“No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then he will plunder his house” (Mark 3:27).
There is such a thing as prophetic deliverance. I’ve honestly never read or heard of anyone using this term. It’s a revelation I received from the Lord while actively engaged in the ministry of casting out devils. Prophetic deliverance is simply using the gift of prophecy (mainly words of knowledge), in unity with the gift of discernment, to identify specific satanic strongholds, name them and cast them out.
I’m of the mindset that prophetic ministry and deliverance go hand in hand. It’s very common to see both forms of ministry evident within true apostolic houses. To see one without the other is concerning. God will usually speak to you or provide a word of knowledge while or before engaging in the ministry of casting out devils.
The prophetic gift is crucial to deliverance. In my estimation, the best people to cast out demons are those who have a sturdy prophetic dimension. I’ve noticed that, as a prophet, my aptitude to see in the spirit realm has aided me in detecting demons that have become embedded within individuals. Once I’ve perceived their presence in the spirit realm, I’m able to call them out, in the name of Jesus Christ, in the natural realm.
As you probably know by now, I do not recommend engaging in conversation with devils, but identifying them within an individual is imperative to casting them out, as in the case of dealing with the strongman (chief or head demon) that lies within. There is a hierarchy within the kingdom of Satan. It’s very similar to a natural army. There are generals, captains, sergeants, corporals and the like.
Identifying the Strongman
In reference to the Scripture at the beginning of this section, how can we know who the strongman is? We can know through the prophetic DNA (ability to hear God’s voice) that exists in every believer. Once identified, as touched upon earlier, a deliverance worker can bind him up and cast the strongman out of a demonized person. The weaker or lower ranking demons will exit with him. In medieval times, when the king or most powerful warrior (e.g. Goliath) was defeated, it left the soldiers scattered and fearful, making them easier to kill or capture.
I’m in total agreement with this philosophy. I see casting out the chief devil as a catalyst that ignites a literal and spiritual chain reaction. Each of the lower-level or weaker demons are “chained” to the most powerful or chief one. When he’s thrown out of the house (our bodies), the others go because they’re linked to him.
It’s similar to a heavy ball with a chain attached being thrown off a bridge and into the water. Whatever is attached to that chain that weighs less than the ball will be pulled in.
You have to get rid of what is demonically weightier in the spirit to get to the demons that are lighter, spiritually. If you only go after the minor-league demons, total freedom or eviction of the spirits in the sufferer may take years.
Again, this may be contrary to conventional thinking regarding deliverance, but calling out all the names of lesser demons is counterproductive. It simply wastes valuable time, especially if the person receiving deliverance has hundreds or even thousands of devils that have made his or her body their home.
Why not use the gift of discernment or a word of knowledge (a component of prophecy) to identify the general (head demon) within and cast him out?
If this is done, his foot soldiers will follow. I call this efficient deliverance.
Dr. John S. Veal is the senior pastor/prophet of Enduring Faith Christian Center and the CEO of John Veal Ministries. Dr. Veal is a highly sought-after conference speaker due to his uncanny prophetic accuracy, humor, candor and unconventional preaching style. He has traveled the nations, presenting a myriad of prophetic trainings and ministry. He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois, with his wife, Elisa, and their three children.
