The unclean spirit brings seven more powerful, more evil spirits, to take over the cleansed but empty house, worsening its condition: oppressed by not one spirit, but many (Luke 8:2). The number seven may signify fullness: a fully occupied house, with no room for deliverance.
This description may be more than a parable, with a scenario that could truly occur, applying it to Israel’s situation. Having rejected the Spirit of God, the nation is moving from bad to worse.
The unclean spirit returns to the house with reinforcements. He brings with him seven other spirits, more evil and more powerful than himself, and together they take possession of the cleansed but empty house. As a result, the condition of the house becomes far worse than before, since it is no longer oppressed by just one spirit but by many (Luke 8:2). The number seven may signify fullness—indicating that the house is now completely occupied, leaving no room for deliverance.1
This description may be read as more than a simple parable. Jesus illustrates, through a scenario that could truly occur, the destructive power of the devil and applies it to Israel’s situation: having rejected the indwelling Spirit of God, the nation was now moving from bad to worse. To prevent being cast out again, the unclean spirit secures his hold by multiplying his strength, ensuring that the final state is more desperate than the first.2
45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”