, December 29, 2009.

[8] Dennis McCallum, Satan and His Kingdom: What the Bible Says and How It Matters to You (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 2009),

[9] Michael Green, I Believe in Satan’s Downfall (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995), 115.

[10] Michael Green, I Believe in Satan’s Downfall (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995), 115.

[11] Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology., 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1998), 473.

[12] To be clear, if someone lost their free will to a demon, it would only be because they freely gave it away.

[13] Kurt Koch, Occult Bondage and Deliverance (Kregel: Grand Rapids, MI. 1976), 32.

[14] For a similar list of symptoms, see Michael Green, I Believe in Satan’s Downfall (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995), 132-134. However, Kurt Koch’s criteria seem more biblical and reasonable than Green’s criteria, which includes some elements of the high church.

[15] Kurt Koch, Occult Bondage and Deliverance (Kregel: Grand Rapids, MI. 1976), 141.

[16] Kurt Koch, Occult Bondage and Deliverance (Kregel: Grand Rapids, MI. 1976), 149.

[17] Kurt Koch, Occult Bondage and Deliverance (Kregel: Grand Rapids, MI. 1976), 64.

[18] Kurt Koch, Occult Bondage and Deliverance (Kregel: Grand Rapids, MI. 1976), 169.

[19] Michael Green, I Believe in Satan’s Downfall (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995), 138.

[20] Kurt Koch, Occult Bondage and Deliverance (Kregel: Grand Rapids, MI. 1976), 62.

[21] Kurt Koch, Occult Bondage and Deliverance (Kregel: Grand Rapids, MI. 1976), 66.

[22] Kurt Koch, Occult Bondage and Deliverance (Kregel: Grand Rapids, MI. 1976), 7.

[23] Kurt Koch, Occult Bondage and Deliverance (Kregel: Grand Rapids, MI. 1976), 277.

[24] Lewis Sperry Chafer and John F. Walvoord, Major Bible Themes; 52 Vital Doctrines of the Scripture Simplified and Explained (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. House, 1974), 158-159.

[25] R.C. Sproul, Unseen Realities: Heaven, Hell, Angels and Demons (Christian Focus Publications, 2011), 157.

[26] Graham A. Cole, Against the Darkness: The Doctrine of Angels, Satan, and Demons (John Feinberg, general editor, Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019), 131.

[27] Clinton E. Arnold, Three Crucial Questions about Spiritual Warfare (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1998), 138.

[28] R. Schippers, “Seal,” ed. Lothar Coenen, Erich Beyreuther, and Hans Bietenhard, New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1986), 498.

[29] Kurt Koch, Occult Bondage and Deliverance (Kregel: Grand Rapids, MI. 1976), 68.

[30] Merrill Unger, What Demons Can Do to Saints (Moody Publishers: Chicago, 1991), 60.

[31] Merrill Unger, What Demons Can Do to Saints (Moody Publishers: Chicago, 1991), 60-61.

[32] Merrill Unger, What Demons Can Do to Saints (Moody Publishers: Chicago, 1991), 60-61.

[33] Billy Hallowell, Playing with Fire: A Modern Investigation in Demons, Exorcism, and Ghosts (Nashville, TN: Emanate Books, 2020), 94.

[34] Kurt Koch, Occult Bondage and Deliverance (Kregel: Grand Rapids, MI. 1976), 100.

[35] Kurt Koch, Occult Bondage and Deliverance (Kregel: Grand Rapids, MI. 1976), 108.

About The Author
James Rochford

James earned a Master’s degree in Theological Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, graduating magna cum laude. He is the founder of Evidence Unseen and the author of several books. James enjoys serving as a pastor at Dwell Community Church in Columbus, Ohio, where he lives with his wife and their two sons.