The Devil and Demons Are Real

Some argue that demons and the Devil are not real, personal beings in the Bible. But that claim collapses under the plain evidence of Scripture.

In the Old Testament, Israel was strictly forbidden to consult mediums, spiritists, or the dead (Lev. 19:31; 20:6, 27; Deut. 18:10–12). These are not empty prohibitions. God does not repeatedly warn His people against contact with a non-existent realm where no one lives. The same texts directly connect idolatry with demons: Israel “sacrificed to demons, not to God” (Deut. 32:17; Ps. 106:37). Leviticus 17:7 speaks of sacrifices to “goat-demons” or “goat-idols.” Some demons are even presented with personal names, such as Lilith in Isaiah 34:14 and Azazel in Leviticus 16. The point is false worship is treated as spiritually dangerous because real individuals are behind them.

The New Testament removes all ambiguity.

Jesus and the apostles never treat demons as a metaphor for mental illnesses, or pagan superstition. Demons speak, recognize Jesus, fear judgment, and plead for mercy. In Luke 8, they beg not to be cast into the Abyss. They identify themselves collectively as “Legion.” In Mark 3:22, Beelzebul is called the “ruler of demons,” who some tie directly to Satan himself. Hence, Jesus argues that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. But a kingdom cannot be divided if it does not exist. Jesus expels demons repeatedly and in different ways. In Mark 1, a demon cries out and identifies Jesus. In Luke 8, demons ask permission to enter pigs—and Jesus allows it. These are not mental diseases that speak, reason, or beg.

The same belief continues with the apostolic church.

In Acts 16, Paul casts out a “spirit of divination” from a slave girl. James 2:19 states plainly: “Even the demons believe—and shudder.” Mental illness does not believe, does not tremble at the mere thought of God. Only personal beings do.

Paul confirms the same truth when he writes that pagan sacrifices are offered “to demons and not to God” (1 Cor. 10:20–21). He is not accommodating pagan language. He is exposing the spiritual reality behind idolatry called "demons."

And Peter warns that “your adversary, the Devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). This is not a metaphor for impersonal sin-flesh or human nature. It describes a personal, external adversary. Paul likewise speaks of the Devil as one who “fell into condemnation” (1 Tim. 3:6). That only makes sense if referring to a real individual, not to impersonal forces or systems without further explanation.

Scripture is consistent from beginning to end. Demons are real personal intelligences in rebellion against God.

So, if demons and the Devil are not real, why does Scripture repeatedly warn about them? Why forbid contact with them? Why describe demons as speaking, believing, fearing, falling into condemnation and being cast out? Why connect idolatry with demons at all?

The answer should be obvious.

The Old Testament lays the groundwork. The New Testament removes all doubt.

Demons and the Devil are not symbols for mental illness or metaphors for impersonal sin-flesh. They are real evil spiritual beings over whom God has authority, and over whom He gives His people authority.

To deny demons and the Devil is not to defend biblical truth. It is to explain away the plain meaning of Scripture and that is no defense at all of “the faith once for all handed down to the saints” (Jude 3).