Foundations: Angels, Satan, Demons

Actually, this is a huge part of our culture throughout the year anymore. Name some shows with witches, or magic, or spells, or spiritual dimension beings.

The spiritual aspect of our world is real. Some cultures are more in tune than others. Our scientific emphasis downplays the spiritual realm, but it is still a very real part of our culture. In other cultures, the spiritual world is more central to what they believe and their world.

Examples from PNG. Bow tapping. Men at the top of trees. Healers.

There is a lot of emphasis in our culture about these things, as well as angels.

What is true about angels and demons? What power do they really have?

We have been going over the foundations of our faith, and how we know what is true.

God was there at the beginning, and knows the truth. He has shared it briefly with us in the bible.

The bible is primarily about God and mankind. God wants us to know and understand Himself.

There is not a whole lot about angels, comparatively speaking. And, to learn about the angels, you really learn about it in the context as God reveals Himself through His interactions with mankind. It is a side-topic, not a major topic of the scriptures.

We have seen that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Before that, there was only God. How did angels and demons come into being?

Let’s look at some scriptures. I don’t want to tell you things. I want you to see it.

John 1:3 NIV

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Psalm 148:2 NIV

Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

Psalm 148:5 NIV

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command they were created,

Colossians 1:16 NIV

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

What doe these verses tell us about angels?

Angels were created by God

And if he made them, who is more powerful, the created or the Creator?

Who is in charge? The created, or the Creator?

When were the angels created?

Job 38:4–7 NIV

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

Angels were created before the Earth

The bible uses different terms to refer to angels:

Spirits

Angels

Cherubim

Seraphim

The Host of the Lord/the Host of Heaven

Powers

Principalities

Rulers/Rulers in high places

Stars/morning stars

Why were angels created? What is their purpose?

Psalm 103:20 NIV

Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.

Hebrews 1:14 NIV

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Angels were created to serve

What are angels like?

We see in those previous verses:

Psalm 103:20 -

Angels are mighty

Hebrews 1:14 -

Angels are spirits

Genesis 1:31 NIV

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Angels were created perfect

How many angels are there?

Revelation 5:11 NIV

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.

Angels are innumerable

What do angels look like?

Well, first...

Numbers 22:31 NIV

Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.

Normally they cannot be seen, because they are spirits.

But when God allows people to see them...

Hebrews 13:2 NIV

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Angels sometimes appear as people

Ezekiel 1:5–14 NIV

and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human, but each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings, and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved. Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body. Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.

Angels sometimes appear as living creatures

Angels appear in different forms

So. That is angels.

Now where did demons come from?

Ezekiel 28:11–17 NIV

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “ ‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.

Isaiah 14:13–14 NIV

You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

Lucifer - Satan filled with pride

Lucifer is from the Latin translation of the Hebrew, meaning ‘shining one.’

Satan is another name by which he is referred to in scripture. Satan means ‘adversary’.

Who is more powerful, the one who was thrown out, or the thrower?

What about demons?

Matthew 25:41 NIV

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Demons are angels that followed Satan in his rebellion.

Ultimately, God will punish Satan.

Revelation 20:10 NIV

And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Until then, Satan has access to heaven and earth.

Job 1:6–7 NIV

One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

And...

2 Corinthians 11:13–15 NIV

For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

Satan masquerades as an angel of light

Should we be afraid?

Romans 8:37–39 NIV

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How will we recognize false spirits?

1 John 4:1–6 NIV

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 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. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.