ANGELOLOGY,
DEMONOLOGY AND SATANOLOGY
Angels
- Nature –
Angels are finite, non-corporeal,
spirit beings (1 Peter 1:12;
Hebrews 1:7, 14) created
by God before the material
world (Job 38:7; Psalms
148:25). Though they can
appear as men, they are
not glorified human beings
and are without the power
to reproduce (Genesis 18:1-2;
Mark 12:25; 1 Corinthians
6:3; Hebrews 12:22-23).
They are extremely intelligent
but they do not possess
omnipotence or omniscience
(Matthew 24:36; Psalms 102:20;
2 Peter 2:11).
- Ministry
– Angels execute the
sovereign purposes of Christ
in the universe (Psalm 103:30).
They declare God’s
Word (Luke 1:26; Hebrews
2:2), give Him praise (Hebrews
1:6; Revelation 4:5; and
perform His will and work
(Psalms 103:20; Daniel 12:1).
They ministered to Christ
on earth (Luke 1:26-33;
Matthew 28:6). They minister
to the heirs of salvation
(Hebrews 1:14; Acts 12:11).
- Order - the
innumerable company of angels
is divided into distinct
functions, orders and ranks
(1 Timothy 5:21; Jude 9;
Daniel 8:16; Ephesians 3:10;
Genesis 3:33; 6:2-3).
- Some angels
(maybe 1/3 of the angelic
host) in an exercise of
pride and willful rebellion
tried to withstand God (Isaiah
14:13-15; Matthew 25:41;
Revelation 12:7-9)
Satan
The leader
of this rebellious host is
Satan. Originally created
Lucifer (highest in rank and
beauty of the angels), he
sought to exalt himself as
deity. Consequently, God cast
him and His followers out
of heaven. Lucifer became
Satan and the fallen angels
became demons (Isaiah 14:12;
Ezekiel 28; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude
6). They are presently in
control of this world system
(2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31),
counterfeiting the work of
God as angels of light, bent
upon thwarting God’s
purposes and destroying His
work (Genesis 3:1,4; Matthew
12:29; John 8:44; Ephesians
2:2; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4;
1 John 3:8; Revelation 20:2).
Satanic power extends to the
possessing of unbelievers
(Ephesians 2:2) and the temptation,
accusing, misleading are urged
to beware their activities
(1 Peter 5:8), to resist the
devil (James 4:7), and to
put on the whole armor of
God in order to engage in
spiritual warfare with the
evil hosts (Ephesians 6:10-18). |
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