Angels - Good & Evil

Seraphim appear to render worship to God continually. Their names means “burning ones.”

Others. There may be other types of angels, but scripture does not reveal that any others exist.

Rank and Order. God tells us that there is an authority structure among these angels. Jude 9 tells us that the angel is an archangel and Daniel 10:13 says that he is a “chief prince.” Revelation 12:7 says “Michael and his angels waging war” in heaven sometime in the future. This means that Michael is like a general leading a host of angels.

The Apostle Paul also reveals that there is rank and order among the angels when he writes,

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (NASB) Ephesians 6:12

Evil and Good Angels. Some of the angels are good and some are evil. That means, for example, some of the cherubim are good and some are evil. In modern times, evil angels have been usually called demons, spirits, or ghosts, but the holy angels are usually called “angels.”

Evil Angels. Evil angels came into existence when one unique cherub sinned by wanting to be like God. The other evil angels, maybe cherubim and seraphim, became evil angels when they decided to rebel against God too!

- Anointed Cherub. There was one special cherub which God called His anointed cherub. His name is Lucifer, Satan, or the Devil.

You were the anointed cherub who covers, And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire. (NASB) Ezekiel 28:14

. . .You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, Was in you. On the day that you were created . . . You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, Until unrighteousness was found in you. (NASB) Ezekiel 28:12-13, 15

But this anointed cherub is no longer perfect and blameless because he sinned.

You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you . . Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty . . (NASB) Ezekiel 28:15, 17

. . . you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ (NASB) Isaiah 14:13-14

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground . . . (NKJV) Isaiah 14:12

- The Demons. When Satan sinned in heaven by wanting to be like God, he motivated one-third of the angels in heaven to follow him and rebel against God. But Satan was cast out of heaven and they were thrown out too.

. . . swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. (NASB) Revelation 12:4