What are Angels and Demons?
Angels – “Sons of God”
We are told that God created all things in heaven and earth – and that includes the angelic host. Why did God create the angels?
For by God all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers – all things have been created through Him and for Him
(Colossians 1:16) (see also Neh. 9:6; Ps. 148:2–5).
When did God create the angels?
The traditional view of when the angels were created is derived from three passages in the Bible: Exodus 20:11, Job 38:4-7, and Genesis 1:1-5. The arguement goes as follows:
In Job 38, when God responds to Job’s challenge, He begins lay the evidence for Job’s inability to contend because of his ignorance. God’s proof begins with Creation, and in His questions, presented as Hebrew poetry, angels (“sons of God”) shouted for joy with the creation of earth.
This suggests that angels existed before the material universe and the creation of earth – including man.
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. . . . when the morning stars sang together and all the “sons of God” shouted for joy? (Job 38:4,7).
Logically, we can imply that the angels were present before the seventh day of creation:
1And so the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their heavenly lights. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. (Genesis 2:1).
We also know that Lucifer, was present at creation and walked in the garden.
“Thus says the Lord GOD: “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God.” Ezekiel 28:12-15:
And we know that angels guarded the tree in the Garden of Eden:
After he had expelled the man, the LORD God placed winged angels at the eastern end of the garden of Eden, along with a fiery, turning sword, to prevent access to the tree of life. Gen 3:24
A good picture of angels in Heaven is described by Daniel
“God takes His position in His assembly; He judges in the midst of the gods.” Psalm 82
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Hebrews 12:22
9 “I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire. 10 “A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were serving Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court convened, And the books were opened. “
Revelation 5:11-12 KJV
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Daniel 7
Position / Authority
It has been traditionally held that there are various “orders” of angelic beings. Various theologins have made exhaustive charts showing the rank and file of heaven.
We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Hebrews 2:9
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Hebrews 2:16
Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
1 Pet 3:22
Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
2 Pet 2:11
However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then all of a sudden, Michael, one of the chief angels, came to assist me! I had been detained there near the kings of Persia.
Dan 10:13
Now when Michael, one of the chief angels, was fighting against the Evil One for the body of Moses, fearing to make use of violent words against him, he only said, May the Lord be your judge.
Jude 1:9
What do they look like?
The appearance of an angel may begin with the phrase
“Do not be afraid !”
The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God.’
Luke 1:30
It would seem their appearance is alarming. However, there are times where angels appear unknown or unrecognized
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Hebrews 13:2
Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. So he quickly left the entrance to his tent to greet them.
Genesis 18
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Isaiah 6:1-3 KJV
Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side…
Ezekiel 1:5-14 KJV
And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
Revelation 4:6-9 KJV
Physicality
While they are spirits, it seems they can function with corporeal bodies as well. They have a spiritual body that is different than a human.
All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
1 Corinthians 15:39-40 KJV
“…they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. “
Mark 12:25
“Man did eat angels’ food”
Psa 78:25
Cherubim
The prophet Ezekiel’s vision of the Cherubim describes them as having a unique, if not frightening, appearance. They have four faces: That of a man, an eagle, an ox, and a lion.
Cherubim are first found in Genesis 3:24, where Cherubim are set as guardians of the Garden of Eden, keeping Adam and Eve from returning after the Fall. Images of Cherubim were also part of the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:18-22).
These may be the same beings described in Revelation 4:6.
Seraphim
Seraphim are mentioned in Isaiah 6:2-6, and it appears their function is to worship the Lord, leading all other angelic beings in praise.
Only a few are actually called by name:
The Angel Gabriel
Gabriel is an angel who appears in human form, but may have a look about him that causes trepidation. He admits to standing in the presence of God, by whom he is sent to Daniel, Zechariah, and Mary.
The Archangel Michael
Michael also appears in four passages of Scripture. He’s described as an archangel in Jude 1:9, and elsewhere as one who engages in heavenly warfare.
He is also referred to as a chief prince, one who works to protect God’s people. “Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back” (Revelation 12:7).
In Daniel chapter 10, he is spoken of by another angel, one who is not named. He talks of coming to Daniel sooner but is delayed. He says, “Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia” (Daniel 10:13).
The Angel Lucifer
Lucifer (aka Satan or the Devil) is perhaps the most notorious. He is identified as the main antagonist to man and God’s work
“You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering… You were the anointed cherub who covers, and I established you…”
Ezekiel 28:12–15:
“Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God..
Ezekiel 28:17
You were on the holy mount of God… You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you 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
(Ezekiel 28:12-19).
On earth, Lucifer has been given temporary reign as prince of the power of the air, at work in the sons of disobedience. He has control of this world, as it’s god.
The prince of this world now stands condemned
John 16:11;
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.”
Ephesians 2:2
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
(2 Corinthians 4:4),
“Sons of God” …
The term “god” conjures an image in the mind of modern man as a deity with power and authority. Pantheons of the Romans, Greeks, Norse, Egyptian, Hindu, Marvel Universe etc.
6 One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satana also came with them. 7“Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”
Job 1
On another day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satana also came with them to present himself before Him. 2 “Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”
Job 2
Elohim ( אֱלֹהִים ) can refer to “gods” or to God. The biblical usage distinguishes between the singular and plural forms:
Elohim (Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים , romanized: ʾĔlōhīm), the plural form , is a Hebrew word meaning “gods.”
It should be realized, however, that the use of the word in ancient Hebrew would be more a title or grouping – than a being. This plural “Eloheim” represents a class of beings without corporeal bodies (eg spirits.)
Elohim, when meaning the God of Israel, is mostly grammatically singular, and is commonly translated as “God”.
The existence of other spiritual beings does not imply multiple gods.
“The” Angel of the Lord
What is the difference between “the” angel of the Lord and “an” angel of the Lord?
Same idea.
In English grammar, articles are words that define whether a noun is specific or unspecific. The definite article, “the,” refers to a specific noun, while the indefinite articles, “a” and “an,” refer to a general or unspecified noun.
Definite Article: “the”
Function: Used when referring to a specific noun that is known to the speaker and listener or has been previously mentioned.
Examples: “This is the murder weapon.” (Meaning this is the instrument that casued the death.
Indefinite Articles: “a” and “an”
Function: Used before a singular, countable noun that is not specific or new information to the listener.
Examples: “This is a murder weapon.” (Meaning this instrument could be used to commit a murder.”
In Hebrew, the definite article “the” is not a separate word like in English. Instead, it’s integrated into the noun itself by adding the prefix הַ (ha-).
The “ha-” prefix makes the noun definite, indicating a specific, known noun.
Example:
מֶלֶךְ (melekh) – “a king”
הַמֶּלֶךְ (ha-melekh) – “the king”
Hebrew doesn’t have an equivalent for the English indefinite articles “a” or “an”. Nouns without the definite article are understood as indefinite based on the context. Generally, when refering to any noun the prefix הַ (ha-) is omitted. However, when the noun has specific importance, it is included.
The difference between “the Angel of the Lord” and “an angel of the Lord” lies in whether the phrase refers to a specific, unique being or a general category.
“The Angel of the Lord” typically refers to a specific, unique figure, often identified with God or a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ.
“An angel of the Lord” refers to any angel acting as a messenger of the Lord.
In essence, the definite article “the” points to a specific, unique entity, while the indefinite article “an” indicates a member of a larger group.
President is a term that applies across many level
The President of the USA
A president of a country
A resident of a company
A president of a fan club
Purpose
The Bible teaches that angels are ministering spirits who exist to serve God. Within that service, it is believed that a hierarchy exists which brings order and purpose to the angelic host.
Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
Psa 148:2
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Job 38:7 KJV
And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
Hebrews 1:6
The Human – Angel Mystery
That is, the mystery which was hidden [from angels and mankind] for ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints (God’s people).
Col 1:26
Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
1 Cor 6:3
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
1 Pet 1:12
But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Mark 13:32
Fallen Angels and Demons
The Book of Enoch expands the brief account in Genesis 6 into a much more detailed story. Although it is not part of the biblical canon in most Jewish and Christian traditions (it is canonical in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church), it was influential in Second Temple Judaism and helps explain how many ancient Jews understood the Nephilim.
[Chapter 6]
1 And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters. And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another:
‘Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children.’ And Semjaza, who was their leader, said unto them: ‘I fear ye will not indeed agree to do this deed, and I alone shall have to pay the penalty of a great sin.’ And they all answered him and said: ‘Let us all swear an oath, and all bind ourselves by mutual imprecations not to abandon this plan but to do this thing.’
Then sware they all together and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. And they were in all two hundred; who descended in the days of Jared on the summit of Mount Hermon, and they called it Mount Hermon, because they had sworn and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it.
[Chapter 7]
1 And all the others together with them took unto themselves wives, and each chose for himself one, and they began to go in unto them and to defile themselves with them, and they taught them charms and enchantments, and the cutting of roots, and made them acquainted with plants. And they became pregnant, and they bare great giants, whose height was three thousand ells: Who consumed all the acquisitions of men. And when men could no longer sustain them, the giants turned against them and devoured mankind. And they began to sin against birds, and beasts, and reptiles, and fish, and to devour one another’s flesh, and drink the blood.
[Chapter 10]
1 Then said the Most High, the Holy and Great One spake, and sent Uriel to the son of Lamech and said to him:
‘Go to Noah and tell him in my name “Hide thyself!” and reveal to him the end that is approaching: that the whole earth will be destroyed, and a deluge is about to come upon the whole earth, and will destroy all that is on it. And now instruct him that he may escape and his seed may be preserved for all the generations of the world.’
And again the Lord said to Raphael:
‘Bind Azazel hand and foot, and cast him into the darkness: and make an opening in the desert, which is in Dudael, and cast him therein. And place upon him rough and jagged rocks, and cover him with darkness, and let him abide there for ever, and cover his face that he may not see light. And on the day of the great judgement he shall be cast into the fire….
And the Lord said unto Michael:
‘Go, bind Semjaza and his associates who have united themselves with women so as to have defiled themselves with them in all their uncleanness. And when their sons have slain one another, and they have seen the destruction of their beloved ones, bind them fast for seventy generations in the valleys of the earth, till the day of their judgement and of their consummation, till the judgement that is for ever and ever is consummated. In those days they shall be led off to the abyss of fire: and to the torment and the prison in which they shall be confined for ever. And whosoever shall be condemned and destroyed will from thenceforth be bound together with them to the end of all generations. And destroy all the spirits of the reprobate and the children of the Watchers, because they have wronged mankind. Destroy all wrong from the face of the earth and let every evil work come to an end: …
God sends four archangels to deal with the crisis.
Michael is commissioned to fight the rebellious angels.
Raphael binds the leader Asael (Azazel in many translations).
Uriel warns Noah about the coming Flood.
And the vision was shown to me thus:
The Throne of God
Behold, in the vision clouds invited me and a mist summoned me, and the course of the stars and the lightnings sped and hastened me, and the winds in the vision caused me to fly and lifted me upward, and bore me into heaven.
And I went in till I drew nigh to a wall which is built of crystals and surrounded by tongues of fire: and it began to affright me. And I went into the tongues of fire and drew nigh to a large house which was built of crystals: and the walls of the house were like a tesselated floor (made) of crystals, and its groundwork was of crystal. Its ceiling was like the path of the stars and the lightnings, and between them were fiery cherubim, and their heaven was (clear as) water. A flaming fire surrounded the walls, and its portals blazed with fire. And I entered into that house, and it was hot as fire and cold as ice: there were no delights of life therein: fear covered me, and trembling got hold upon me.
And as I quaked and trembled, I fell upon my face. And I beheld a vision,
And lo! there was a second house, greater than the former, and the entire portal stood open before me and it was built of flames of fire. And in every respect it so excelled in splendour and magnificence and extent that I cannot describe to you its splendour and its extent. And its floor was of fire, and above it were lightnings and the path of the stars, and its ceiling also was flaming fire.
And I looked and saw therein a lofty throne: its appearance was as crystal, and the wheels thereof as the shining sun, and there was the vision of cherubim. And from underneath the throne came streams of flaming fire so that I could not look thereon.
And the Great Glory sat thereon, and His raiment shone more brightly than the sun and was whiter than any snow.
None of the angels could enter and could behold His face by reason of the magnificence and glory and no flesh could behold Him. The flaming fire was round about Him, and a great fire stood before Him, and none around could draw nigh Him: ten thousand times ten thousand (stood) before Him, yet He needed no counselor. And the most holy ones who were nigh to Him did not leave by night nor depart from Him.
And until then I had been prostrate on my face, trembling: and the Lord called me with His own mouth, and said to me:
‘Come hither, Enoch, and hear my word.’
And one of the holy ones came to me and waked me, and He made me rise up and approach the door: and I bowed my face downwards.
[Chapter 15]
1 And He answered and said to me, and I heard His voice:
‘Fear not, Enoch, thou righteous man and scribe of righteousness: approach hither and hear my voice. And go, say to the Watchers of heaven, who have sent thee to intercede for them:
“You should intercede for men, and not men for you”
Wherefore have ye left the high, holy, and eternal heaven, and lain with women, and defiled yourselves with the daughters of men and taken to yourselves wives, and done like the children of earth, and begotten giants (as your) sons. And though ye were holy, spiritual, living the eternal life, you have defiled yourselves with the blood of women, and have begotten (children) with the blood of flesh,
and
Just like the children of men, have lusted after flesh and blood as those also do who die and perish. Therefore have I given them wives also that they might impregnate them, and beget children by them, that nothing might be wanting to them on earth.
But you were formerly spiritual, living the eternal life, and immortal for all generations of the world. And therefore I have not appointed wives for you; for as for the spiritual ones of the heaven, in heaven is their dwelling.
And now, the giants, who are produced from the spirits and flesh, shall be called evil spirits upon the earth, and on the earth shall be their dwelling. Evil spirits have proceeded from their bodies; because they are born from men and from the holy Watchers is their beginning and primal origin; they shall be evil spirits on earth, and evil spirits shall they be called.
[As for the spirits of heaven, in heaven shall be their dwelling, but as for the spirits of the earth which were born upon the earth, on the earth shall be their dwelling.]
And the spirits of the giants afflict, oppress, destroy, attack, do battle, and work destruction on the earth, and cause trouble: they take no food, but
nevertheless hunger and thirst, and cause offences. And these spirits shall rise up against the children of men and against the women, because they have proceeded from them.
[Chapter 16]
1 From the days of the slaughter and destruction and death of the giants, from the souls of whose flesh the spirits, having gone forth, shall destroy without incurring judgement -thus shall they destroy until the day of the consummation, the great judgement in which the age shall be consummated, over the Watchers and the godless, yea, shall be wholly consummated.”
[Chapter 20]
And these are the names of the holy angels who watch (guard).
Uriel, one of the holy angels, who is over the world and over Tartarus.
Raphael, one of the holy angels, who is over the spirits of men.
Raguel, one of the holy angels who takes vengeance on the world of the
luminaries.
Michael, one of the holy angels, to wit, he that is set over the best part of
mankind and over chaos.
Saraqael, one of the holy angels, who is set over the spirits, who sin in the spirit.
Gabriel, one of the holy angels, who is over Paradise and the serpents and the Cherubim.
Remiel, one of the holy angels, whom God set over those who rise.
Fate of the Watchers
1. 2 Peter 2:4
“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into
Tartarus and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment…”
This is striking because:
The Bible nowhere in Genesis says that sinful angels were imprisoned.
The idea of angels being bound and awaiting judgment is found in the Book of Enoch.
The Greek word
Tartarus appears only here in the New Testament. In Greek mythology it referred to the deepest prison for rebellious divine beings, but Peter uses the term to describe where these angels are being held.
2. Jude 6
“And the angels who did not keep their own position of authority, but abandoned their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day.”
This closely parallels Enoch’s description of the Watchers:
they abandoned their proper heavenly place,
took human wives,
were bound by God,
and remain imprisoned until the final judgment.
The Children of the Watchers – The Nephilim: evil spirits
This is one of Enoch’s most distinctive teachings.
When the giants die, their bodies perish, but their spirits remain on the earth. These disembodied spirits become: evil spirits (or demons), wandering beings that oppress humanity, sources of temptation, violence, deception, and disease.
According to Enoch, demons are not fallen angels; they are the spirits of the dead Nephilim.
Because the Nephilim are part human and part Spirit – God deals with them differently. They become incorporeal spirits (demons) who continue to abide on earth and seemingly prefer to inhabit a body as a dwelling place rather than being a free spirit.
Their spirits, continue to exist and afflict humanity until the final judgment. This explains why evil spiritual forces persist after the Flood without requiring the Nephilim themselves to survive physically.
The Book of Enoch [Chapter 16]
1 From the days of the slaughter and destruction and death of the giants, from the souls of whose flesh the spirits, having gone forth, shall destroy without incurring judgement -thus shall they destroy until the day of the consummation, the great judgement in which the age shall be consummated, over the Watchers and the godless, yea, shall be wholly consummated.”
This is the situation that unfolds when Jesus meets “Legion”
“What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” Matthew 8:28-34
30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. Luke 8:26-39
12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” Mark 5:1-20
These offspring have a unique ancestory. Their fathers were spirits and their mothers were human. Why were there no female spirits, with human males? This is very much like Jesus’ birth.
They do not carry the DNA of Adam – perhaps Lucifer was attempting to create a race of beings that do not share the original sin of Adam – thus fall out of the normal original sin concept.
[Chapter 21]
1 And I proceeded to where things were chaotic. And I saw there something horrible: I saw neither a heaven above nor a firmly founded earth, but a place chaotic and horrible. And there I saw seven stars of the heaven bound together in it, like great mountains and burning with fire.
Then I said: ‘For what sin are they bound, and on what account have they been cast in hither?’
Then said Uriel, one of the holy angels, who was with me, and was chief over them, and said: ‘Enoch, why dost thou ask, and why art thou eager for the
truth?
These are of the number of the stars of heaven, which have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and are bound here till ten thousand years, the time entailed by their sins, are consummated.’
And from thence I went to another place, which was still more horrible than the former, and I saw a horrible thing: a great fire there which burnt and blazed, and the place was cleft as far as the abyss, being full of great descending columns of fire: neither its extent or magnitude could I see, nor could I conjecture.
Then I said: ‘How fearful is the place and how terrible to look upon!’
Then Uriel answered me, one of the holy angels who was with me, and said unto me: ‘Enoch, why hast thou such fear and affright?’
And I answered: ‘Because of this fearful place, and because of the spectacle of the pain.’
And he said unto me: ‘This place is the prison of the angels, and here they will be imprisoned for ever.’
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Jude 6 KJV
God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 2 Pet 2:4