What are the angels?

Outside the Bible, angels are told more than the Bible itself. Apocrypha, in particular, have interesting, even vivid stories, but here I primarily focus on what the Bible says. If God had seen the need to give more information and details, we could probably read them from the Bible pages. What are the angels, and what do they do? How many are they? Are they spirit beings? Immortal? Without sin?

The word angel means a messenger. It is in Hebrew malák, in Greek ángelos, used for both human and heavenly messengers. Mal 2:7 says: ”For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Jehovah of Hosts. The Revelation also speaks of angels. The next verse is worth noting; it is the basis for the interpretation of this article.  Rev 1:20 ”the mystery of the seven stars which thou saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks are seven churches.”  
In the Bible, the angels are mentioned almost 300 times in the Old Testament and the New Testament.

The angels and humans are created beings. The Bible tells in Job 38:7 “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” So they are also called the Sons of God. However, Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God and after his resurrection, when God has made him Lord and Christ, he has become much higher than the angels. Jesus Christ is not and has never been an angel, even though Jehovah’s witnesses believe so.

Luke 20:36 speaks of the resurrection of the humans, and compares them with the angels:” For they can’t die any more, for they are like the angels, and are children (or sons) of God, being children of the resurrection. Has God created the angels to be immortal?   1 Tim 6:16 says about God: ”who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen. – It is generally understood that angels are immortal spirits and that Luke’s verse can lead to this conclusion. However, Paul says that God is the only one with immortality. We know from the Bible that there is another immortal – Jesus Christ, to whom God the Father gave immortality. Joh 5:26 ”For even as the Father has life in himself, so he has given to the Son also to have life in himself,” At least angels still have no immortality. (I am referring to the destiny of Satan and his fallen angels).

 

Lord’s angel

Is Christ the angel of the Lord? Many churches support the idea that this angel was Christ, but it is not credible for many reasons, one of which is the Hebrew word: 1:5  “For to which of the angels [meaning no one] did he say at any time, “You are my Son, Today have I become your father?” and again, “I will be to him a Father, And he will be to me a Son?”

 – If Jesus is not the angel of the Lord, who is then? According to my interpretation, any angel appearing on behalf of God is an angel of the Lord – because he is working as if God Himself.

Joh 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him. – If Jesus Christ were the angel of the Lord, he would probably have seen God, his Father, in heaven. However, the Bible does not say: except the only son [has seen God]. John only says that God’s only son has declared him.

This gives more reason to ponder the question of the pre-existence and divinity of Jesus Christ, but as I have dealt with it elsewhere, suffice it to say, like Peter about Jesus: ”No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.” (1 Piet 1:20). … This is that Moses, who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me. (Act 7:37).

Isa 63:9 uses the expression about the angel of the Lord ”the angel of His presence”. This aptly reflects the angel’s attribute and the angel’s assignment. So this expression means an angel who is the representative of God. In this case, the angel can be called as God i.e. Elohiym.

Mat 28:2-3 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending out of heaven, came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his look was as lightning, and his clothing white as snow.

Dan 10:5-6 I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz: and his body was like a chrysolite, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as torches of fire, and his arms and his feet as the look of burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. 

 

The fallen angels

Paul recalls in 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 “And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” – Satan is not called the father of lies in vain.

Another group that fell into sin was the angels who took a physical form and entered into sexual relations with the women on the earth. Gen  6:4 ” In those days were the giants on the earth, and also afterwards, when the sons of God had come in to the daughters of men, and they had borne children to them; these were the heroes, who of old were men of renown.” – Angels who didn’t keep their first domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, he has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.” (Jude 1:6).

2 Pet 2:4 ”For if God didn’t spare angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Tartarus (cast them into hell, ταρταρόω tartaroō), and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved to judgment;” – Revelation 9:1 uses the expression ”And the fifth angel sounded his trumpet: and I saw a star out of the heaven fallen to the earth; and there was given to it the key of the pit of the abyss.”  The Greeks considered it as an underground area, and maybe it would be equated with a deep underwater sea where demons are said to rise. 9:11 They had the angel of the bottomless pit ruling over them as king. In Hebrew he is called Abaddon, [I.e. Destruction] and in Greek he is called Apollyon. [I.e. Destroyer]

The events of rebellious angels above occurred thousands of years ago. New Testament writers say: Eph … 2:2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience;

Eph 6:12 because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against principalities, against authorities, against the universal lords of this darkness, against spiritual power of wickedness in the heavenly realm.

The universal lord, in Greek κοσμοκράτωρ kosmokrátōr, meaning: lord of the world, prince of this age i.e. the devil and his demons. – Satan is called in the Bible the prince (king) of this world.

If the rebellious acts of the disobedient angels were small-scale disobedience, it is now a great battle about the ruling of the world. Even the apostles once went to counter-attack, so that people would be saved and the will of God would be realized.

Phl 2:12-13  So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you both the willing and the working according to his good pleasure.

Luke explains how Jesus drove out the demons: 4:33 In the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice:
34 “saying, “Ah! what have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God!”
35 Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” When the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm.    
41 Demons also came out from many, crying out, and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Rebuking them, he didn’t allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

John speaks of Satan, 1 Joh 5:19 “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” – Satan is in the lead! The majority of the world’s population are non-Christians. Christians are in dispute, divided into thousands and thousands of different religions and denominations, whose Biblical doctrines are equally divided and no longer based on the gospels and apostolic doctrine proclaimed by Jesus. A large number of angels will be judged on the Last day. They will be judged by humans, but we do not know what is the judgment these angels will receive i.e. Satan and the angels who left their heavenly dwellings during Noah’s time.

 

Sons of God

The angels were also good and holy, also one of the highest angels Lucifer, whom we know as Satan. The Bible tells us how he rebelled and wanted to receive the same worship as God. He got a third of all the angels with him. I’ll tell you about the war in heaven a little bit later.

The sons of God are angels and there was Satan among the angels, as Job says. The morning stars are also angels, synonymous with the sons of God.

Job: 1:6 And there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah; and Satan came also among them. 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Psalms: 29:1 A Psalm of David. Give unto Jehovah, you sons of the mighty ones, give unto Jehovah glory and strength;

A high-ranking angel, a beautiful and wise anointed cherub called Lucifer, according to Latin Vulgate and a son of a morning star, fell for his beauty and wisdom and wanted to raise himself to God (Heb 28: 1-3, 14-19). That pride and fall made him Satan, as the Bible calls him. Job 38:7 describes the creation of the world: … When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Jesus, in turn, says Rev 22:16: “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies [churches]. I am the root and the offspring of David; the Bright and Morning Star.”

People have been involved with angels and when meeting with the angels, people have shown to the angels respectful worship which the angels have rejected. E.g. Rev 19:10 ”I fell down before his feet to worship him. He said to me, “Look! Don’t do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy.”

However, the Angels are ministering spirits, to serve those people who will be saved into the Kingdom of God: Heb 1:14 ” Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out for service on account of those who shall inherit salvation?” – There are hundreds of millions of angels. Apparently, the Bible has not had such a high number of figures (a million, a billion), but the number of angels has been described by saying “10,000 times 10,000 and a thousand times a thousand.”

The angels have the authority and powers of God to accomplish God’s mission. That is why they may be called Elohiym – God.

The power of angels, as evidenced by the report of one angel carrying out the killing of the enemies of Israel; an angel killed 185,000 enemy soldiers in one night.

 

Examples of the work of angels

Dan 9:21-22 while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening offering. He instructed me, and talked with me, and said, Daniel, I am now come forth to give you wisdom and understanding.

Angels are able to move from one place to another in a blink of an eye. According to an apocryphal report, the angel talked with Abraham and sometimes had to go to heaven asking for advice. The angel visited ,received counsel and returned without Abraham noticing anything.

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Michael (meaning ’like God’)

Daniel 12:1 “At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book.”

Daniel 10:12 “Then said he to me, Don’t be afraid, Daniel; for from the first day that you did set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard: and I am come for your words’ sake.
13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but, behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
14 Now I have come to make you understand what shall happen to your people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days.”

Dan 10:20-21 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia. When I go forth, behold, the prince of Greece shall come.  But I will tell you that which is inscribed in the writing of truth: and there is none who holds with me against these, but Michael your prince.“ – Who is this angel in verse 10:20, who fights against the princes of Satan? His name I do not know, but the angel himself is getting help from archangel Michael.

Satan had several angel princes on his side, but the angel tells Daniel that only Michael, “your Prince,” is available alongside this angel in the battle against Satan. Why didn’t God send other angels to resist Satan? There has been abundant angelic power in heaven!

Of course, there were lots of smaller demons. Some of the angels who were against God’s will, who took women of the earth to themselves and who had children with them, were tied up and thrown into the depths of the pit, to wait for the coming day of judgment, so that the saints of God under Jesus would also judge these angels.

Why did God allow Satan to do such a rebellious and degrading work for a long time without nipping it in the bud? It would have been possible for God to do so by his power at any time. I cannot find any other explanation than the fact that God wants people to show whose will they are following. Most seem to choose Satan consciously or unknowingly.

Juud 1:9 But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him an abusive condemnation, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”

Rev 12:7 And there was war in the heaven: Michael and his angels went to war with the dragon. And the dragon [Satan] fought, and his Angels;

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Gabriel (the name means ’God is powerful’)

Daniel 8:16 I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

Luk 1:19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands before God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.

Luk 1:26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

The tasks of Archangel Gabriel have often been to deliver God’s important messages to people. The most famous message concerned God’s announcement to Mary that she was to become pregnant and bring forth the son of God.

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Raphael (meaning  ’God heals’) 

Book of Tobit (an apocryphal passage).  Rafael reveals himself to be an angel of God:

15-22 ”For I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven who stand before the Lord.  And when they had heard these things, they were troubled, and being seized with fear they fell upon the ground on their face.  And the angel said to them: Peace be to you, fear not.  For when I was with you, I was there by the will of God: bless ye him, and sing praises to him. I seemed indeed to eat and to drink with you: but I use an invisible meat and drink, which cannot be seen by men. It is time therefore that I return to him that sent me: but bless ye God, and publish all his wonderful works. And when he had said these things, he was taken from their sight, and they could see him no more.  Then they lying prostrate for three hours upon their face, blessed God: and rising up, they told all his wonderful works.”

Like Rafael, other angels may move on the earth disguised as human beings. Are they fulfilling their mission of God? I would not say that, “just walking around the earth,” as Satan once said to God (Job 1:7).

Heb 13:2 ”Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.” 

Many times angels have come to help people in danger. Here are just a few examples:

Two angels warned Sodom’s only righteous servant of God, Lot, and helped his family escape the destruction of Sodom. (Gen 19th chapter)

The angel passed through Egypt and killed the firstborn in the land whether they were people or animals, and thus helped Moses and the Jews to escape slavery in Egypt. (Exo 12:12-23)

The angel stopped Abraham before he killed his son for sacrifice to God, saying: “The angel said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy, neither do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” (1 Moos 22:12)

The angel of the Lord told Joseph the truth about Mary’s pregnancy, saying: “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. (Mat 1:20)

The angel of the Lord helped Peter escape from prison Apt 5:19-20 But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out, and said, “Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”

And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending out of heaven, came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. (Mat 28:2)

 

Angels as ministering spirits

Angels are ministering spirits (Heb 1:14). ” Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out for service on account of those who shall inherit salvation?  –  The verse shows that angels serve these people already during their lifetime.

Angels serve, the Hebrew word is sharath, which is translated to serve. For example, “for the LORD your God has chosen them and their descendants out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the LORD’s name always” (Deu 18:5). What kind of service can angels do to God? Does God need the service of angels? God is Spirit and he is Almighty. I would understand that angels worship before God’s throne. Jesus needed the service of angels after fasting in the wilderness for forty days.

                        

Men and angels

Heb 2:5 For he didn’t subject the world to come, whereof we speak, to angels.   
6 But one has somewhere testified, saying, “What is man, that you think of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him?                                                      

7 You made him [man] a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor. 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don’t see all things subjected to him, yet.                                                              

The above verses speak about the relationship between angels and people in general. From verse 9, the Hebrews speaks also of man, but of the one who was perfect without sin.                                                        

2:8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don’t see all things subjected to him, yet.                                                                                                  
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many children to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.                                                                                                                   
11 For both he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers   12 saying, “I will declare your name to my brothers. In the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”  13 Again, “I will put my trust in him.” Again, “Behold, here am I and the children whom God has given me.”                         
14 Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,                              
15 and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage     
16 For it is clear that he did not come to help angels. No, he came to help Abraham’s descendants.  
17 Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.                  
18 For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.              
                                                                            

According to the doctrine, Jesus has two natures, man and God. To function on earth, this dual nature doctrine explains that Jesus gave up divinity in order to be a man on earth. This doctrine was confirmed by the Council of Chalcedon in 451 because otherwise  Christianity would be in great doctrinal problems; A God cannot die. Therefore, it was explained that Jesus died as a man and took up his divinity in his resurrection. Here’s how to interpret the following Philippine paragraph: 

Phl 2:6  who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. 
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.                                                                                    

It is worth remembering and realizing that Jesus is the only begotten son of God. As a son of God, though as a man, he could have demanded divine treatment for himself. But Jesus was different: he lowered himself into a common man who was also humble. An alternative translation for verse 6: “Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;”

Heb 2:9 But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone. – Jesus was just like other people now are “lower than the angels”. When God raised Jesus after his ascension into Lord and Christ, Jesus in relation to the angels became much superior to the angels, as Heb 1:4 says: ”and became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is better than theirs.

When we interpret these verses carefully, we must note that Jesus became much higher than angels. The Hebrews and others do not say that Jesus had always been much higher than the angels!

What about people’s position and relationship with angels in the future? We know that those who will be saved will be sons of God – like the angels are. We also know that the resurrected Jesus calls the saved ones his brothers and sisters. The saved people become co-workers of God. Until now, the angels themselves have only told their position as servants of God.

Hebrews 2:16, however, tells the crucial truth about God’s intention: ”For it is clear that he did not come to help angels. No, he came to help Abraham’s descendants.” 

 

Angels’ war in heaven

The war was caused by the rebellion of Satan (Lucifer, the “Light-bearer”) against God’s omnipotence. Satan was like all the other angels created. He led a third of the angelic corps. Lucifer was not content with being a major angel leader; He envied the worship of God and wanted himself to receive the same worship.

Satan realized God’s plan for humans. People were meant to become a more significant group than angels. Satan decided to take command of the people. From the first pages of the Bible starts the story of mankind; about man’s creation and the first humans Adam and Eve. The last book of the Bible tells of the revelation received by John the Apostle. It also includes a description of Satan’s struggle for his own position and then his future loss in battle. The Light Bearer has become a Dragon!

Without Satan, the Bible’s story would have been quite different. The triumphal march of God’s will, therefore, has become a battle between good and evil – Satan fights to get people to follow himself and away from God.

The Bible’s Last Book, The Book of Revelation tells of the end-time events and battles.

Revelation: 12:1 A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
2 She was with child. She cried out in pain, laboring to give birth.
3 Another sign was seen in heaven. Behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven crowns.
4 His tail drew one third of the stars of the sky and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.                                                                                             

5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up to God, and to his throne.

The woman at the beginning of chapter 12 is, of course, Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary gave birth to a baby boy who will rule the world with an iron scepter.

Revelation 12:1 symbolizes the meaning of a) Israel, God’s own nation, and its twelve “stars”, or tribes. b) The Twelve Apostles of Christ and the body of Christ, “the true Church”. However, this Church of God is a small minority, and the majority is the harlot church, of which the Lord says “Get away from them and separate yourselves from them, ”declares the Lord, “and don’t touch anything unclean. Then I will welcome you.” (2 Cor 2:17). He [Christ] is also the head of the body, which is the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself might have first place in everything” (Col 1:18).

In verse 5 the account is skipped in the resurrection of Jesus or thirty years forward in time. ”She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up to God, and to his throne”.

12:6 The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that there they may nourish her one thousand two hundred sixty days.
The wife of this verse is God’s faithful congregation on earth, who is forced to flee into the “wilderness” away from Satan’s persecution. Then, in the vision of the future, the account goes forward in time, the war in heaven. 12:7 There was war in the sky. Michael and his angels made war on the dragon. The dragon and his angels made war.

The war is led by Archangel Michael. Wasn’t Jesus involved even though in verse 12:5 Jesus (the child!) was found to be captured in heaven? No, Jesus is on the way to the earth to take the kingdom there. And the kingdom is preceded by a war against the same enemy; Satan loses the war in heaven, and he is thrown down to the earth with millions of his supporters. Many people believe that this war has already taken place and that Satan and his troops have been thrown down to the earth. I will discuss this a little later and on the basis of what would prove that the war has already taken place and on the other hand, what would prove that it is still going to happen in the future.

12:8 They didn’t prevail, neither was a place found for him any more in heaven.        9 The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

In verse 12:10, the writer rejoices: I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now is come the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night”. The accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night.

In a vision, John heard a great voice saying that “now is come the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ”. The event is therefore related to the near future, the end time. It is also related to the second coming of Christ, when he takes the kingdom of God and reigns with the resurrected saints. Christ comes with his enormous angelic army and fights against Satan’s troops winning them. This is preceded by seven years of Tribulation and the Day of the Lord.

So be glad, heavens, and those who live in them!  “The devil has gone down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time.” (12:12).

In his great anger, Satan began to persecute the true Church of believers on earth: “And the dragon was angry with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus” (v.17). The persecution lasts 42 months: 12:14 However, the woman was given the two wings of a large eagle so that she could fly away from the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she could be taken care of for a time, times, and half a time [3,5 years, 42 months] from the face of the serpent. – This happens “when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth” (12:13). The period of church persecution for 3.5 years is half of the seven years of tribulation and takes place in its latter half.

2 Cor 4:4 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them. – The Bible calls Satan ‘the god of this world’. Peter wrote roughly at the same time with John’s Revelation: 1 Pet 5:8 ”Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” – For thousands of years, Satan has been trying to devour people and entire nations.

 

“Now is come the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ”

Now is come… What is meant by the words of the title? The coming of salvation can be interpreted as the realization of the sacrifice of Jesus. What about “the Kingdom of our God” The Kingdom of God has been for ages in heaven, and there can be no question of the Kingdom coming into heaven. What about the Kingdom of God coming to earth? This sentence is combined with “the authority of his Christ;”. This has been realized in heaven, but not yet on earth. Christ has been given all power in heaven and on earth, but I interpret it as a sure promise that still awaits fulfillment.

An important question that many are concerned with is: when will this war be waged and when will Satan be thrown out of heaven with his angels? Did the war begin as soon as Lucifer’s action against God became apparent? The great and well-known manifestation of all was the seduction of the first people to resist God’s order in the Garden of Eden. No war started; Nor was it forbidden for Satan to enter heaven before God. On the contrary: God gave up the kingdoms of earth to Satan!

Can it be true? The following Bible verse should be read carefully and with consideration: Jer 27:5 ” I [Jehovah of hosts] have made the earth, the men and the animals that are on the surface of the earth, by my great power and by my outstretched arm; and I give it to whom it seems right to me.” Satan confirmed that he had received the dominance of all nations of the earth by saying to Jesus Luke 4:6-7 “And the devil said to him, I will give you all this power, and their glory; for it is given up to me, and to whomsoever I will I give it. If you, therefore, will worship before me, it will all be yours.”

The encounter between Satan and Jesus happened about 4000 years after the seduction of Adam and Eve. Throughout this time, God’s long-suffering lasted the devil’s rebellion against God’s will.

Another Example: When, during Job, Satan stepped before God, he said in response to God’s question “Where have you come from?”: “From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” (Job 2:2)

This also shows that Satan has had access to heaven and to God and that he or his angels have not yet been thrown away.

Third: John 12:31 “Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out”.

In his gospel, John wrote Jesus saying that the prince of this world (Satan) must be thrown out – that is, in the future. John wrote his gospel when Jesus had ascended to heaven for several decades earlier. This also means that there was no war in heaven yet, and Satan and his angels had not yet been cast out onto the earth.

Let us remember that God has a plan for everything that happens in the world.

 

When will the war be in heaven?

In verse 24:10 describes how Satan has been cast out of heaven: “Now is come the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down…” Authority of Christ is linked to the casting out of Satan.

The following interpretation of Satan’s throwing out has been presented: Jesus ascended to heaven and received all power from God in heaven and on earth, casting out Satan with his supporters from heaven down to earth. Can it be said, as a result of this, that “now is the Kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ”? Not quite. It should be remembered that John had a vision and wrote the Revelation about 60-70 years after Jesus entered heaven. In this chapter, the events vary from time to time until heaven was cleansed. The above interpretation could be possible but we still need to consider the events.

Does “now is come the power …” that the power of God and Christ is come in heaven? No, that is not what it means! God’s power has been undeniable since time begun. It means that the kingdom of God has come upon the earth, which means that the Saints reign as representatives of the Kingdom of God, and that Jesus Christ, is the king of this Kingdom. So, there will be a Millennial kingdom of Christ on earth. Then it can be said that “now is the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ,” and at that time shall Satan and his army be thrown out of heaven on the earth.

Luuk 10:17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
18 He [Jesus] said to them, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven.

Does Jesus mean that there was a war in heaven while Jesus was on earth? Only then did the Devils arrive to devour the humankind? The Devil has been on earth already during the time of Adam and Eve. God once asked Satan where he was: Job 1:7 (and 2:2) “Where have you come from? From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”

When Adam and Eve were once expelled from paradise, they had children and many new people were born into society. There was a lot of sin and evil. Where did this great amount of sin come from? From the actions of Satan and his forces. So, God decided to destroy all of mankind under the flood.

Satan was already inspecting places for 1000-2000 years before Jesus was born. Satan also appears as King of Tyre. I find it clear that at that time he already had his own angelic servants as well as other angelic princes on the earth to control certain areas.

Daniel’s book tells the story of the Persian angel prince and Greek prince against whom Daniel’s angel had to fight almost alone, with the help of Michael the Archangel only. Already during Daniel, it seems that there have been fallen Angel princes leading the city-states not only in Tyre but also in Persia and Greece.

These rebellious angels were powerful judging from the fact that Daniel’s angel had to fight for a long time against these angels. By this, I just want to show that Jesus’ statement “I saw Satan fall from heaven as a lightning” does not mean that Jesus would have really seen this happen, except as a premonition.

When Jesus comes from heaven to earth, it happens at the same time as the war in heaven begins. As a result of this war, Satan is thrown to earth with his angelic troops, one third of the total number of angels. When Christ arrives on earth for the second time, he sees that Satan is thrown on the earth like a flash of lightning. There will also be a war on earth, the result of which is that Satan and his troops lose and Satan is bound for a thousand years. Satan’s helpers, the Antichrist and the false prophet, are thrown into the lake of fire.

What we know is that Satan and his demons have been operating on the earth for a long time before this. However, Satan has had access to heaven to stand before God until this. 12:11 They overcame him because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn’t love their life, even to death.
12 Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil has gone down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time.”
13 When the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.

In verse 13, Satan cast into the earth goes after the mother of Jesus, Mary who gave birth to a baby boy. On the basis of this verse, then, do you conclude that Satan would have been thrown on the earth already when Jesus was a new-born baby? Or, is it to be interpreted that the wife, who gave birth to the child, is figuratively representing the church that was born as a result of Jesus and the Apostles? It is a question of Satan’s persecution of God’s Church. In the Bible, and especially in the Revelation, almost everything seems to be figurative expression.

 

The two witnesses

Ilm 11:3 I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands, standing before the Lord of the earth.

What is meant by olive trees and lampstands?

Psa 52:8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.

Zec 4:11 Then I asked him, “What are these two olive trees on the right side of the lampstand and on the left side of it?”                                                                                      12 I asked him the second time, “What are these two olive branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that pour the golden oil out of themselves?”
13 He answered me, “Don’t you know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.”
14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

Olive trees and lampstands are a figurative expression because it is clear that olive trees and lampstands cannot stand before the Lord. The Revelation reads: 1:20 seven stars are the messengers [angels] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.    

These two witnesses, called the Olive tree and the Lampstand, are the two churches (congregations) of God who boldly testify for 3.5 years. In verse 11:7 it appears that ”when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them.” ”Their dead bodies lie on the street [of Jerusalem] for three and a half days (11:9). Many people will be glad and rejoice, for these two churches troubled them with their preaching. Churches have had the power to distribute scourges to disobedient members of the Church. That’s why people rejoice when the beast rises from the depths to destroy these churches. The verse 11 tells how these churches come back to life and the saints ascend to heaven after having been dead for 3.5 days: “After the three days and a half the spirit of life from God came into them, and they stood upon their feet; and they went up to the heaven in the cloud”.

This whole account is figurative expression and must be interpreted accordingly.

11:5 If anyone desires to harm them [the witnesses], fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way.
6 These have the power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy. They have power over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.
7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. 
9 From among the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations people will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.

Why are the bodies of witnesses lying dead for just three and a half days? The Witnesses of God’s Churches “die” or cease to act as witnesses for this time. Then God awakens them and calls up to heaven. In verse 12 they are resurrected.

11:10 Those who dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and they will be glad. They will give gifts to one another, because these two prophets [two God’s churches] tormented those who dwell on the earth.                                                                                   11 After the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them.
12 I heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” They went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies saw them.

– Why are the bodies of witnesses lying dead for just three and a half days? The Witnesses of God’s Churches “die” or cease to act as witnesses for this time. Then God awakens them and calls up to heaven. ”Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed” (1 Cor 15:51). – Those members of the church who rise up become spirit beings like angels. “When the voice from heaven “come up” is heard, the voice of the last, i.e. the seventh trumpet (chapter 12) also sounds, and Satan and his forces are thrown on the earth. Jesus Christ meets the ascending ones who have come up to meet him in the clouds.

 

God protects believers

12:13 ”When the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.” – King Herod persecuted Josef and Mary and killed a large number of baby boys. Joseph and Mary escaped from Israel to Egypt and Jesus was saved. The following verses in chapter 12 talk about how the serpent/dragon persecuted the wife to kill her. However, the wife is not Joseph’s wife, but God’s own church. If we think of the schedule of events, this will not happen at the time of Jesus’ birth. It is shown in verse 17, which tells the story of the dragon’s failure to fight against them,” to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep God’s commandments and hold Jesus’ testimony.” – Jesus was a little baby, and his public activity was still far ahead.

14 Two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she could be taken care of for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

From this time, “time and two and a half time” can be said to be the same, 1260 days, or 3.5 years, already mentioned in verse 12: 6. The order of events is very erratic. In verse 14 it is stated that God’s Church is safe for 3.5 years. This period of time ”a time, and times, and half a time” is known in the Bible as “time of Tribulation “. It is caused by Satan. After the Tribulation follows the Day of Lord’s Wrath. It lasts also 3 and a half years. Both make a total of 7 years, or, a ‘one week’ long time at the end time.

In the Book of Daniel, chapter 9, angel Gabriel explains the future times  – the last week (seven years) of events – to Daniel:

9:23 At the beginning of your petitions the commandment went forth, and I am come to tell you; for you are greatly beloved: therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision.
24 Seventy weeks are decreed on your people and on your holy city, to finish disobedience, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.
25 Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem to the Anointed One, [“Messiah, Christ] the prince, shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks: it shall be built again, with street and moat, even in troubled times.
26 After the sixty-two weeks the Anointed One shall be cut off, and shall have nothing: and the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end of it shall be with a flood, and even to the end shall be war; desolations are determined.
27 And he shall confirm a covenant with the many for one week; and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and because of the protection of abominations there shall be a desolator, even until that the consumption and what is determined shall be poured out upon the desolate.
Rev 12:17 The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep God’s commandments and hold Jesus’ testimony.
Hence, Satan is angry with the Church of God, and according to the verse 12:15 ”The serpent spewed water out of his mouth after the woman like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream.” After this failure, Satan headed his actions against other Christians. However, the Bible promises that ”whoever will call on the name of the Lord [Jehovah] will be saved.” (Joel 2:32, Apt 2:21, Room 10:13)

12:18 Then the dragon stood on the sand of the sea.
What does the sea mean? What about sea sand?

In his book, Daniel describes how the four beasts, which represent four kingdoms and their kings, rose from the sea. In his revelation, John writes how he saw 13:1 And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. At the end of the book, 21:1 is stated … “for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea”. – The sea depicts humanity. Sand describes the quantity: For example, Jes 10:22 Though your people be like the sand by the sea, Israel, only a remnant will return.

So, when Satan stood upon the sand of the seashore, I interpret it to mean that Satan thought of the number of people and how he should get all in his side, away from the worship of the true God.

 

Angels and Holy Spirit

From the many verses in the Bible, we see how the angels participate in organizing world affairs according to God’s instructions.  And then, how does the Holy Spirit participate in the realization of God’s plan? To my mind, the Holy Spirit does not intervene in the daily, concrete things of the world; Instead, it primarily affects people’s minds.

2 Peter 1:21 says in a descriptive way:”For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” Apt 1:8 ”But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” And also Luke says with reference to Isaiah 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,” 

The Holy Spirit has no calling name, unlike God has Jehovah and his son Jesus. The Holy Spirit is not a person in the same way as God and Christ. The holy spirit has been described as “the working force of God”. Apt 7:55 ”But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” – If the Holy Spirit, like God, were a person, Stephen would probably have seen also this third person in his vision.                                                                                                                                   

Heavenly power structures

Col 1:15-16 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, For by (in him, NIV) him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by [in] him, and for him:

 

Thrones (G2362 θρόνος thronos)

A throne seat, metaph. to God, the governor of the world, to the Messiah, Christ, the partner and assistant in the divine administration, assigned in the NT to kings, hence, kingly power or royalty, to judges i.e. tribunal or bench, to elders.

There are two thrones when talking about heaven; The throne of God and on his right hand is the throne of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Eph 1:20-21 which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.  – This high position for Christ on the right side of God was in God’s plans before the creation of the world.

One of the greatest “Angel Princes” Lucifer, who then became Satan, began to envy such a position and power in the throne and wanted to be in the same position as God. For him, the power and great splendor of an angelic Prince was not enough, and he began to rebel.

 

Dominions (G 2963 κυριότης kyriotēs)

dominion, power, lordship; in the N. T. one who possesses dominion. KJV translated dominion (3x), government (1x).

Eph 1:20-21 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

2 Pet 2:10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; 11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord.

The same word is also used by Jude the brother of Jesus, who writes 1:8 In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.

9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

 

Principalities (ἀρχή archḗ, from Strong’s G756; (properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank):—beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.

This word, ‘ἀρχή archē’, has been used to describe the beginning and, in some cases, the beginning of everything. The title Archangel comes from this Greek word.

Mar 13:19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning (ἀρχή archē), when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again.

Luk 1:2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

John 1:1-2 In the beginning (en archē) was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 

Authority (ἐξουσία exousia G1849. KJV translates this as Power (69x), authority (29x), right (2x), liberty, jurisdiction, strength (1x)

Thrones, dominions, authorities or powers are thus not a species of angels .. but the authority of the angelic kingdom set by God, which is honored by angels, but not always by people.

Angels have been given many different tasks and positions. The Bible speaks of a few in addition to the ordinary angels: Seraphs, Cherubs, and Archangels.

Only one angel is called Archangel in the bible. His name is Michael. Angel Gabriel has also been considered an archangel. Many believe that there are seven archangels. In this case, reference is made to the Revelation; 8:2 I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. – A high-ranking angel has access to God, and in this verse, these angels stand before God. According to Jewish tradition, the names of these archangels are: Michael, Gabriel, Rafael, Uriel, Raguel, Saragael, and Remiel. These names are mentioned in the Apocrypha, such as the books of Tobit and Enok. But, let us hold on to the Bible. Archangel Michael is called in Daniel ”one of the chief princes” (10:13) and ”your prince” (10:21), so he is among the high ranking angels specifically the angel of the chosen people of God (Israel). When Jesus Christ comes to earth for the second time 1 The 4:16 says: ”For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.”.

Another high-ranking angel is Gabriel (meaning “God is my strength”), whose mission is to deliver important messages to the people concerned. The most well-known message was given to Mary, and it was about her becoming pregnant and to give birth to the Son of God. Also to Mary’s future spouse, Joseph, an angel, perhaps Gabriel, told about the origin of Mary’s pregnancy. Daniel also received a message in a dream from Gabriel: 9: 21 “while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.” – Angel Gabriel appears to Daniel as a man and not as an angel with wings.

Seraphim are also high-ranking angels. Seraphim are often described as red because ‘seraph’ means ‘burning’. The Bible mentions seraphim in Isa 6:2 “Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying”. In Isaiah 6, God asks who would be willing to prophesy to the people of Israel, and Isaiah declares willing. 6:6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me… Verses 6: 9-10 reveal God’s hard-to-understand message: “He said, “Go and tell this people: “ ’Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Seraphim have six wings, two of which are used for flying and with others they cover their eyes and feet. Seraphim and other angels are spirit beings. They move from heaven to earth or appear in people’s dreams, but don’t really fly with the wings. Wings and flying are, in my view, a figurative expression of the ability to move quickly from one place to another. Covering the eyes may reflect protection from the glory of God. Moses asked God in Exo 33:18 “Then Moses said [to God], “Now show me your glory.” God said: 33:20 “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

 

Cherubim

The most famous cherub of the Bible is Lucifer, who then became Satan. Eze 28:13-15 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite, and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.  You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.

 

Satan – god of this world

Jer 27:5 ” With my great power and outstretched arm I [Lord God] made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please.”. – God gave the world to Satan who promised it to Jesus if Jesus worshiped Satan. When God promised Abraham and his descendants the whole earth, He surely didn’t mean that Satan would be the supreme leader of the earth. When Abraham can redeem God’s promise, it is certain that the earth will then be purified from Satan and his forces. Satan is accompanied by death, but the coming world is free from death; the people who live there have received their prizes.

Satan has already become familiar with the readers of the Bible from the beginning of the Bible, when he deceived Adam and Eve in the form of a serpent. Who just broke God’s commandments, immediately Satan “accuses them before our God day and night” (Rev 12:10). Job, whom God had identified as a righteous man, also caused Satan to doubt his true righteousness. Peter is also telling about Satan’s activities like this: 1 Pet 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  – This is what Satan has been doing throughout the history of mankind. And now, when the end time is at hand? What will be the contribution of Satan in these events? Rev 12:3 “Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads.”

The beast of this verse is found in the Revelation as well as in Daniel’s book. It plays an important role in the end-time battles. The dragon is identified as a Satan, and the seven heads of the dragon and the ten horns represent a union of states whose purpose is to destroy the state of Israel.

 

Satan as king of Tyre

Eze 28:12 “Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “ ’You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite, and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. 
14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.                                              15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.           

Ezekiel writes about the king of Tyre, a man whom he describes as cherub! These verses show that the king of Tyre / Satan is an angel and a created creature. He is described as an angel who was decorated with the finest jewels. From the time of his creation, he worked perfectly in accordance with the will of God until injustice was found in him. The difficult thing to understand in this report is that the king of Tyre, the man, is said to be an angel, a Cherub. I interpret this as the king of Tyre was really a man into whom Satan “had gone” in the same way as Satan went into Judas Iscariot.                           

Since the beginning of Ezekiel chapter 28, the Bible talks about the king of Tyre. The point is, “You were a cherub …” and the cherub is a high-ranking angel. Cherub is said to have been in Eden, the garden of God. But it was Satan. Eze 28:2 “Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “ ’In the pride of your heart you say, “I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.” But you are a mere mortal and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god.”

Satan is also known as the morning star or the son of the dawn. Isa 14:12 “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!” Isaiah’s statement is a prophecy of the coming. Some bible translations use Satan’s name Lucifer (Light-bearer).

Isaiah continues: 14:13-15 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the bottomless pit. 

Isaiah testifies that God knew that Satan had sought the throne of God in his heart. ’The bottomless pit’ means the same place as where were thrown the fallen angels who came to men’s daughters and bore children to them to wait for the last judgment;  “These he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day”. (Jude 1:6)

What happens to Satan is told in Rev 20:1 “I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 
2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
3 He threw him into the Abyss [bottomless pit], and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After this, he must be freed for a short time.”

These verses reveal how Satan boasted and aimed to become equal to God. Being proud and striving to be like God is certainly a reality. Instead, Satan has not yet been thrown down to the ‘bottomless pit’. It only happens when Christ comes for the second time; he throws the Antichrist and the false prophet into the lake of fire, and Satan will be bound for a thousand years. This is a foresight that is fulfilled when Jesus comes for the second time.

 

Satan – the ruler of the power of the air

Eph 2:2 in which you once lived according to the ways of this present world and according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now active in those who are disobedient.

I wonder what the apostle means when writing about Satan being the ruler of the power of the air? Nowadays, the rule of power is an important prerequisite for winning the war, but a couple of thousand years ago, that content could hardly have been given to this concept. Some commentators in the Bible say referring to the old Jewish ideas of demons and evil spirits which were considered to live in the space. Perhaps this is the right interpretation.

What are these children of disobedience? They are the opposite of God’s children. When the children of God seek to do the will of God, these children of disobedience care little about it. They belong to Satan, the god of this world. 2 Cor 4:4 ”In their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe to keep them from seeing the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.” – Paul reminds the Ephesians how they were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another (Tiit 3:3). Ephesians are finally warned of the consequences: “Let no one deceive you with vain words, for on account of these things the wrath of God comes on the sons of disobedience.” (Eph 5:6).

 

How does Satan work?

Joh 8:44 ” You are of your Father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.”

Satan has proven to be a liar, even from the beginning of the Bible. There is nothing honest about him. Here are some Bible verses which reflect the activity of Satan.  1 Pet 5:8 “Be vigilant, watch. Your adversary the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”. Satan is angry and desperate. He knows he doesn’t have much time. Rev 12:12 “Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil has gone down to you, having great wrath, knowing that his time is short.” – When Satan was thrown down from heaven to the earth in the revelation of John, he was accompanied by a third of the angels of heaven. The number of Satan’s troops is extremely high, perhaps hundreds of millions. These fallen angels (demons) are available to Satan in attracting mankind from the connection between the true God and his Church. Demons have been harassing people on earth from before the time of Jesus. Jesus and his disciples healed people by driving out demons.

 

Satan as an angel of light

God sent Jesus to bring the gospel message to mankind. What does Satan do with his troops? In Mark’s gospel, Jesus tells the parable in Luke 8:12 “Those along the road are those who hear, then the devil comes, and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.”. – Unfortunately, Satan and his troops are victorious. Very small are the parishes to which the apostolic gospel word is rooted. It suits fine to Satan that instead of the true gospel, people are offered a distorted gospel. Satan himself leads this attack. 2 Cor 11:14 ”And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”

Not only does Satan himself appear as an angel of light, the Bible says that many of the Church masquerade as servants of righteousness. In the following verse, the matter is confirmed: 15 ”So it is not surprising if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will match their deeds.”

Satan can affect people’s activities through their minds. John says 13:2 ”during supper, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon, Iscariot, that he should betray him”. And then what happened, Luke tells 22:3 ” Satan entered into Judas, who was surnamed Iscariot…”  Judas was disappointed to see that Jesus would not establish his Kingdom and reign in their time. This disappointment was right away used by Satan and we all know what happened.

Satan succeeds well in his seduction if only people are a little receptive. They seem to be. If, according to what Paul told, his parishioners had previously lived “according to this world”, then the same thing can be going on today. The Bible warns and advises: Jam 4:7-8 ”Subject yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” – In many ways, Satan seeks to keep Christians away from God. The Apostle tells us how he has been subjected to Satan’s actions: 1 The 2:18 ”we have desired to come to you, even I Paul, both once and twice, but Satan has hindered us.”

Satan knows what will happen to him and his troops. There’s little time for him. He must know that he is going to lose, but he wants to take with him as many people as possible to perdition. 

 

How does the devil work on “children of disobedience”?

Eph 6:12 ”For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

In the Ephesians, the Apostle finds out who and where the enemy is; The enemies are the spirit beings of evil who dwell in space. This is the case at the moment, but when Christ comes with his heavenly troops, Satan loses the battle, and Satan, with his demonic angels, will be bound for a thousand years.

 

Other characterizations of Satan

Satan is the accuser. Rev 12:10 “I heard a loud voice in heaven say, now the salvation, the power, the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ have come. For the one accusing our brothers, the one who accuses them day and night in the presence of our God, has been thrown out.

He is also the tempter. Mat 4:3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 1 The 3:5 “For this cause I also, when I couldn’t stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that the tempter had tempted you in some way, and our labor would have been in vain.

Satan is the deceiver. 2 Cor 4:4 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.

Satan is the adversary. 2 The 2:4 he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God and declares himself to be God.

The kingdom of this world has been Satan’s and still is. But there comes soon an era in which Christ reigns. Jesus Himself testified this way in Mat 28:18: Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” Jesus takes this power in the Second Coming when He establishes the Millennial kingdom of God on the earth and reigns as king with the saints of the first resurrection. Satan is bound for a thousand years and cannot seduce people.

Although Satan was thrown out of heaven in John’s vision, he is still trying to exalt his throne above God. He falsifies everything that God does, hoping to become worshipped by the world and trying to resist the kingdom of God. Satan is the origin of all false cults and religions. Satan does anything to mislead the righteous servants of God. He masquerades as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14) and he gets many priests to preach a different gospel i.e. another gospel. 2 Cor 11:4 ” For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different gospel, which you did not accept, you put up with that well enough.”

It is not unimportant what kind of teaching is shared at the church. Is the gospel declared in the churches according to the bible? There are up to tens of thousands of different denominations in the world, and the teaching they share sometimes takes on quite bizarre forms. It is not for me to condemn anyone for how he believes. Every person should tolerate constructive criticism. Everyone should ask themselves: Is my faith biblical?

But still, there is a reason to be careful. The Galatians (1:8) also warn: But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any gospel other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.

 

The war of Gog – Ezekiel chapters 38-39

After the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison, (Rev 20:7). Satan ”will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.” (20:8).

Ezekiel predicted these wars in his own time: 38:14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and tell Gog, Thus says the Lord Jehovah: In that day when my people Israel dwells securely, shall you not know it?                                                                           15 You shall come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you, and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army; 
16 and you shall come up against my people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land: it shall happen in the latter days, that I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when I shall be sanctified in you, Gog, before their eyes.
17 Thus says the Lord Jehovah: Are you he of whom I spoke in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them? 
18 It shall happen in that day, when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, says the Lord Jehovah, that my wrath shall come up into my nostrils.
19 For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;
20 so that the fish of the sea, and the birds of the sky, and the animals of the field, and all creeping things who creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the surface of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
21 I will call for a sword against him to all my mountains, says the Lord Yahweh: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.
22 With pestilence and with blood will I enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him, and on his hordes, and on the many peoples who are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and sulfur.                                    23 And I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am Jehovah.”

Although mankind and all nations have a thousand years to live in peace, Christ and the saints rule the world, without the temptations of Satan, what happens when Satan is freed to go? Satan manages to attract enormous numbers of people from many nations “from the four corners of the earth”. Their number is described as being like the sand of the seashore. How is it possible that mankind, which has lived a thousand years without the temptation of Satan, now suddenly turns against the administration of Christ? It can somehow be understood when one remembers the exodus of Israel from Egypt. The Israelites witnessed the great miracle of the Red Sea while fleeing across the water which receded before them, and finally drowned Pharaoh’s troops. However, the people forgot about what happened and the miracle of God and began to murmur. And when Moses went up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments, the people rushed to worship the golden idol that they built.

In these thousand years, mankind does not seem to change, despite the administration of Christ, if countless people and armies of nations fall into the temptations and miracles of Satan. I’ve been under the impression that Christ and the saints when ruling for a thousand years, implant the true service of God to all nations. I thought that the whole world population would have become Christians. How wrong I’ve been.

But the battle becomes short. Rev 20:9 tells: They went up over the breadth of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the saints, and the beloved city. Fire came down out of heaven from God, and devoured them. – Although the combat is not described in more detail, it can be inferred from the verse that it is similar to modern warfare. Satan’s troops will rise through space to siege the Saints in Jerusalem. What kind of planes or rockets are used it does not say, but I conclude that the forces and the means of transport are physical, not just spiritual. The humans who have joined Satan’s forces are destroyed by fire falling from heaven. Satan and his demons have lost. 

 

Angels in end-time events

One-third of people are killed – Revelation chapter 9

Angels play an important role in end-time events. The angels mark the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads so that the plagues of the Day of the Lord would not come upon them (Rev  9. chapter). What happens to those who do not have God’s seal? Revelation 9:3 ”And out of the smoke came forth locusts on the earth, and power was given to them as the scorpions of the earth have power; 
4 They were told that they should not harm the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those people who don’t have God’s seal on their foreheads.”  – Are they God’s angels or Satan’s? Revelation 9:11 explains: ”They have a king over them, the angel of the abyss: his name in Hebrew, Abaddon, and in Greek he has for name Apollyon.”. – The angels of God are not in the abyss or otherwise guiding the prisoners of the depth, but this is a fallen angel. The name of the angel of the depth means the “destroyer”.

These “locusts, were the result of the fifth angel blowing a trumpet. It should be noted that the locusts were not allowed to kill people, just to tease them so that people will seek death even to get rid of their bullies.

The locusts, however, were not these winged little insects, who even today are teasing mankind to eat the crops grown by the farmers. The locusts of this scourge were according to verse 9:7 ”And the likenesses of the locusts were like to horses prepared for war; and upon their heads as crowns like gold, and their faces as faces of men;” 9:9 and they had breastplates as breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to war; – The verse most obviously describes modern combat troops, as well as soldiers with equipment and weapons. “Noise of the wings” describing the “roar” caused by helicopters and aircraft. What does it mean when we say locusts ‘harassing’ people? Perhaps it means the behavior of the occupying forces in conquering areas as the troops progress towards their goal in Israel.

Then the events get worse.

When the next or the sixth angel blows in the trumpet 9:15 ”The four angels were freed who had been prepared for that hour and day and month and year, so that they might kill one-third of mankind.” Who are these four angels then? The Bible says they have been tied for a long time. The word the Bible uses for binding is δέω déō; a primary verb; to bind (in various applications, literally or figuratively) —bind, be in bonds, knit, tie, wind. – Are they the angels of God, or Satan? If they are the angels of God, being bound must then be considered a figurative expression; they are instructed to wait until the time is full.

Revelation 9:17-18 describes this battle to destroy the huge army troops during the end-time: ”This was how I saw the horses in my vision: The riders wore breastplates that had the color of fire, sapphire, and sulfur. The heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire, smoke, and sulfur came out of their mouths. By these three plagues were one-third of mankind killed: by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur, which proceeded out of their mouths.

Although a third of humanity is killed, ”they did not repent of their murders, their deeds of witchcraft, their acts of sexual immorality, or their thefts.” (9:21). The purpose of blowing the angel’s trumpet is as if to warn of the future plague. When an angel pours out his bowl, it describes the actual punishment of God.

 

War of Armageddon – Revelation Chapter 16

The Bible describes the shedding of the sixth angel’s bowl in the chapter 16:12–14 ” And the sixth poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates; and its water was dried up, that the way of the kings from the rising of the sun might be prepared. And I saw out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, as frogs”. – At the latest, the nature of these angels is revealed; verse 14 reveals that they are spirits of demons:  ”for they are spirits of demons, performing signs; which go forth to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war [Armageddon] of that great day of God, the Almighty

Satan is an angel and a spirit. Are the accomplices, of Satan the Antichrist, to whom Satan gave his power, and the counterpart of the Holy Spirit, the false prophet, are they also spirits? This could be inferred from verse 14, which says” for they are spirits of demons, angels commanded by Satan. The fallen angels have previously “gone into people” as we discovered happened in Greece and in Persia during Daniel and the king of Tyre who was Satan himself. Or as Satan had “entered” into Judas Iscariot (Luke 22: 3). Instead, the kings of the earth leaving for war with the aim of destroying Israel are people whose spiritual and religious endeavors are used to guide them.

The dragon is Satan and the unclean spirits (angels) are: the beast or Antichrist, the false prophet, and the aforementioned angel of depth, Apollyon (meaning the destroyer). As a result of this great war, the Antichrist and the false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire, and Satan is bound for a thousand years. Yet there is another big war left, or actually two.

 

Satan is bound for a thousand years.

Revelation Chapter 20: In the Bible, events are not always logically in temporal sequence. These events of the Revelation have been told in several places. Chapter 20 returns to an earlier time when the angel of heaven captures the dragon, or Satan. 20:2-3 ” He captured the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and tied him up for a thousand years. He threw him into the bottomless pit, locked it, and sealed it over him to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were over. After that he must be set free for a little while.

Why isn’t Satan destroyed as soon as he is caught? After pondering the matter, I came to the conclusion that, when captured, the Millennial kingdom of Christ was just coming. Satan had to be bound for the duration of this kingdom, so that neither he nor any of his accomplishes could interfere with the work of the kingdom led by Christ and the saints – planting the Word of God in the heart of every country’s inhabitant. Then only Satan will be let go for his last test; will he be able to fight against God? From chapter 20, we learn that Satan manages to “deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth … whose number is like the sand of the seashore” (20:8)

Gog’s war when Satan is released  – Revelation Chapter 20

In verse 20:7 confirms what is said in 20:2-3: And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. – Quite generally, Gog has been interpreted as signifying an attack on Israel under the leadership of Russia. In this article, I have watched the events from the perspective of the angels and therefore it is noteworthy that it is the devil’s errand again. Some of Satan’s accomplices have already been thrown into the lake of fire.

Chapter 9 war could not be described with modern expressions, but it is said, that “the heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire, smoke, and sulfur came out of their mouths.” Verse 20:9 also tells us about the war with modern weapons: ”They went up over the breadth of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the saints, and the beloved city. Fire came down out of heaven from God and devoured them.” – The rebellion of fallen angels has finally ended.

Isaiah continues: 14:13- 14 You said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; and I will sit on the mountain of congregation, in the uttermost parts of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. – These verses reveal how Satan became proud of himself and began to consider himself as equivalent to God. In this regard, Isaiah’s vision has already been realized. Satan, on the other hand, has not yet been thrown down to Sheol, to the uttermost parts of the pit. (Disobedient angels were punished in this way, as can be seen in Genesis 6th chapter). In this regard, it is a vision of the future that will come true when Jesus comes the second time.

From the beginning of the 28th chapter, Ezekiel writes about king of the Tyre. Eze states that “you were a cherub …” and the cherub is a high-ranking angel. Cherub is said to have been in Eden, God’s Garden. The cherub in question is Satan. Eze 28:2 Son of man, tell the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet you are man, and not God, though you did set your heart as the heart of God;

How can Satan be a king in Tyre? Or another problem point that says: Yet you are a man. If Satan, who is a high-ranking angel, how can Ezekiel say that ‘you are still a human being’? In any case, Isaiah characterizes Satan in the same way. Could these prophets mean that Satan is just human-like? Angels can take on the human form even they can have children with real human beings.

When discussing this, I remember the verses of Daniel’s book: Dan 10 tells about Michael, the Archangel: 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but, behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 10:20 Then he said: Do you know why I have come to you? Now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia. When I go forth, behold, the prince of Greece [Javan] shall come. 21 But I will tell you that which is inscribed in the writing of truth: and there is none who holds with me against these, but Michael your prince.

Tyre was not the only kingdom in which a rebellious angel prince was in power. This was also the case in Persia and Greece (Javan).