Originally Satan, known as Lucifer, and his demon host were holy angels. To the fact that Satan was created an angel of a very high order practically all scholars agree. However, there is some confusion as to the origin of demons. We do not agree with the Scofield Bible (footnote page 1004) and other scholars which say demons and the fallen angels of II Peter 2:4 and Jude 6 are not the same. We believe they are. As Lucifer, their prince and leader, was cast out of God’s holy mountain (abode of God), so were they.
I personally believe each of the arch-angels had one third of the holy angels under his care and charge. Being a prince and leader over them, Lucifer led his one third in rebellion against God. This, I believe, is what Rev. 12:3-4 is talking about. Their first estate and habitation mentioned in Jude 6 was the place of trust and service they occupied in the heavenly abode with all the rest of God’s angelic beings. No doubt this fall of Satan and one third of the angels is what Jesus had reference to when he said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Luke 10:18.
Although little is said about individual angels or demons, we have quite a bit of information on Lucifer’s original state from Ezekiel 28:11-18. Though the message in Ezekiel is to the King of Tyre it is very evident the Lord is speaking directly to the evil personality of Satan that inspired this king. Let’s note some of the things said of Satan.
The Lord said he was full of wisdom and covered with a dazzling beauty likened unto all manner of precious gems and gold. He was called the anointed cherub that covereth and perfect in all his ways until iniquity was found in him. His place on the holy mountain of God was walking up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. From this it appears Satan had charge of the celestial treasures and it was his job to dispense the same in the covering or beautification of things. Stones of fire no doubt has reference to the sparkling beauty of the gems he was in charge of.
Now we realize how inadequate human language confined by earthly definition is to really understand what is meant here. God is simply showing us what a trusted, important and glorious position Lucifer occupied before he fell.
Pride of heart caused Lucifer to aspire to a position of honor and glory apart from and above his Creator. This is brought out in Isaiah 14:12-14 which says, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”
Called “son of the morning” by Isaiah, this anointed cherub was a partaker of the celestial treasure and the glory and beauty of his Creator. Revelling in this glory as though it originated in himself, rather than God, Lucifer became proud and exalted. Isn’t it also significant that Satan still uses beauty and riches as his chief tools to corrupt mankind? Hollywood knows the power of these things to capture the mind and fancy of the world.
Satan also used this means to tempt Christ in the wilderness in his effort to corrupt the Lord and defeat God’s plan to redeem man. (Matthew 4: 1-11). Simply stated, Lucifer’s rebellion consisted of his rejecting the Lordship of the Creator over his life and becoming his own Lord. He rejected God’s plan and purpose for himself and set out to shape his own destiny. Thus he became a competitor of almighty God with delusions of grandeur. God will have no competitor. He is supreme head over His universe. Satan was deceived into thinking he didn’t need to submit to God or His plan and so he walked out of the light of God into the darkness of eternal night.
This is the same spirit today that leads men to think they can live their own lives apart from God and His purpose. God has a plan and a purpose for our lives. We have no choice in this matter. From the foundation of the world God’s blueprint for his creation including men and angels was drawn with infinite care and wisdom. Any life, way or system apart from God’s is a diabolical substitute of Satan that leads to destruction. Darkness and eternal ruin await angels and men who choose the way of independence and rebellion against their creator.
This is the reason for Jesus’ warning in John 12:35-36. “Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus and departed, and did hide himself from them.”
Our only hope for time and eternity is to gladly surrender our life to the Lord Jesus Christ and let him lead us into his plan and purpose for us. Let us realize and say as Jeremiah (10:23) did: “O Lord,
I know that the way of man is not in himself: It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.”
From many scriptures it is evident that Lucifer was an angelic prince of great power and authority who shared this position with two other archangels named Gabriel and Michael. (Daniel 8:16, 9:21. Luke 1:19, 26. Daniel 10:13, 21, 12:1. Jude 9. Rev. 12:7. I Thess. 4:16).
Michael is the fighting angel or the one who makes war against Lucifer and his fallen angels. Gabriel is a messenger angel entrusted with carrying and announcing important messages.
Numerous men along with some angels and our Lord Jesus Christ were called princes because of their position of power and authority over others. It is in this sense the arch-angels were called princes. Since the fall Satan has had to exist in the invisible realm of the earth. This is why Paul called him the prince of the power of the air. (Eph. 2:2). This is also why Jesus called him the prince of this world. (John 14:30, 16:11). It was no doubt Satan who was regarded as Beelzebub, the prince of devils. (Matt. 12:24, Mark 3:22).
Demons were created angels with varying talents, wisdom and strength. As men and angels serve in different capacities in the kingdom of God, demons or evil spirits serve in different capacities in the kingdom of darkness. They were as varied in their original creation as men are today. All of their God-given talents, wisdom and strength originally used in righteousness and love are now used in hate and treacherous iniquity.
Even among demons the gift and calling of God is without repentance. Though diabolically evil, they still possess these attributes given to them at the time of their creation. Their tenacious faith in holding on to those they have possessed is a manifestation of the gift of God in perversion. The diabolical wisdom they employ in their unceasing battle against man is absolutely astounding.
In leaving the light of God, they lost all knowledge of righteousness and love and are now held in everlasting chains of darkness awaiting judgment. These everlasting chains of Jude 6 are not a geographical prison house located somewhere in God’s universe. It simply means these spirits are banished from the light and goodness of God forever. They have lost their place in God’s kingdom and must live out their existence like spiritual zombies under the control of Lucifer, their king.
I asked a demon spirit which said he knew he was cast out of heaven what it was like in that blessed place and he said, “I don’t want to remember or think about it.” When I began to talk about the peace, love and harmony of that blessed place he was in torment.
Having lost their place of honor and service in the heavenly kingdom, they now direct all their evil attention and energy toward defiling and destroying man. And, although the Lord has given us the victory through the cross of Calvary, let’s not underestimate this terrible foe. For Satan and his demon host are a mighty army indeed. The battle must likewise be fought the Lord’s way with his weapons.
Man would be greatly in need of help and redemption if there were no demons in the earth. But the terrible fact is, there is such a vast number of demon spirits in the earth that I would not venture a guess. However, we can get some insight on this question from the scriptures. Let’s remember, a third of the angels fell with Lucifer. Therefore, Satan’s demon army would consist of one third of the original number of angels.
In Revelation 5:11, John sees ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands gathered around the throne in heaven. Ten thousand times ten thousand is one hundred million. But let’s remember there is also an indefinite number designated as thousands of thousands.
This latter number could reach the astronomical figure of almost one trillion (1,000,000,000,000) or a thousand billion. I think the scriptures are simply saying this heavenly host is so great until it is innumerable. This is the very language that is used in Hebrews 12:22 where the angelic host is called “an innumerable company of angels”. With Satan and his fallen angels of one third already removed from this group. It means the demon host under Lucifer today would be one half as large as God’s innumerable company.
Though God alone knows the exact number, I think we can safely say there are literally billions of demons preying upon mankind today. Almost all persons I know of who are delivered from demons have several in them. Some have been known to have literally hundreds of devils in them. And all of us, though not actually possessed of demons, are harassed, tempted, deceived and in general oppressed by demons more than we realize.