However, upon returning to the spirit realm they did not regain their lofty original position, for Jude 6 says: “The angels that did not keep their original position but forsook their own proper dwelling place he has reserved with eternal bonds under dense darkness for the judgment of the great day.” (1 Pet. 3:19, 20) So it is in this condition of dense spiritual darkness that they must now confine their operations. (2 Pet. 2:4) Though evidently restrained from materializing, they still have great power and influence over the minds and lives of men, even having the ability to enter into and possess humans and animals, as well as to use inanimate things such as houses, fetishes, charms, and so forth.—Matt. 12:43-45; Luke 8:27-33; see DEMON POSSESSION.

The purpose of all such demonic activity is to turn people against Jehovah and the pure worship of God. Jehovah’s law, therefore, strictly forbade demonism in any form. (Deut. 18:10-12) However, wayward Israel went so far astray as to sacrifice their sons and daughters to the demons. (Ps. 106:37; Deut. 32:17; 2 Chron. 11:15) When Jesus was on earth demon influence was very prevalent, and some of his greatest miracles consisted of expelling them from victimized persons. (Matt. 8:31, 32; 9:33, 34; Mark 1:39; 7:26-30; Luke 8:2; 13:32) Jesus gave this same power to his twelve apostles and to the seventy that he sent out, so that in the name of Jesus they too could cast out the demons.—Matt. 10:8; Mark 3:14, 15; 6:13; Luke 9:1; 10:17.

Demon influence in human affairs is no less manifest today. That “the things which the nations sacrifice they sacrifice to the demons” is still true. (1 Cor. 10:20) In the last book of the Bible, the “revelation by Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place,” prophetic warning is given concerning accelerated demon activity on the earth. (Rev. 1:1) “Down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels [demons] were hurled down with him. On this account . . . Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time.” (Rev. 12:9, 12) Unclean froglike expressions “are, in fact, expressions inspired by demons and perform signs, and they go forth to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together to the war of the great day of God the Almighty.”—Rev. 16:13, 14.

Christians must, therefore, put up a hard fight against these unseen wicked spirits. James, in arguing that belief alone is not sufficient, says: “You believe there is one God, do you? You are doing quite well. And yet the demons believe and shudder.” (Jas. 2:19) “In later periods of time,” warned Paul, “some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired utterances and teachings of demons.” (1 Tim. 4:1) One cannot eat of Jehovah’s table and at the same time feed from the table of demons. (1 Cor. 10:21) The faithful, therefore, must put up a hard fight against the Devil and his demons, “against the world rulers of this darkness, against the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places.”—Eph. 6:12.

This use of the word “demon” is narrow and specific compared with the notions of ancient philosophers and the way the word was used in classical Greek. Says The Encyclopedia Britannica (Ninth Edition, Vol. VII, page 54): “The earlier and wider notion of demons includes the whole class of such spirits, who may be friendly or hostile, good or evil, persecuting and tormenting man or acting as his protecting and informing patron-spirits.” (See Acts 17:22, 1950 ed., ftn.) So it was that Socrates called the genius or spirit that dwelt in him a demon.

DEMON POSSESSION

The captive control and influence of a person by an invisible wicked spirit. In Bible times demonized persons were afflicted in various ways: some were dumb, some blind, some acted like lunatics and some possessed superhuman strength. All were woefully mistreated by these invisible bullies. (Matt. 9:32; 12:22; 17:15; Mark 5:3-5; Luke 8:29; 9:42; 11:14; Acts 19:16) Men, women and children were their victims. (Matt. 15:22; Mark 5:2) Sometimes the agony was compounded when many demons gained possession of a person at the same time. (Luke 8:2, 30) When the demon was expelled, the person returned to a normal, sane state of mind. There is a difference between demon possession and ordinary physical sickness and disease, for Jesus cured both types of disorder.—Matt. 8:16; 17:18; Mark 1:32, 34.

Some of Jesus’ greatest miracles were the setting of possessed persons free from captivity to the demons. They were powerless against him. But not everyone was happy with his demon-expelling work. The Pharisees accused him of being in league with the ruler of the demons, Beelzebub, whereas in reality, Jesus pointed out, they themselves were the offspring of the Devil. (Matt. 9:34; 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15; John 7:20; 8:44, 48-52) Jesus knew from where his mastery of the demons originated, and he openly confessed that it was by Jehovah’s power and holy spirit. (Matt. 12:28; Luke 8:39; 11:20) The demons themselves recognized Jesus’ identity and addressed him as the “Son of God,” “the Holy One of God” and “Jesus, Son of the Most High God.” (Matt. 8:29; Mark 1:24; 3:11; 5:7; Luke 4:34, 41; Acts 19:15; Jas. 2:19) However, at no time would Jesus allow them to witness in his behalf. (Mark 3:12) On the other hand, a man who was set free from the power of the demons was encouraged to publish to his relatives “all the things Jehovah has done for you.”—Mark 5:18-20.

Jesus also gave authority over the demons to his twelve apostles, and later to the seventy that he sent out, so that in the name of Jesus they too were able to cure the demon-possessed. (Matt. 10:8; Mark 3:15; 6:13; Luke 9:1; 10:17) Even one not an immediate associate of Jesus or his apostles was able to exorcise a demon on the basis of Jesus’ name. (Mark 9:38-40; Luke 9:49, 50) After the death of Jesus, the apostles continued to have this power. Paul dispossessed a “demon of divination” from a slave girl much to the anger of her money-loving owners. (Acts 16:16-19) But when certain impostors, the seven sons of priest Sceva, attempted to do this in the name of “Jesus whom Paul preaches,” the demon-possessed man seized and severely mauled and stripped the seven of them naked.—Acts 19:13-16.

Often the wild and uncontrolled conduct of mentally unbalanced persons is due to direct obsession by these invisible minions of Satan. It is noted that sometimes spirit mediums are reported as casting these demons out, calling to mind what Jesus said: “Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not . . . expel demons in your name. . . ?’ And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew you!” (Matt. 7:22, 23) Compelling reasons, then, for heeding the counsel, “Be watchful,” and, “Put on the complete suit of armor from God that you may be able to stand firm against the machinations of the Devil” and his demons.—1 Pet. 5:8; Eph. 6:11.

DENARIUS

A Roman silver coin about the size of an American dime. The denarius weighed about .124 ounce troy (3.85 grams) and hence would have a modern value of approximately 16c. It bore a likeness of the head of Caesar and was the “head tax coin” exacted by the Romans from the Jews. (Matt. 22:19-21) In the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, agricultural laborers commonly received a denarius for a twelve-hour workday. (Matt. 20:2) Hence, Revelation 6:6