Current Residence of Demons According to Biblical Teaching
The biblical understanding of the current residence of demons indicates various locations, often associated with places of desolation, spiritual darkness, or even human habitation. While there is no single, fixed abode for all demonic entities, scripture and theological interpretation point to several key areas.
One significant concept is that demons can inhabit individuals, a phenomenon frequently described in the New Testament as "demoniacal possession" [1]. These possessions often manifested as bodily disease or mental derangement [1]. Jesus and the evangelists spoke of such possessions, and while some have suggested this was an accommodation to Jewish belief, the texts present it as a real occurrence [1]. For instance, Jesus describes an evil spirit, cast out of a person, returning with "seven other spirits more evil than he is," who then "enter in and dwell there" [6]. This suggests a capacity for demons to reside within human beings.
Beyond individuals, certain geographical locations are identified as places where demonic influence is particularly strong. The book of Revelation mentions Pergamum as a place "where Satan’s throne is" and "where Satan dwells" [2]. This suggests a localized center of demonic power on earth. Similarly, the city of Babylon, both literal and symbolic, is prophesied to become "a dwellingplace for dragons" [4]. Commentators interpret this to mean a place for "wild and savage creatures" and specifically link it to the "seat of Satan the great red dragon" and his "wretched brood and offspring" [10]. This imagery is further developed in Revelation, where Babylon (often understood as Rome) becomes "a desolate den for demons and unclean birds such as vultures" [8]. This aligns with Old Testament prophecies that describe desolate places as habitats for such creatures [8].
The concept of "dens" is also used metaphorically to describe places of evil or secrecy. While "den" primarily refers to a lair for wild beasts or venomous reptiles [5], its application to Babylon as a "den for demons" extends this idea to spiritual entities [8].
The broader spiritual conflict also places demons in opposition to God's people. The "place of dragons" is interpreted by some as referring to the Roman jurisdiction, both Pagan and Papal, where saints have been persecuted [9]. This suggests that areas of intense opposition to God's kingdom can be considered places where demonic forces are active.
While demons are active on earth, there is also a theological understanding of a spiritual realm. The book of Revelation describes Satan being cast out of heaven [7]. The faithful on earth, though still physically present, are said to "tabernacle in heaven" in spirit, indicating a spiritual battleground that transcends physical location [7].
The ultimate destiny of evil spirits is often linked to "hell," described as a place of future punishment, "destruction from the presence of God," "everlasting punishment," and "everlasting fire" [3]. This includes a "lake of fire" [3]. While this describes their final judgment, it does not preclude their current activity and residence in various forms and locations on earth. The Hebrew terms Sheol and Abaddon, representing the abode of the dead and a place of punishment, also relate to the destiny of those associated with evil [11].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Demoniacs — This word is frequently used in the New Testament, and applied to persons suffering under the possession of a demon or evil spirit, such possession generally showing itself visibly in bodily disease or mental derangement. It has been maintained by many persons that our Lord and the evangelists, in referring to demonical possession, spoke only in accommodation to the general belief of the Jews, without any assertion as to its truth or its falsity. It is concluded that, since the symptoms of the affliction were frequently those of bodily disease (as dumbness”
- Revelation ““I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and didn’t deny my faith in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. -- Revelation 2:13”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Hell — The place of disembodied spirits -- Ac 2:31. Which Christ visited. -- Lu 23:43; Ac 2:31; 1Pe 3:19. Contains, a place of rest, Abraham's bosom. -- Lu 16:23. Paradise. -- Lu 23:43. And a place of torment. -- Lu 16:23. The place of future punishment Destruction from the presence of God. -- 2Th 1:9. Described as Everlasting punishment. -- Mt 25:46. Everlasting fire. -- Mt 25:41. Everlasting burnings. -- Isa 33:14. A furnace of fire. -- Mt 13:42,50. A lake of fire. -- Re 20:15. Fire and brimstone. -- Re 14:10. Unquenchable fire. -- Mt 3:12. Devouring fire. -- Isa 3”
- King James Version “[KJV] Jeremiah 51:37 — And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Den — A lair of wild beasts (Ps. 10:9; 104:22; Job 37:8); the hole of a venomous reptile (Isa. 11:8); a recess for secrecy "in dens and caves of the earth" (Heb. 11:38); a resort of thieves (Matt. 21:13; Mark 11:17). Daniel was cast into "the den of lions" (Dan. 6:16, 17). Some recent discoveries among the ruins of Babylon have brought to light the fact that the practice of punishing offenders against the law by throwing them into a den of lions was common.”
- Matthew “Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than he is, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. Even so will it be also to this evil generation.” -- Matthew 12:45”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 12:12: Therefore--because Satan is cast out of heaven (Rev 12:9). dwell--literally, "tabernacle." Not only angels and the souls of the just with God, but also the faithful militant on earth, who already in spirit tabernacle in heaven, having their home and citizenship there, rejoice that Satan is cast out of their home. "Tabernacle" for dwell is used to mark that, though still on the earth, they in spirit are hidden "in the secret of God's tabernacle." They belong not to the world, and, therefore, exult in judgment having been passed on the prince of t”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 18:2: 18:2 Babylon is fallen: See Isa 21:9. Once a beautifully dressed woman (see Rev 17:4), Babylon (Rome) became a desolate den for demons and unclean birds such as vultures (cp. Isa 13:20-22; Jer 4:23-31; 50:39).”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 44:19: Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons,.... Where men, comparable to dragons or their poison and cruelty, dwell; particularly in Rome, and the Roman jurisdiction, both Pagan and Papal, the seat of Satan the great red dragon, and of his wretched brood and offspring, the beast, to whom he has given his power; here the saints and followers of Christ have been sorely afflicted and persecuted, and yet have held fast the name of Christ, and not denied his faith; see Rev 2:13; the wilderness is the habitation of dragons; and this is the name of the place wh”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 51:35: And Babylon shall become heaps,.... The houses should be demolished, and the stones lie in heaps one upon another, and become mere rubbish: a dwelling place for dragons; and other wild and savage creatures. Dragons, as Aelianus (a) observes, love to live in desert places, and such now Babylon is; it lies in ruins; and even its palace is so full of scorpions and serpents, as Benjamin of Tudela (b) says it was in his time, that men durst not enter into it; see Jer 50:39; an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant; an astonishment to neighbouring natio”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 15:11: 15:11 Death and Destruction (Hebrew Sheol and Abaddon) personify the destiny of the dead. Sheol is the abode of the dead; Abaddon is a synonym for Sheol that has an added implication of punishment. • God knows all secrets (see Ps 139:1-12).”