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Angels and Evil Spirits |
Dear Brethren,
Do angels
really exist? What is the purpose of angels? Are angels
created beings? How, or why did some of the angels rebel
against God, and become evil spirits? How can we know about the
spiritual domain of angels and evil spirits? Did God create
Satan, the devil?
God created all
the angelic beings for the very purpose of being His helpers and
assistants in bringing many sons to glory. All the angels
are ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who
shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:13-14) However,
because we are physical, and angels are spirit-beings, we cannot
perceive or take notice of them. We are totally unable to
discern their realm. God has revealed their existence and
purpose in Scripture - otherwise we could not know of the
angels.
God created the
angels before He created the vast universe. Angels are often
figuratively referred to as stars,” in the Bible. …Stars
are the angels...” (Revelation 1:20) The angels shouted
out in excitement when the earth was created. Speaking of the
vast angelic realm as stars, and as sons of God, Job said,
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God
shouted for joy.” (Job 38:4, 7)
For eons, the
angels worked to develop the earth, which was to become the
habitat for mankind. When God revealed that the purpose of
flesh and blood man was to become an integral part of the
eternal Spiritual family of God, envy and wickedness sprang up
in some of the angels. It was not what they expected. Yes,
Angels are children of God” in the sense that they were created
beings, made by God, but God was going to pour out His Spirit in
man so that man would be inducted into the very family of God.
This is not so of angels. For unto which of the angels said
He at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?
And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a
Son?” (Hebrews 1:5)
Man's present
status is temporarily lower than the angels. Though man is weak
in power and subject to mortality, man’s ultimate state is to be
so much higher than the angels – eternal sons of God, in the
Spirit of God. One [David] in a certain place testified,
saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of
man, that thou visit him? Thou made him a little while lower
than the angels; thou crowned him with glory and honour, and
didst set him over the works of thy hands.” (Hebrews
2:6-7) Only for the present, are the angels greater in power
and might than is man (2 Peter 2:11).
Lucifer was a
brilliant, intelligent and powerful glorious spirit-being. He
was the epitome of God's creative design (Genesis 3:1).He was
one of the three covering archangels or cherubs at the
very throne of God. Thou [Lucifer] art the anointed cherub
that covers; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy
mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of
the stones of fire.” (Ezekiel 28:14)
With Lucifer
disqualified, there are now two cherubs that cover the throne of
God, as shown by the pattern of the ark of the covenant. The
remaining two faithful archangels are Michael and Gabriel. You
shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make
them, in the two ends of the mercy seat… And the cherubims
shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat
with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another;
toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.”
(Exodus 25:18-20)
Lucifer led a
rebellion against the very throne of God. He appears as an
angel of light, but in reality, he is the power of darkness.
Because Satan has disqualified himself from the good things of
God, he does everything within his power to obliterate every
vestige of the plan of God to bring many sons to glory. One
third of the angels sinned and rebelled along with Satan
(Revelation 12:4). Satan and the fallen angels [demons], set
out to annihilate the earth. The exquisite fruitful earth was
reduced to dark empty ruin – tohu, bohu and choshek.
It was necessary that God recreate the earth at the time of
Adam and Eve.
God had created
Lucifer to be perfect. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from
the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in
thee.” (Ezekiel 28:15) Lucifer had a choice to worship and
follow God, but he chose to fight against God. Prideful and
jealous of what God was performing in mankind, Lucifer
deteriorated into Satan – becoming God’s adversary. Satan
literally tried to wrestle God’s throne away from almighty God.
How art
thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art
thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For
thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will
exalt my throne above the stars [angels] of God: I will sit also
upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like
the most High.” (Isaiah 14:12-14)
Since then,
Satan, as the god of this evil world, has actively worked to
prevent mankind from achieving its incredible human potential.
If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In
whom the god of this world, [Satan] hath blinded the
minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto
them.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
Satan continues
to deceive all except for those few God is calling at this time
(John 6:44, 65). The time when Satan’s wrath will once again be
unleashed upon all the earth is coming soon. That will occur
during the first two and one-half years of the tribulation.
But, God has shown us Satan’s ultimate fate. The Feast of
Atonement shows that Satan will be bound, and ultimately deposed
forever.
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| Sermon: |
"Angels and Evil Spirits" |
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| Sermon: |
"Angel of Light - Satan" |
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