The Creation of the Angels
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). The angels were part of this creation from the beginning.
In Job’s suffering, God told him about the creation of the world. “Who laid [the world’s] cornerstone while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” (Job 38:6-7). Scripture also tells us:
- Nehemiah 9:6: You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens with all their host…
- What does “host” refer to?
- Colossians 1:16: For everything was created by [God], in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible…
The Archangels
Scripture tells us of three Archangels: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
- Michael: “Who is as God.” The book of Daniel mentions him: “Michael, one of the chief princes” (10:13) and “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise” (12:1). Jude calls Michael “the archangel” (Jude 1:9).
- Gabriel: Composed of the Hebrew words, gebher (man) and el (God). It means “Man of God” or “Strength of God.” Before the coming of Christ, the Archangel Gabriel announced to Zechariah about John the Baptizer: “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God…”
- Raphael: Composed of the Hebrew words, raphah (to heal) and el (God). It means “God heals,” or “Divine healer.” In the Apocrypha book or Tobit, Raphael said, “I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord” (Tobit 12:15).
1 Enoch 20:2-8, which is not Scripture, lists the seven archangels: Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Saraqael, Gabriel, and Remiel. Revelation 8:2 reads, “Then I saw the seven angels who stand in the presence of God…” So, Revelation affirms seven archangels.
But one of the Archangels went rogue.
Lucifer becomes Satan
In Ezekiel’ vision, we find mention of an angel in whom was sin and wickedness (Ezekiel 28:15). This was Lucifer, who was “the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 28:12). Lucifer means “Light-Bearer” or “Bright Glory.”
In the New Testament, Jude mentions Michael the Archangel and the devil disputing over Moses’ dead body (the Devil was claiming that Moses belonged to him because of his transgression).
- Jude 1:9: Even Michael the Archangel, when he was disputing with the Devil about the body of Moses, did not dare charge him with slander. Instead, he said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
Michael deferred to Satan. So, this shows that Lucifer was higher than Michael before he rebelled against God. God granted Lucifer some authority over the other angels. “You [Lucifer] were anointed as a guardian cherub” (Ezekiel 28:14). The idea behind “guardian” in the Hebrew (mimshah) is an expansion or cover.
Lucifer was a “cover” over the other angels, overseeing them in some way. He served God in such a role until he rebelled and became Satan.
Read Revelation 12:7-9
- What then happened to Satan and the angels who followed him?
Jesus mentioned this moment when He said: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18). “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! Destroyer of nations, you have been cast down to earth” (Isaiah 14:12).
Lucifer now gets named, “Satan,” which means “enemy” or “accuser.” He is the chief evil angel, the “prince of demons” (Luke 11:15). Jesus described him this way:
He was a murderer from the beginning and has not stood in the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. [John 8:44]
Satan’s Power Today
1 Peter 5:8: Your enemy the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
- What is Satan’s aim?
Paul, writing to Christians:
You were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. [Ephesians 2:1-2]
- Who is at work in those who do not believe?
Read Revelation 9:1-5
- Revelation uses symbolic language. Whom do the locusts represent?
- Are these locusts all powerful?
Every person who does not believe in Christ is in the devil’s kingdom and under his power (Acts 26:18, Colossians1:13). The devil is deceptive, even disguising himself as an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). That people do not realize this is the devil’s greatest deception!
Satan is Powerful, but Defeated
Hebrews 2:14-15:
[Jesus] also shared in their humanity so that through his death he could destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the Devil—and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.
- What now is the destiny for those who are in Christ?
Romans 8:38-39:
I am convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus, our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not the present or the future, not powers or height or depth, or anything created.
- Paul uses a series of contrasts. What then is he contrasting with “angels”? What “powers” is he contrasting when he next mentions “height or depth”?
Christ Descent into Hell
Colossians 2:15: Having disarmed the powers and authorities, [Jesus] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
- What event marks the transition from Christ’s humbling Himself for our salvation to His triumphing over sin, death, and Satan?
Ephesians 4:8-9: For it says: “When he ascended on high, He took prisoners into captivity; He gave gifts to people.” What does “he ascended” mean except that he descended to the lower parts of the earth?
Paul is referencing Psalm 68:18. Paul, however, is using the psalm to point to the ascent of Jesus into the heavenly Jerusalem after disarming the forces of evil on the cross (Colossians 2:15).
We see the Psalm 63 use similar language, referring to the “lower parts of the earth.”
- Psalm 63:9: But as for those who seek to destroy me, they will descend into the lower parts of the earth.
The “lower part of the earth” is an expression referring to the “underworld” of those who dead, also called “hell.”
1 Peter 3:18-19:
Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but was brought to life by the Spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison.
“proclaimed”: karusso, to proclaim aloud, announce, or make known. Peter doesn’t tell us what Jesus proclaimed, but we have some idea by the flow of 1 Peter 3:18-22.
1 Peter 3:18: Alive from death: Jesus “was brought to life by the Spirit.”
1 Peter 3:19: Descent: Christ descended into hell, where He “proclaimed to the spirits in prison.”
1 Peter 3:21: Resurrection:
Corresponding to this [God saving Noah and his family through the waters of the flood], baptism now saves you, not by removing the filth of the flesh, but as an appeal of a clear conscience toward God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…
1 Peter 3:22: Ascent: …who has gone into heaven…
Peter is listing the steps of Christ’s exaltation after His crucifixion. Since His descent into Hell was part of His exaltation, it then makes sense that Jesus’ proclamation would be Him announcing His victory over death. For this victory to be real, Jesus proclamation would have to be in both body and soul.
“We simply believe after the burial the entire person, God and man, descended into hell, conquered the devil, destroyed hell’s power, and took from the devil all his might” (Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, IX, 2).
