67 – Occupation of Evil Angels
OCCUPATION OF EVIL ANGELS
§ 67. The evil angels, being since their fall enemies of God and of His children,1 are under their princes2 ever bent upon destroying the works of God,3 counteracting His purposes,4 doing and promoting evil,5 and, though subject to God’s supreme dominion and control and confined within the bounds of His permission,6 they are in various ways occupied in strengthening their kingdom7 and exerting their power in the minds8 and bodies of men.9
1. The evil angels, being since their fall enemies of God and of His children,
Matthew 13:25, 39 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat. (39) The enemy that sowed them is the devil.
I Peter 5:8 Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about.
Ephesians 6:11–12 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
2. are under their princes
Matthew 25:41 Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Cf. Ephesians 6:12 supra.
3. ever bent upon destroying the works of God,
I Peter 5:8 Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
Cf. Genesis 3:1–6. Matthew 15:22. Luke 9:39.
4. counteracting His purposes,
Matthew 13:19 Then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. Cf. Luke 4:8.
Matthew 13:25–26, 38 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. (38) The tares are the children of the wicked one.
5. doing and promoting evil,
John 13:2 The devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him.
Ephesians 2:2 The spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.
II Thessalonians 2:9 Whose coming is after the working of Satan. Cf. I Chronicles 21:1. Acts 5:3–4.
6. and, though subject to God’s supreme dominion and control and confined within the bounds of His permission,
Job 1:12 The Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.
Job 2:6 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. Cf. Matthew 8:31–32.
7. they are in various ways occupied in strengthening their kingdom
Luke 11:18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?
Luke 11:24–26 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
8. and exerting their power in the minds
Acts 5:3 Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?
II Corinthians 4:4 The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not. Cf. Luke 11:26. Ephesians 2:2. John 13:2. Judas; see sub 5.
9. and bodies of men.
II Corinthians 12:7 There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me.
Luke 13:16 Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed? Cf. Matthew 9:17–18, 20.
Cf. Job 1 and Job 2.