Why Do Demons Inhabit Isolated Places?

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

Why do demons inhabit unpopulated places? Is that not inconsistent with their unholy passion to destroy human beings? Indeed, this very question was raised recently as an argument against the biblical teaching that all alleged ghosts are demonic deceptions--they saw this widespread phenomenon as proof that these "desolation dwellers" must be trapped human spirits!  However, it is also a question that many of us who embrace a biblical view of ghosts, have puzzled about as well. I will do my best to answer this legitimate question, though I do think that there is an element of mystery here....more so than usual. And I desire feedback and questions, because we all can learn from each other.

A clarification point up front is in order: I have never said--and infinitely more importantly, the bible never says--that attacking humans directly is the ONLY activity Satan/demons are interested in. Warfare is more complicated than that.....more in a moment on that thought.

Graveyards, deserts (think of mid-eastern Djinn), abandoned dwellings of all shapes and sizes, mines (as in the TV show Haunted  Mines), battlefields, and so on are examples of what I am referring to. Deserted places are legion. In the bible, the desert/wilderness is the location most associated with the unclean spirits/demons. Why?

Let us begin with what we can be certain of....occupation of abandoned buildings or land by unclean spirits must have some strategic military value. Evidently, no demon is just hanging out where it wants to, but is placed there for a specific reason by a diabolical superior. Some things just simply have to be, if we are to make any sense of the reality of spiritual warfare. So, to answer this question/objection, I think it would be helpful to place it in the context of kingdom expansion--just as their is a kingdom of God/heaven (used as synonyms throughout the New Testament), there is the kingdom of darkness. That is, how does the inhabiting of desolate places advance Satan's kingdom expansion agenda?

BTW, if this seems to be circular reasoning to you---assuming ghosts are demons and finding a way to explain this desolation phenomena within that assumption--then I  make no apologies. I am not going to suspend my biblical convictions every time I deal with an alleged objection or question...nor do I think most of you would want me to. As a general rule, that (momentary suspension of belief) is being unfaithful to the authoritative Word. After writing a book and 137 blogs, all of which show the unbiblical and harmful nature of the notion of ghosts, I have seen that some folks simply WANT to believe in ghosts...nothing will persuade them otherwise.But others have been persuaded by the winsome and persistent witness of folks who are valiant for truth.

Let me say this--personally speaking, positing human soul/s as occupying these desolated places is more problematic than the biblical alternative. Why? Gregariousness is a salient aspect of humaness, which must continue after death. Adam needed Eve even though he was perfect. We have heard of how solitary confinement in prison has caused many to go insane. We need human interaction. Demons are intelligent, emotive, and volitional beings...but they seem to be too evil to care about companionship. Thus, they would make suitable desolation dwellers.

Do you think demons enjoy being around us? If they hate us, then of course not! The only "pleasure" would come from hurting those they hate. Otherwise, I can see demons  being quite content dwelling AWAY from us. Only once in my life have I seriously struggled with hate towards a particular man... (he was partially responsible for destroying my marriage/family). Suffice it to say (even after much prayer), I could NOT be around this guy....not if I wanted to stay out of prison (obviously, I am leaving out personal details).

Perhaps some demons have shown that they are better suited for "alone patrol" simply because of how they have dealt with their hatred in the past? (remember some demons were so evil they were sent early to hell..Jude, 2 Peter) In The Demonologist,  Ed Warren states that "ghosts are self-absorbed loners..."  I respect this man,and I think that he has unwittingly given us--based on enormous amount of experience--a definition of demons that fits within the biblical parameters.

In a similar way, unless given specific attack orders on us, my guess is that demons would gravitate away from us...we remind them of everything they have lost. So, demons dwelling in desolate places makes a bit more sense to me with that notion in mind....although I admit this is conjecture.

In 1972, my older brother Mickey graduated from High School and joined the Navy, with the intent of becoming a Navy SEAL. However, after a briefing which included the fact that there was a 90% mortality rate at that time, he decided against it. I need to interject that another older brother had died a few months before in a tragic fraternity accident. Mickey did not want our mom and dad to be crushed again....good for Mick..

SEAL...sea, air, and land...expert warriors in all three environments (well, HALO-HAHO jumps!) Navy/Coast Guard, Air Force, and Army/Marine ground operations--three foci of human warfare.It would seem to me that, just as a general principle, Satan would be interested in this triad as well in spiritual warfare. I mention this just as a principle for further thought.

To  say that attacking God's image bearers is priority number one.on the Satanic agenda, does not imply that other warfare goals are not important. Take the  arch-demon who was Air Force, and the role it played in overseeing the operations in Persia...and another as Prince of Greece. Evidently, there was no direct contact with humans but its power and influence were such that Michael was dispatched to fight against it. (see Daniel 10) Evidently, this arch-demon was responsible for the territory of Persia. This introduces the element of territorialsim. More importantly, it is a rare glimpse "behind the veil" of demonic war strategy, and of personal fighting between high leadership on both sides.

Every where in scripture the earth is entirely the Lord's and under His absolute sovereign control. (Gen.1:1;  Ps. 24:1; Isaiah 40-49 and so on). However, Satan, like an intelligent general, knows the value of geographic land occupation. Plus, they are ALL (Satan/demons) prideful and fancy themselves as GODS....Whatever land they can lay claim to simply plays into this moronic egomaniac tendencies they have. Any land or buildings they do lay claim to may be do to some "legal rights",but in the final analysis, it is really God's creation. He has temporarily given Satan some derivative authority over what he lays claim to--"the world" (which we discussed in recent issue)

Demonic  attachment to some desolate building or land is not problematic, given the larger warfare agenda of Satan. Having occupation forces in countries has its own advantages, as we have seen in countless human arenas of war. Why not in spiritual warfare as well? Just because it is spiritual warfare does not negate the fact that the enemy enters from their dimension and takes "ownership" of what he can in our dimension.

This seems to be a sound biblical principle, buttressed by countless experiences--namely, that wherever humans were horribly mistreated or killed, then that opened a foothold for demonic infestation.

All of these abandoned hospitals, prisons, hotels etc. we see on TV, almost always had some tragedies connected with them. For example, the Haunted Mine on TV...I kept waiting for someone to discover a human horror. Sure enough, this mine which apparently has a demonic presence (if you give  any credence to the story...and not total cynic, which I think is wrong) is some how connected with the brutal slaying of dozens of Chinese miners 100 years or more ago. That demons would sit "on their thrones" deep within this abandoned mine for many years without human contact/attack is not problematic.. As spirits, they need no food, water, or communication.

Places that are haunted, like the Crescent Mine, also become wonderful PR advertisements for the notion of ghosts. Satan knows that humans are suspicion prone, and he can kill several birds with the same stone...take control over larger areas of God's earth, let his army "reign" there, and over time it will gain reputation for being haunted--advancing Satan's most effective deception (spiritism). Is that not what has occurred in this mine, as the investigators ASSUME it is deceased Chinese and not demons? (and other places highlighted on TV/books)?

We do not know how many demons there are, but there a whole lot!  So, Satan can afford to place demonic soldiers wherever it will serve his agenda. As in any war, there will be many fronts and battles. Wherever we give them legal rights to attach and dwell, they usually will. Regardless of human contact, they "OWN" this mine, and their pride is swollen to bursting. Same as an abandoned farm house a friend was telling me about recently. Apparently no human traffic for a long time, but when he stepped in the old house, this demon let him know he was not wanted there. Similar scenarios have played out millions of times all over. Unless specifically directed to attack us, many demons BECAUSE OF THEIR HATRED OF US, don't want anything to do with us. You can relate to that, can't you?! I can...

Lastly, only God knows how much land has been spiritually polluted in our country due to hatred or curses, or both. And if you build a new home on cursed land, chances are your house will soon become infested. The Old Testament speaks often of the land being spiritually defiled or polluted, and vomiting its' occupants out. On the other hand, we could say much more regarding land based curses, but it boils down to their being real and giving Satan a territorial foothold which can extend for many, many miles.

I bring us back to this organizing principle--whatever will advance the infernal agenda of the spread of the kingdom of darkness, is where we will see demonic presence and activity. Much of that is hidden from our view on purpose,and so we should EXPECT an element of mystery from our hated enemy.

Conclusion...Satan is prideful of all his assets, and as the ultimate miserly miser, not willing to give an inch without a fight.

Mark Hunnemann is the author of Seeing Ghosts Through God's Eyes: A Worldview Analysis of Earthbound Spirits. It's also available in eBook format.

Though I walk through the valley of death...

When ever I see a new face to the paranormal, I always envision their introduction into the field as a path upon a steep mountainside with many paths meandering off the main one in different directions. Some of those paths are dark, treacherous and always promise a better view then they ever do, while others go a path that appear non-consequential and expected, yet, never go anywhere but around in a circle. Some of these people, you can see what direction they are going, while others, it's hard to know what direction they will go. I do get excited when I see those in the field that have that passion, curiosity and spark that sincerely want to help others and for them, I do not usually worry all to much about them. There should truly be a warning out there to each person that enters the Paranormal field. Some people end up in ruins or worse. Most of us, just end up on that path without truly choosing it. It chooses you and not in the way you expect.

Let me just take you down the path I have followed briefly for a moment. My first experience with the unworldly inhabitants of this life was when I was eleven. My brother, (whom I will call Charlie), got a job on farm and for part of his work benefits, was afforded a large farmhouse on the property of the farm. Charlie was older then me by many years and though I was young, he was married and invited my mother and me to stay. This home had the most awe inspiring, frightening and memorable experiences as a child that have stayed with me just as if they just happened with a clarity of recall I can not even explain.

As a child, the boogeymen under the bed and closet phantoms were what Mom had the power to dispel just by turning on the light and admonishing the thought by explaining it being only a trick of the light or looking under the bed and stating nothing was there. I believed her. This house, it wasn't like that. I quickly learned that what I was seeing, at least at first, wasn't something everyone else could see. Not at first. As a kid, it was terrifying and I felt incredibly alone in dealing with it when the elders in my family thought I was making things up or having a wild imagination. When they did experience something, they played it off as nothing or some explainable cause that never really made sense to me. But, it didn't stay that way... not for long anyway.

One such occasion of a particularly haunting event, which was by no way the only event or even the scariest, but, one in which shows the supernatural and awe inspiring and yet fear invoking haunting that occurred at this house and when we came back from a day of shopping. It started with me going to do the door first with groceries in hand and the door slamming behind me. When my brother tried the door, it did not budge. He thought I locked the door, but, I didn't. It wouldn't open. A rack that was made special for the old records called 45's was strewn over and the records all over the floor and I looked upon the chaos in surprise knowing it was something that happened while we were gone. The records began to float in midair in front of me, dangling and slightly spinning like some character from a TV show had cast them with magic. I froze in fear, alone... locked in by some unknown power of which I could not understand as a child. My brother used a crowbar to break into the door. As he did, he caught a glimpse of the records floating that smashed suddenly to the floor as he stepped through the door. I was certain he was shocked and fearful, but, he did not ever voice that for years.

From the ghostly disembodied voices calling my name over my shoulder with a raspy unnerving chill to the bumps I felt under my bed in the midst of the night when I knew no one or thing should be under there, my life as an 11 year old changed from that house and my perception of the world around me with it. After a while, it became clear to me that Mom and my brother did not know what we were dealing with and at times, I knew they were bothered by it. Even then, I knew they tried to protect me from knowing, because, it's all they could do.

There is something to be said of knowing... acknowledging a power from some unseen force that is not bound by the reality we think exist. Once you cross that line, there is no going back... no safe harbor... no night that can not be penetrated in the depth of your dreams while snuggled peacefully under covers. There is a vulnerability you realize and acknowledge and yet, a knowing that everyone around you will likely never voice even if they share in the same experience in the same location.

Evil has a way of penetrating our lives more then just voices and floating objects and frightening us at night. It manipulates, it estranges, it coerces, it circles and it goes for any and all downfalls and weaknesses it can find. Evil promises great things, destroys instead and takes instead of giving. Evil takes you down with it into despair, unaccomplishment, anger, malice, jealousy and fear. It can completely destroy your health, career, family, friendships and life. It can also kill.

Evil doesn't come to you as ONE entity or one moment. It is a culmination of events, circumstances, moments, actions and thoughts that conspire into a destruction of not only someone who is heading in the direction of evil, but, those around them no matter how much they care. The demonic doesn't just show you evil straight out, it lies in wait, slowly enticing, slowly making you feel superior, strong, special and it plays, lies, pretends and manipulates and becomes what ever it needs to, to pull you in.

In true demonology, there is a knowledge of evil, as well as the hierarchy and knowledge of demon types, actions and even their boundaries. So many do not understand. You can step in front of a raging Buffalo, but, you may not live just because you think you know how to stop it by actions taught online. You would likely end up dead doing so. So it is with demons. One does not challenge or think themselves invulnerable to them without truly understanding the reality in humility they should be recognizing and realize, each time they deal with the demonic, they risk themselves, body and soul. No matter how benign a case may appear, it is not something that novices who have decided to write made up rules and synopsis to illicit praise or appreciation from those who do not know the difference between the demonic and a over acting fool pretending to be the next best deliverer from evil hero, should be doing.

This is my warning to those taking classes online to deal first hand with demons; STOP! There is nothing online that can prepare you for dealing with the demonic. It is dangerous. You are probably NOT learning what you should be learning for instance. Demonologist do not do exorcisms. THAT is an EXORCIST. To be an exorcist, you must be clergy and understand a lot on how to do the rituals, as well as understanding the demonic. You must understand the greatest sacrifice is yourself for others and being willing to do so. Both being a demonologist that works in deliverance in any way or especially a exorcist have to be willing to do just what that priest did on the movie Exorcist, sacrifice yourself. Believe me, I know first hand this sacrifice. You do not choose this field... no one in their straight mind would.

I have never once went out hunting demons. I have never went out of my way to go to a place and be around demons. People have always come to me. Whether it is those who have the knowledge and approach me or friends who have a story to tell or just those who are looking for information... but it is always something that comes to me. It is much like the fraud exposing really. When you are meant to do this, you know. So it is with dealing with demons in any way, shape or form is as well.

I realize to some, this article is spewed with what some would call religiosity and archaic beliefs. However, rudimentary thinking from the perspective of thought, is the killer evil, his thoughts evil or his soul? Does he have measurements of evil? There is something to be said of entertaining thoughts and thoughts becoming actions after all. What about where those thoughts go and why they do not appear taboo and plain frightening to some. From the spirit and story of the dream catcher, evil thoughts can become actions. They can become actions even against you by others. It is like a web of thought, evil effects the entire web of life. Some of these “archaic” ideas are age old and for a reason. I myself do not subscribe to the thought that old wisdom is useless and wrong. I tend to think there is a high chance for a value in them and a reason they have stood the test of time and brought forward for generations, much like the dream catcher and it's purpose. On this, it is just something I learned on my own in life.

So many people that seem to have these types of problems are people who have played with Ouija boards or other sources for summoning the spirits of the deceased. Sometimes, they are people with psychological issues as well. But some... and I mean this... some have decided to be demonologist or exorcist and are not alive today. Some that go that road end up in very hard lives. I have heard how some people, they change from the day entering a haunted location that ended up having something dark within.

So, this is my warning to you out there entering this field and especially interested in the darker side to help or because of interest, be weary, tread carefully, learn from the right sources, do your homework and have a strong faith and love in God and love of others. Love is in this... the strongest and ultimate weapon against evil.

Evan Jensen

Producer of Beyond the Edge of Reality Radio Network
http://beyondtheedgeofreality.net/