DOCTRINE OF GOD’S CREATURES

ANGELS, SATAN, AND DEMONS

SUMMARY

Angels are highly intelligent, morally good, spiritual beings created by God. Some angels rebelled against God, lost their original goodness, and now as demons (with Satan as their head) attempt to combat God and his work.

MAIN THEMES

Angels are created beings whose nature is simple, being immaterial only (though they can take on the appearance of human beings).

Angels are highly intelligent, holy, and powerful creatures.

There seem to be several categories of angelic beings: archangels, angels, cherubim, and seraphim.

As for their activities, angels mediate God’s revelation, carry out his will, and worship him.

Tragically, one angel, leading a significant number of other angels, rebelled against God and, as punishment, was banished from heaven to earth, where he seeks to wreak havoc.

Demons are Satan’s minions, who likewise oppose God and attempt to disrupt his work.

Christians counter Satan and demons by engaging in spiritual warfare.

UNDERSTANDING THE DOCTRINE

Major Affirmations

Angels are created beings

One of the most fascinating parts of Scripture is its revelation of a category of beings that are different from human beings. Like us, angels are created by God. Unlike us, angels are simple in nature, being immaterial only. Still, when Scripture presents angels, they often appear as human beings, in many ways like us. These angelic appearances are accommodations enabling angels to reveal themselves to, speak to, rescue, and guide human beings.

Angels are intelligent beings

In terms of their capacities, angels are highly intelligent, but not all-knowing like God. Indeed, they cannot know about salvation that God provides for sinful human beings (1 Pet. 1:10–12), and they learn about grace through God’s wisdom displayed in the church (Eph. 3:10). Furthermore, angels are morally good. Such holiness means that they live in the presence of the holy God, whom they worship, and always do his holy will. Moreover, angels are powerful, but not all-powerful like God. Still, they are able to carry out God’s tasks for them.

Angels are Categorically Classified

As for an angelic classification, there appear to be several categories: Archangels (for example, Michael; Jude 9) are rulers of the other angels, even leading an angelic army (Dan. 10:13). Angels are the immaterial beings we are describing. Cherubim prevented the return of Adam and Eve into the garden of Eden (Gen. 3:24) and accompanied God and his glory (Ezek. 10; Ps. 18:10). Seraphim are six-winged creatures who worship God by praising his holiness (Isa. 6:2–3; Rev. 4:8). It may be that descriptions of angelic beings as thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities (Col. 1:16; cf. Eph. 1:20–21) indicate other ranks of angels.

Angels are mediators of God’s revelation.

The angelic job description includes being mediators of God’s revelation. For example, angels played a role in delivering the Mosaic law (Gal. 3:19; Acts 7:53; Heb. 2:2), and they are often portrayed as conveying messages from God to people (for example, Gabriel’s announcement to Mary; Luke 1:26–38). They serve God in other ways, such as ministering to believers, even rescuing some from impending death (for example, the imprisoned Peter; Acts 12:6–17). Even more, they surround the throne of God, constantly worshiping him.

Demons are fallen angels.

Tragically, this presentation of angels takes an evil turn. Though all angels were created upright, one of them, joined by a large number of other good angels, rebelled against God. Puffed up with pride, Satan and his followers overstepped the boundaries with which they were created and, for their treason, were punished by God. Indeed, God banished the evil army from heaven and confined them to earth, where they oppose God and seek to thwart his work. Satan is referred to as “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31), “the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), and “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2).

Satan is a fallen angel who is an adversary.

The name “Satan” means “adversary”; he stands against God and his people. Other names that reveal his nature include devil (accuser, slanderer), Abaddon or Apollyon (destroyer), Beelzebul (dung god), and the “ancient serpent” (the tempter in Eden). As the “evil one,” he engages in wicked activities through temptation, accusation, deception, lying, blinding, destruction, and torment. Satan’s minions, the demons, oppose God and attempt to disrupt his work by engaging in evil activities like disseminating false doctrine, spreading sickness, fomenting self-destructiveness, and even possessing people.

Satan and Demons submit to Christ’s authority.

Because Satan is a defeated foe and demons are in subjection to Christ (Eph. 1:21–23; Col. 2:15), Christians never need to fear (Heb. 2:14) but should instead resist by engaging in spiritual warfare, especially communicating the gospel (Eph. 6:10–20).

Church history is littered with weird ideas about angels.

From its outset, the church has added a great deal of speculation to its biblically based knowledge about this doctrine. The church conjectured about the wings and speed of angels, their immense number, and their functions. The early church father Origen (ca. 185–254) believed that human beings will eventually become like angels. The church denied that angels should be worshiped and that prayer should be directed to them. But it did develop the belief in guardian angels who guide people to do the good, prompt them to repent when they do evil, and help them when they pray.

Augustine (354–430) imagined that, to restore harmony to the universe, God will replace the number of fallen angels with the same number of redeemed human beings. Dionysius the Pseudo-Areopagite, writing about a century after Augustine, speculated that there are nine orders in the hierarchy of angelic beings. Thomas Aquinas (1225–74), nicknamed the “Angelic Doctor,” believed that God created angels in his image by his intellect. Angels, therefore, are completely intellectual beings and most like God of any creatures—including human beings.

Why did Satan fall from grace?

As for Satan and demons, some Christian leaders believed that the fall of angels was due to Satan’s jealousy of human beings because they were created in the image of God. Others attributed the fall to angels having sexual intercourse with human women. While Origen speculated that even Satan and demons would ultimately be saved, the church condemned his idea. Guardian angels were deemed necessary to counteract the temptations and attacks of demons. When demonic influence turned into possession, exorcism was considered the solution. Of great help in warding off evil beings, it was thought, was asceticism, the severe treatment of the body by denying it legitimate pleasures like food and sleep.

Such speculation goes far beyond the biblical presentation of angels, Satan, and demons.

Major Errors

1. In terms of belief, the church embraces this doctrine but engages in significant speculation about angels and demons.

When it departs from the limited biblical material and joins theology with philosophy or allows popular conceptions to exert a strong influence, the church errs. Examples include belief in guardian angels, praying to angels, overstressing the influence of Satan and demons, blaming personal sin on demonic activity, and more. This is the error of exaggeration.

2. As for unbelief, the church either treats this doctrine with benign neglect, almost being embarrassed by it, or dismisses it outright.

Three problems result from such unbelief.

One is difficulty in understanding biblical narratives in which angels and/or Satan and demons play a role.

A second is living in ignorance of the real spiritual world that is part of earthly reality. This neglect results in being poorly prepared for demonic temptation and attack and dismissing much-needed angelic aid.

A third is belittling Christians throughout the world who daily live the reality of angels and demons.

Allison, Gregg R. 2018. 50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith: A Guide to Understanding and Teaching Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group.