D E M O N S

[Buff Scott Jr.]

D E M O N S​

Demons have been exacting their influence upon the human family since the fall of Adam and Eve. However, I have a bothersome problem with the view that they are the departed spirits of evil men. I find it rather strange that there is not a shred of heavenly attestation to confirm this view.

If demons are the spirits of evil men, Satan, a cosmic, extraterrestrial creature, mighty in his crafty ways, a prince among demons, must also be the spirit of some deceased, evil person. The problem with this idea, however, is that no evil person on Earth existed prior to the Fall. And Satan existed before the Fall. How, then, could Satan be the spirit of some evil person? If Satan is not some evil man’s spirit, where is his origin? I firmly believe the scriptures teach, or at least strongly indicate, that all demons have the same root as their father, Satan.

Let me tell you about the evil man in Luke 16 who died and, in his disembodied state, begged Abraham for mercy. I find that strange, because if the spirits of evil men become demons at death and spend the remainder of their existence deceiving and leading us astray, why would this evil spirit beg for mercy? Yes, demonic spirits cry out for mercy. Many whom Jesus cast out cried out for mercy, and some even uttered, “We know who you are!”

On one occasion, Jesus confronted an unclean—evil—spirit who had taken possession of a man. The man lived among the tombs and could not be bound, even with shackles and chains. No one had the strength to subdue him. But when he saw Jesus approaching, he ran and fell down before Him and, crying out with a loud voice, said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me” [Mark 5:1-20].

The demon’s name was Legion, “for we are many,” he said. Numerous demons had taken control of this poor man and had made shipwreck of his life. The demons begged Jesus not to send them “out of the country,” which probably means, “Do not send us back to the place of perdition from whence we came.” A great herd of pigs was feeding nearby, on the mountainside, so the demons begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs, let us enter them.” Jesus did, and the herd of pigs, about two thousand, went wild “and rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned.” Three questions here:

1] If evil spirits are the spirits of deceased evil men whose mission is to deceive and lead astray, why do they beg for mercy?

2] Why would God permit a person’s evil spirit to continue his ungodly ways in the spirit world? It seems to me that his days of practicing evil ended forever at death.

3] How did these demons recognize Jesus as the Son of the Most High God?

My answer to the last question is, because they knew Him in heaven! If I understand the scriptures correctly, demons are fallen angels—celestial beings who, at some time in past history, rebelled against God and His holy angels and were cast out of their heavenly abode. “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to tartarus [place of containment or place for future punishment], putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment...” [2 Peter 2:4]. They are restrained, their powers are limited, but they still constitute the forces of evil—loose, but restricted. Jude says these angels did not keep their positions of authority [v. 6].— Perhaps more on this subject later.​

 

[ReverendRV]

There is a view in Christianity that Satan and demons are chained in Hell...

 

[Sereni-tea]

Both the 2 Peter 2:4 verse and the Jude v6 make use of 1 Enoch as a backdrop - a story, written some time during the inter-testamental period, which though not considered inspired Scripture, is one that the 1st century Jews would have been very familiar with. 1 Enoch is a story about the sin of the Watchers (the angels that rebelled in Genesis 6) and the Nephilim (human/angel hybrids). My understanding is that the demons supposedly came from the spirits of the Nephilim when they died. The Watchers themselves are the angels that are chained in hell.

 

[CrowCross]

Both the 2 Peter 2:4 verse and the Jude v6 make use of 1 Enoch as a backdrop - a story, written some time during the inter-testamental period, which though not considered inspired Scripture, is one that the 1st century Jews would have been very familiar with. 1 Enoch is a story about the sin of the Watchers (the angels that rebelled in Genesis 6) and the Nephilim (human/angel hybrids). My understanding is that the demons supposedly came from the spirits of the Nephilim when they died. The Watchers themselves are the angels that are chained in hell.

I'm pretty much convinced that that is true...
Demons came from the spirits of the Nephilim when they died. The Watchers (some of the fallen angels) themselves are the angels that are chained in hell.

 

[Buff Scott Jr.]

D E M O N S
[Part 2]​

My research in this field leads me to conclude there is no celestial testimony that validates the proposition that demons are disembodied spirits of wicked men. For if demons are the spirits of evil men, Satan, the prince of demons, must also be the spirit of some evil person—a mighty leader in the demoniac community.

The difficulty with this scene, as pointed out in Part 1, is that no evil man had died prior to Satan appearing in the Garden. Who, then, is this Satan? The scriptures indicate rather robustly that he is a disobedient, prideful, rebellious angel who failed to keep his heavenly position of authority and abandoned his own home. [Jude, v. 6 & 2 Peter 2:4]. They are restrained, their powers are limited, but they still constitute the forces of evil—untied to a degree, but restricted.

Satan is a fallen angel, and he still roams the universe deceiving and influencing. The Spirit’s witness approves the truth that Satan is “like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” [1 Peter 5:8]. And Peter says that God did not spare these wicked angels, but sent them to tartarus—a holding station, a prison. Such does not infer that these wicked angels are without freedom. Their actions are suppressed, limited, just as Satan’s are.

Prisoners in our penal institutions are not totally without freedom. Many crimes are committed by them while they are bound in a place of containment. And so it seems to be with fallen angels who are placed in “gloomy dungeons.” Satan’s army consists of demons or fallen angels, and these evil spirits will persist in their wicked pursuits, exerting their diabolical devices upon apathetic men and women until time shall be no more. In contrast, the forces of good, led by the King of kings, will continue their holy efforts to sway men and women until time shall be no more.

I’m convinced that the departed spirits of the wicked dead hold no control over our behavior and over our decisions. Their lot has been cast in the gloomy dungeons of condemnation. They can no longer rebel, swindle, lie, victimize, deceive, or scoff at celestial beings, for they were destined to “die once, and after that to face judgment” [Heb. 9:27]. Judgment does not entail freedom to roam and romp throughout the universe in search of people to ensnare. It means, “Sentence is now declared!” [Look for Part 3.]​

 

[Buff Scott Jr.]

D E M O N S
[Part 3]​

In the world of the departed, evil spirits cry out for leniency, as in the case of the rich man in Luke 16. He was not granted freedom to ramble throughout the cosmic universe to deceive and lead captive those still living in the flesh. Instead, he begged for freedom to send a message back to his five brothers in the flesh “so that they will not come to this place of torment.” He wanted to rescue those living on earth, not seduce or corrupt them. Whether we take this story literally or as a parable, the message is the same: The diseased spirits of wicked men do not seem to be the demons Jesus confronted.

On numerous occasions, evil spirits, when confronted by Jesus, proclaimed that they were personally and intimately acquainted with Him. They knew Him just as we know those with whom we have spent time. It is strongly inferred that demons and Jesus were once part of the same fraternity—personally acquainted and joined together by common interests. “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” [Mark 1:24-25.]

Luke records a similar incident. “Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” Jesus commanded the evil spirit to shut up. On another occasion, two demon-possessed men came from among the tombs. They were so violent no one could pass that way. But when they saw Jesus, they exclaimed, “What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before our appointed time?” [Matt. 8:28-29].

The question naturally follows: How did these demons or evil spirits know Jesus so personally? Their knowledge of things divine far exceeded those living in the flesh at the time, for few, if any, truly knew that Jesus was the Messiah and God’s Son—not even His closest associates, the Twelve. There is but one answer, as I view the matter. These evils spirits were, at some point in history, part of the angelic host in heaven and associated with the Son of God, prior to their rebellion and prior to their being kicked out, along with Satan their leader. An interesting thought is that Jesus referred to “the devil and his angels” [Matt. 25:41]. “His angels?” Who are they? They are wicked angels, called demons.

If you’re still leaning in the direction of demons being the spirits of evil men, now deceased, consider the following: Millions and millions of evil men have died without knowledge of the man called Jesus—either by hearsay or by being exposed to celestial revelation. So how could they have expressed such a close acquaintance? Consider their mode of expression—“I know who you are! You are Jesus of Nazareth, the Holy One of God!” Such familiarity suggests a former relationship. But the crux of the matter is that biblical evidence to validate the hypothesis that demons are the spirits of evil men is obviously absent. Even logic nods its head as a disclaimer. [See Part 4 later.]​

 

[Bob Carabbio]

There is a view in Christianity that Satan and demons are chained in Hell...

And anybody that'll tell you that foolishness, will probably lie to you about other things too.

 

[Bob Carabbio]

D E M O N S​

Demons have been exacting their influence upon the human family since the fall of Adam and Eve. However, I have a bothersome problem with the view that they are the departed spirits of evil men.​

LOTS of "opinions" about demonic spirits. I'll observe that they don't seem to ACT as Angels (wanting to infest a human body). Angels have their OWN bodies, and don't need ours.

Demonic spirits seem to have "HUMAN APPETITES" - i.e. they play to our LUSTS, and appear to want to have us "Act them out" for the demon's enjoyment.

Those of us who ascribe to the "Gap theory" (an unknown span of time, and possibly other "creations" on this dirt ball) allow the existence of "spiritual beings" from previous populations who were destroyed in a previous JUDGEMENT rendering the earth "without form and Void" as it's found in Gen 1:2.

That there ARE "Evil influences" that appear to know "which buttons to push" to lead us astray is beyond question.

In MY case, I'll simply allow their existence, and find out the WHOLE STORY later, when I KNOW, even as I am Known (1 Cor 13:12).

 

[Buff Scott Jr.]

LOTS of "opinions" about demonic spirits. I'll observe that they don't seem to ACT as Angels (wanting to infest a human body). Angels have their OWN bodies, and don't need ours.

Demonic spirits seem to have "HUMAN APPETITES" - i.e. they play to our LUSTS, and appear to want to have us "Act them out" for the demon's enjoyment.

Those of us who ascribe to the "Gap theory" (an unknown span of time, and possibly other "creations" on this dirt ball) allow the existence of "spiritual beings" from previous populations who were destroyed in a previous JUDGEMENT rendering the earth "without form and Void" as it's found in Gen 1:2.

That there ARE "Evil influences" that appear to know "which buttons to push" to lead us astray is beyond question.

In MY case, I'll simply allow their existence, and find out the WHOLE STORY later, when I KNOW, even as I am Known (1 Cor 13:12).

Bob, I think you will enjoy reading Part 4 of this series. Look for it in a day or two.

 

[Keiw1]

D E M O N S​

Demons have been exacting their influence upon the human family since the fall of Adam and Eve. However, I have a bothersome problem with the view that they are the departed spirits of evil men. I find it rather strange that there is not a shred of heavenly attestation to confirm this view.

If demons are the spirits of evil men, Satan, a cosmic, extraterrestrial creature, mighty in his crafty ways, a prince among demons, must also be the spirit of some deceased, evil person. The problem with this idea, however, is that no evil person on Earth existed prior to the Fall. And Satan existed before the Fall. How, then, could Satan be the spirit of some evil person? If Satan is not some evil man’s spirit, where is his origin? I firmly believe the scriptures teach, or at least strongly indicate, that all demons have the same root as their father, Satan.

Let me tell you about the evil man in Luke 16 who died and, in his disembodied state, begged Abraham for mercy. I find that strange, because if the spirits of evil men become demons at death and spend the remainder of their existence deceiving and leading us astray, why would this evil spirit beg for mercy? Yes, demonic spirits cry out for mercy. Many whom Jesus cast out cried out for mercy, and some even uttered, “We know who you are!”

On one occasion, Jesus confronted an unclean—evil—spirit who had taken possession of a man. The man lived among the tombs and could not be bound, even with shackles and chains. No one had the strength to subdue him. But when he saw Jesus approaching, he ran and fell down before Him and, crying out with a loud voice, said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me” [Mark 5:1-20].

The demon’s name was Legion, “for we are many,” he said. Numerous demons had taken control of this poor man and had made shipwreck of his life. The demons begged Jesus not to send them “out of the country,” which probably means, “Do not send us back to the place of perdition from whence we came.” A great herd of pigs was feeding nearby, on the mountainside, so the demons begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs, let us enter them.” Jesus did, and the herd of pigs, about two thousand, went wild “and rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned.” Three questions here:

1] If evil spirits are the spirits of deceased evil men whose mission is to deceive and lead astray, why do they beg for mercy?

2] Why would God permit a person’s evil spirit to continue his ungodly ways in the spirit world? It seems to me that his days of practicing evil ended forever at death.

3] How did these demons recognize Jesus as the Son of the Most High God?

My answer to the last question is, because they knew Him in heaven! If I understand the scriptures correctly, demons are fallen angels—celestial beings who, at some time in past history, rebelled against God and His holy angels and were cast out of their heavenly abode. “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to tartarus [place of containment or place for future punishment], putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment...” [2 Peter 2:4]. They are restrained, their powers are limited, but they still constitute the forces of evil—loose, but restricted. Jude says these angels did not keep their positions of authority [v. 6].— Perhaps more on this subject later.​

Demons are the same as the devil= fallen angels.

 

[Buff Scott Jr.]

Demons are the same as the devil= fallen angels.

Yes, but Satan appears to be the master of all fallen angels, according to the scriptures.

 

[Buff Scott Jr.]

Bob, I think you will enjoy reading Part 4 of this series. Look for it in a day or two.

D E M O N S
[Part 4 – Finale]
​

If the responses from my readers are of any indication, they consider demonic-possession one of the major facets of this topic. Some are asking if evil spirits, demons, literally consume people today, as they did 2000 years ago. It is a fact that when our Lord walked the earth in the flesh, demons had control of many. This truth is chronicled throughout the four Gospels. It is agreed that evil spirits today influence and, to a large measure, sway and regulate their captives. And they sway some more than others.

I am prone to say that when I see certain depraved rock bands, high on drugs, performing on TV, they cause me to wonder if they are fresh out of Hades and demon-controlled. Their physical appearance, on and off stage, spurs one to think that perhaps they have crawled out of a trash can or nearest sewer. Considering how they have yielded themselves to Satan and his evil spirits, I may be more right than wrong about their being dominated by demons.

However, this is a far cry from saying that demons have total control of them. Demons may have strongly stimulated and inflamed them, but their complete will has not been taken captive. Some have walked away from this kind of lifestyle—and other evil lifestyles as well. In demon-controlled land 2000 years ago, those possessed could not walk away. Their complete will had been captured. Before Jesus dethroned Satan and demons, not only during His ministry but especially at His resurrection, they took complete control of many [Mark 1:14-29]. Here are a few reasons I do not believe in demonic-possession today.​

• When the Twelve returned and reported to Jesus about their successes, they said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” Jesus delightfully responded, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” [Luke 10:17-18]. The apparent meaning is that Satan was losing some of his power and control.​
• Jesus spoke of Satan entering a strong man’s house and plundering his goods. He noted that this cannot be done without first binding the strong man [Matt. 12:25-29]. The “strong man” here is Satan. Jesus entered Satan’s domain and plundered his goods, but not before binding him, which means that Jesus diminished some of Satan’s control and authority.​
• Satan was confident he had won the battle against Jesus when Jesus’ enemies, swayed by Satan, nailed Him to a Roman tree and buried His physical remains in a tomb. But our Lord resurrected from the tomb of death! He conquered death, and “when He ascended on high He led a host of captives”—that is, Jesus secured man’s resurrection from death and led a host of them on high with Him [Eph. 4:8]. ​

The point here seems to be that prior to Jesus’ resurrection from death, no one had ever resurrected never to die again. Satan was in control. Jesus defeated him once again by doing what no man had ever done before—resurrecting from death. Satan must have cried “foul ball” when Jesus carried a host of captives with Him into glory. And Paul quotes from Isaiah, “Death is swallowed up in victory! O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” [1 Cor. 15:54].

Satan and his demonic soldiers have lost much of their armor and weapons. They can no longer take complete control of the innocent against their will. He lost the battle when he took on the Son of God. And he will lose the battle when he takes us on if we continue to depend and rely upon the Captain and Pioneer of our salvation—Jesus.​

 

[Keiw1]

Yes, but Satan appears to be the master of all fallen angels, according to the scriptures.

Yes he is-He was the anointed Cherub.

 

[Sereni-tea]

While I agree with some of what you have said, there is one thing I strongly disagree with:

Satan and his demonic soldiers have lost much of their armor and weapons. They can no longer take complete control of the innocent against their will.

While I am not sure what you mean by the word "innocent", nor what you mean by "against their will", demons can and do still take control of people.

I do agree that in His death and resurrection, Jesus disarmed the powers and authorities of this world. He is now King of kings and Lord of lords for all nations. And wherever the Gospel is prolaimed and people turn to Christ we see this to be true. Yes, Jesus has won the Victory, and those in Christ have no need to fear Satan because He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
Still, the forces of darkness and Sin have not yet been finally dealt with. Satan still roams around looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Many around the world are held captive, enslaved to Sin and darkness, and this includes some being demon-possessed. Only the light of the Gospel can set them free.

 

[Keiw1]

D E M O N S
[Part 4 – Finale]
​

If the responses from my readers are of any indication, they consider demonic-possession one of the major facets of this topic. Some are asking if evil spirits, demons, literally consume people today, as they did 2000 years ago. It is a fact that when our Lord walked the earth in the flesh, demons had control of many. This truth is chronicled throughout the four Gospels. It is agreed that evil spirits today influence and, to a large measure, sway and regulate their captives. And they sway some more than others.

I am prone to say that when I see certain depraved rock bands, high on drugs, performing on TV, they cause me to wonder if they are fresh out of Hades and demon-controlled. Their physical appearance, on and off stage, spurs one to think that perhaps they have crawled out of a trash can or nearest sewer. Considering how they have yielded themselves to Satan and his evil spirits, I may be more right than wrong about their being dominated by demons.

However, this is a far cry from saying that demons have total control of them. Demons may have strongly stimulated and inflamed them, but their complete will has not been taken captive. Some have walked away from this kind of lifestyle—and other evil lifestyles as well. In demon-controlled land 2000 years ago, those possessed could not walk away. Their complete will had been captured. Before Jesus dethroned Satan and demons, not only during His ministry but especially at His resurrection, they took complete control of many [Mark 1:14-29]. Here are a few reasons I do not believe in demonic-possession today.​

• When the Twelve returned and reported to Jesus about their successes, they said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” Jesus delightfully responded, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” [Luke 10:17-18]. The apparent meaning is that Satan was losing some of his power and control.​
• Jesus spoke of Satan entering a strong man’s house and plundering his goods. He noted that this cannot be done without first binding the strong man [Matt. 12:25-29]. The “strong man” here is Satan. Jesus entered Satan’s domain and plundered his goods, but not before binding him, which means that Jesus diminished some of Satan’s control and authority.​
• Satan was confident he had won the battle against Jesus when Jesus’ enemies, swayed by Satan, nailed Him to a Roman tree and buried His physical remains in a tomb. But our Lord resurrected from the tomb of death! He conquered death, and “when He ascended on high He led a host of captives”—that is, Jesus secured man’s resurrection from death and led a host of them on high with Him [Eph. 4:8]. ​

The point here seems to be that prior to Jesus’ resurrection from death, no one had ever resurrected never to die again. Satan was in control. Jesus defeated him once again by doing what no man had ever done before—resurrecting from death. Satan must have cried “foul ball” when Jesus carried a host of captives with Him into glory. And Paul quotes from Isaiah, “Death is swallowed up in victory! O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” [1 Cor. 15:54].

Satan and his demonic soldiers have lost much of their armor and weapons. They can no longer take complete control of the innocent against their will. He lost the battle when he took on the Son of God. And he will lose the battle when he takes us on if we continue to depend and rely upon the Captain and Pioneer of our salvation—Jesus.​

You are mistaken-- Satan is the ruler of this world( system) --Jesus compared these last days to Noahs day( Luke 17:26)-99.9% mislead then, 99% minimum now. Todays world=2Timothy 3

 

[Mr GLee]

If demons are the spirits of evil men, Satan, a cosmic, extraterrestrial creature, mighty in his crafty ways, a prince among demons, must also be the spirit of some deceased, evil person. The problem with this idea, however, is that no evil person on Earth existed prior to the Fall. And Satan existed before the Fall. How, then, could Satan be the spirit of some evil person? If Satan is not some evil man’s spirit, where is his origin? I firmly believe the scriptures teach, or at least strongly indicate, that all demons have the same root as their father, Satan.

Let me tell you about the evil man in Luke 16 who died and, in his disembodied state, begged Abraham for mercy. I find that strange, because if the spirits of evil men become demons at death and spend the remainder of their existence deceiving and leading us astray, why would this evil spirit beg for mercy? Yes, demonic spirits cry out for mercy. Many whom Jesus cast out cried out for mercy, and some even uttered, “We know who you are!”

There is no life after one takes their last breath. Limbo an oral tradition of mankind that needs to suffer with no end in sight.

The word hell has to do with suffering of dying mankind. as unto death or bruised is used. Jonah suffered hell unto death not dead He was counting with the father again the Father does not commune with the dead who bodies having returned to dust and the temporal spirit given after the letter of the law (death) back to the Lord of all spirit life.

Jonah 2 King James Version Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

God does not hear the dead.

By his wounds we are healed not a dead sacrifice. parallel parables Jesus the Son of man suffering unto death. not dead never to rise to new life .

Matthew 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

Hell is the living suffering we experience in these earthen bodies of death.

 

[Josheb]

There is a view in Christianity that Satan and demons are chained in Hell...

I do not know about their being chained in "hell," but Jude is very clear and explicit.

Jude 1:6-7
And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day, just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.​

Those angels have been (past-tense) held in eternal bonds. Their bondage is under darkness. Their bondage is for the day of judgment (more accurately understood to be the day of sentencing, since the judgment has already been rendered - Jn. 16:11). Whether hell or someplace else, the bondage is an accomplished fact.

And anybody that'll tell you that foolishness, will probably lie to you about other things too.

On this occasion Jude 1 shows Post 7 to be the "foolishness." Jude 1 states they are held in bondage. Post 7 implies Jude, a bondservant of Christ and the brother of James, is writing foolishness and likely lying about other things, too.

I'll take Jude over Bob any day, and I encourage and exhort you to give consideration to what Jude wrote, taking his words exactly as written.

 

[Josheb]

D E M O N S​

Demons have been exacting their influence upon the human family since the fall of Adam and Eve. However, I have a bothersome problem with the view that they are the departed spirits of evil men. I find it rather strange that there is not a shred of heavenly attestation to confirm this view.

If demons are the spirits of evil men, Satan, a cosmic, extraterrestrial creature, mighty in his crafty ways, a prince among demons, must also be the spirit of some deceased, evil person. The problem with this idea, however, is that no evil person on Earth existed prior to the Fall. And Satan existed before the Fall. How, then, could Satan be the spirit of some evil person? If Satan is not some evil man’s spirit, where is his origin?​

While I think some clarity is in order, the gist of the above should be obvious because the premise of dead humans inhabiting living humans is unfounded in scripture and scripture explicitly states it is appointed/apportioned for man to die once and then face judgment. ying once and then living on to inhabit another not-dead living human before facing judgment is not the human portion.

I firmly believe the scriptures teach, or at least strongly indicate, that all demons have the same root as their father, Satan.
​

Smart man .

 

[Josheb]

I haven't read through the entire op yet, but the first two paragraphs are good and deserving of affirmation. I would, however, like to offer three over-arching points that should govern our understanding of demons (and their influence on this side of the grave). The first is that Satan and the other disobedient angels are creatures. They are not The Creator, nor are they creators of anything but lies. They are creatures subject to the Creator. They are minions. The second is that being disobedient they are dead in sin. In other words, they are no "free agents" in the sense that they can do anything they want because they are always and everywhere subject to their Creator AND they are not free agents because they are dead and enslaved by sin. The wages of sin is death and that is just as true of angels who disobey God as it is of humans who disobey God. They are slaves. Lastly, regarding the adverse influence on the world and human history, because disobedient angels are creatures, and therefore finite, their influence is also finite and the greater problem is human sin. The scriptures typically speak to this problem as the problem of sinful flesh. This is why the book of James and last chapter of Ephesians are critical to know and accept. James gives not credit or power to Satan and repeatedly couches the problems we (Christians) experience to our own flesh. He is blunt and unequivocal: resist the devil and he will flee. He's an enslaved minion. So too are the other angels who did not keep their proper abode. Giving demons more power than they possess glorifies them. It is a form of idolatry.

 

[Josheb]

1] If evil spirits are the spirits of deceased evil men whose mission is to deceive and lead astray, why do they beg for mercy? ​

All creatures facing subjected to their just sentence that is so lethal, so destructive it destroys even death itself beg. We should not be surprised to read that in scripture. There is no hope for them and a lack of hope is desolate. It is the antithesis of what it means to be a created creature of the Creator, especially for humans made in the image of God.

2] Why would God permit a person’s evil spirit to continue his ungodly ways in the spirit world? It seems to me that his days of practicing evil ended forever at death.

Great question. Easily answered. Because all creatures (and their actions) serve the Creator's purpose whatever occurs can be said to happen only by God's consent (or permission). When Jesus spoke of Satan roaming the world looking for those he might devour that should be understood as part of Satan's judgment, part of his condemnation. Satan cannot devour the regenerate, those living by faith in a God-initiated covenant with their Creator. Those he "devours" are only those dead in sin. In other words, Satan is a carrion eater. The first century Jew would have understood that to mean he is unclean (animals who scavenge dead animals are unclean in the Mosaic Law). God did not "permit" it; God sentenced him to that role. The angel who had been made the finest of all angels with the privilege of worshiping and glorifying his Creator had all that power and privilege removed from him and was relegated to tell only lies. Satan is not happy about that. Every moment of his existence is torturous due to the memory of his previous nobility and current depravity knowing he has no other alternative before he reaches his already decided fate. God could have ended his existence with a word but chose to make that creature a "double-slave;" first to his Creator and again to his own disobedience.

He should have stuck to worship.

As far as God permitting humans to continue their ungodly ways.... He wouldn't. The rules are different with angels. No salvation is offered angels. Their power, privilege, and options are different. Demons roam the earth in bonds of eternal darkness awaiting their inevitable end on the day of judgment, but humans are apportioned to live once, die, and then face judgment. No roaming permitted.

3] How did these demons recognize Jesus as the Son of the Most High God?

If there's an answer to this question in scripture I do not know it, but I do know if scripture is silent on a matter then any attempt on our part will be speculative in nature. I will venture to say Jesus is eternal, pre-existent and they used to inhabit the heavens as ministering servants to those who will inherit salvation and since there is no other name by which anyone may be saved, they have known about Jesus since their creation. I also venture to say that knowledge is probably part of their current punishment.

My answer to the last question is, because they knew Him in heaven! ......Jude says these angels did not keep their positions of authority [v. 6].

I think that correct. Well done.