(1) Demons had
some knowledge of God (James 2:14), of Jesus (Mark 1:21-28;
3:11-12; Matthew 8:28-32; Acts 19:11-20). And of his
apostles (Acts 16:16-21; 19:11-10) – and in reference to
Jesus and his apostles they expressed it through those they
possessed – which means there was such a thing as demonic
inspiration (but not always communicating truth, as other
passages indicate) :
(a) "seducing spirits
and doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1-5);
(b) spirits not of God versus "the Spirit of God" –
"spirits of error" versus "Spirits of truth" – "false
prophets" versus implied true prophets (1 John 3:24 -
5:6);
(c) spiritual gift of "discernings of spirits"
necessitated in assemblies of the saints evidently to
guard against impostors (1 corinthians12:10;
14:29);and, today any pretended inspiration of God is
false (see 1 Corinthians 13:8-13; cf. Ephesians
4:7-16).
(2) Sorcerers and soothsayers were often able to deceive by
means of some sort – whether by Satanic powers of by
sleight of hand – but came short of what was done by divine
power (see Simon, Acts 8:9-13; Elymas, Acts 13:4-12;
sons of
Sceva (Acts 19:11-20); Jannes and Jambres
(2 Timothy 3:8-9; Exodus 7:8-13, 20-25; 8:1, 16-19); and
those of the court of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2, and 4) and
Belshazzar (Daniel5).