Satan and Fallen Angels
In their original state, purpose and position, (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6) Satan and the fallen angels were created by God to be very good and holy, (Genesis 1:31). They fell from their original state. Driven by his pride and elevated position, Satan instigated and led one-third of the angelic host in a rebellion 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.
The King James Version often obscures the subject of the devil and his angels by using the words devil and devils to translate demons or the multitude of demons or fallen angels. 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 in the form of a serpent, he tempted Adam and Eve. He is specifically mentioned in Job 2:1 when he appeared before God with all of the angels and accused Job before God. Satan tempted David to conduct a census of Israel, contrary to God’s instructions (1 Chronicles 21:2). He accused Israel before God in Zechariah 3:1-2. Christ referred to Satan’s existence twenty-five (25) times as a real being.
The angelic realm is a distinctly structured society that was endowed at creation with varying degrees of authority or power, (Ephesians 6:12). All of the angels were present and rejoiced and shouted for joy at God’s mighty power that brought the universe and all things into existence. When they rebelled against God, one-third of the various classes of these spirit beings fell from their original state, (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). 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. They were given the gift of understanding, feelings, and freedom (the ability to decide whether to stay loyal to God or go against Him). At that time, Lucifer (Satan) was one of the greatest of the angelic hosts. He was called the “anointed… covering cherub” and enjoyed one of the highest positions of honor before God.
Ezekiel 28:14-15 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.
Ezekiel 28:16 NKJV “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 was symbolic of his exalted position being 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 one of the highest honors of God’s angels, Lucifer was as near to 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…
In Isaiah 14, Lucifer was cast down 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 and rebellion originated in Lucifer’s heart when he exalted himself above God.
Satan is given various names that help us learn something of his domain and areas of activity.
It is important to remember that his dominion is neither eternal or all powerful. Satan is nowhere near to be equal with God. He and his angels will be cast down into the lake of fire and his influence and activity will end.
- Adversary, Devil —1 Peter 5:8 “your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion. The word “devil” means slander and adversary.
- Accuser of the brethren — Revelation 12:10
- Angel of Light — 2 Corinthians 11:14
- Abaddon Heb./ Apollyon Gk. — Revelation 9:11, which is interpreted as the prince of the infernal regions, the place of destruction
- Beelzehub, the prince or ruler of demons — Matthew 12:24
- Belial — the worthless or wicked one — 2 Corinthians 6:15
- Enemy who has sowed tares among the wheat— Matthew 13:28
- Evil One — John 17:15
- Father of lies, a liar who only speaks lies— John 8:44
- Great dragon, that serpent of old, red dragon — Revelation 12:3, 9
- God of this age or world who blinds the minds of unbelievers— 2 Corinthians 4:4
- Leviathan the fleeing and twisted serpent who dwells in the sea of humanity — Isaiah 27:1
- Lucifer — the son of the morning or light bearer, shining one who was cut down to the ground — Isaiah 14:12
- Murderer from the beginning who does not stand in the truth — John 8:44
- Prince or Ruler of this World who will be cast out— John 12:31
- Prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience — Ephesians 2:2
- Roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour— 1 Peter 5:8
- Tempter who solicits or entices people to sin— Matthew 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5
- Wicked One — Matthew 13:38
From these titles or names, we find some of Satan’s field of influence.
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.
When all of the angels presented themselves to God, Satan came 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.”
Ephesians 6:11-18 — He is the prince of the power of the air whom we must resist with the whole armor of God.
What does Satan do?
Tempts and tests
From the beginning, Satan attempted to hinder and prevent God’s plan. He tempts people with evil and tests people’s faith and trust in God. In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus was tempted by the devil to betray 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 NIV The 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 “looking for someone to devour.”
Hinders the work of God
He opposed Paul’s ministry and tried to stop what God ordained, (1 Thessalonians 2:18)
Takes advantage of any situation
Satan tries to outwit us and destroy us with anything he can. 2 Corinthians 2:11 says, “We are not unaware of his schemes.”
Sows tares among God’s people
When the good seed of the Word of God is given, Satan does 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 Satan’s limited 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. Resist 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 assaults God’s character and carries out his deception almost at will. He blinds 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 to be more powerful, active and present than he is.
Fallen Angels
They are spiritual forces of darkness that 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 from their original positions 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 or fallen angels are 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 depict their nature and activity.
- Familiar spirits (Leviticus 19:31; 20:6) are demons/fallen angels that a medium/witch/spiritist communicate with.
- Unclean or foul spirits (Matthew 10:1; Mark 6:7, 25) are so named because they delight in wickedness, corruption, and possess a foul nature. They are mentioned 23 times in the New Testament.
- Wicked or evil spirit (Luke 7:21; Acts 19:12-13) are similar in activity to unclean spirits.
- Deceiving or seducing spirits (1 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 16:14) specifically deceive by false signs and wonders.
- Spirit of error (1 John 4:6)
This list does not signify all of the activities of fallen angels or demons but illustrates their type of activity and nature.
Four positions or classes of fallen angels are supplied, Romans 8:38-39; Ephesians 6:12.
It does not appear that Paul is listing ranks or classes of fallen angels in Romans 8:38-39, but is showing that no kind of created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:38-39 NKJV For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In Ephesians 6:12, he lists at least four positions or classes of spiritual forces of evil.
- 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 evil spirits are more wicked than others, (Matthew 12:43-45).
There are two groups of fallen angels.
The first group is the fallen and chained.
The atrocity, depravity, and evil of the fallen and chained 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). In Revelation 9:1-2, they will be released from the bottomless pit during the first half of the tribulation.
The second class of fallen angels are — fallen and free angels
We are in spiritual warfare with the group that are described in Ephesians 6:12. These fallen angels collectively do the work of Satan. Demons are fallen and free angels. The New Testament mentions several graphic descriptions of the effects they have on people. It is important to distinguish between the devil which is Satan and devils or demons, the fallen angels.
Demons can cause various diseases or serious problems that adversely affect body, mind and spirit.
- 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 impairments. In Christ’s healing ministry, a distinction was made between illness, diseases and maladies brought on by demon possession, (Matthew 4:24; Mark 1:32; Luke 6:17-18; Matthew 12:22; 15:30).
It is wrong to jump to the conclusion that someone’s physical illness, deformity, impairment, or weakness is caused by demonic activity.
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 he can find 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 and his dark realm. 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 we 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 and lying signs and wonders, delusions and deceptions, would come to deceive, if possible, God’s chosen ones, (Matthew 24:24). We must not be ignorant of Satan’s devices.
Second, people fall into Satan’s trap because they have no knowledge of the power of Christ that is given us to live in victory.
Every good and perfect gift comes from God, (James 1:16-17). We must not be deceived by Satan’s substitutes for God’s good gifts.
1 Peter 5:8–9 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.
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 various 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).
