Angels, as depicted in biblical theology, are supernatural beings created by God to act as His servants and messengers. “Angel” is a loanword from the Hebrew mal’akh (messenger of God) or Greek angelos (annunciation). Demons, on the other hand, are spiritual beings that oppose God and are fallen angels who are in defiance of Him. The word “demon” comes from the Greek daimonion, which means malevolent spirit or evil supernatural being. For in-depth information on angels and demons as they are presented in the Bible, see the very good article by Dr. James Fleming in the New Bible Dictionary. We must consider what these hosts of heaven are, what order they belong to, and by what offices they are distinguished. It also examines the overthrow of Satan and his angels, including their attributes, deeds, and final fate according to scripture. Learning more about these spiritual beings can help us understand the biblical perspective on the invisible war going on and God’s control over everything He created.
What Does The Bible Teach about Angels?
From the point of view of the Bible, angels are a class of created spirit beings, which are not human souls, that serve God. These beings think, will, and emote; they are not omniscient, omnipotent, or omnipresent. Well, as you may have heard, angels are many, many, many, as they are, for example, in the book of Daniel, where he sees thousands upon thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand serving before God [Daniel 7:10]. The New Testament also speaks of an “innumerable company of angels” [Hebrews 12:22]. Their main responsibility has to do with worshiping God, doing His bidding, and serving His people.
What Are the Different Types of Angels?
In Scripture, angels have different responsibilities, tasks, and ranks, revealing a heavenly order and specialization of purpose. The Bible describes different orders of angelic beings with certain duties.
Cherubim
Cherubim are angels with great power, particularly with respect to guarding sacred places of God. Genesis 3:24 mentions cherubim stationed to guard the way to the tree of life following Adam and Eve’s banishment from the Garden of Eden. They are also represented on the ark of the covenant [Exodus 25:18-22] and in the visions of Ezekiel, having four faces (man, lion, ox, eagle) and four wings, symbolic of their variety and agility in performing the will of the divinity [Ezekiel 1:5-12, 10:1-22]. They are an indication of the glory and majesty of God and His infinite holiness.
Seraphim
Seraphim are referred to only in Isaiah 6:1-7: functioning above the throne of God. These seraphim have six wings: With two they cover their faces, with two they cover their feet, and with two they fly. Their direct responsibility is unending praise in beholding God’s holiness with an anthem, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” One seraph carries out an act of purification for Isaiah with a live coal (Isaiah 6:6), responds to his contrition, and voices God’s solicitude while commissioning him to bear a message of redemption to Israel.
Archangels
Archangels are a superior order of angels, to which only Michael is so called in the Bible [Jude 1:9]. Michael appears as a warrior angel in the role of the Chief prince, who resists evil forces (demons and Satan), saying in regards to God’s people, Israel, he stands up in their defense [Daniel 10:13, 12:1, Revelation 12:7]. Another well-known angel, Gabriel, is a divine messenger who visits Daniel to reveal the end-times prophecies [Daniel 8:16, 9:21] and announces the births of John the Baptist and Jesus to Zechariah and Mary [Luke 1:19, 1:26]. These two angels represent the functions of protection and communication among the angelic order.
Ministering Spirits
A group of angels that can be thought of as all angels who work to fulfill God’s purposes on earth. Hebrews 1:14 says, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” This shows that they are abettors of the believers. Angels appear protecting Lot and his family from the doomed city of Sodom [Genesis 19:1-22], providing food and water for Elijah [1 Kings 19:5-7], and releasing the apostles from jail [Acts 5:19, 12:7-11]. They bring news, bring care, bring food, bring the god’s wrath.
Angels of the Churches
Angels of the Churches are referred to several times in Revelation 1:20 where Jesus refers to “the angels of the seven churches” there. There are a variety of interpretations, some literal (i.e., that they are actual angels who preside at the meetings of each group), and some allegorical (i.e., that they represent all the leaders or the spirit or true being of the church). This suggests that angels may have a function in the care and influence of particular Christian communities.
These categories point to the highly structured nature of the angelic world, with every order playing a divinely assigned role that serves to complete God’s master plan.
How do Angels relate to man in the Bible?
Angels are constantly in touch with humanity in the Bible in a myriad of ways; whether as messengers of God, protectors, or enforcers of God’s edicts. That relationship ranges from actual communication to spiritual activity that isn’t seen.
Communication
One of the main duties angels perform is communicating the messages of God to humans. E.g., the angel of the Lord appears to Hagar [Genesis 16:7-12], to Abraham [Genesis 22:11-18], and to Moses in the burning bush [Exodus 3:2-6], bringing instructions, promises, and warnings. Gabriel is also described by Daniel as a man and when he touches Virgin Mary in Luke 1:26-38, he does not invoke the Torah as would have been Halachic since he would have become impure. Jesus himself recalls the event in Luke 11:16. [Luke 1:11-20] Mentioned in those verses is Gabriel as announcing to Zechariah the birth of John the Baptist. These are not visions of angels but rather of the angels being instruments in the hands of God to deliver His word to the select few and fulfill certain intentions.
Protector and Deliverer
Angels often serve as protectors and deliverers of God’s people. Angels close the mouths of lions on behalf of Daniel in the den [Daniel 6:22]. An angel frees Peter from prison by a miraculous power [Acts 12:7-11]. Psalm 91:11-12 states, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; on their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” This points to an ongoing, if often unnoticed, angelic guarding of the saints.
Execution of Judgment
Angels are also executioners of God’s judgment. Two angels are with the Lord in bringing destruction upon Sodom and Gomorrha [Genesis 19:13]. An angel of the Lord kills 185,000 Assyrian troops [2 Kings 19:35]. In Revelation, angels empty seven vials of God’s wrath on the earth [Revelation 16:1-21]. These are signs they are instruments of the justice of God upon evil.
Ministry to Jesus
Angels ministered to Jesus during His life on earth. They proclaimed His birth to the shepherds (Luke 2:9-14), and they came and ministered to Him upon completion of His 40-day fast in the wilderness (Matthew 4:11) and to Him while He was being arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:43) prior to His crucifixion. After his resurrection, angels were at His empty burial place [Matthew 28:2-7].
Guiding and Directing
Angels guide and direct the life of man. God sent an angel for Philip, and he and the Ethiopian eunuch go for a water safari [Acts 8:26]. Cornelius is visited by an angel, and told to send for Peter [Acts 10:3-6]. These examples demonstrate angels steering human endeavors in the direction of God’s redemptive scheme.
These diverse relationships make clear that angels are active in human history, working out the purposes of God in both bold and subtle ways, and often appearing as visible embodiments of divine activity.
IS THERE A BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF DEMONS?
According to the Bible, demons are evil spirits that coexist with good angels, and they work against God’s will, appearing to desire to hurt people. These are not wholly autonomous powers competing with one another, but lesser powers under the ultimate dominion of God while having a measure of acting in the world. Their identity and behavior are described particularly in the New Testament.
Where do Demons come from and what are they in the Bible?
The biblical source of demons and their character is Satan, or the devil. Demons are perceived as angels who fell and who follow Satan instead of God. Revelation 12:7-9 describes the war in heaven between Michael and his angels, and the dragon (Satan) and his angels: “And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” This demonstrates that demons are not a second or different creation, but rather, a portion of the original angels who rebelled.
They are just wicked, evil and destructive. They have knowledge and intelligence—knowledge enough to know that Jesus is the “Holy One of God,” acknowledging the existence of God [James 2:19]. And they have a corporate will and they work in sync with the agenda of Satan. But they are spirits without a body, who are just looking for a physical home, often resulting in demonic possession in men or animals [Mark 5:1-13]. This wish for corporeality demonstrates their lack of spiritual life when not housed in the body.
There are not few devils, no, mentioning yet the who had in him so much as a legion of devils, when he wished to be called by it no otherwise than many. Their power, though great, is measured by the sovereignty of God. They are not able to move unless they have been given permission from on high, just as in the case of Job — the devil and his band of demons could only touch Job to a certain point because God allowed them to [Job 1:12, 2:6]. Their eternal destination is a never-ending torment in hell, which is the place “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). This concept of their origin and malevolent, if not weak, nature is at the heart of the biblical teaching on demons.
What does the Bible say about Demons’ Interactions with Humanity?
The Bible portrays demons interacting with humanity in various ways such as through lying, tempting, seeking to possess, and causing other types negative consequences. Their ultimate awful purpose is to resist God’s kingdom and take humans away from Him.
Deception and Temptation
Demons are led by Satan, in deceiving men. Satan is the “father of lies” (John 8:44) and he controls people by driving them to false doctrine and spiritual blindness. The Apostle Paul also cautions against the “doctrines of demons” [1 Timothy 4:1]. Demons induce people to sin, from Satan tempting Eve in the Garden of Eden [Genesis 3:1-7] to his trying to seduce Jesus in the wilderness [Matthew 4:1-11]. They create division and spread evil among people and also destabilise the society.
Oppression and Physical Affliction
Demons bring both mental and physical harm. There are even examples in the bible where demons bring about muteness [Matthew 9:32-33], blindness [Matthew 12:22], seizures [Mark 9:17-27] and torment of the body [Luke 13:11-16]. Not all sickness, mind you, is ascribed to demonic intervention, but these examples show that they are capable of causing physical injury. They also torment human beings, spiritually, with both fear and despair.
Demonic Possession
The most obvious, and worst, form of demonic activity is one in which the demon has taken possession of the person’s body and/or soul – controlling the person and preventing them from controlling themselves. There are multiple stories in the New Testament of Jesus’ expelling demons. For instance, the Gerasene demoniac who had his dwelling among the tombs and had superhuman strength (see Mark 5:1-20), or the youth possessed of a spirit which threw him into fits causing him to fall into fire and water (see Mark 9:17-29). Jesus’ power over demons became a reoccurring theme showing His godly power to deliver those in despair.
Hindrance and Opposition
The Demons are at Work hindering and opposing everything that is of God. Another time Daniel’s prayer was put on hold for 21 days by the “prince of the kingdom of Persia,” believed to be a demon [Daniel 10:13]. Satan has been hindering Paul’s missionary travels [1 Thessalonians 2:18]. It points us to a spiritual warfare element in which demonic forces strive to stop God’s purposes and human compliance.
False Worship
Demonic control leads to false worship and idolatry, idolatry placing worship, both literally and subtly, on the created or self rather than on God. Paul says that the sacrifices of the idolaters are sacrifices to devils [1 Corinthians 10:20]. This underscored their work of leading human worship away from the one true God.
Such encounters expose the ongoing demonic strategy to twist God’s purposes and to destroy men, calling for spiritual discernment and recognizing recourse to God to thwart their power and to overcome them.
What is the spiritual war that is demonstrated in the Bible?
The spiritual warfare is the universal conflict spoken of in the Scriptures between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness, headed by Satan. That war, declared by Satan in his rebellion against God, covers all space and time and human history. It is not a match between two equally-matched opponents—God’s power and sovereignty vastly outweigh Satan’s and that of his fallen angels, who are creatures with limited powers and authority. The battle is seen in many different areas: the battle for the souls of men, the war against God’s plan of redemption, and the ongoing battle saints face in their spiritual lives. Ephesians 6:12 states, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” It both states and gives a clear exposition of the invisible aspect of the main battle. The Bible continually depicts this struggle as an unending one, to be resolved once and for all in the triumph of God achieved through Jesus Christ over Satan, already accomplished and achieved in His death and resurrection [Colossians 2:15, Hebrews 2:14].
What is spiritual warfare in Christianity?
Christian spiritual warfare in Christianity, the continuing struggle on the part of believers against the demonic, Satan, and his evil spirits. It is resisting sin, overcoming the demonic, and advancing the kingdom of God in prayer, faith, repentance, and standing firm in biblical truth. Washed in the blood of the Lamb and clothed with the “armor of God” they have all that they need to withstand the assaults of the devil [Ephesians 6:10-18].
According to the Bible, what will be the end of angels and demons?
There’s dissonance in the Bible between destinies for angels and demons. Angels who keep their first estate are in their service and worship of God forever. Even demons—with Satan at their head—must endure torment for all eternity in the “eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). According to Revelation 20:10, the devil is cast into the lake of fire and brimstone and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Are there other kinds of angels besides the ones specifically named in the Bible?
References to angels in Bible
In the Bible, angels are referred to by name or type more than 300 times.
Specific angels
The Bible names only a few individual angels: Gabriel, Michael, and the fallen angels. These angels are among the chief angels. Although scripture does not enumerate all possible types of angels and ranks, it describes them as ordered into various angels and orders. Some translations of Colossians 1:16 speak of “thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities,” which some take to apply to different orders of angelic or spiritual beings, indicating a complexity beyond that which is described expressly.
Do evil spirits have power to possess Christians in light of what the Bible teaches?
Apparently the demons’ activity is called neurosis in the medical terms, but in the Bible it’s so called the power of Satan against the spiritual phenomenon which cannot affect the children of God who is inhabited with Holy Spirit. The presence of the Holy Spirit serves as a seal and protector. Christians, however, cannot be possessed but they can still be demonically oppressed, influenced or tempted. And this oppression can take the form of spiritual assaults, mental harassment or subtle confusion.
What do angels and demons have to do with eschatology?
Angels and demons will have a role in the eschatology of the Bible. Angels have a role in end-time events, including the gathering of the elect [Matthew 24:31], the pouring out of judgments [Revelation 16], and going with Christ at His second coming [Matthew 25:31]. Demons are the subjects of an increase of deception and opposition through Satan as the end time draws near, resulting in a growing spiritual battle [Revelation 12:12]. Their final destruction will coincide with the establishment of the eternal kingdom of God.
