Angels and Demons and the Invisible Warfare

Bible study with Dr. Chuck Missler


Bottom line: There is more to this world than what we can see. This world does not revolve around us, contrary to what many self-centered people would like to believe. There is a reason why the world we live in is chaotic. (Satan currently holds the title deed to the Earth, the deed he took from Adam when Adam chose to disobey God. Satan is the controller of the Earth, and he is running the world amok.) There is a reason why we are taught to live in the world (so that we can effectively spread the Gospel) but not be of the world (so that we do not become Earth-dwellers and share their fate discussed in Revelation). Below, Dr. Chuck Missler discusses the invisible war that affects our physical world. Until we can see through the eyes of God (or try our best to through the Word of God), we will never effectively comprehend what the heck is going on during our life here on Earth.


ANGELS 


"Angel" in Hebrew = One who is dispatched with a messenger
The Hebrew term, "angel," is used 198 times in the Scripture: 100 of those times, it's used in the context of a supernatural messenger; 98 times, it just means messenger; 4 times, it is used as "ambassadors."


"Angel" in Greek = Messenger; envoy; someone who was sent implicitly from God
The Greek term, "angel," is translated into English 179 times as "angel"; 7 times, it is used to mean "messengers"


(The Old Testament was written largely in Hebrew and some Aramaic; the Septuagint was the Old Testament translated into Greek; the New Testament was written in Greek.) 


Ministry of Angels: ministering, helping, strengthening, shielding, providing 


Hebrews 1:14
"Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?"


Daniel, Acts
Both books described angels as beings who reveal unknown truths to us, to enlighten us.


Genesis 19 and throughout the New Testament
We are taught that angels offer personal guidance and protect us from harm.


Acts 12 
Angels deliver us from our enemies.


Jacob (in Genesis 32), Daniel, Paul, Elijah, Gideon (in Judges 6) 
These men of God showed us that angels encourage, strengthen, and shield us from our adversaries.


Dr. Chuck Missler notes, “The ministry of angels may be invisible to our eyes, but it has tangible results.” To add on, check out 2 Kings 6:17. The ministry of angels may be invisible, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. When we place our faith in God, there is no reason to doubt. “Don’t be afraid…Those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16). Christians, God has shown us throughout time that He loves us and protects us. This is why I say, “There is no reason to doubt.” We have PROOF. Our faith is not blind trust. Our faith is built on solid proof provided by God the Father throughout time!


Angels are personal beings 
1. They have intellect (Matthew 38; 1 Peter 1). 
2. They have emotions. They care. (Job 2:38). 
3. They have will. They make choices.


Angels are spirit beings
1. They are not limited to material bodies. 
2. They have locality. That is, they can only be in one place at one time, unlike God. 
3. When they appear for us, they usually appear in the form of man, never woman (Genesis 18-19). 
4. They are seen by some but not others (2 Kings 6). 
5. They do not reproduce, but they can engage in reproductive mischief (Genesis 6:4) 
6. They do not die. 
7. They have physical reality. For example, they can lead people by the hand (Genesis 19) and indulge in combat (2 Kings 19, where the angels slaughtered 185,000 Assyrians. That Assyrian king never attacked Jerusalem again). 
8. They Have been entertained by us unawares (Hebrews 13:2). In other words, we can mistake angels as people. 
9. They have attributes greater than man but less than God: Angels make mistakes. 
10. They have powers greater than man but less than God. 
11. They are organized by rank and seniority. They are not out on individual missions. Examples: Arch angels, like Michael (Jude 9); chief princes (Daniel 10); seraphim (Isaiah 6), which means “flaming ones”--its name implied a source of light, brightness and may be synonymous with the creatures we see in Revelation 4; cherubim, who guard the Tree of Life, among other tasks. Satan was a cherub, who was the leader of all angels but got prideful and declared war against God (This event has affected much of human history, and it does not end until God throws Satan into the Lake of Fire--See Revelation 20:7-10).


Angel of the Lord 
- This is an idiom of Old Testament appearances of the Lord Jesus Christ, before Jesus' incarnation or becoming a man (aka, Christophany). This terms should not be confused with the messengers (aka, other angels) that appear throughout the rest of the Bible 
- Genesis 16: Haggar identifies Angel of the Lord as God 
- Genesis 18: The Lord appeared as man to Abraham to reveal to Abraham the birth of Isaac (This is also an example of angels appearing to man in the form of man.) 
- Genesis 22: The Angel of the Lord called to Abraham just as Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac--God uses this to paint a vivid picture of THE sacrifice He will ultimately make by offering up His only Son, Jesus Christ. 
- Genesis 32: Jacob wrestles with the Angel of the Lord until Jacob got his blessing - Exodus 3: Moses spoke with the burning bush. Throughout the Gospel of John, we see Jesus echoing the I Am statements of God in Exodus 3 and 4 - Exodus 14: The Angel of Lord led Israel out of Egypt and also led Israel through the wilderness for 40 years - Numbers 22: The Angel of the Lord appeared to Balaam and his talking donkey
- Joshua 5: The Angel of the Lord approached Joshua at Jericho. When the Angel of the Lord said, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy” (Joshua 5:15), Joshua did so. Joshua was reminded of what he witnessed with Moses at the burning bush, where God also commanded, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). Joshua knew immediately he was in the presence of God. On a side note, although Joshua was a great commander, Joshua 5:13-15 shows us that it was really Jesus who conquered the city of Jericho. It is always Jesus! Note also that this battle violated all the laws of the Torah. This is deeper teaching, and I will not elaborate it here but in future studies. 


Gabriel 
He is an angel who brings messianic messages, messages pertaining to the advent of the Messiah 
- Luke 1: Gabriel introduces himself. 
- Daniel 8: Gabriel explains the vision of the ram and the goat to Daniel. 
- Daniel 9: Gabriel gives Daniel the 70-Week prophecy. Luke 19:28-44 records a partial fulfillment of that prophecy. (“Partial” because not all events recorded in this 70-Week prophecy have all happened yet!) Jesus officially presented Himself as King on the EXACT day prophesied by Daniel. This is a powerful example of why the fulfillment of prophecy proves God is God. 
- Luke 1: Gabriel announces the birth of John the Baptist 
- Luke 1: Gabriel announces the birth of Christ to Mary Michael He is an angel of military leadership on behalf of Israel. 
- Jude 9: Michael is the arch angel 
- 1 Thessalonians 4: Michael calls those in Christ up during the Rapture. 
- Daniel 10, 12: Michael is one of the two princes for Israel.
- Revelation 12: Michael leads the angels to fight against Satan and his demons. Note here that Satan's adversary counterpart is Michael, not God. Michael is the great military leader on behalf of Israel, whereas Satan leads his army to destroy Israel. Satan aims for a seat of the north, a position often associated with God's throne. 


Cherubim 
These angels have 4 wings, not 2 (Ezekiel 1). 
- Genesis 3: They guard the tree of life. 
- They adorn the mercy seat. 
- They deal with hyper-dimensions. 


Seraphim 
These angels have 6 wings, not 4 (Isaiah 6). 


Revelation 4
Cherubim is "zwion" in Greek. KJV translated it to "beast," whereas NIV has it translated as “living creature.” As with any translation, the selection of which words to use is an art. For Christians reading any English text, we need to always remember that any version is a translated version. The original is written in Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek. Hence, whenever there is a question of the words used, referring back to the original text is the only way to settle the issue. Here, an important distinction must be made, because KJV also translates “thirio” from Revelation 13 as “beast.” Clearly, the Greek original text makes the distinction between zwion and thirio, suggesting they are two different beings. However, if we are only reading the KJV, we would be misguided, thinking Revelation 4 and Revelation 13 are both talking about the same beasts. Again, the Greek original text clearly shows they are not: Zwion are godly angels; thirio is satanic and will be thrown into the Lake of Fire.


DEMONS 


Demons are real 
Mark 5:1-20, Matthew 8:28-34 
- Demons know who Jesus is, even without Jesus announcing Himself (Matthew 8:29). Insight: Therefore it is not enough to just know Jesus. We need to act on that knowledge and love God with our heart (James 2:19)--This is one of the key points James addressed in his epistle. 
- Demons are aware of their destiny. For example, why else would they say to Jesus, “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” (Matthew 8:29) This statement also shows us that demons know their destiny was in Jesus' hands. 
- Demons need Jesus' permission to enter other beings (Matthew 8:31). 


Demons are different than angels, with different characteristics and limitations
 - Demons must obey Christ (Mark 1:23-28; 5:1-15; 1 John 4:4). 
- Demons are evil spirits. 
- Demons always seek embodiment. 
- Demons are destined for torment (Matthew 8:29; 25:41). 
- Demons are under the control of Satan. 
- Demons know their destiny. 
- Demons are ineligible for resurrection. 
- Demons are territorial.


Demons are malevolent and dangerous. If we are in Christ, we are vulnerable to their attacks. Demons are powerless without a body. They therefore constantly seek embodiment. When they do gain access to a body, they have super human strength.


Demons need entry into our bodies, but before they enter, they need consent. We, through our actions, may purposefully or unknowingly grant them such entry. For example, playing with a ouija board may grant such entry. The board itself may not be evil, but it acts as a portal for demons to gain admission into our bodies. When we open up the portal to connect with the spirit world, it is a two-way street: We can see into their world, and they can enter into ours. Occult practices, seances, role playing games--basically, any act of communicating with the spirits--are opportune entry points for demons.



Missler’s speculation: Some suspect that demons are disembodied nephilims. Nephilims are angel and human “hybrids” created in Genesis 6. They were drowned in the flood. They bodies perished, but what happened to the spirits? Could they be demons?


In contrast to demons, angels can… 
- Materialize. Demons can't. 
- Take the form of man and are always masculine. 
- Speak 
- Eat 
- Make direct physical contact. Examples: take men by the hand, slaughter 185,000 Assyrians, etc. 


THE INVISIBLE WARFARE 


Daniel 10 
- The angel speaking to Danial is unlikely to be Jesus because Jesus wouldn't need Michael's help (Daniel 10:13). 
- There is a time dimension, since the angel spoke of fighting Greece, which takes place hundreds of years after he spoke with Daniel. 
- Spirit beings are territorial and have locality. 
- Our actions impact them: For example, Daniel's fast and prayer helped the angel power through his mission. 
- This passage clearly shows that there is a spiritual warfare going on. 


The War 
- It started in Genesis 3, where God put enmity between 2 seeds: the Serpent and the woman. 
- The Messiah will come from the seed of the woman. 
- The Antichrist will come from the seed of the Serpent. 
- This war drives Biblical, historical, and present-day events. 


The Time of the Gentiles 
- This period of time started with Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon. 
- This period will end with the destruction of the Antichrist. 


Darkness of Nazi Germany: Satanic Influences? 
As the allies drew closer to the fall of Berlin, instead of reallocating their best resources and generals back to defend the headquarters, they increased the priority to exterminate the Jews. This suggests they put killing God’s people ABOVE their own survival. They were clearly driven by more than human ambition to take over the world. 


Satan
- He does not rule in Hell. Hell was made for him. 
- He exists. He is not make-believe. 
- He has personality. 
- He has an origin. 
- He has a destiny. 
- He has locality. He is not everywhere. He is not omnipresent. 
- Ezekiel 28:11-19 
- Isaiah 14:12-27 
- He has emotions. 
- He has intelligence. 
- He makes choices. 
- He was created, he was a morally responsible being, he was originally very good… but then he got prideful. 
- Some time before Genesis 3, he rebelled against God and lost his holy condition. 


THE UNDERWORLD 
Hades is the general term used to refer to the Underworld 


Sheol (Hebrew) 
- The word appears 65 times in the Old Testament. It is derived from the root word, “to ask” or “to demand.” It implies "insatiable." 
- It is translated into the English word "grave" 31 times, though bear in mind that grave has physical properties whereas Sheol does not. Grave is a place for the body, not disembodied spirits; it can be owned; it can have multiple, physical properties. Sheol, on the other hand, does not share these characteristics. 
- Both Sheol and grave mean “the collection of the dead.” It is translated as the word “hell" 31 times, referring to a place of disembodied spirits, the abode of the souls of the wicked, a place for congregation of the dead (Proverbs 21). 
- It is deep and dark (Job). 
- The dead goes down to it. 


Hades (Greek) 
- The Septuagint translated Sheol as “Hades.” 
- It is translated to "Hell" 11 times in the New Testament. 
- It is separated into two compartments: Abraham's bosom for the righteous dead and Tartarus for the wicked dead. 
- It is a place to collect the unsaved dead prior to the judgment at the Great White Throne (Revelation 20). 
- It is a prison with gates and bars and locks (Matthew 16, etc.) 


Gehenna (Greek) 
- It was the name of a city dump. 
- Idolatrous Jews sacrificed their own children to false gods by dumping their children in the fire. 
- Because of its continual burning with fire, Gehenna became to symbolize the Lake of Fire and forever condemnation.
- Gehenna was used by Jesus 11 times. 


Tartarus (Greek) 
- It is the deepest abyss of Hades. 
- It was used only once in the New Testament by Peter. 
- It is where the incarceration of angels who have sinned takes place. Hades and Gehenna are different 
- Hades is temporary. 
- Hades will be thrown into Gehenna. 
- Gehenna is eternal and is associated with the bottomless pit. 


Abusso 
- It is the bottomless pit. 
- It is the abyss. 
- It is sometimes used interchangeably with Tartarus. 
- The Beast of Revelation 11 and 17 comes out of the Abusso. 
- This is where Satan will be bound for 1000 years. That is, the Abusso is a temporary holding place. 
- This is where the demon locusts of Revelation 8 emerge from. 


Luke 16: Hades explained 
- This is NOT a parable. In parables, Jesus uses no names. Here, Jesus clearly talks about a man named Lazarus. 
- We learn a lot about the wicked from the rich man. After his death, he ends up in Hades. He is fully aware and conscious of his being and surroundings. He has memory of his past life. He is in deep pain. He has intense desires. His eternal destiny is irrevocably fixed and he KNEW it; he never questions it; he never thinks it was unjust. He knew what he was experiencing was fair and just. He also knew what his brothers needed to do to avoid his predicament: They need to be saved while they were still alive. 
- We learn a lot about Hades from this event: There is an uncrossable chasm between Abraham’s Bosom and Tartarus.