Who Is Really Behind the Occult?

Who Are the Demons?

Long before Jehovah formed humans, he created an untold number of intelligent spirit "sons of God" in heaven. (Job 38:4, 7) Like humans, they are free moral agents, and for a long time, they all remained loyal to God. But that happy situation came to an abrupt end. How so?

After God created humankind, one spirit creature began to covet something to which he was not entitled-worship. Using a serpent the way a ventriloquist might use a puppet, this wicked angel seduced the first woman, Eve, into disobeying her Creator. (Genesis 3:1-6) The Bible calls that rebellious angel "the original serpent,the one called Devil and Satan." (Revelation 12:9) Jesus described him as "a manslayer" Who "did not stand fast in the truth," adding: "When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition because he is a liar and the father of the lie." -John 8:44.

In time other spirit "sons of the true God" joined Satan in his rebellion. ( Genesis 6:1, 2) They are later referred to as "the angels that sinned" and "the angels that did not keep their original position but forsook their own proper dwelling place," or their assigned place in heaven. ( 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6) They came to be called demons. (James 2:19) Moreover, they are determined to turn as many humans as possible away from true worship, as they did many Israelites in Bible times. (Deuteronomy 32:16, 17) Similarly today, as in the past, Satan and the demons cleverly employ religious lies. - 2 Corinthians 11:414, 15.

Next time: Shield Yourself!

Watchtower, 2011