Satan and Fallen Angels

Satan and Fallen Angels

Satan and the fallen angels were created by God to be very good and holy, (Genesis 1:31). They fell from their original state and lost their purpose and position, (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). Satan fell because of pride and led a rebellion of one-third  the angelic host of heaven against God. Jesus spoke of the devil and his angels, identifying them together because their rebellion and rejection of God occurred at the same time. Satan and his angels are a personal, corruptive and evil force in the affairs of man.

• The first mention of Satan is in Genesis 3 when he assumed the form of a serpent to tempt Adam and Eve in the garden.
• He is specifically mentioned in Job 2:1 when he accused Job before God.
• Satan enticed David to take a census of Israel in contradiction to God’s instructions, 1 Chronicles 21:2.
• He is seen accusing Israel before God in Zechariah 3:1-2.
• Christ referred to Satan’s existence twenty-five (25) times. In His references, Jesus spoke of and to a real being.

The angelic realm is a distinctly structured society that were endowed at creation with varying degrees of authority or power, (Ephesians 6:12). They were created before the creation of the world and man to be holy and dedicated to God. When they rebelled against God, one-third of the various classes of these spirit beings fell, (Revelation 12:4; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:9; Romans 8:38). The Bible does not delineate the various classes of angels that fell, but does say, “our struggle is against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12). There is Biblical evidence that these spiritual forces of evil have influence over nations, peoples, and world issues. The battle between good and evil, God and Satan and his angels began before man’s creation and will not terminate until they are cast into the Lake of Fire.

The Origin Of Satan and Fallen Angels

All angels were originally of the same nature and were the highest order of created beings. They were spirit beings who ministered around the throne of God. As spirit beings, they were endued with understanding, affections, and liberty, or a power of self-determination so that they could choose to continue in their allegiance to God, or to rebel against him. Lucifer was one of the greatest of the angelic hosts. He was called the “anointed… covering cherub” who enjoyed the highest position of honor before God.

Ezekiel 28:14-16 NKJV “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. “By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones.

In heaven Satan was called Lucifer.

He was given the heavenly title, “Lucifer, son of the morning” which is symbolic of his estate in heaven. He enjoyed an exalted position before God’s presence and was surrounded by the brilliance of the glory of God and His throne. Lucifer was filled with wisdom and beauty, and was blameless until he sinned.

Isaiah 14:12 NKJV “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!”

Isaiah 14:12 NIV 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!

The name “Lucifer” is interchanged with “morning star”, or “day star”, or “shining star.” Having the highest honor of God’s angels, Lucifer was as near the throne of God as any created being could be. God made him superior in wisdom, beauty, authority, anointing, and perfection. After his fall he is never again called by these titles. He was the “cherub who covers” indicating he was watching over the heavenly throne of God. Lucifer was described as being “perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, till,” (Ezekiel 28:15). The word “till,” God opens the subject of iniquity, sin, rebellion, and pride. God created the angel, Lucifer, but through the sin of pride he became Satan. God did not make Satan evil, he became evil by the things he did.

Ezekiel 28:17 NIV84 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…

Isaiah 14:13-14 NKJV For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’

Sin originated in the heart of Lucifer when he rebelled and exalted himself above God.

Names given to Satan

The various names of Satan help us learn something of his domain and areas of activity. It is important to remember that his dominion is not eternal. He and his angels will be cast down into the lake of fire and his influence and activity will come to an end.

• Adversary, Devil —1 Peter 5:8 —“devil” means slander and adversary.
• Beelzehub, the “Prince of Demons” — Mat. 12:24
• Belial — the “Low One” means wicked one — 2 Cor. 6:15
• The great dragon, old serpent, red dragon — Rev. 12:3, 9
• God of this age, world — 2 Cor. 4:4
• Prince of this World/Ruler of this World — John 12:31
• Prince of the power of the air — Eph. 2:2
• Angel of Light — 2 Cor. 11:14
• Accuser of the Brethren — Rev. 12:10
• Father of lies / liar — John 8:44
• Destroyer — Agaddon Heb./ Apollyon Gk. — Rev. 9:11
• Enemy — Mat. 13:28
• Murderer — John 8:44
• Tempter — Mat. 4:3; 1 Thes. 3:5 — solicits people to sin
• Evil One — John 17:15
• Leviathan — Isa. 27:1 — he dwells in the sea of humanity
• Roaring Lion — 1 Peter 5:8
• The Wicked One — Mat. 13:38
• Lucifer — light bearer, shining one — Isa. 14:12

What is Satan’s sphere of influence or activity?

• Satan has access to the throne of God where he accuses believers before God day and night.

He came to God when the angels presented themselves to God and accused Job, (Job 1:6; Job 2:1). During the tribulation Satan will be thrown out of heaven by Michael and his angels.

Revelation 12:10 NIV84 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 

In Luke 10:18-19, Jesus prophesied this event and said: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven…”

• Satan wars against believers on earth.

When he accused Job, he told God that he had been roaming through the earth. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us “your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” He is the prince of the power of the air where he rules the darkness and wickedness of the world, (Ephesians 6:12).

What Satan does

Tempts and tests

From the beginning, Satan attempted to hinder and prevent God’s plan. He tempted people with evil and tested people’s faith and trust in God. In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus was tempted by the devil to betray His loyalty to the Father and to worship Satan. He sifted Simon Peter like wheat, (Luke 22:31). He enticed Ananias and Sapphira to lie to the Holy Spirit, (Acts 5:3).

Works against the Word of God

2 Corinthians 4:4 NIVThe god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Matthew 13:19 —  Snatches the “word” that is sown in the heart.

Traps with schemes and snares

• 2 Timothy 2:26 “the snare of the devil” 
• Ephesians 6: 11 “the schemes of the devil” 
• 1 Peter 5:8 “the devil … seeking whom he may devour”

Hinders the work of God

He opposed Paul’s ministry and tries to stop what God has ordained, (1 Thessalonians 2:18)

Takes advantage of any situation

Paul warned the Corinthian believers about this. Satan tries to outwit us and uses every situation he can to destroy. 2 Corinthians 2:11 says, “We are not unaware of his schemes.”

Sows tares among the people of God

When the good seed of the Word of God is given, Satan brings in whatever evil he can to destroy the effectiveness of the Word, (Matthew 13:38-39).

He does whatever he can to kill, steal and destroy believers.

A messenger from Satan tormented Paul after he had such wonderful revelations of Christ and heaven, (2 Corinthians 12:7).

Satan’s limitations

From the beginning of Satan’s deception and fall, he wanted to be something he was not. Satan had aspirations and dreams of being equal or greater than the almighty God. He did not realize that God is greater than the sum total of all of His creation.

Satan is NOT Omnipotent (all powerful).

Satan’s power is limited by God. He is powerful but he is not all powerful. Job’s story helps us see the limitation of Satan’s power. He roars and roams through the earth in an attempt to intimidate, infiltrate, and destroy. He can be defeated through persistent faith, powerful prayer, and the victory of Jesus Christ.

Satan CANNOT force people to sin. 

He can tempt, coerce, and entice, but he has no power to force transgression. Remember he is called a liar, tempter and deceiver.

1 Peter 5:8–9 NIV84 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 

Satan is NOT Omniscient (all knowing).

Satan is intelligent, but not as wise as God. Through deception, Satan assails God’s character and carries out his deception almost at will. He will blind the eyes of unbelievers so they cannot see the light and truth of the gospel, (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Satan is NOT Omnipresent (everywhere present).

Satan cannot be in more than one place at a time. He uses his angels to attempt to appear more powerful, active and present than he is.

Fallen Angels

These spiritual forces of darkness are at war against God and His people. They are the principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness of this present world. When Lucifer sinned, the fallen angels joined in with his rebellion against God.

2 Peter 2:4 NIV84 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;

Jude 6 NET You also know that the angels who did not keep within their proper domain but abandoned their own place of residence, he has kept in eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgment of the great Day. 

The angels that rebelled against God were cast down before the creation of the world. Satan and the fallen angels are the evil forces and demonic spirits that we war against. These evil spirits, fallen angels have joined in league with Satan and make up the kingdom of darkness. Satan is the prince of the fallen angels and directs their constant destructive work.

Titles of fallen angels

Their titles depict their nature and activity.

They are called:

• Familiar spirits (Lev. 19:31; 20:6)
• Unclean spirits (Mat .10:1; Mk. 6:7)
• Wicked or evil spirit (Lk. 7:21; Acts 19:12-13)
• Deceiving or seducing spirits (1 Tim. 4:1)
• Spirit of error (1 Jn 4:6)
• Foul spirits (Mk 9:25)

Position or Classes

Ephesians 6:12 refers to the various positions or classes of fallen angels.

• Rulers are first or high in rank.
• Powers are invested with authority.
• World-forces of this darkness – their power or authority over the world.
• Spiritual forces of wickedness — wicked spirits in character and nature.

Some of evil spirits are more wicked than others, (Mat. 12:43-45).

There are two groups of fallen angels — fallen and chained

The atrocity, depravity, and evil of these fallen angels was so great that God did not spare them but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, where they are reserved unto judgment, (2 Peter 2:4).

The second class of fallen angels are — fallen and free angels

We are currently in spiritual warfare with this group that are described in Ephesians 6:12. These fallen angels collectively do the work of Satan.

Demons are fallen and free angels

Several graphic descriptions of the effect that demons have on people are mentioned in the New Testament.

Demons can cause various diseases or maladies.

• Muteness (Matt. 12:22; Mark 9:17, 25)
• Deafness (Mark 9:25)
• Blindness (Matt. 12:22)
• Body deformity (Luke 13:10-17)
• Insanity, (Luke 8:26-35)
• Various defects and deformities (Lk 13:11-17)

Demons are NOT responsible for all physical ailments, sickness, deformities, or impairment. In Christ’s healing ministry that there was a distinction made between illness, diseases and maladies brought on by demon possession (Matthew 4:24; Mark 1:32; Luke 6:17-18). Some problems brought on by demons may be caused by other physical or mental problems, (Mat. 12:22; 15:30).

Satan and fallen angels shall not prevail

Matthew 16:18 ESV I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Revelation 1:18 Jesus said: “I was dead, but now I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” 

Satan looks for any access into people’s lives, but God has restricted his work to the kingdom of darkness. As believers, we have been delivered from the powers of darkness into the marvelous light and life that is in Jesus Christ. Satan’s destructive powers gain legal entrance when or if the doors of our lives are opened to him. He always comes to steal, kill, and destroy. The doors that Satan seeks to enter are called the “gates of hell.”

Two ways to stay out of Satan’s trap.

One of our great defenses is to walk as the wise and not as fools.

We must know Satan’s devices, scope, and sphere of work so that you are not open to his destructive powers. Satan, your adversary is a cunning deceiver and liar. Jesus warned that evil days would come when false prophets, false/lying signs and wonders, delusions and deceptions to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24). We must not be ignorant of Satan’s devices.

Second, people fall into captivity because they have no knowledge of the power of Christ that is given us to live in victory above Satan’s vile schemes.

Every good and perfect gift comes from God, (James 1:16-17). Satan has many substitutes for God’s good gifts. We must not be deceived.

1 Peter 5:8–11 NKJV Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

James 4:7 NKJV Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 

Revelation 12:11 NKJV And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

You can defeat Satan and spiritual forces of evil.

You can defeat Satan with the Word of God. In Matthew 4, Jesus spoke the Word against Satan’s temptations. Ephesians 6:12-17 tells us to put on the full armor of God so we can stand in the evil day. This armor enables us to defeat the varied attacks of the adversary. God has provided the power of Christ’s blood and the authority of His word on our lips to defeat Satan. Should you face the attack of the adversary, you should know that he has been defeated through the blood and cross of Christ, and will ultimately be destroyed in the lake of fire, (Revelation 20:10).