Demons and Fallen Angels

This is an excerpt from my book Freedom From Evil Spirits Made Simple.

Beneath the facade of ordinary life, a war is raging. It is not fought with bullets or bombs but with lies, fear, compulsion, and shame. Though invisible to the natural eye, this battle is real. The battlefield is the human heart and mind. The enemies are not abstract concepts, but sentient beings known as evil spirits. If we are to live victoriously, we must understand what these beings are and how they operate. Everything in this book builds upon this foundation.

Evil spirits—often referred to in the New Testament as demons—are a subject of much debate among biblical scholars. Some hold the view that demons are fallen angels, while others see them as purely symbolic descriptions of evil. My perspective, which I acknowledge is not universally accepted, is that demons are the disembodied spirits of the Nephilim—the unnatural offspring of a union between rebellious angels (identified as the “sons of God” in Gen 6:1–4) and human women. These hybrid beings were never meant to exist. Unlike humans, they were not created in God’s image and cannot be redeemed through the blood of Christ. When their physical bodies died, their spirits remained on the earth—restless, and seeking embodiment.

In this view, demons differ significantly from angels. They are inferior in power to angels but often superior in cunning to humans. They remember what it was like to live in physical form and long to interact with the material world again, but they can only do so through us. Fallen angels, by contrast, are heavenly beings who rebelled against God and retained much of their original power, operating in the heavenly realms. Demons are earthbound and seek interaction with human bodies they can torment and influence.

The origin of demons is not an issue important enough to divide us. Regardless of one’s view, evil spirits are not metaphors for bad feelings or negative energies, but real, living beings. They are manipulative and deceptive, yet their power is limited. They cannot override the human will, and they must yield to a believer who exercises God-given authority.

How They Operate: Influence, Access, and Control

Since demons do not have physical bodies, they need to attach themselves to humans to interact with the physical world. When they do this, they try to influence us to carry out their plans. A person can be affected by more than one demon at a time, and these spirits can influence different parts of a person’s life. Some demons cause chronic pain that has no medical explanation. Others whisper lies, create fear, stir up ungodly desires, or distort how we see God, others, and ourselves.

Demons look for ways to gain access to us. These access points can include sin, trauma, unhealed emotional wounds, patterns passed down through families, or even careless words we speak. Once a demon has access, its goal is to influence our thoughts, emotions, habits, and eventually our sense of identity. They do not need to “possess” us to cause harm; having access is enough. Their strategy usually follows a pattern. First, they tempt us by introducing thoughts or desires that do not come from us. Next, they get us to agree with their way of thinking. Over time, this can create patterns of thought that become strongholds in our minds. Eventually, this leads to torment, which can affect our peace, health, relationships, or mental well-being.

If we misunderstand what demons are, we become more vulnerable to their influence. We might suffer from sickness, depression, or addiction without knowing the real cause. But if we understand what demons are, how they operate, and that Jesus has given us authority over them, we can respond with discernment, exercise our authority, and walk in freedom.

What Are Principalities, Powers, and Rulers of Darkness?

The Bible teaches that God created a vast spiritual universe with many kinds of intelligent beings meant to serve Him. While all were originally obedient, some chose to rebel and became enemies of God.

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 

Col 1:16

Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 

Rev 12:7-9

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

Eph 6:12

When the apostle Paul refers to “principalities,” “powers,” and “rulers of darkness,” he is describing an organized system of spiritual authority. The following is one way to understand how these beings might be arranged:

Thrones can be seen as the highest level of spiritual authority, possibly overseeing entire civilizations or periods of history. When a throne is corrupted, everything under its influence—such as governments, cultures, and policies—can also become corrupted. Dominions act like governors, ruling over specific regions, industries, or areas of influence, shaping beliefs about truth, morality, and authority. Principalities are like generals who rule over smaller geographic areas, influencing ideas, common sins, and social patterns. Powers serve as middle managers, carrying out the plans of higher-ranking spirits through human systems such as unjust laws, political corruption, and spiritual indifference. The rulers of the darkness of this age work to keep people spiritually blind and to promote cultural decay. They hide the truth, make sin seem normal, and shape how people see the world through false ideas. The spiritual hosts of wickedness in high places are an army of demons that tempt, oppress, and torment individuals. They do not have the authority of principalities or thrones, but they are more numerous and relentless in their attacks.

The enemy’s system of authority is a counterfeit of God’s heavenly order. Thrones act as supreme rulers, dominions as regional governors, principalities as generals, powers as field commanders, rulers of darkness as those who spread deception, and spiritual hosts of wickedness as foot soldiers. Understanding the enemy’s structure helps us pray more effectively. We can avoid taking on more than we should and focus our time and energy on the right opponent. Not every spiritual conflict is the same. Some situations require fasting, group prayer, or using authority over a region, while others simply require us to resist a personal attack.

Jesus Is Supreme Over All

Colossians 2:15 tells us that Christ disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them by triumphing over them at the cross. Jesus has all authority, and even the highest spiritual powers are under His rule. He has given His disciples authority (see Luke 9:1) so that we can live victoriously.

Freedom From Evil Spirits Made Simple is available through the links below: