Chapter 15—Good and Evil Angels During Christ’s
Ministry
Devil Possession in Jesus’ Day
The period of Christ’s personal ministry among men was the time
of greatest activity for the forces of the kingdom of darkness. For ages
Satan with his evil angels had been seeking to control the bodies and
the souls of men, to bring upon them sin and suffering.—
The Desire
of Ages, 257
.
The deception of sin had reached its height [by the time Christ
began His ministry]. All the agencies for depraving the souls of men
had been put in operation.... Satanic agencies were incorporated with
men. The bodies of human beings, made for the dwelling place of
God, had become the habitation of demons. The senses, the nerves,
the passions, the organs of men, were worked by supernatural agencies
in the indulgence of the vilest lust. The very stamp of demons was
impressed upon the countenances of men. Human faces reflected the
expression of the legions of evil with which they were possessed....
Satan was exulting that he had succeeded in debasing the image of
God in humanity. Then Jesus came to restore in man the image of his
[181]
Maker.... He came to expel the demons that had controlled the will.
He came to lift us up from the dust, to reshape the marred character
after the pattern of His divine character, and make it beautiful with His
own glory.—
The Desire of Ages, 36-38
.
The fact that men have been possessed with demons is clearly
stated in the New Testament. The persons thus afflicted were not
merely suffering with disease from natural causes. Christ had perfect
understanding of that with which He was dealing, and He recognized
the direct presence and agency of evil spirits.—
The Spirit of Prophecy
4:332
.
Satan and his angels were very busy during Christ’s ministry,
inspiring men with unbelief, hate, and scorn.—
Spiritual Gifts 1:36
.
128