If angels exist then so do demons (Deut 32:17, Ps 106:37, Mt 12:27-28). Demons are fallen angels. Before Adam and Eve sinned, there was a falling out among the angels. Satan was the first cherub cast out from the presence of God (Ez 28:16).
The New Testament mentions Satan in thirty-six verses (ESV). Seventeen of these mentions are quotes from Jesus. Jesus believed that Satan was a real spiritual being (Mt 4:10).
Demonology
Satan was the first of many angels to reject their placement in God’s economy. Satan’s initial name was Lucifer (Isa 14:12 KJV). This Hebrew name (Hay-lale’) literally means the bright star seen during the day or “Day Star.” If you look to the eastern horizon, as the sun arises there often remains a bright star in the sky–that’s the day star (Venus) Isaiah was referring to. It was the King of Babylon’s title, who, whether he was conscious of it, was the embodiment of Satan’s rebellion against God.
The second example of an earthly king under the influence of Satan and thus acting as a Satan was the King of Tyre (Ez 28:12-17). Here, as in Isaiah, the description of the king goes way beyond human characteristics. The kings of both Babylon and Tyre ruled under the influence of Satan and displayed in their ruling the rebellion of Satan against God. They were not Satan. But Satan worked through them and possessed their wills and minds.
Clearly, both Isaiah and Ezekiel saw in the behavior of these kings more than human interactions. The king of Tyre is pictured as a perfect cherub roaming the garden of Eden. This being was described as glorious by comparing him to nine precious stones and gold, making up 10 dazzling items. The number 10 in biblical literature symbolized completeness or in this case, when applied to the king’s radiance, he was divinely beautiful (vs 13). Isaiah describes this bright star as falling from heaven because of his willful rejection of God. His pride flourished and perverted his loyalties. It eventually led him to aspired to be God (vs 17).
Angels are Messengers
Angels are messengers and ministers of God. They serve God for the benefit of God’s people (Dan 7:15, 8:15-16, Ps 103:22). Angels are called “Mal’ak” in Hebrew and “Angelos” in Greek. Both terms refer to messengers (2 Chron 18:12, Mt 11:10). These terms can refer to either a person or an angelic messenger. Angels obey God’s word and will, and constantly worship God (Isa 6:2, Rev 5:11-14). They also call people to worship the one true God (Rev 22:8-9).
They are normally invisible (Col 1:16) but can appear as human beings (Gen 19:1-3, 5; Mt 28:2-5). They are rational intelligent beings with great power and a glorious appearance that frightens people when encountered (Dan 8:17, Lk 2:9-10). Their knowledge isn’t omniscient (all-knowing) but due to their age and direct access to God, their intelligence is superior to humans (Dan 8:19, Ac 1:9-11). They are eternal beings in that they can never die. And they compose a fast army (2 Kings 6:16-17, Mt 26:53, Lk 2:13). Their power is substantial. They also have the power to judge or bless (Gen 19: 11, 13; Lk 2:10-13).
Demons are Messengers too
Demons, like angels, are also messengers but not of the good news. They are worshiping creatures, but they don’t worship God. Devils are normally invisible yet can control and possess animals and humans. They are also more intelligent than people due to their age and experiences. Although evil spirits are eternal, unlike angels, their fate is sealed for destruction. They are no longer redeemable. Demons will be judged and doomed to hell’s fires forever (2 Pet 2:4). They know this (Lk 8:31). The Greek word “Tartaroo” is translated as the deepest abyss of Hades where fallen angels are incarcerated in eternal torment.
“Tartaroo” is a place of blazing fire and utter darkness (Jude 13, Heb 12:28-29). This initially sounds like a contradiction. How can a place be utter dark when there is a blazing fire? The picture the Bible provides is of an underground granary or deep pit. Darkness represents the utter hopelessness and total isolation of hell. The blazing fire is a picture of divine and eternal judgment for willfully rejecting God as Lord. In the end, Satan and his demons are cast into the bottomless pit and chained forever (Rev 20:1-3).
The Bottomless Pit
After being judged guilty, a criminal was often confined to a pit until his sentencing and execution. Caiaphas’s house actually had such a room. Although the Bible doesn’t mention it, it’s likely that Jesus was thrown into this pit after he was pronounced guilty by the Jewish high council. This would give the Jewish leaders time to organize themselves and prepared their charges against him.
Jesus eventually arrived at Pilate’s palace for sentencing. While in that pit, he felt rejection and abandonment. He felt loneliness and total isolation at the bottom of the pit. At Jesus’s second coming, the demons are cast into an utterly dark pit blazing with the fiery wrath of God. Jesus felt this for a night on our behalf. But all who reject Jesus as Lord will feel this for eternity because of their rebellion against God.
The Purpose of Demons
Their purposes are to do the bidding of the devil. Since Satan and demons are spatially limited, their ability to influence is also limited. Satan directs them to do his bidding. But they always remain limited by the grace and sovereignty of God.
Furthermore, the amount of damage they can do and where they do it are limited by time and geographical location. This means, to some extent, a demon’s spacial limitations make them territorial. Dr. Vern Poythress, in a talk on demonization, proposed the idea that social or ethnic groupings rather than national borders limit demonic activity and makes their influence territorial.
Demons can influence an individual, an institution, or a social or ethnic group of people. This may correctly describe what missionaries experience in places like central Africa as they present the gospel for the first time to various tribes. Demons can also possess an object like an image of a god or an idol. The idol itself isn’t a god but it can be possessed by a local demon.
In Daniel, a demon fought against an angel coming to him (Dan 10:13). This demon was called the Prince of Persia, that is, the demon over the people of Persia. There’s another mention of a demon called the Prince over Greece (vs 20). And Michael, a high ranking archangel, is called the Prince of Daniel. In this reference, Daniel represented not just himself but also the people of Israel to whom he identified with (vs 21). So, it appears demons are territorial. They are limited to human associations such as tribes, political, religious, or educational groups, or to individuals (Rev 2:9).
Demons Have Limits
The New Testament reveals the physical limitations of demons. Though many can inhabit a small space, they must come out and go into something else that is also limited by time and space. The exorcism of the demonic is a prime example of the limited scope, location, and authority demons have (Lk 8:26-33). Idol worship is another form of direct connection and communication with demons. The idol itself is merely wood, stone, or metal, but it can and often is possessed by a demon (Isa 2:8; 1 Cor 10:19-21, Rev 9:20).
It’s important to note three fundamental aspects of demonization.
- First, demons exist. To ignore them or to credit all bad acts to the human will is to forget that there is a spiritual battle over loyalty to God.
- Second, demons possess great influential power over nature and human wills.
- Third, God is most powerful and involved in the spiritual battle over human loyalty.
Why are there Physical Disasters?
When you hear of a physical disaster, it must be understood on three levels of reality. The first is that disasters are natural phenomena. But behind physical disasters are spiritual forces.
Second, demons exist and try to take advantage of catastrophes. They want people to believe either God doesn’t care about them or that he is inept and unable to care for them. Demons possess great influential power over both nature and human wills. Look at what Satan physically did to Job. He had the power to create such a wind storm that it blew down a roof supported by stone pillars. And he inspired men to rob, pillage, and kill.
And there is a third level of understanding when people face mass destruction. Almighty God is involved. And he has a purpose for what happens in his world. He not only limits the power of demons to the ends their evil serves his purposes, but he also has his own purposes in allowing disasters to strike.
The story of Job’s loss of family and livelihood are clear examples of all three levels of activity (Job 1:1-22)
Jesus Believed in a Personal Devil
Just as it’s important to acknowledge demons are real, so it’s critical to realize the devil is a real personal being. Jesus believed in a real devil (Mt 25:41, Jn 8:44, Rev 2:10) as did his disciples (Ac 10:38, 13:10, Eph 3:10). He is the main person who opposes God’s redemptive plan. Satan stands against God’s people (1 Chron 21:1, 2 Tim 2:22-26). He may have lost his free will and can only do evil, but what evil he does can be hellish.
He and his minions are unredeemable and jealous of those who enjoy God’s forgiveness and mercy. They were not initially evil creatures. All of God’s creation, including angelic beings, was originally created as good—including Lucifer (Isa 14:12-15; Ez 28:1-19). They choose to reject and defy God’s rule over their lives. Evil is found in denying God his rightful place as Lord.
Don’t be fooled. Although Satan is a fallen creature, he remains very wise, beautiful, and is the most powerful of all angels (cherub). Not even Michael was willing to accuse him. Rather he left judgment in the hands of the LORD (Jude 9). Make no mistake, Satan is a formidable foe of God, God’s people, and all that is good. He has been sinning since the creation of the world (1 Jn 3:8). And he instructs his demons to fight against God’s angels as well as God’s people.
So, spiritual battles exist in the unseen and seen realms of God’s creation (2 Cor 4:17-18, 2 Thess 2:6). And these battles affect the way we live our lives. The first step in combating an enemy is to know he is there and who that enemy is. In the next article, we will discuss five characteristics distinctive of Satan. This will help to overcome temptation and win the battle of holiness.
Photo attributions:Streaks of light by Meagan Carsience on Unsplash, Dead End sign from Morguefile.com, Fire ball by <a href=”https://pixabay.com/users/geralt-9301/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=123690″>Gerd Altmann</a> from <a href=”https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=123690″>Pixabay</a>, wall from pexa bay.com
