Angels and Demons

Angels & Demons




Last week in our study, we talked some about demons and spiritual attack, spiritual warfare, and how that’s happening, and has happened in our lives around us. Today I want us to look at some of the scriptural teachings on it, so be prepared to flip through your Bibles as we look into this topic.



11 He said to me, "O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright , for I have now been sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. Dan 10:11-13 (NASB95)



20 Then he said, "Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come.

Dan 10:19-20 (NASB95)

1 "Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.

Dan 12:1 (NASB95)

We see from these passages that angels indeed do have a role to play among the nations, and for protecting and aiding those who serve God. But the righteous, elect angels, wage battle against the angels of darkness, which we know as demons. Since the day that Adam and Eve fell in the garden of Eden, Satan, that ancient serpent, has had legal control over humanity and the affairs of this world. When Adam and Eve acted on Satan’s temptation, and willingly disobeyed God, they forfeited their right to rule over the earth (Rom. 5:12, 6:16).



You remember when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, after his baptism? Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, if Jesus would but bow to Satan. Thank God Christ didn’t submit to that temptation the way Adam and Eve did!



We can see from this angels playing roles over nations of the world, and Gabriel, an archangel of the highest order, is speaking to Daniel, and telling him his response to Daniel’s prayer was delayed because he was fighting the angel of darkness that was ruling over the nation of Persia, which we know today as Iraq and Iran. Persia is the country where Nimrod, the first human tyrant, established an empire, and the tower of Babel was built for humans to make a name for themselves. This tower was to be a temple, “built to the heavens,” “to make a name for themselves,” in fulfillment of what Satan told Adam and Eve, that you shall be as God.



Humanity was building a temple, that they might have access to the heavens, and worship themselves (or their ruler) as gods. And historically it was very much like this when the sons of God came down and had children by the daughters of man, which were giants of old, known as the Nephilim. And in much mythology, you have humans who were semi-divine, born of gods and women. That’s where this tradition comes from, when the powerful angels left their rightful abode, and married women, of which Jude 6 tells us that these angels have been kept in prisons awaiting judgment of the great day.



In fact, skeletons of beings and even fossilized footprints have been found the world over, of beings of enormous size, the smaller ones being eight or seven feet in length, but the larger ones being anywhere from nine to twelve feet in length. In Australia, there have been fossilized human tracks that based upon the size of these tracks, would make the person some twenty feet tall! Some of the ancient cuneiform writings on tablets will show a king sitting on the throne, and he is depicted as being twice as big as his subjects before him. A secularist would say that that is how the Egyptians depicted royalty, but I believe that those kings and semi-divine beings we have tales of today were actual Nephilim, descendents of angels and humans, un-natural relationships God did not create us for.



In fact, even in North America, there have been discoveries of Indian burial mounds where they have found skeletons of enormous size. There are numbers of Indian burial mounds throughout North America where extremely large human skeletons have been discoved?



So what does the Bible say that angels are? Well, there are many descriptions and designations of angels. Ps. 103:20 and other places tell us that one of their main purposes in heaven is the ministry of worshipping God and in general they are sent to declare God’s word (Ps. 103:20; Lk 1:19); and Heb. 1:14 tells us they serve as ministers to the elect Angels were created at some point before the creation of the world, though the Bible is silent as to its timing and that of the rebellion of Satan. But Rev. 12:4 tells us Satan had a following of about a third of the angels of heaven.



Ephesians 6:12 tells us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. For this reason, we are told in Ephesians 6:13 take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. If 1 Peter 5:8 tells us, “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour,” then we may assume that his demons are moving around the world, doing Satan’s work to deceive the masses.



Angels are powerful beings, and they are intelligent, but let us remember that they are created beings like us. Angels are not divine. They are finite beings with limited intelligence, power and ability. In fact, in the book of Job, when Satan comes before God from roaming the earth, we see that whatever Satan does must have God’s permission. And we see from the reaction of the demons in the demon possessed man known as Legion, who was found across the sea of Galillea, the demons are terrified of Jesus Christ.



But demons have had millenia of practice deceiving humans and appealing to their fleshly desires. They can’t read your thoughts… but they can sound like your own thoughts, and whisper thoughts into your head. I think this is one reason why Paul tells us to no longer be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that you can prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.



Those who are in Christ, Satan can not harm. But demons will seek to destroy and neutralize believers’ lives. They can torment believers mentally, seek to bring discouragement and guilt, and keep you from being an effective witness for God’s glory and the gospel. They want to keep you from focusing on the fact that you are forgiven and loved perfectly by God, and that you have been given authority over the enemy.



Believers have authority over demons in Christ, and the demons must obey them. This is where we learn some lessons from Christ, and the lives of the disciples. (Mt. 28:18; Mar 3:15; Acts 19:13-16)



Matthew 28:18 8 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.



Mark 3:14-15 14 And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, 15 and to have authority to cast out the demons.



Luke 10:19 19 "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.



Acts 19:13-16 13 But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches." 14 Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" 16 And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.



Now if a person has not been crucified with Christ, and does not have the Spirit of Christ living in them, then legally, the Bible say they are children of the devil (Jn 8:44). This does not mean that the person is literally the offspring of the devil, but that Satan has legal domain over their lives, and access to their lives, if it suits his purpose.



If people have been involved in the occult in a particular way, whether through ouiji boards, having took part in magic, casting spells, immoral relationships, it even comes through music you listen to. Any of these things can give demons access to your life, or to an object in your home. Another thing that will put many people in contact with demons is consulting a Psychic (which is promoted in shows on TV – TV teaches the doctrines of the world), or the newest rage sweeping the Church is yoga and contemplative prayer of lectio divina. Lectio divina is where a person will sit with legs crossed, and utter a word or phrase over and over for a period of twenty or so minutes, till they supposedly “come to know the mind of God!”



Christians may also have objects in their home that have been consecrated to evil spirits in their homes, and this would give the demons access into the home. I’ve known of missionaries would had picked up little idols as souvenirs to decorate their mantle, but when they brought them into their home, all sorts of weird things began happening. Finally, after realizing what was happening, the missionaries got rid of the idols within their homes.



Other times, Christians will come under spiritual attack, especially if they are serving God, walking in obedience to the gospel, they can expect spiritual attack! 1 Peter 3:12 says that “everyone who wants to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” But Peter does not state where the persecution will come from, though in chapter 5 Peter speaks of Satan prowling the earth, seeking whom he may devour. So for the person who seeks to live in godliness and live out and teach the Word of God, they should expect opposition, though it will come in many forms.



Prov 4:23 tells us to “guard our hearts with all diligence, for out of it flows the springs of life.” We guard our heats, by keeping it filled with God’s word. How does a man keep his way pure? By living it according to your word. I have hid your word in my heart, that I may not sin against you. When Paul admonishes us to take up the whole Armour of God, those pieces f Armour cannot be complete without knowing the Word of God. In fact, Paul tells us that the one offensive weapon in spiritual battles is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God!



If you have wonder whether or not you are saved, one of the most sure signs is that you have a passion for reading and knowing the word of God, and living your life in obedience to its commands. Jesus said, “This is love for God, obedience to His commands.” If we do not read and study God’s word, then we are living a life of disobedience. Yes, reading the Bible is a command of God 2 Timothy 2:15 says: 2 Timothy 2:15 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.



If you are reading this today, and you do not have a relationship with the Jesus of the Bible, the Bible teaches that you belong to the devil. And so at the end of the ages, when demonic deceptions is at such a high rate, you will not stand against the schemes of the evil one. In fact, scripture says in 2 Thessalonians, that after the church is taken from the earth, all those who refused to love the truth will be given over to believe the delusion that is coming on the whole world.

How do you escape this fate?  Read your Bible every day, or if you don't have one, go to http://www.biblegateway.com/ and start reading in the gospel of John.  Repent (turn from) your sins
and seek the LORD to forgive you and save you, and tell Him that you will follow His truth.