· Angelology ·

Lecture Forty Nine:  Angels, Demons, and Satan

TH330 Systematic Theology I · Moody Bible Institute · Dr. Richard M. Weber

I. Angels

“Angels are created, spiritual beings with moral judgment and high intelligence, but without physical bodies.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 397)

A. The Origin of Angels

“You alone are the Lord.  You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them.  You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.”  (Neh 9:6; Cf. Col 1:16)

“Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts.  … Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created.”  (Ps 148:2, 5)

“Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.”  (Gen 2:1).

“For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.”  (Ex 20:11)

B. The Nature of Angels

1. Angels Are Spiritual Beings

“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”  (Heb 1:14)

“Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angels of the Lord standing in the road wit his sword drawn.”  (Num 22:31)

“And Elisha prayed, ‘O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.’  Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”  (2 Kings 6:17)

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”  (Heb 13:2)

2. Angels Possess Intelligence

“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.’”  (Matt 28:5; Cf. Acts 12:6-11)

“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousand upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.  They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.  In a loud voice they sang:  ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’”  (Rev 5:11)

3. Angels Possess Moral Judgment

C. The Activity of Angels

“Above him were seraphs [Seraphim], each with six wings:  With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.  And they were calling to one another:  ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’” (Isa 6:2-3)

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”  (Ps 34:7)

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”  (Ps 91:11)

“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”  (Heb 1:14)

II. Satan and Demons

A. The Nature of Demons

“Demons are evil angels who sinned against God and who now continually work evil in the world.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 412)

B. The Nature of Satan

C. The Origin of Demons

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.  And there was evening, and there was morning – the sixth day.”  (Gen 1:31)

“[T]he sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.”  (Gen 6:2; cf. vs. 3-4)

D. The Origin of Satan

“How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn!  You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!  You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars to God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.  I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’  But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.”  (Isa 14:12-15)

E. The Activity of Satan and Demons

1. Satan and Demons Oppose the Work of God

“Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.”  (Gal 4:8)

2. But Satan and Demons Are Limited By God’s Control

“The Lord said to Satan, ‘Very well, then, everything [Job] has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”  (Job 1:12; cf. 2:6)

“And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home – these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.”  (Jude 6)

“Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  (James 4:7)

3. Demonic Activity in the World Today

“Therefore, though the New Testament clearly recognizes the influence of demonic activity in the world, … its primary focus regarding evangelism and Christian growth is on the choices and actions taken by people themselves …  Similarly, this should be the primary focus of our efforts today when we strive to grow in holiness and faith and to overcome the sinful desires and actions that remain in our lives … and to overcome the temptations that come against us from an unbelieving world …  We need to accept our own responsibility to obey the Lord and not to shift blame for our own misdeeds onto some demonic force.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 421)

“[T]he sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God…”  (1 Cor 10:20)

“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”  (1 Tim 4:1; cf 2 Tim 2:24-26)

“We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”  (1 John 5:19; cf. 3:8-10)

“The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.  He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”  (Rev 12:9)

“When we combine all of these statements and see that Satan is thought of as the originator of lies, murder, deception, false teaching, and sin generally, then it seems reasonable to conclude that the New Testament wants us to understand that there is some degree of demonic influence in nearly all wrongdoing and sin that occurs today.  Not all sin is caused by Satan or demons, nor is the major influence or cause of sin demonic activity, but demonic activity is probably a factor in almost all sin and almost all destructive activity that opposes the work of God in the world today.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 422)

! F. Demon Possession

“For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”  (Rom 6:14)

“…for forty days [Jesus] was tempted by the devil.”  (Luke 4:2)

“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.”  (2 Cor 12:7)

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”  (Eph 6:12)

“Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”   (James 4:7)

“Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith …”  (1 Pet 5:8-9a)