Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Tonight’s Study, Session 10: Core Belief #9 – Angels and Demons

Introduction: When the subject of angels and demons comes up, it leads to many questions and much discussion. Humans, by nature are speculative, and a lot of what we believe about angels and demons is based on just that.  Other words, a lot of what we believe about angels and demons is based on our opinion or incomplete information. The only reliable and accurate resource on the subject is the Bible.

Let’s See What Scripture Says about Angels and Demons

Angels

Angels are personal spiritual beings who have intelligence, emotions, and will. This is true both of the good and evil angels (demons). Angels are spirit beings (Hebrews 1:14) without true physical bodies. Although they do not have physical bodies, they are still personalities and occasionally take on physical bodies (Hebrews 13:2).

Because they are created beings, their knowledge is limited. This means they do not know all  things as God does (Matthew 24:36). They do seem to have greater knowledge than humans, however, which may be due to three things. First, angels were created as an order of creatures higher than humans (Psalm 8:4-5). Therefore, they innately possess greater knowledge. Second, the angels know what God’s Word says (James 2:19; Revelation 12:12). Third, angels gain knowledge through long observation of human activities. Unlike humans, angels do not have to study the past; they have experience it. Therefore, they know how others have acted and reacted in situations and can predict with a greater degree of accuracy how we act in similar circumstances.

Though they have wills, angels, like all creatures, are subject to the will of God. Good angels are sent by God to help believers (Hebrews 1:14). Here are some activities the Bible ascribes to angels:

They praise God (Psalm 148:1-2; Isaiah 6:3). They worship God (Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 5:8-13). They rejoice in what God does (Job 38:6-7). They serve God (Psalm 103:20; Revelation 22:9). They appear before God (Job 1:6; 2:1). They are instruments of God’s judgments (Revelation 7:1; 8:2). They bring answers to prayer (Acts 12:5-10). They aid in leading people to Christ (Acts 8:26; 10:3). They observe Christian order, work, and suffering (1 Corinthians 4:9; 11:10; Ephesians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:12). They encourage in times of danger (Acts 27:23-24). They care for the righteous at the time of death (Luke 16:22).

Angels are an entirely different order of being than humans. Human beings do not become angels after they die. Angels will never become, and never were, human beings. God created the angels, just as He created humanity. The Bible nowhere states that angels are created in the image and likeness of God, as humans are (Genesis 1:26). Angels are spiritual beings that can, to a certain degree, take on physical form. Humans are primarily physical beings, but with a spiritual aspect, The greatest thing we can learn from the holy angels is their instant, unquestioning obedience to God’s commands.

Demons

Demons are fallen angels. Satan’s fall from heaven is symbolically described in Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:12-15. When he fell, Satan took some of the angels with him – one third of them, according to Revelation 12:4. Jude 1:6 also mentions angels who sinned. So, Biblically, demons are fallen angels who, along with Satan, chose to rebel against God.

Some of the demons are already locked “in darkness, bound with everlasting chains” (Jude 1:6) for their sin. Others are free to roam and are referred to as “The powers of this dark world and…the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” in Ephesians 6:12. The demons still follow Satan as their leader and do battle with the holy angels in an attempt to thwart God’s plan and hinder God’s people (Daniel 10:13).

Demons, as spiritual beings, have the ability to take possession of a physical body. Demonic possession occurs when a person’s body is completely controlled by a demon. This cannot happen to a child of God, since the Holy Spirit resides in the heart of the believer in Christ (1 John 4:4).

Jesus, during His earthly ministry, encountered many demons. Of course, none of them were a match for the power of Christ: “Many who were demon-possessed were brought to Him, and He drove out the spirits with a word” (Matthew 8:16). Jesus’ authority over the demons was one of the proofs that He was indeed the Son of God (Luke 11:20). The demons who encountered Jesus knew who He was, and they feared Him: “What do you want with us, Son of God?” (the demons) shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” (Matthew 8:29). The demons knew their end will be one of torment.

Satan and his demons now look to destroy the work of God and deceive anyone they can (1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 11:14-15). The demons are described as evil spirits (Matthew 10:1), unclean spirits (Mark 1:27), lying spirits (1 Kings 22:23), and angels of Satan (Revelation 12:9). Satan and his demons deceive the world (2 Corinthians 4:4), promulgate false doctrine (1 Timothy 4:1), attack Christians (2 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Peter 5:8), and combat the holy angels (Revelation 12:4-9).

Conclusion: Angels and demons (fallen angels) are real and are at work around us every day. The holy angels of God wage spiritual warfare with the demons of Satan each and every day. Believers are not to worship the holy angels of God, but worship the God who created them. Also, believers are to be weary of Satan and his demons, and their schemes. We are to be sober, vigilant, because our adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Believers are also to hold fast that He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). The holy angels of God will minister to us according to God’s will until He calls us home one day to heaven (Hebrews 1:14).

Next Week, Session 11: Core Belief #10 – End Times