Angels and Demons – Chapter from a forthcoming book, Doctrines for Dummies

(A series of concise studies on the essential doctrines of the Christian faith written for the person in the pew.)

People love to talk about angels. Angels are everywhere in popular songs, musical plays, and novels. Statues of angels show up in people’s gardens. Tiny angelic figurines appear on jewelry and clothing. Among survivors of the 9-11 attack on New York city, rescuing angels are mentioned. “A 2011 AP poll showed nearly eight in 10 Americans believe in angels.”[1]

 While there are abundant references to angels in the Bible, their mention is incidental to other happenings. They are mentioned approximately 103 times in the Old Testament and 93 times in the New but in no passage is there a comprehensive description. The same is true of Satan and fallen angels. Scripture contains what we need for life and godliness without satisfying our curiosity. Our focus is meant to be on God and what glorifies him.  

Because angels were created at some indeterminate time before humans (Job 38:7, Neh. 9:6, Col. 1:16), this chapter could have been inserted while discussing creation and fall. However, since one of the main functions of holy angels is to serve the heirs of salvation (Heb. 1:14; Ps. 34:7; Ps. 91:11) and the main function of the fallen angels is to oppose the works of God, it seemed appropriate to discuss this subject after sanctification.

Drawing inferences from Scripture we discover that the angelic abode is heaven (Matt. 28:2), they are immaterial and invisible (Col. 1:16, Num. 22:31), they are not subject to the limitations of mankind, they do not die nor marry (Luke 20:36), they have greater wisdom and power than humans (Dan. 10:13; Acts 5:19, Matt. 28:2) but are not omnipotent nor omniscient. Angels were created holy. They often appear in a human-like form. Although in prophecy some display wings, more normally they appear without.  

A great host of angels in heaven worship God and do his bidding (1 Kings 22:19, Ps 103:20, Ps 148:2,5). Only two are named; Gabriel who seems to be an interpreter of divine truth (Dan. 8:16) and Michael (Dan. 10:13, Jude 9) who is called the “archangel” or “one of the chief princes.” Their positions of responsibility give some indication that the angelic host is organized and led by a hierarchy. This is also shown by describing them as “the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms” (Eph 3;10). Ninety-two times cherubim are mentioned. (Gen 3:24, Ex 25:18) Two guarded the gates of Eden lest Adam and Eve re-enter and eat the tree of life. In most cases these winged beings are symbolic, carved, or prophetic depictions. (For example, the two over the ark of the covenant or the depiction of the winged and wheeled living creatures in Ez. 10.) Seraphim, burning ones, are mentioned only in Isaiah (Is. 6:2,6).

Angels have various roles as guardians of Eden, the ark, and God’s people and as worshippers of God, as messengers of the Lord, and as servants and guides to God’s people as we see in Acts 8:26 and 1 Kings 19:5,6. They ministered to Christ repeatedly during his incarnation. They announced his coming to Mary and Joseph, were present at his birth, warned the family to travel to Egypt, ministered during his temptation in the wilderness, at his trial in the garden, and at the empty tomb. Although usually invisible, Scripture makes it clear that they are present wherever God’s plan is unfolding.

At some unknown period before Adam and Eve’s fall in the Garden, a rebellion took place in heaven led by Satan. Luke writes in Luke 10:18 “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” Elders are warned not to be, “conceited and fall under the same judgement as the devil” (1 Tim. 3:6). Many commentators view a passage in Ezekiel as descriptive of the devil. “You were anointed as a guardian cherub.… You were blameless …till wickedness was found in you…I expelled you, O guardian cherub…your heart became proud on account of your beauty” (Ez. 28:11-19). Those angels who fell with Satan are called demons or evil spirits. (Revelation twelve, seven through nine distinguishes Michael and his angels from the dragon, “the ancient serpent called the devil or Satan” and his angels.)

Since the Scriptural unfolding of the nature of the devil and demons is sketchy, we must avoid building elaborate and imaginative descriptions. Ever since his fall, the devil has been opposing all God’s purposes; he “leads the whole world astray” (Rev. 12:9).  As a fallen angel, his power is limited. He is not omnipresent nor omniscient. Because of these limitations, he depends on deceit to entrap humans and oppose God. Paul urges us understand the nature of his schemes so that we do not let Satan outwit us. (2 Cor. 2:11.)

The extent of his operations against God are so vast that they extend throughout the world. “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19, NASV). After describing God’s sovereignty, Paul writes that from birth we followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient” (Eph. 2:2). The main way the devil exerts this power is through influencing us to yield to “the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16, KJV). That is, through coveting what we see with our eyes, through lusting for what our flesh wants (food, sex, rest, etc.), and through temptations to pride—the desire to exalt self, be arrogant, become the focus. This pattern is demonstrated throughout history. Eve, in the Garden of Eden, saw that the fruit forbidden by God was “good for food (the lust of the flesh) and pleasing to the eye, (the lust of the eye) and also desirable for gaining wisdom (the pride of life—to become wise like God)” (Gen.3:6,7). 

Satan tempted Jesus in the same three ways. To turn the stones to bread, to desire all the kingdoms of the world without going to the cross, and to show his greatness by throwing himself down from the pinnacle of the temple. (See Matt. 4:1-11.) We need to ask the Lord to carefully guard these three doors of entry lest we fall pray to the devil’s temptations.  

Satan has been so successful in deceiving humans that “the whole world lieth under the power of the evil one.” The world is in darkness, full of idolatry and lies. We see evidence of this on every hand. Recently I read of a woman who wrote glowingly of the beauty of nature, God’s creation, while declaring proudly, “there is no God.”

As a Christian it is vital that we not be ignorant of hSatan’s schemes. He tries to confuse us and sift us, (Luke 22:31). He snatches the Word from our minds. (Matt. 13:19). He blinds our minds with lies. (2 Cor. 4:4) He tricks people by coming to them disguised as an angel of light. (2Cor. 11:14) In extreme cases he can so infiltrate the minds of humans that they allow demons to enter and possess them. (Luke 13:16)

Fortunately, “Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world”……cross.

Admittedly, Satanic activity is stronger in some places in the world where we find idolatry and false religion pervasive. The challenge of Christians is our day is not to develop names for elaborate hierarchies of demons, identify so-called territorial spirits, nor conquer strongholds but to stand against and resist the devil and his schemes by declaring our faith in the blood of Christ. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you., Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:7,8).  We are to put on the armour of God that we might resist the devil’s schemes.” (See Eph. 6:10-20). “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Rev. 12:11, ESV). “You, dear children are from God, and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). 

The doom of Satan and his hosts is sure. Christ declared that they will be cast “into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41).

Reflections:

List several key appearances of angels in ScriptureHow would you describe angels?What do we know about the origin of Satan and demons?What are the three kinds of temptation Satan uses to influence us to sin?What should we do to resist the devil?

Prayer: Blessed triune God, although we don’t know much about the operation of angels, we give thanks for their service in worshipping you, promoting your kingdom, and protecting us. We celebrate the cosmic victory of Jesus upon the cross. Help us to learn to recognize the devil’s schemes and resist his temptations through our faith in the blood of Christ and our testimony as redeemed sinners. Hallelujah for the victory of Christ!

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. If I can help you spiritually, let me know. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share)

[1] See https://www.alvernia.edu/news/2015/12/angels-around-us