Why do demons reveal themselves?

[SMGS127]

So, to expand upon the question some, if a demon reveals themselves (whether by sight or by “paranormal” activity or by actual physical interference or what have you), wouldn’t the resulting fear or knowledge they give to the person they reveal themselves to lead that person back to Christ? It’s hard to tempt someone into opposing Christ when you show that he’s real by virtue of showing that his enemies are real, right? Yet we have stories throughout history of demons (and even the devil) showing themselves or attacking people.

Sorry if this is a morbid question, but it’s one I’m very curious on, because I honestly can’t explain how highly intelligent (albeit evil) beings would do something so blatantly counterintuitive on the surface.

 

[TK421]

Two potential explanations:

1. They aren’t the ones doing the revealing. God is providing a vision.
2. Because they have wilted into madness. They have chosen wickedness and are departed from God. That means they are eternally starved of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

 

[stephe1987]

Some people might not be saved (for lack of a better term) even after seeing a demon. They do not want to believe so they don’t, and they convince themselves that it was their imagination. Their wills are not in line with God’s and they would rather not change their lifestyle.

 

[SMGS127]

Some people might not be saved (for lack of a better term) even after seeing a demon. They do not want to believe so they don’t, and they convince themselves that it was their imagination. Their wills are not in line with God’s and they would rather not change their lifestyle.

While that may be true, wouldn’t it still be an unnecessary risk by the demon to reveal themselves and risk them changing their ways?

Two potential explanations:

1. They aren’t the ones doing the revealing. God is providing a vision.
2. Because they have wilted into madness. They have chosen wickedness and are departed from God. That means they are eternally starved of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

As far as 1) goes, how do you mean?

Can demons become insane? I thought they were just as intelligent as their angelic counterparts, given their same nature (from a creation standpoint, not moral).

 

[TK421]

As far as 1) goes, how do you mean?

Can demons become insane? I thought they were just as intelligent as their angelic counterparts, given their same nature (from a creation standpoint, not moral).

Some visions of seeing demons could be personal revelation from God for the person.

If it’s an actual possession, it would be the 2nd explanation. Demons are in every way anti-Christ. Although they are the same spirits that angels are, they are deprived of all of the above-mentioned qualities of godliness, such as patience, self-control, and peace. They don’t necessarily have any rhyme or reason or hope for everything and anything they do. They’re consumed with despair and wrath. The behavior of some possessed persons may be a foreshadowing of the state of people’s minds in Hell. Our insights from the gospels would suggest that the torment of the demons has already in many respects begun, even before the Final Judgement. They are crushed with the weight of the knowledge of their condemnation.

This is one possible explanation but I’m sure there is more insight to be added on it.

 

[boomerang]

When demons reveal themselves, it is because they’ve lost the war for that person’s soul. That person has been saved and has become a believer. So the attack is one last spiteful “f**k you!” as they flip you the bird and head out the door. Sometimes, though, God will allow repeated attacks on a believer to perfect that person’s faith, because God has plans for this person. This happens a lot to saints.

Now, if the person is a non-believer, the attacks may be because the person has invited demons by dabbling in the occult, and therefore God has withdrawn His protection, which is another way God draws people close to Him. If you get attacked you will seek God, which is what He wanted all along.

 

[TK421]

Nooooo Boomerang. Don’t log out. Read my warning message.

 

[SMGS127]

When demons reveal themselves, it is because they’ve lost the war for that person’s soul. That person has been saved and has become a believer. So the attack is one last spiteful “f**k you!” as they flip you the bird and head out the door. Sometimes, though, God will allow repeated attacks on a believer to perfect that person’s faith, because God has plans for this person. This happens a lot to saints.

Now, if the person is a non-believer, the attacks may be because the person has invited demons by dabbling in the occult, and therefore God has withdrawn His protection, which is another way God draws people close to Him. If you get attacked you will seek God, which is what He wanted all along.

I guess my question goes alongside this. If the ultimate purpose of God’s allowance is due to the strength it will give the believer, why would demons go along with it? Why would demons intentionally help God?

 

[SMA_12]

Well it seems to me that when a demon reveals itself through paranormal activity, it attracts many people to delve further into the “paranormal” putting their soul at risk, rather than scare them away towards Christ. Some of know better, but many do not. Just look at all of these so called psychics and paranormal investigators and occultists. :tsktsk:

 

[Skye_Ariel]

A lot of things the devil does makes not sense, starting with making war against God in the first place, why start a battle you know you cannot win?? Did he actually*** think he could beat God the creator of the universe??? Why tempt Jesus when He is the Son of God?? Did he actually think ***he could bribe the Son of God, the creator of the universe with earthly temptations?? Why did he get the crowd all riled up against Jesus and incite them to crucify Him thereby only helping God and God’s goal??? So I guess the same reason the devil did those things is the same reason he reveals himself in a tangible way. That’s how you know that pride has warped his sense of reason, to the point of being insane, because you would have to be insane to think you can beat God. That’s why people who are possessed and people who are insane act the same way.

 

[seagal]

So, to expand upon the question some, if a demon reveals themselves (whether by sight or by “paranormal” activity or by actual physical interference or what have you), wouldn’t the resulting fear or knowledge they give to the person they reveal themselves to lead that person back to Christ? It’s hard to tempt someone into opposing Christ when you show that he’s real by virtue of showing that his enemies are real, right? Yet we have stories throughout history of demons (and even the devil) showing themselves or attacking people.

Sorry if this is a morbid question, but it’s one I’m very curious on, because I honestly can’t explain how highly intelligent (albeit evil) beings would do something so blatantly counterintuitive on the surface.

My mother likes to watch paranormal or ghost hunter shows. I’ve seen a few of them too. It strikes me that although these people apparently believe in a spirit world they don’t necessarily believe in God, at least I’ve never hear them talk about Him. And in the age of “angelology” lots of people believe in angels but not God or the devil. Also, God has revealed himself in many ways but people still refuse to believe in him. The upshot is, people will believe what they want. If a demon made himself known, that doesn’t necessarily mean the person will turn to God, especially if the person is not inclined to believe in Him in the first place.

 

[mgoforth]

I guess my question goes alongside this. If the ultimate purpose of God’s allowance is due to the strength it will give the believer, why would demons go along with it? Why would demons intentionally help God?

Demons are still under the control of God. Every sentient creature is under His control, even though we also have free will. We know this because we know that God can use evil to accomplish His will. Nothing we can choose to do is allowed to work against God’s larger plan.

The demons may not realize they’re helping God by revealing themselves to us. We can’t really know their mindset, and personally I wouldn’t want to.

 

[boomerang]

I guess my question goes alongside this. If the ultimate purpose of God’s allowance is due to the strength it will give the believer, why would demons go along with it? Why would demons intentionally help God?

It might be that the evil ones simply can’t help themselves. They may be compelled to do the dirty work that they do. Perhaps they are like “search and attack” machines that will assault anyone who’s defenses are down. Take a virus, it invades without thinking, ultimately killing it’s host. The virus has a chance to live and reproduce in a host cell, that’s all they care about. They don’t care if they kill the host, as long as they can play out their life cycle. Demons may be like viruses. Compelled to attack, without regard for the consequences. The only thing stopping them is whether or not God allows it. Doesn’t the bible say the devil is like a lion roaming around seeking whom he may devour? It doesn’t sound like there’s a lot of brains involved. Demons sound rather animal-like to me. A clever animal, but still an animal.

 

[EIF5A]

How does one differentiate between true paranormal activity versus vivid dream?

I’ve wondered the same thing as the OP. Occasionally there are things I see and feel during sleep, but I don’t know the cause. (Usually happening when I’m living in grave sin.)
And like the OP says, I am more likely to repent because I feel that the demon is attacking me because of my sins.

But as some posters said, maybe even that is God trying to get the soul back to repentance. I don’t know…

 

[SMGS127]

Demons are still under the control of God. Every sentient creature is under His control, even though we also have free will. We know this because we know that God can use evil to accomplish His will. Nothing we can choose to do is allowed to work against God’s larger plan.

The demons may not realize they’re helping God by revealing themselves to us. We can’t really know their mindset, and personally I wouldn’t want to.

It might be that the evil ones simply can’t help themselves. They may be compelled to do the dirty work that they do. Perhaps they are like “search and attack” machines that will assault anyone who’s defenses are down. Take a virus, it invades without thinking, ultimately killing it’s host. The virus has a chance to live and reproduce in a host cell, that’s all they care about. They don’t care if they kill the host, as long as they can play out their life cycle. Demons may be like viruses. Compelled to attack, without regard for the consequences. The only thing stopping them is whether or not God allows it. Doesn’t the bible say the devil is like a lion roaming around seeking whom he may devour? It doesn’t sound like there’s a lot of brains involved. Demons sound rather animal-like to me. A clever animal, but still an animal.

See, I can make sense of this with basic demons [that they’re “machines,” as you call them, boomerang, of insanity and torment]. But from what I’ve read about attacks from the devil, while he is filled with hatred and most definitely lashes out, he seems to still do things that require an intense amount of intellect and cunning (such as impersonate angels/Christ and other methods of deception). Not to mention, the very act of temptation and leading people into sin requires an intense amount of deceptive intellect. And indeed, he is considered the most cunning of all beings (other than God, of course). Would he be like some people on Earth who have IQs out the gazoo, but who are considered mentally insane, or is it something that you don’t think we could know, or is there a 3rd option?

 

[TK421]

See, I can make sense of this with basic demons [that they’re “machines,” as you call them, boomerang, of insanity and torment]. But from what I’ve read about attacks from the devil, while he is filled with hatred and most definitely lashes out, he seems to still do things that require an intense amount of intellect and cunning (such as impersonate angels/Christ and other methods of deception). Not to mention, the very act of temptation and leading people into sin requires an intense amount of deceptive intellect. And indeed, he is considered the most cunning of all beings (other than God, of course). Would he be like some people on Earth who have IQs out the gazoo, but who are considered mentally insane, or is it something that you don’t think we could know, or is there a 3rd option?

If the vice is overpowering enough, your intellect really doesn’t do much good. You can see this even among humanity and some of the outrageously reckless mistakes that are made by highly educated, highly capable, highly powerful men, merely because they became inoculated enough with pride, lust and/or power that they behaved like a fool. It is conceivable for a being far surpassing any human in intellectual grace to still lash out like a rabid animal.

We might presume that the demons have attained a state of depravity far greater than that currently seen by humanity in its seedling stage in this life. It is not until Hell that this depravity is ‘perfected’ into its horrifying, ultimate conclusion.

It also may be supposed that, just as with mankind, there are endless personalities to be found among spiritual beings. Although the demons all share a common rejection of God, beyond that, some of them may respond to their condition differently. Some may laugh, some may cry, some may tremble and cower, some may go mad, others may be in a concentrated quest of hatred against God.

 

[boomerang]

See, I can make sense of this with basic demons [that they’re “machines,” as you call them, boomerang, of insanity and torment]. But from what I’ve read about attacks from the devil, while he is filled with hatred and most definitely lashes out, he seems to still do things that require an intense amount of intellect and cunning (such as impersonate angels/Christ and other methods of deception). Not to mention, the very act of temptation and leading people into sin requires an intense amount of deceptive intellect. And indeed, he is considered the most cunning of all beings (other than God, of course). Would he be like some people on Earth who have IQs out the gazoo, but who are considered mentally insane, or is it something that you don’t think we could know, or is there a 3rd option?

Maybe he is kind of an idiot savant. Really, really good at evil things, not much good at anything else. Who knows? Maybe it’s like a chess game, with lower demons (pawns that don’t know much) and higher demons (queens and kings that have more brains) and they all maneuver all around us trying to trip us up. They know God is going to win, but they are enjoying the thrill of the game anyway. And even though the higher demons may seem intelligent, never underestimate the power of sheer hate to undermine that said intelligence. Ever heard of a “crime of passion”? You take a perfectly intelligent person, or at least average intelligence, and you make them so blind, white-hot angry, put a weapon within reach and watch the fireworks. People will do the craziest things if they are angry enough. I imagine demons are very angry all the time, and maybe the things they do that seem to be against their interests are like “crimes of passion”.

 

[Lochias]

Because bullies take pleasure in the fear that they inflict.

 

[Skye_Ariel]

It might be that the evil ones simply can’t help themselves. They may be compelled to do the dirty work that they do. Perhaps they are like “search and attack” machines that will assault anyone who’s defenses are down. Take a virus, it invades without thinking, ultimately killing it’s host. The virus has a chance to live and reproduce in a host cell, that’s all they care about. They don’t care if they kill the host, as long as they can play out their life cycle. Demons may be like viruses. Compelled to attack, without regard for the consequences. The only thing stopping them is whether or not God allows it. Doesn’t the bible say the devil is like a lion roaming around seeking whom he may devour? It doesn’t sound like there’s a lot of brains involved. Demons sound rather animal-like to me. A clever animal, but still an animal.

If the vice is overpowering enough, your intellect really doesn’t do much good. You can see this even among humanity and some of the outrageously reckless mistakes that are made by highly educated, highly capable, highly powerful men, merely because they became inoculated enough with pride, lust and/or power that they behaved like a fool. It is conceivable for a being far surpassing any human in intellectual grace to still lash out like a rabid animal.

We might presume that the demons have attained a state of depravity far greater than that currently seen by humanity in its seedling stage in this life. It is not until Hell that this depravity is ‘perfected’ into its horrifying, ultimate conclusion.

It also may be supposed that, just as with mankind, there are endless personalities to be found among spiritual beings. Although the demons all share a common rejection of God, beyond that, some of them may respond to their condition differently. Some may laugh, some may cry, some may tremble and cower, some may go mad, others may be in a concentrated quest of hatred against God.

This explanation does sound like the most reasonable one. Especially when you think about humanity and how very smart people do dumb things and can’t seem to help themselves even while knowing what they are doing is dumb. If you think the human mind is complex imagine how complex the mind of angels is. Even we don’t know why we do the things we do sometimes, so I do think it’s a combination of the fallen angels’ depravity, their fallen state and not being able to stop themselves from doing dumb things. Victims of their own pride and greed.

 

[Skye_Ariel]

Maybe he is kind of an idiot savant. Really, really good at evil things, not much good at anything else. Who knows? Maybe it’s like a chess game, with lower demons (pawns that don’t know much) and higher demons (queens and kings that have more brains) and they all maneuver all around us trying to trip us up. They know God is going to win, but they are enjoying the thrill of the game anyway. And even though the higher demons may seem intelligent, never underestimate the power of sheer hate to undermine that said intelligence. Ever heard of a “crime of passion”? You take a perfectly intelligent person, or at least average intelligence, and you make them so blind, white-hot angry, put a weapon within reach and watch the fireworks. People will do the craziest things if they are angry enough. I imagine demons are very angry all the time, and maybe the things they do that seem to be against their interests are like “crimes of passion”.

That’s a good point too.