A recent survey by the American Bible Society (ABS) found that most Americans believe in the existence of spiritual beings.

They are part of a spiritual dimension that coexists alongside our physical world.

“We found that two-thirds of Americans, 64%, actually believe that there are spiritual beings that exist beyond the natural world,” said Dr. John Plake in an interview with CBN. “I don’t know that that’s particularly surprising unless you listen to people who are really naturalistic or really scientistic in their worldview.”

Dr. Plake serves as Editor in Chief for ABS’ State of the Bible division. He added that there is a discrepancy when it comes to the type of beings that people believe exist inside this spiritual dimension.

While 64% of Americans believe in the existence of Godly angels, only 51% believe in the existence of demonic beings.

Following a similar pattern, nearly 70% of Americans believe in the existence of God, while only 55% believe in Satan’s existence.

Plake noted that the number of people who do not believe in the existence of a spiritual realm remains quite small. The survey revealed that even 36% of atheists and agnostics believe in a spiritual dimension.

“Less than a fifth of Americans … don’t believe in the supernatural,” Plake noted.

While it’s encouraging to see that the belief in a spiritual realm remains high, it is concerning that many don’t believe in the demonic realm.

The consequence is that people are blinded to the attacks emanating from the demonic realm.

Perhaps the clearest example of this is found in the book of Zechariah.

In this vision, the prophet saw what was taking place in the spiritual realm as the High Priest, Joshua, was ministering:

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right to accuse him. (Zechariah 3:1 NASV)

Satan was standing at Joshua’s right hand accusing and condemning the High Priest. Joshua would not have seen Satan as these attacks were being launched from the spiritual realm. But Joshua would have felt the emotional brunt of this barrage, that left him beaten and condemned.

Charisma News recently reported on a teaching by Isaiah Saldivar on ten different types of demonic attacks launched against people. Saldivar is a revivalist who ministers in the area of deliverance.

I won’t discuss all of them, but four caught my attention:

The Spirit of Fear: This results in what he describes as irrational fear and intimidation. “The enemy doesn’t need to physically chain you down if he can keep you intimidated not wanting to do what God told you to do,” Saldivar said.

Lying Spirit: It whispers lies in your ear that “God doesn’t love you” or “you are not really saved.” I would include attacks of condemnation, where satan beats you down by rehearsing your past failures and sins (1 Timothy 3:6)

Spirit of Infirmity: While not every disease is caused by demons, some are. Salvidar pointed to Luke 13:11 where Jesus healed a woman with a ‘spirit of infirmity’.

Unclean and sexual spirits: Saldivar states that this is the most common form of demonic attack. It can take the form of a sexual addiction connected to lust and pornography. This falls in line with the Apostle Paul’s warning how satan uses sexual temptation to entrap us (1 Corinthians 7:5).

While it is important to acknowledge the existence of the demonic realm, it is equally vital that we understand that Jesus has crushed the serpent under His foot. The Lord has disarmed satan (Colossians 2:15) and brings freedom and deliverance from these type of spiritual attacks.