The Existence and Nature of Angels

Angels are spiritual beings. (Psalm 104:4) They were created for the Lord, (Colossians 1:16) to do His bidding (Psalm 103:20,21). They excel in strength. (Psalm 103:20) They are greater and mightier in power than men. (2 Peter 2:11) Angels have no gender. (Matthew 22:30) However, they are referred to in Scripture using masculine pronouns. (Exodus 23:20-22)

There are many angels. They are too numerous to count. (Hebrews 12:22) There are also various ranks and orders of angels. These ranks and orders are

1. The Angel of the Lord.
2. Archangels.
3. Angels.
4. Authorities.
5. Powers.

Angels should not be worshiped. (Colossians 2:18,19)

The Work of Angels

Angels are subject to Jesus. (1 Peter 3:22) Angels ministered to Him after He had fasted forty days and forty nights. (Matthew 4:11) An angel also strengthened Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Luke 22:43) Angels will accompany Him when He appears (2 Thessalonians 1:7) and when He returns to earth¹. (Mark 8:38) However, they do not know the hour of His coming. (Mark 13:32)

Angels are fellow servants of Christians. (Revelation 22: 9) They

1. Execute the Word of the Lord. (Psalm 103:20)
2. Guard Israel. (Ezekiel 9:1;Daniel 11:1; 12:1)
3. Gather the wicked out of the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 13:41)
4. Guard children. (Matthew 18:10)
5. Accompany deceased Christians to Heaven. (Luke 16:22)
6. Minister for those who will inherit salvation. (Hebrews 1:14)

Angels worship and praise God at the throne. (Isaiah 6; Revelation 5:11,12; 8:3,4) They also do not bring a reviling accusation against glorious ones. (2 Peter 2:11) Michael the archangel rebuked the devil in the name of the Lord, but did not revile him. (Jude 9)

The Fall of Angels

Sin caused some angels to fall. Jude 6 says some angels left their habitation. The word habitation used in this Scripture comes from the Greek word, oiketerion. It means house. The angels referred to in Jude 6 left the place that God had appointed for them to dwell in. This is disobedience to God. (Genesis 2:16,17; 3:6) Disobedience to God is sin. (Matthew 7:21-23) (Also compare Hebrews 1:9. Jesus obeyed God the Father. Philippians 2:8; John 4:34; 5:19,30; 6:38; 12:49,50; 14:10)

Some believe the fall of angels took place between the time of the events recorded in Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. They also believe this fall caused the earth to be without form and void and also caused darkness to cover the face of the deep. This belief is based on 1 John 1:5 that says, “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all².” According to this belief, the darkness that covered the earth did not come from God because in Him is no darkness. The darkness came from the fallen angels.

Fallen angels are demons. They are evil, unclean and vicious spirits. They serve Satan. As servants of Satan, they

1. Execute his wishes. (Matthew 12:26,27; 25:41)
2. Afflict God’s people. (Matthew 17:15-18; Luke 13:16)
3. Wrestle with God’s people. (Ephesians 6:12)
4. Oppose God’s purposes. (Daniel 10:13)

Fallen angels will be judged. (1 Corinthians 6:3; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6) They are doomed to the Lake that Burns with Fire and Brimstone. (Matthew 25:41) There is no hope of their redemption.

Satan

Satan is an angel. Because he is referred to in Scripture using masculine pronouns, he is a personality. He was created by and for the Lord. (Ezekiel 28:13,14; Colossians 1:16) When he was created, he was beautiful and perfect in all his ways. (Ezekiel 28:12,15) Unfortunately, iniquity was found in him (Ezekiel 28:16) and he sinned.

His heart was proud because of his beauty. (He thought he was cute and was stuck on himself.) He corrupted his wisdom for the sake of splendor (became vain). (Ezekiel 28:17) He exalted his will over God’s will. (Isaiah 14:13,14) Thus he sinned. Because of this God cast him to the ground (Ezekiel 28:17) and declared he would be brought down to Hell. (Isaiah 14:15) Satan’s eternal destination is the Lake that Burns with Fire and Brimstone. (Revelation 20:10)

Jesus taught of Satan’s existence. (Luke 10:18; John 12:31) He compared him to a strong man of a house. (Matthew 12:29) He also declared Satan to be a liar and a murderer. (John 8:44) Persons who commit sin are his children. (1 John 3:8) Satan is a tempter (Matthew 4:3) and a deceiver (1 Timothy 2:14).

Satan is an adversary. He opposed the Angel of the Lord. (Zechariah 3:1) He contended with Michael the archangel about the body of Moses. (Jude 9) He is an adversary of Christians. (1 Peter 5:8) Therefore, Satan opposes God and man.

Satan is a cunningly malignant being. He is the tempter, one who tries to get persons to do evil. (Matthew 4:3) He is the spirit that works in the children of disobedience. (Ephesians 2:2) The Jews called him Beelzebub. (Matthew 10:25) (Beelzebub is the name of the Philistine god of flies.) The New Testament refers to him 33 times as the devil³. The word devil indicates an accuser or slanderer. He is also called the wicked one. (Matthew 13:19; 1 John 5:19)

The Bible also teaches the following concerning Satan:

1. He is under a perpetual curse. (Genesis 3:14-15)
2. He heads kingdoms that are hostile to the Kingdom of God. (Daniel 2:44)
3. He is the head of the kingdoms of the world. (Matthew 4:8)
4. He is the ruler of demons. (Matthew 12:24)
5. He is the prince of this world. (John 14:30)
6. He is the ruler of this world. (John 16:11)
7. He is the god of this world. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
8. He is the prince of the power of the air. (Ephesians 2:2)
9. He is a conquered enemy. (Colossians 2:15)
10. Christians are to resist him. (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9)