Question:
Is it possible for people to see demons?
A guy I have recently befriended told me he can see them, and I'm positive he was being literal. As far as I've seen, he is TOTALLY on fire for Christ, and he's constantly evangelizing, he's just a REALLY strong Christian, I saw it in him as soon as I met him. But when he told me he sees demons, I was kinda shocked. Not because I didn't believe him, but because I have never heard of anyone seeing demons, feeling them and their presence yes but not seeing them. Is there anything in the Bible that supports this? Is seeing Demons possible?
Answer:
Originally Posted by Bassmylife Is it possible for people to see demons?
A guy I have recently befriended told me he can see them, and I'm positive he was being literal. As far as I've seen, he is TOTALLY on fire for Christ, and he's constantly evangelizing, he's just a REALLY strong Christian, I saw it in him as soon as I met him. But when he told me he sees demons, I was kinda shocked. Not because I didn't believe him, but because I have never heard of anyone seeing demons, feeling them and their presence yes but not seeing them. Is there anything in the Bible that supports this? Is seeing Demons possible?
Depends.
What does he specifically, explicitly see, in rocks-are-hard-and-water-is-wet terms? Does he actually have experiences that are right out of The Sixth Sense, or perhaps something like Silent Hill (Devil's Advocate, Thirteen Ghosts, Jacob's Ladder, etc.) where he is actually seeing physical, corporal manifestations of apparitions or spectres . . .
or do certain people just give him a really creepy look and he thinks perchance they could be possessed?
Chesh
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NO He actually SEES them. Like he told me he'll be talking to someone and see demons attacking them.
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I see no reason why it would be impossible to see demons. Scripturally speaking it actually should happen every now and then.
I would, however, caution you on this. I would venture a guess that the vast majority of claims are just as faulty as the vast majority of UFO claims.
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1) Technically not impossible scripturally.
2) Schizophrenia has been known to manifest in many different ways.
3) Has he ever done acid in the past?
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Originally Posted by Dice 1) Technically not impossible scripturally. Glad we agree. Though I have been tossing around the question as to whether or not Demons have ever been visible to any human in scripture. Then again, if the answer is no then the absense of such an occurance doesn't negate the fact that angels can do it.
2) Schizophrenia has been known to manifest in many different ways.
3) Has he ever done acid in the past? There are many other things that could cause this. You'd be amazed what you can trick your mind into seeing when you just really want a spiritual event to occur for you.
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Originally Posted by Lightknight You'd be amazed what you can trick your mind into seeing when you just really want a spiritual event to occur for you.
Gavin you are such a breath of fresh air in the charismatic/pentecostal world. That needs to be posted on every door post in the charistmatic church.
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Originally Posted by Lightknight There are many other things that could cause this. You'd be amazed what you can trick your mind into seeing when you just really want a spiritual event to occur for you.
There are many Mystery Art Entertainers that have made a very good career for themselves doing this. You'd be amazed at what you can do in a Spirit Theatre setting during, say, the reenactment of a Victorian Seance, for instance.
More later . . .
Chesh
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I cannot recall any single mention of noncorporeal beings being visible to the corporeal. In other words, spirits being physically visible to humans is not (according to recollection) mentioned anywhere in Scripture.
People or pigs that were demonically possessed and angels-seeing-demons is made mention of, but for a Christian to be seeing them, it is only extrabiblical accounts that I can recall.
I agree with Dice however on the latter two of his three points. Especially the acid "LSD" (and I would add mu-shrooms, Psilocybin).
P.S. Now, angels, obedient to God have been made visible to humans. There's many mentions of that, but as far as demons, I cannot recall anywhere in Scripture. It appears that Satan does not hold the power to do for demons what God has done to (for) certain angels recorded in Scripture.
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Originally Posted by Elationist I cannot recall any single mention of noncorporeal beings being visible to the corporeal. In other words, spirits being physically visible to humans is not (according to recollection) mentioned anywhere in Scripture.
....
P.S. Now, angels, obedient to God have been made visible to humans. There's many mentions of that, but as far as demons, I cannot recall anywhere in Scripture. It appears that Satan does not hold the power to do for demons what God has done to (for) certain angels recorded in Scripture.
Angels are ministering spirits..
Hebrews 1:13-14 13But to which of the angels has He ever said,
"(A)SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,
(B)UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES
A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET"?
14Are they not all (C)ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will (D)inherit (E)salvation?
So by acknowledging that angels have been made visible to humans, that kinda shows that Scripture does have examples of spirits being physically visible to humans.
Wether or not this can happen or not, I don't know. I don't see why not.
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Also...
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
Hard to tell if he means literally visible.
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Originally Posted by Daniel21TX Angels are ministering spirits..
Hebrews 1:13-14 13But to which of the angels has He ever said,
"(A)SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,
(B)UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES
A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET"?
14Are they not all (C)ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will (D)inherit (E)salvation?
So by acknowledging that angels have been made visible to humans, that kinda shows that Scripture does have examples of spirits being physically visible to humans.
Wether or not this can happen or not, I don't know. I don't see why not.
But he's talking demons specifically
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Originally Posted by exo Gavin you are such a breath of fresh air in the charismatic/pentecostal world. That needs to be posted on every door post in the charistmatic church. Haha, thankyou for the compliment. You don't have to be Pentecostal and luney. I know there are a ton of bad examples of pentecostal/charismatics out there, but there are still those whose desire is to follow scripture rather than just "forcing" something to happen.
For the past few years here on CGR, I was able to speak of the amazingly sound doctrine my childhood Pentecostal church taught (me attending there for over 18 years). I regret to inform you that it has since fallen under new pastorship and has become yet another prosperity doctrine church.
Fortunately, nearly all of the original members have since left and are now together in yet another church that has sound doctrine. Lol, it's all for the best I suppose. So, perhaps I can still say that I am attending the same church even if the name and location has changed.
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Originally Posted by Bassmylife But he's talking demons specifically They are responding to the question I laid out there pertaining to the fact that the literal physical presence of angels seems somewhat absent from scripture. Usually they just possess.
However, once again, this is not to say that they cannot appear physically, AND it is important to note that people have seen purely spiritual beings (like the angels protecting the city in the old testament that no one else could see). So again, it may not be impossible to see demons that are only in the spirit. But we know precious little about this from our canon and must be very careful when approaching this topic, especially with any notion of certainty.
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Originally Posted by Bassmylife But he's talking demons specifically
I am aware that the Original poster was, however Elationist said:
"I cannot recall any single mention of noncorporeal beings being visible to the corporeal. In other words, spirits being physically visible to humans is not (according to recollection) mentioned anywhere in Scripture."
This doesn't have any qualification for demon noncorporeal beings. Elationists seems to have been clearly speaking about any noncorporeal beings (spirits) being visible to the corporeal (humans).