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Demons in the World Today: A Study of Occultism in the Light of God's Word
A lonely business man attends a seance, seeking to communicate with the spirit of his deceased wife. A woman is anxious about the future, and her friend enthusiastically recommends a horoscope reading. Schoolgirls join a witches coven and practice hexes on classmates. What does all this have to do with demons? A great deal since demons are powerful beings operating in the spiritual sphere all around us, waiting for unwary human beings to seek supernatural aid that is beyond or opposed to the loving plan of God. Fortune-telling, Ouija boards, demon possession, children of fallen angels, Satan's world religions - these and many other mysteries of the occult world are examined thoroughly, sanely an biblically in the timely volume by the distinguished scholar and former seminary professor, Merrill F. Unger
209 pages, Paperback
First published December 12, 1980
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116 people want to read
About the author
Merrill F. Unger
82 books19 followersMerrill Frederick Unger, author of Demons in the World Today, earned his A.B and Ph.D. degrees at Dallas Theological Seminary. He held pastorates in New York, Texas, and Maryland. He taught at Gordon College and Gordon Divinity School, and from 1948 to 1967 he was professor of Old Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 24, 2019
Merrill Unger writes with much force and energy and in a clear style. While he gets many details wrong, the general thrust of his argument is correct. This book is an update (but by no means a replacement) to his classic Biblical Demonology. In this work Unger (correctly) recognizes that “possession” is a misleading term (and one the Bible never actually uses). This allows him to bring pastoral insight to Christians who are struggling with the occult.
My main problem with this work is that Unger lumps all “bad” spirits as “demons” and all good spirits as “angels.” While he equates demons with fallen angels, he realizes that his position isn’t self-evident and a number of plausible theories are advanced. He rejects the idea that demons are the disembodied souls of fallen Nephilim (Unger 12-13). He says it is pure speculation. Modern scholarship has shown it is anything but that. I’m not 100% sold on the idea, but one can make a case for it. Nephilim are not fully human or divine, so it makes some sense that their souls are earth-bound.
Unger says, alluding to Revelation 12, that demons are connected with the primordial fall of the dragon and his angels (13). But when we look at Revelation 12, the “fall” is happening at Christ’s birth, not in some eon past. On another note, following the plain reading of the Bible and numerous scholars today, Unger agrees that the “sons of God” are semi-divine beings who copulated with human women (12). And then he argues that demons are incorporeal beings (22), and that the two are the same; how, then, can an incorporeal demon fornicate with a woman?
There is a way out of this. It is something along the lines of when angelic beings enter the realm of time, space, and matter, they can take on the properties of matter (this is obvious from Abraham’s encounter with the angels). Nonetheless, I agree with Unger that demons are invisible spirits. I simply reject the equation with fallen beney ha-elohim. Strangely enough, Unger seems to entertain the idea elsewhere (28).
Unger has some sage comments on the supernatural and the demonic. He writes, “When men ignore God’s warnings and enter a forbidden realm, they may witness materializations, levitations, and luminous apparitions, as well as experience spirit rappings, trances, automatic writing…” (27). His chapter on magic, while good, reads sort of like a series of horror clippings from a magazine. The pastor can probably use these as sermon introductions.
What is “demon possession” and can Christians be demon-possessed? Unger defines possession as “a condition in which one or more evil spirits inhabit a body and take complete possession” (140). A key indicator is when a possessed individual “blacks out” and doesn’t remember anything. This seems to indicate that Christians cannot be possessed, as defined above.
However, the occultic attacks on disobedient Christians are far more insidious than merely chanting “oppressed, not possessed.” Unger then documents probably close to 100 cases.
Unger’s dispensationalism mars his treatment at points. While there are strong cases for the cessation of spiritual gifts, Unger’s arguments are just bad He argues throughout the book that the super gifts ceased because the perfect has come (1 Cor. 13), which of course means the New Testament canon. There are several huge problems with this (huge enough that modern cessationists no longer advance this argument). According to 1 Corinthians 13, whenever the perfect comes, other conditions will also obtain. Do you know in full? Has faith passed away? Do you still see in a glass darkly? The most obvious problem is that 1 Cor. 13 doesn’t identify the perfect with the New Testament canon.
My main problem with this work is that Unger lumps all “bad” spirits as “demons” and all good spirits as “angels.” While he equates demons with fallen angels, he realizes that his position isn’t self-evident and a number of plausible theories are advanced. He rejects the idea that demons are the disembodied souls of fallen Nephilim (Unger 12-13). He says it is pure speculation. Modern scholarship has shown it is anything but that. I’m not 100% sold on the idea, but one can make a case for it. Nephilim are not fully human or divine, so it makes some sense that their souls are earth-bound.
Unger says, alluding to Revelation 12, that demons are connected with the primordial fall of the dragon and his angels (13). But when we look at Revelation 12, the “fall” is happening at Christ’s birth, not in some eon past. On another note, following the plain reading of the Bible and numerous scholars today, Unger agrees that the “sons of God” are semi-divine beings who copulated with human women (12). And then he argues that demons are incorporeal beings (22), and that the two are the same; how, then, can an incorporeal demon fornicate with a woman?
There is a way out of this. It is something along the lines of when angelic beings enter the realm of time, space, and matter, they can take on the properties of matter (this is obvious from Abraham’s encounter with the angels). Nonetheless, I agree with Unger that demons are invisible spirits. I simply reject the equation with fallen beney ha-elohim. Strangely enough, Unger seems to entertain the idea elsewhere (28).
Unger has some sage comments on the supernatural and the demonic. He writes, “When men ignore God’s warnings and enter a forbidden realm, they may witness materializations, levitations, and luminous apparitions, as well as experience spirit rappings, trances, automatic writing…” (27). His chapter on magic, while good, reads sort of like a series of horror clippings from a magazine. The pastor can probably use these as sermon introductions.
What is “demon possession” and can Christians be demon-possessed? Unger defines possession as “a condition in which one or more evil spirits inhabit a body and take complete possession” (140). A key indicator is when a possessed individual “blacks out” and doesn’t remember anything. This seems to indicate that Christians cannot be possessed, as defined above.
However, the occultic attacks on disobedient Christians are far more insidious than merely chanting “oppressed, not possessed.” Unger then documents probably close to 100 cases.
Unger’s dispensationalism mars his treatment at points. While there are strong cases for the cessation of spiritual gifts, Unger’s arguments are just bad He argues throughout the book that the super gifts ceased because the perfect has come (1 Cor. 13), which of course means the New Testament canon. There are several huge problems with this (huge enough that modern cessationists no longer advance this argument). According to 1 Corinthians 13, whenever the perfect comes, other conditions will also obtain. Do you know in full? Has faith passed away? Do you still see in a glass darkly? The most obvious problem is that 1 Cor. 13 doesn’t identify the perfect with the New Testament canon.
February 4, 2021
This book was useful and helpful in looking at a variety of demon related subjects ie religions and cults, magic, spells, possessions, exorcisms, etc. The part that was hard for me to agree with personally was the unsubstantiated claims made by the author on the various subjects. His opinion is really the basis for large portions of what he claimed was true. This book would be good for reference purposes, and it would be bettered by reading another book he has written entitled "Biblical Demonology".
The author does point out something I have entertained for a while and that is this "Christian leaders" who practice faith healing in Jesus name but not with God's power. He also gives good advice on exorcism and it reminded me of the demon possessed woman that I dealt with in Ellsinore, MO.
The author does point out something I have entertained for a while and that is this "Christian leaders" who practice faith healing in Jesus name but not with God's power. He also gives good advice on exorcism and it reminded me of the demon possessed woman that I dealt with in Ellsinore, MO.
June 24, 2023
Really valuable information for the Christian to know in order to avoid the traps of the devil. This is not a subject that is taught much these days. We prefer to pretend that the devil and demons no longer exist, or maybe just exist in third world countries, but definitely not here in enlightened America. Here we diagnose all illness’ of the mind as mental illness and prescribe medication, never considering the fact that the person might in fact be suffering from demonic oppression. If we are not even aware of the devices of the devil, how can we protect ourselves from him?
March 16, 2021
This is a rereading of the book after forty years on my shelf, and I still highly recommend it. My only caveat is what is common with most books of this genre, a failure to recognize the spiritual protection that accompanies a Christian who is a member of a strong, Bible teaching Church and under the oversight of godly pastors. This is the result of a typical Protestant ecclesiology, resulting in a failure to search for what your theology makes no room for. Still, a great book for the maturing Christian.
October 4, 2020
What a load of crap. His views were outdated when he wrote it and he wasn't even correct in his usage of then contemporary facts. He sites irrelevant or altogether false secular sources to push his imaginary agenda of demons existing in any capacity where a human being isn't a mindless sycophant of the Church. This is a work of fiction and Unger was a con-artist, damaging the image of the Church and smearing the name of Christ with his idiotic commentary .
November 4, 2019
an ok read. nothing special.
January 27, 2008
The first chapter was a starter that was hard to put down until the book was finished. It is a well written and documented book on demons from the beginning of time until today and what will happen in the near future. Many different situations are presented and potential solutions offered. I found this book quite enlightening and know that some of the information may be useful in my future. I highly recommend this book to all Christians.
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January 8, 2014A thorough and worthwhile approach to the Biblical facts available to us in Scripture,
May 30, 2020
very good, sane...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews