Question: What is the difference between demonic possession and exorcism?
In the “theory” of the subject, “exorcism” is supposed to eliminate the possession in the person!
It is very controversial as to whether the claims are accurate by the “practitioners”!
It is a fact that people can be “possessed” by evil entities (spirits); as is seen in the Gospels, and who conversed with Jesus. IE in the case of the “Legion” possession; where the “spirits” asked to be allowed to enter a group of Swine; and on another occasion asked if Jesus had come to trouble them “before the time” (thereby indicating a known period of time that they would be judged)!
This whole subject is very troubling for the so called “modern world”; and many “Experts” now conjecture that many mental illnesses are mixed together with so called “possession”!
Because of the comments by Jesus, the Christian has to be very prudent when this subject is broached in a serious way, as there is much unknown in the theory/fact of demonic possession; and there are many charlatans in the so called “expert” Groupings!
Gadarene swine the pigs into which Jesus cast the demons that had possessed a madman (see legion), and which as a result ran down a steep cliff into the sea and were killed; from this, Gadarene means involving or engaged in a headlong or potentially disastrous rush to do something.
Wikipedia:
Question: Where are demons mentioned in the Bible?
The exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac, frequently known as the Miracle of the (Gadarene) Swine and the exorcism of Legion, is one of the miracles performed by Jesus according to the New Testament.[1] The story shows Jesus exorcising a demon or demons out of a man and into a herd of swine, causing the swine to run down a hill into a lake and drown themselves.
The story appears in the three Synoptic Gospels, but not in the Gospel of John. All accounts involve Jesus exorcising demons, identified collectively in Mark and Luke as "Legion".
Demons are the servants of Satan; and thought to be from fallen angels!
See:
Demon Resistance! (study)
Demon's Fate! (study)
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