How would you know if someone was possessed by a demon?

Answer 1

Ask them if Jesus Christ is God's Son who defeated the Devil on the cross. Then ask them to confess that truth out loud, tell the Devil that he is a defeated foe, and see what happens. It's not a sure fire method but it has been known to reveal demonic spirits in some people.

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 1 John 4:1-3

Answer 2

There is no such thing as demonic possession. It's schizophrenia, a chemical imbalance in the brain. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) does not list "demonic possession," though it states religious delusions as a common symptom of schizophrenia. If someone comes to you claiming to be "possessed," call an ambulance, or take the person yourself to the nearest hospital. They'll know what to do next. Don't waste time with ministers or priests. The ill person needs hospitalization, medication, therapy and compassionate care.

Answer 3

I don't think there are any standard rules for that. Many times people can be possessed by a demon and no one knows. It usually manifests itself when someone tries to get free from them and then the problems arise.
Matrin S, If you would read the next three verses you would see that passage is not talking about demons at all. It istalking bout a test for the "spirit of truth and the spirit of error". It is talking about false prophets, not demons.

Answer 4

Well, Catholic priests supposedly have a way to discern this from a person. However, the rest of us usually chalk up "possession" as mental illness, and give us pills to "snap out of it".

Unfortunately, many of these pills also damage our bodies, and our minds. What is meant to help often hurts the "mentally ill".

My own belief is that Jesus Christ himself is the only one who could tell you if someone was possessed by a demon. By saying this, I am not discounting the Catholic Priests. I believe that Jesus can indicate through them, and other faiths, possession by the devil. In his day, Jesus cast out many devils. He famously cast them out of "Legion" (for we are many) and forced them into a herd of swine, which then drowned themselves in the sea.

I believe that The Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit are the only ones who can definitively tell us whether or not someone is possessed, but that they can indicate through men of faith.

Answer 5

There are signs. Check out a book written by a famous exorcist Corrado Balducci called The Devil....alive and active in our world. It's a very professional description of how to distinguish between mental/physical disorders and actual possession - which is quite rare by the way.

Answer 6

The bible shows possessions leading to physical impairments, personality changes like major depression or uncharacteristic aggression (king Saul), masochism, supernatural strength, a disregard for modesty or “normal” social interaction (as with the demoniac of Gadarenes), and perhaps the ability to share information that one has no natural way of knowing (such as with the fortune-telling of the slave girl of Acts 16).

other things are refusal to forgive (2 Corinthians 2:10-11) and the belief in and spread of false doctrine, especially concerning Jesus Christ and His atoning work

Answer 7

Maybe you're joking. Maybe not.

But it's really simple.
If you saw one, you would know.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, you would know.

Why do you ask?
If you are Christian, don't go looking for one.

If you can, read "The Beautiful Side of Evil,"
by Johanna Michaelson.
Don't joke around with that kind of stuff.

Answer 8

lol, first take them to a brain doctor or w/e, and make sure its not a mental problem, remember its not 14 hundreds anymore, and we have ways of helping people, and finding out whats wrong with them, and not contributing it to demons and Satan,

Answer 9

ask him to confess Christ, but the demons know Jesus and cry out when he is near
If he won't look at you in the eyes and his eyes are dark
Ask him to worship God

Answer 10

If you have to ask, you never met one. If you ever do "bind him in the name of Jesus", Silence him, bind him, get out of, all in the name of Jesus. Do not argue and do not listen to what ever is talking.

And get that person to a Bible pastor ASAP