Who/what are demons?

[robycop3]

No doubt about the existence of demons, but who/what are they? A friend insists they're fallen angels, but 2 Peter 2:4 says God cast them into tartarus. And God certainly didn't create them sinful.

 

[kyredneck]

And God certainly didn't create them sinful.

19 And Micaiah said, Therefore hear thou the word of Jehovah: I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
20 And Jehovah said, Who shall entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner; and another said on that manner.
21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before Jehovah, and said, I will entice him.
22 And Jehovah said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt entice him, and shalt prevail also: go forth, and do so.
23 Now therefore, behold, Jehovah hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets; and Jehovah hath spoken evil concerning thee. 1 Kings 22:19-23 [2 Chronicles 18:18-22]

14 Now the Spirit of Jehovah departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Jehovah troubled him.
15 And Saul`s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
16 Let our lord now command thy servants, that are before thee, to seek out a man who is a skilful player on the harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. 1 Samuel 16

23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: Judges 9

1 And again the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Judah. 2 Samuel 24

1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. 1 Chronicles 21

...just a few for thought.

 

[robycop3]

19 And Micaiah said, Therefore hear thou the word of Jehovah: I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
20 And Jehovah said, Who shall entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner; and another said on that manner.
21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before Jehovah, and said, I will entice him.
22 And Jehovah said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt entice him, and shalt prevail also: go forth, and do so.
23 Now therefore, behold, Jehovah hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets; and Jehovah hath spoken evil concerning thee. 1 Kings 22:19-23 [2 Chronicles 18:18-22]

14 Now the Spirit of Jehovah departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Jehovah troubled him.
15 And Saul`s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
16 Let our lord now command thy servants, that are before thee, to seek out a man who is a skilful player on the harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. 1 Samuel 16

23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: Judges 9

1 And again the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Judah. 2 Samuel 24

1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. 1 Chronicles 21

...just a few for thought.

Thanx! I know demons must obey Jesus, as did those He allowed into the herd of pigs, and I believe He allows them to work evil against people, especially in carrying out His punishments. But I still wonder if they're fallen ngels or not.

 

[percho]

for to vanity was the creation made subject -- not of its will, but because of Him who did subject it -- in hope, Rom 8:20

Could demons be a part of the vanity the creation was subject unto by the creator, until, the ---

for the earnest looking out of the creation doth expect the revelation of the sons of God; Rom 9:19

--- revelation of the sons of God?

 

[kyredneck]

I still wonder if they're fallen ngels or not.

Not enough data imo. Suffice it to say they belong(ed) to the host of heaven.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

Psalm 78:49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them

Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Moreover, they are called evil spirits in many passages:

Judges 9:23

Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

1 Samuel 16:14

But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.

1 Samuel 16:15

And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

1 Samuel 16:16

Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

1 Samuel 16:23

And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

1 Samuel 18:10

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.

1 Samuel 19:9

And the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.

Luke 7:21

And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

Luke 8:2

And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

Luke 11:13

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Acts 19:12

So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Acts 19:13

Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

Acts 19:15

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

Acts 19:16

And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

The Bible plainly teaches that demons are evil angels.

 

[JesusFan]

No doubt about the existence of demons, but who/what are they? A friend insists they're fallen angels, but 2 Peter 2:4 says God cast them into tartarus. And God certainly didn't create them sinful.

Fallen demons, and Satan was created perfectly, and yet he fell!

 

[robycop3]

Psalm 78:49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them

Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Moreover, they are called evil spirits in many passages:

Judges 9:23

Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

1 Samuel 16:14

But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.

1 Samuel 16:15

And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

1 Samuel 16:16

Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

1 Samuel 16:23

And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

1 Samuel 18:10

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.

1 Samuel 19:9

And the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.

Luke 7:21

And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

Luke 8:2

And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

Luke 11:13

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Acts 19:12

So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Acts 19:13

Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

Acts 19:15

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

Acts 19:16

And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

The Bible plainly teaches that demons are evil angels.

2 Peter 2:4 says the angels that sinned are being held in tartarus til judgment.

 

[Van]

There is a side study, Demonology, that explores this subject. It appears that demonic activity was greatly increased during Christ's lifetime, perhaps to provide some of His demonstrations of supernatural authority.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

2 Peter 2:4 says the angels that sinned are being held in tartarus til judgment.

Comparing Scripture with Scripture shows that holding that this verse refers to all angels that have ever sinned is wrong. The verse refers to a specific group of angels who sinned on one or more specific occasions and then were judged by God and bound by Him. Those angels were never again able to engage in any sinful actions out anywhere else in the universe because of God's putting them into captivity.

 

[robycop3]

Comparing Scripture with Scripture shows that holding that this verse refers to all angels that have ever sinned is wrong. The verse refers to a specific group of angels who sinned on one or more specific occasions and then were judged by God and bound by Him. Those angels were never again able to engage in any sinful actions out anywhere else in the universe because of God's putting them into captivity.

The verse doesn't say "SOME of the angels that sonned".

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

The verse doesn't say "SOME of the angels that sonned".

Nor does the verse say that it was all the angels who had ever sinned in any way:

2 Pet. 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

"the angels that sinned" <> all the angels that had ever sinned

 

[robycop3]

Nor does the verse say that it was all the angels who had ever sinned in any way:

2 Pet. 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

"the angels that sinned" <> all the angels that had ever sinned

Which angels that sinned does "the angels that sinned "leave out ?

 

[percho]

cast down to Tartarus,

A condition? A location?

Relative to?

When?

To judgement?

What judgement?

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

Which angels that sinned does "the angels that sinned "leave out ?

When the Spirit inspired Peter to write 2 Peter, He inspired Peter to write that the judgment of the angels spoken of in 2:4 had already taken place by that time in history. According to your view, that would mean that there have not been and could not have been any angelic beings who have sinned in any way at any time after the supposed judgment of all sinful angels spoken of in 2 Pet. 2:4.

Holding that view would either require you to hold that the devil because he is also an angel was also then bound in that judgment or to hold that the devil is not angel and therefore was not bound in that supposed judgment of all sinful angelic beings.

Neither of those views would be biblical, and Revelation refutes holding that all sinful angelic beings were bound in the judgment spoken of in 2 Pet. 2:4.

 

[robycop3]

cast down to Tartarus,

A condition? A location?

Relative to?

When?

To judgement?

What judgement?

Tartarus is evidently a special area of hades. There may be a special judgment for those angels, as Scripture says we shall judge angels. (1 Cor. 6:3) Likely, it'll be around the time of the Great White Throne judgment, but Scripture doesn't give a hint of the time.

 

[robycop3]

When the Spirit inspired Peter to write 2 Peter, He inspired Peter to write that the judgment of the angels spoken of in 2:4 had already taken place by that time in history. According to your view, that would mean that there have not been and could not have been any angelic beings who have sinned in any way at any time after the supposed judgment of all sinful angels spoken of in 2 Pet. 2:4.

Holding that view would either require you to hold that the devil because he is also an angel was also then bound in that judgment or to hold that the devil is not angel and therefore was not bound in that supposed judgment of all sinful angelic beings.

Neither of those views would be biblical, and Revelation refutes holding that all sinful angelic beings were bound in the judgment spoken of in 2 Pet. 2:4.

1 Cor. 6:3 says WE shall judge angels. And the best Scripture says about the angels that sinned is that they're being held in tartarus. I don't try to add meanings to God's word.

 

[Reynolds]

All we can say with certainty is that they are evil beings who are servants or agents of Satan. Debating where they came from can get wild and it all relies on interpretation ambiguous passages of Scripture. I believe they are fallen angels. I believe the ones in chains you mention are the ones who procreated with man to father the giants. I can't prove either and won't try; just my theory.

No doubt about the existence of demons, but who/what are they? A friend insists they're fallen angels, but 2 Peter 2:4 says God cast them into tartarus. And God certainly didn't create them sinful.

 

[Reynolds]

Which angels that sinned does "the angels that sinned "leave out ?

Could be (not saying it is) all angels who fell sinned the sin of rebellion but some committed another or other wicked acts that not all were guilty of.

 

[robycop3]

Could be (not saying it is) all angels who fell sinned the sin of rebellion but some committed another or other wicked acts that not all were guilty of.

Reynolds, both your theories are plausible, as Scripture doesn't tell us for sure.

Sportzz Fanzz, remember, Satan isn't an angel, but is a cherub, a higher being than angels. And apparently, he was the most powerful of the cherubim.