Angels and Demons: Debunking the Myths

Lesson 3 w/AnswersSatan and the Demons

Angel Demon

As we continue our study of angels, demons, and Satan, our introduction to this subject continues with a brief look at the fallen angels, i.e., the demons, and the chief of the fallen angels, Satan. Who are they? What power do they have? Is salvation available to them? These are some of the questions/subjects that we will cover in this lesson. In future lessons, we will learn much, much more about Satan and the demons; but for this lesson, our examination will be more introductory.

So let’s take a brief look at the angels who fell from grace: Satan and the demons.

  1. What does Ezekiel say about Satan’s power? (see Ezekiel 28:11-16)
    1. ANSWER 1: He was the "seal of perfection"—full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
    2. ANSWER 2: He was a cherub and a guardian of God’s throne and righteousness.
  2. Compare the descriptions above of Satan—before his fall from grace—with descriptions of him after the fall. What does each of the passages below tell us about his state after the fall?
    1. Job 2:7
      1. ANSWER: He has now left the throne of God and roams the earth.
    2. Isaiah 14:12-17
      1. ANSWER: He has fallen from heaven. He was once high and lifted up, beautiful and perfect, but his pride brought him down; men no longer respect him.
    3. Luke 4:6
      1. ANSWER: He has the power to give and take authority on the earth.
    4. Luke 22:31
      1. ANSWER: He has the power to "sift" the saints as wheat.
    5. 1 Corinthians 5:5
      1. ANSWER: He can destroy flesh.
    6. 1 Timothy 3:6
      1. ANSWER: He is already under judgment, and he cannot be saved.
    7. Hebrews 2:14
      1. ANSWER: He holds the power of death.
  3. Now consider and identify below what scripture says regarding Satan’s power after he was judged at the cross.
    1. John 16:11
      1. ANSWER: Following Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection, Satan stands condemned.
    2. Colossians 2:15
      1. ANSWER: Christ, through his death on the cross and his resurrection, defeated all of the powers and authorities that Satan had.
    3. 2 Corinthians 4:4
      1. ANSWER: Satan now blinds the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see "the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ who is the image of God".
    4. John 12:31-33
      1. ANSWER: Through Christ’s death, Satan will be driven out.
  4. Also consider Satan’s authority over the unbelieving. What do the following scriptures say regarding this topic?
    1. 2 Corinthians 4:4
      1. ANSWER: Satan is "the god of this world".
    2. Ephesians 2:1-2
      1. ANSWER: The unbelieving "follow the ways of this world" and "the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient". [NIV]
    3. 1 John 5:19
      1. ANSWER: "The whole world is under the control of the evil one"—literally.
    4. Ephesians 6:11-18
      1. ANSWER: Relative to those who are saved, he is in conflict with them. (Eph. 6:11-18 is a great set of verses, especially verse 12.)
    5. John 8:44
      1. ANSWER: The unbelieving want to carry out Satan’s desires. He is a murderer, and He is a liar—in fact, he is the "father" of lies.
  5. What does God’s Holy Word tell us about Satan’s destiny?
    1. Revelation 12:7-12
      1. ANSWER: He is cast down from heaven.
    2. Revelation 20:1-3,7
      1. ANSWER: He will be confined to the Abyss for 1,000 years.
    3. Revelation 20:10
      1. ANSWER: His final doom is the Lake of Fire.
  6. An examination of the descriptions of demons in the Bible indicates to us that there are actually two types of demons: (a) those who must possess, or dwell within, a body; and (b) those whose purpose is to influence human or animal behavior. We will briefly examine both types.
    1. From the following verses, what can we discern about demons whose purpose is possession?
      1. Matthew 12:43-45 and Mark 5:12
        1. ANSWER: These demons require a body and are driven to find one.
      2. Matthew 8:16, Matthew 9:32-33, Mark 5:13, Acts 8:6-7, and Acts 16:16-18
        1. ANSWER: These demons are reflected in scripture only in the bodies of mortals or beasts.
      3. Matthew 8:28, Mark 5:25, and Mark 9:20
        1. ANSWER: They are wicked, unclean, and vicious.
      4. Matthew 12:43-45
        1. ANSWER: There are various degrees of "wickedness".
    2. What can we learn about demons whose purpose is to influence?
      1. Ephesians 6:12
        1. ANSWER: Their intent is to hinder the purpose of God and extend the authority of Satan.
      2. Matthew 8:29, Mark 1:23-25, Acts 19:15, and James 2:19
        1. ANSWER: They are aware of their eternal doom, they know Jesus, and they know God.

Satan, created as the most perfect of God’s creations, became consumed with pride and fell from his unique position at God’s throne, taking untold numbers of followers (called demons) with him. Later, we will be more-critically examining God’s creation of Satan, Satan’s original role in God’s creation, and Satan’s role in today’s world. For now, we know that Satan is real, as are the demons, and therefore it is important for us to learn all that we can regarding these entities from God’s Holy Word. We are instructed that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against "principalities and powers", i.e., against Satan and his forces. We must arm ourselves for this great battle, assured that, through Christ, we will have the final victory!

In our next lesson, we will take a look at "the Moral Problem", i.e., why did an all knowing, righteous God create a "perfect being" whom He knew would sin and bring evil into all that God would create? Following that, we will embark on a multiple-lesson in-depth look at the angels—those who serve God continually.

Thanks for studying with us!

In Christ,

Wes

[2012]

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