Can demon possession happen today?
Let me start by defining demon possession. Basically it's when a demon inhabits a person and takes complete control of him or her. Demonic manifestations were a regular occurrence throughout the New Testament, especially when Jesus walked the earth. Thomas Ice and Robert Dean Jr. give a great explanation as to why they seemed to be more active during the time of Jesus than now, "In parts of Texas during the summer you can look out at a field of Johnson grass and everything appears to be calm and inactive. However, when you walk through that field you stir things up. Often a wave of grasshoppers and other insects spring into action as you plod through the field....The same was true of Christ's ministry. Often it was just his presence passing through the land of Israel that caused the activity of the demonic realm to become noticeable. The activity was there all along, but our Lord's messianic presence stirred up the spiritual realm and brought that activity out into the open."
What does this mean? It means that Satan and his posse are just as active today as they were then. But their activities, especially when it comes to demonic possession (in America anyway) are more hidden and less obvious.
I have had my own demonic encounters. It's not something that I like to talk about. I think a lot of preachers sensationalize these situations and, oftentimes, unwittingly give glory to the devil. They tell descriptive stories of demonic possession or oppression and, inevitably, end up being the hero as they cast the evil demon into the abyss. To be honest I think the devil and his crew are not intimidated in the least by these kinds of preachers. I think he thinks that many of them are a joke. Some of them are unknowingly in his service, pedaling a theology of magic formulas that will dispel the devil.
Having established that there are a lot of whackos out there when it comes to dealing with the devil, I want to reaffirm this, I have had demonic encounters, and chances are, so have you. We deal with the demonic everyday. He uses his crew to tempt us and deceive us. And, when it comes to possession, chances are that you have encountered or will encounter someone who is possessed with a demon. They may not be frothing at the mouth or levitating five feet off the ground, but in the inner caverns of their heart and soul the strings are being pulled by a fallen angel.
If you to Africa, you will see a lot more "obvious" possessions. You have probably watched some National Geographic special showing some tribal warrior or witch doctor, eyes rolled in the back of their head, speaking gibberish and gyrating uncontrollably.
Personally, I believe that the demonic possessions here in America are much less likely to be this kind. In my opinion the reason is that demons understand that a lot of people in America don't believe in possession. To turn up the heat and launch a frontal assault of head-twisting, puke-spewing, body-floating demonic possessions in America could backfire and cause the intellectual elite to start believing in the unseen reality of demonic beings. To accept their existence is one step away from accepting the possibility of a Creator. That's why I believe demonic possession in America, while a reality, is far less obvious than in places like Africa. Satan is smart.
