Angels and Evil Spirits

Dear Brethren,

Do angels really exist?  What is the purpose of angels?  Are angels created beings?  How, or why did some of the angels rebel against God, and become evil spirits?  How can we know about the spiritual domain of angels and evil spirits?  Did God create Satan, the devil?

God created all the angelic beings for the very purpose of being His helpers and assistants in bringing many sons to glory.  All the angels are ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”  (Hebrews 1:13-14)  However, because we are physical, and angels are spirit-beings, we cannot perceive or take notice of them.  We are totally unable to discern their realm.  God has revealed their existence and purpose in Scripture - otherwise we could not know of the angels.

God created the angels before He created the vast universe.  Angels are often figuratively referred to as stars,” in the Bible.  …Stars are the angels...”  (Revelation 1:20)  The angels shouted out in excitement when the earth was created.  Speaking of the vast angelic realm as stars, and as sons of God, Job said, When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.”  (Job 38:4, 7) 

For eons, the angels worked to develop the earth, which was to become the habitat for mankind.  When God revealed that the purpose of flesh and blood man was to become an integral part of the eternal Spiritual family of God, envy and wickedness sprang up in some of the angels.  It was not what they expected.  Yes, Angels are children of God” in the sense that they were created beings, made by God, but God was going to pour out His Spirit in man so that man would be inducted into the very family of God.  This is not so of angels. For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?”  (Hebrews 1:5)

Man's present status is temporarily lower than the angels.  Though man is weak in power and subject to mortality, man’s ultimate state is to be so much higher than the angels – eternal sons of God, in the Spirit of God.  One [David] in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that thou visit him?  Thou made him a little while lower than the angels; thou crowned him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands.”  (Hebrews 2:6-7)  Only for the present, are the angels greater in power and might than is man (2 Peter 2:11).

Lucifer was a brilliant, intelligent and powerful glorious spirit-being.  He was the epitome of God's creative design (Genesis 3:1).He was one of the three covering archangels or cherubs at the very throne of God.  Thou [Lucifer] art the anointed cherub that covers; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.”  (Ezekiel 28:14)

With Lucifer disqualified, there are now two cherubs that cover the throne of God, as shown by the pattern of the ark of the covenant.  The remaining two faithful archangels are Michael and Gabriel.  You shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat…  And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.”  (Exodus 25:18-20)

Lucifer led a rebellion against the very throne of God.  He appears as an angel of light, but in reality, he is the power of darkness.  Because Satan has disqualified himself from the good things of God, he does everything within his power to obliterate every vestige of the plan of God to bring many sons to glory.  One third of the angels sinned and rebelled along with Satan (Revelation 12:4).  Satan and the fallen angels [demons], set out to annihilate the earth.  The exquisite fruitful earth was reduced to dark empty ruin – tohu, bohu and choshek.  It was necessary that God recreate the earth at the time of Adam and Eve.

God had created Lucifer to be perfect.  Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.”  (Ezekiel 28:15)  Lucifer had a choice to worship and follow God, but he chose to fight against God.  Prideful and jealous of what God was performing in mankind, Lucifer deteriorated into Satan – becoming God’s adversary.  Satan literally tried to wrestle God’s throne away from almighty God.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars [angels] of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”  (Isaiah 14:12-14)

Since then, Satan, as the god of this evil world, has actively worked to prevent mankind from achieving its incredible human potential.  If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  In whom the god of this world, [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”  (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)

Satan continues to deceive all except for those few God is calling at this time (John 6:44, 65).  The time when Satan’s wrath will once again be unleashed upon all the earth is coming soon.  That will occur during the first two and one-half years of the tribulation.  But, God has shown us Satan’s ultimate fate.  The Feast of Atonement shows that Satan will be bound, and ultimately deposed forever.

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Sermon: "Angels and Evil Spirits"
Sermon: "Angel of Light - Satan"

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