God created the whole company of angels in the opening moments of the first day of creation (Genesis 1:1; cf. Job 38:6-7). Each angel had a direct creation (Psalm 148:2, 5; Matthew 22:30), and all were originally created in an unconfirmed state of holiness (Genesis 1:31). Angels are finite, spirit beings (Isaiah 6:3; Hebrews 1:6, 14; Luke 8:2) possessing all the qualities of personality (1 Peter 1:2; Luke 15:10; Job 1:6; 38:7; Isaiah 6:3). Their powers greatly exceed that of human beings (2 Peter 2:11). Angels are essentially incorporeal (Hebrews 1:4) who have appeared similar to human form (Genesis 18:2-3) or as in the case of fallen angels inhabited a person’s body, but are not embodied creatures in any permanent sense. Visions of angelic bodies in the Scriptures appear to be symbolic in nature as opposed to literal bodies (Ezekiel 1:5-8; Isaiah 6).

Angels fall into two general categories: elect (Matthew 25:31; 1 Timothy 5:21) and evil (2 Peter 2:4). The good angels are practically innumerable (Hebrews 12:22) and are classified as archangels (Michael [Daniel 10:13; Jude 9] and Gabriel [Daniel 9:21; Luke 1:11]), Cherubim who proclaim and protect the presence and sovereignty of God (Genesis 3:24; Exodus 25:17ff; Ezekiel 41:18), and Seraphim who proclaim the holiness of God and man’s need for cleansing (Isaiah 6:1-7). Good angels praise, worship, and serve God (Psalm 148:1-2; 29:1; 103:20) and Jesus Christ, His Son (Matthew 2:13; Luke 22:43; Matthew 25:31). In addition, they watch over the affairs of nations (Daniel 4:17; Daniel 10:21) and minister to the saints (Hebrews 1:14).

Satan exists as a distinct personality, who was originally created perfect and holy though finite and creaturely. Satan, because of pride and ambition (1 Timothy 3:7), fell through an act of rebellion after the end of creation (Genesis 1:31). He is now the “god” of this present age (2 Corinthians 4:4), the prince this world (Ephesians 2:2), the archenemy of God and believers who endeavors to frustrate the divine plan (Genesis 3:4-5; Job 1-2; Matthew 4:1-11), oppose believers (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 12:10), sow tares among the wheat (Matthew 13:39), and tempt believers to sin (1 Corinthians 7:5). When he fell, other angels (now called demons or evil angels) fell with him and were cast out of heaven (Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6).

In demon possession a person is completely controlled by one or more demons with obvious evidences such as mental derangement, blindness, dumbness, moral impurity, epilepsy, and superhuman strength (Matthew 5:8-13; Mark 1:23-26; Luke 8:2). It is impossible for a regenerate person to be demon possessed by virtue of the indwelling Holy Spirit (1 John 4:4) and the required complicity of the victim (Matthew 12:43). Exorcism during the ministry of Christ demonstrated the healing nature of the mediatorial Kingdom (Isaiah 33:24; Isaiah 35:5) and attested the credentials of the Messiah as well as the reality that Satan will be bound in Kingdom life (Revelation 20:1-3; Zechariah 13:2). Since the Kingdom has been postponed due to the rejection by Israel, and the miraculous gifts have ceased, there are no NT instructions or commands for Christians to perform exorcisms in the church age. Believers are responsible, however, to resist the devices of Satan (James 4:7).

Satan will be cast down to earth during the Tribulation (Revelation 12:7-9), cast into the abyss during the Millennium (Revelation 20:1-3), and finally consigned forever along with his fallen angels to the lake of fire as the execution of his sentence at Calvary (John 16:11; Revelation 20:10).