Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Some Questions About Angels and Demons

I have a few questions about angels and demons, and am wondering if any of my readers know the answers. This is not a topic that I've looked into much.

These are genuine questions. I believe in both angels and demons, and that they interact with humanity. If the questions sound odd, it's because this is how my weird mind works. I don't intend to be flippant.

1) How many angels and demons are there? Does the Bible state this anywhere?
2) Their number is now fixed, correct?
3) If a demon is sent to the pit (abyss), he can't get out again, correct?
4) If the world population is increasing and #2 or #3 are true, does this mean the ratio of angels and demons to people is steadily decreasing?
5) Are demons bound to the earth?
6) If #5 is true, and a possessed person went to another planet (say Mars), would he be freed of the possession?

7 comments:

Nick Norelli said...

1. Don't know, and no, the Bible doesn't say.

2. I don't know, maybe.

3. I don't think so, unless he's released for the final judgment.

4. Yes.

5. I'm not sure.

6. I doubt it because that person is 'of the earth' so the demon would be bound to that person.

Kevin Jackson said...

Thanks for the answers Nick.

The Seeking Disciple said...

1. Don't know but I guess millions. No.

2. I would agree.

3. Correct.

4. Don't know.

5. It seems that Satan was in God's presence in Job 1 so they seem to have some sort of freedom to go to and fro.

6. Since people are "earthen vessels" I would think the demon goes with them.

Tony said...

1) I'm not aware of any specific numbers, although based on Matthew 26:53 there's quite a fair number of angels :)

2) Their number is fixed, yes, but on their own accord. Those angels who remained loyal will remain loyal, and those demons who rebelled will continue to rebel.

3) I imagine so. Peter writes of demons who are (and will be) imprisoned in the pit.

4) I don't think so. Angels and demons don't reproduce, and come from God. I think their number remains fixed.

5) Demons are bound to the spiritual world. The spiritual world is everywhere. The devil, however, is often called the king of the earth. Obviously demons are not in paradise, but neither are they strictly limited to the natural world.

6) They would stay possessed :) Demons don't have jurisdictions. You wouldn't expect a demon to say, "Oh! Darn! Mars is outside my sphere of control!"

I actually wrote a series on angels and demons, quoting passages from Saint John Damascene's Exposition of the Orthodox Faith. Here are the links:

http://catechumens-tale.blogspot.com/2008/11/angels-and-demons-part-i-angels.html

http://catechumens-tale.blogspot.com/2008/11/angels-and-demons-part-ii-demons.html

Kevin Jackson said...

Thanks Roy and Tony. Tony, cool - I'll check out the links.

Onesimus said...

1) How many angels and demons are there? Does the Bible state this anywhere?

Revelation 5:11
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.

Regarding angels, this of course does only describes the number in a particular place at a particular time and not necessarily the overall total in existence; so there are more than 100,000,000 angels.

It is often thought that one third of the angels fell along with satan – this is based on an interpretation of a Revelation 12:4which may not be sound.


2) Their number is now fixed, correct?

As far as I’m aware this is not mentioned in scripture.

3) If a demon is sent to the pit (abyss), he can't get out again, correct?

Satan will be bound and imprisoned in the abyss for 1000 years and is later released for a short time.
It also depends on the meaning of Revelation 9 and the reference to Abbadon.

4) If the world population is increasing and #2 or #3 are true, does this mean the ratio of angels and demons to people is steadily decreasing?

It depends on whether 2 and 3 are correct.

5) Are demons bound to the earth?

Satan is described as the prince of the power of the air and according to Job has access to heaven.

6) If #5 is true, and a possessed person went to another planet (say Mars), would he be freed of the possession?

That’s a big “IF” to deal with, followed by another hypothetical situation. Rememebr, deliverance comes through Jesus not through NASA.

-Tim

Kevin Jackson said...

"Rememebr, deliverance comes through Jesus not through NASA."

That's a great line! :) Thanks Tim for the thoughts.