Revelation 12:7 - Angels, Satan, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare

     The word angel translates the Hebrew word מַלְאָךְ malak and the Greek word ἄγγελος aggelos, and both words mean messenger. The word angel occurs approximately 275 times throughout Scripture, and appears in 34 books. Angels are created beings (Col. 1:16), were present at the creation of the world (Job 38:4-7), are called spirits (Luke 9:38-39; Heb. 1:13-14), and have volition, emotion, and intelligence (Matt. 8:28-32; cf. 1 Pet 1:12). They are distinct from humans (Mark 1:23-26), do not reproduce after their kind (Mark 12:25), have great power (2 Peter 2:11), and are numerous (Heb. 12:22; Rev. 5:11).

     Angels are classified as either elect (1 Tim. 5:21) or fallen (Isa. 14:12; Rev. 9:1). The former retain their holy state and service to God, whereas the latter have defected from their original place and continue in constant rebellion against the Lord. Angels, both elect and fallen, are organized into different classes, which are called “the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places” (Eph. 3:10; cf. Col. 1:16; 2:15).

     Michael—whose name means “who is like God”—is the only one named as an Archangel (Jude 1:9). Gabriel—whose name means “hero of God”—appears as a special messenger of the Lord who delivered messages to Daniel (Dan. 8:16; 9:21), Zacharias (Luke 1:18-19), and Mary (Luke 1:26-38). Seraphim—who have six wings—are devoted to the worship of God (Isa. 6:1-3), whereas Cherubim—who have four wings—are devoted to protecting the Lord’s holiness (Ezek. 10:19-21). The term “angel of Yahweh” is used only in the Old Testament and refers to appearances by the preincarnate Jesus Christ (Gen. 18:1-19:29; 22:11-12; 31:11-13; 32:24-32; 48:15-16; Josh. 5:13-15; Judg. 13:19-22; 2 Kings 19:35; 1 Chron. 21:12-30; Ps. 34:7).

     Satan is the chief angel who, because of pride, rebelled against God (Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:11-18). The name Satan is derived from the Hebrew שָׂטָן Satan (Job 1:6) and the Greek Σατανᾶς Satanas (Matt. 4:10), and both words mean adversary. Other names include the shining one, or Lucifer (Isa. 14:12), the evil one (1 John 5:19), the tempter (1 Thess. 3:5), the devil (Matt. 4:1), the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4), the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10), the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2), the serpent (Rev. 12:9), the great red dragon (Rev. 12:3), and the angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14).

     Satan interacts with God and people (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-13; John 13:27; 1 Pet. 5:8; Rev. 12:10), possesses earthly kingdoms (Luke 4:5-6), is said to have “weakened the nations” (Isa. 14:12), and currently “deceives the whole world” (Rev 12:9). He practices deception (Gen. 3:1-15; 2 Cor. 11:13-15), and has well developed strategies of warfare against Christians (Eph. 6:10-12). As a creature, Satan is confined in his abilities and relies on numerous fallen angels who carry out his will. His demons also lead political and military rebellions (Rev. 16:12-14).

     Satan was judged at the cross (John 12:31; 16:11; Col. 2:14-15), and awaits his future punishment. His judgment is very near when he is cast out of heaven to the earth during the Tribulation (Rev. 12:7-12). At this time his wrath is greatest against God’s people. After the return of Christ (Rev. 19:11-16) and the establishment of His kingdom on earth (Rev. 20:1-6), Satan will be confined to the abyss for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1-3). After the thousand years, Satan is released for a brief time and will again deceive the nations and lead a rebellion against God (Rev. 20:7-8), but will be quickly defeated (Rev. 20:9), and cast into the Lake of Fire, where he will be forever, with his demons and all unbelievers (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10-15).

     Fallen angels are commonly referred to in Scripture as demons. These creatures are hostile, implacable, and irreconcilable; and they regularly wage war against elect angels and God’s people. Some are imprisoned (Jude 6; Rev. 9:1-16), and others are free. During the time of Christ, they were able to identify Him as the Son of God (Matt. 8:29a), and they knew their future fate (Matt. 8:29b). Satan and demons attempt to frustrate the purpose of God (Matt. 4:1-11; cf. Dan. 10:10-14; Rev. 16:13-16). Demons can possess the bodies of men (Luke 11:24-26), and cause physical disease (Matt. 9:32-33). 

     The activity of Satan and demons is always under God’s sovereign control. There are times when God permits Satan and demons to have their way, such as when Satan inflicted Job (Job 2:7), and sifted Peter as wheat (Luke 22:31), or when Jesus permitted demons to enter a herd of swine (Matt. 8:31-32). And, there are times when God uses evil spirits as disciplinary agents against believers, either to punish (1 Sam. 16:14-16), or humble (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

     Some fallen angels are called chief princes who rule over specific geographical regions of the world (Dan. 10:13, 20). The apostle Paul communicates this idea when he wrote to the church at Ephesus, revealing, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood [i.e. other people], but against the rulers [ἀρχή arche - rulers], against the powers [ἐξουσία exousia – power to act, authority], against the world forces [κοσμοκράτωρ kosmokrator – a ruler of this world] of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” [τὰ πνευματικὰ τῆς πονηρίας ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις] (Eph. 6:12). There are spiritual battles in heavenly places where angels war against each other, and their activity directly affects mankind (Dan. 10:1-21; Rev. 12:7-9; cf. Job 1:6; 2:1; 1 Ki. 22:1-38; 2 Thess. 2:9; Rev. 9:1-19; 16:12-14). Though we cannot see our enemy, spiritual victory is obtained through the blood of Christ (Rev. 12:10-11), and through the knowledge of God’s Word and living daily by faith (Eph. 6:12-18; 2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16-17; cf. 2 Cor. 5:17).