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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
When exactly God created angels is open for debate, but what is known for sure is that God created everything good because God, in His holiness, cannot create something sinful. So when Satan, who w...
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Steven Best
Supporter
Demons are not fallen angels, and no Scripture supports this idea. One third of the Angels in heaven, those who followed Satan (Is 14; Ez 28; Rev 12:3-4, 9) are in chains, while Satan and his demons remain active and free (I Pe 5:8; II Cor 11:14; Eph 6:12-13). According to Scripture(Gen 6:1-10, Jud 1:1-7), the early church fathers (Athenagoras, Tertullian, Iranaeus, Papius, Origen, Justin Martyr…), and ancient Jewish apocalyptic tradition (Flavius Josephus: "Antiquities of the Jews" 1.3.1, Dead Sea manuscripts: Enoch 6:1-7:2: Jubilees 5:1; 7:21-23), they are the disembodied spirits of the Nephilim (Giants), who killed each other off in what the Greeks referred to as the battles of the Titans. This was part of God's judgment, prior to the flood (I Pe 3:18-20. Possessing a soul with both human and angelic elements, God forbade their entrance to Heaven or Sheol and they are doomed to wander the earth until the day of judgment. Jude 1:3 declares the fate of the fallen Angels: "for the blackest darkness has been reserved for ever," which is echoed by II Pe 2:4: "delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment…." Jud: 6 adds that the angels who did not keep their "first estate, but left their own habitation," are "reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment." Thus, fallen angels cannot possibly be the demons which roam the earth, in the manner that Jesus described (Mt 12:43-50, Lu 11:19-26). However, Jesus language of the disembodied demon roaming from one dry place to another," appears to be a direct quotation from the apocryphal literature, as does much of I Peter 3, II Peter 2, and Jude. Finally the Bible clearly links the activity of these "fallen" angels with the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah – "giving themselves over to fornication" and "strange flesh," (Jud: 7) which obviously corroborates Gen 6:2 as interpreted by the early church fathers, and the apocryphal traditions. It is important though, to note, that Scripture also tells us that our 1st and greatest defense against demonic influence is to live godly lives in Christ, resisting the devil's temptations in all forms – especially those of a sexual nature. He also gave authority to his followers to cast out demons from those who were possessed or oppressed by them (Mt 10:7-11, Mk 16:15-20, Mt 28:18-20). It is still hotly debated as to whether this gift ceased by the end of the 2nd century, but many faiths still practice exorcism. Source: INTERVIEW WITH A GIANT: Ethanol Historical Notes on the Nephilim by Judd H Burton, MA, copyright 2009 by Burton beyond Press
Jeffrey Johnson
Supporter
Are demons fallen, angels? The Bible does not explicitly use the term "fallen angels" to define demons, Satan's Rebellion: The Bible describes Satan (often identified as Lucifer) as a fallen being who rebelled against God. Isaiah 14:12–15 and Ezekiel 28:12–17 are frequently cited as symbolic descriptions of his original pride and fall. The Host of Angels: Several passages imply that Satan did not rebel alone. Revelation 12:7–9 speaks of a "war in heaven" where a great dragon (Satan) fought alongside his angels, and they were subsequently hurled to the earth. Angels That Sinned: In the New Testament, 2 Peter 2:4 mentions that "God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness," while Jude 1:6 also refers to "the angels who did not keep their positions of authority." Invisible, wicked spirit creatures having superhuman powers. Called "the sons of the true God" in Genesis 6:2 and "angels" at Jude 6, they were not created wicked; rather, they were angels who made themselves enemies of God by disobeying him in Noah's day and joining in Satan's rebellion against God.—De 32:17; Lu 8:30; Ac 16:16; Jas 2:19. The purpose of all such demonic activity is to turn people against the pure worship of God. Satan and his demons are depraved and cruel. They are enemies of humanity and have contributed to much of the suffering on earth. For example, Satan killed the livestock and the servants of the faithful man Job. Next, he killed all ten of Job's children by causing "a great wind" to crush the house they were in. After that, Satan struck Job with "painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head."—Job 1:7-19; 2:7. Though evidently prevented from again materialising as humans, the demons still wield great power and influence over people's minds and lives. In fact, Satan, together with his demon hordes, is "misleading the entire inhabited earth." (Revelation 12:9; 16:14)
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