For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment …
Summary: Peter gives us a peek into things we cannot see by telling us what happens in the spiritual realm.
When I was a little kid, there were many conversations between mom and dad that I was not privy to. I am sure that there were late-night discussions about family finances (money was tight), and where the job would take us next (dad’s job moved around a lot). Some families include everyone at these dinner table conversations, but not mine. Certain topics were reserved for the adults.
The Bible is a bit like that. Certain topics are beyond our human knowledge. These topics do not get a lot of coverage in the Bible. One example is angels that go bad.
Some families have a crazy uncle or someone that joins a cult. They never show up at family gatherings, and are rarely discussed publicly. Sometimes, one might overhear a whispered conversation that mentions one of the forbidden names, but on the whole, they remain a mystery.
The crazy uncle in the Bible also joined a cult. In fact, he formed his own cult. His name is Satan.
“Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” (Revelation 12: 7-9)
In this passage from Revelation, we see a glimpse of the battle that is waged in the spiritual realm. It is slightly different than Peter’s version. In Revelation, Satan and his angels are hurled to the earth. In Peter’s version, they are kept chained in the darkness of hell.
I do not know where Peter got his information. Perhaps it comes from a source that was known in his day but is not available today. It may have been information given by God through direct revelation. In any case, since Peter’s words are part of Scripture, we know that they have been vetted and approved by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16).
The Bible records demonic activity in Jesus’ day (Matt 9:32-33 ; Matt 12:22-23; Matt 15:22-28 ; Mark 1:23-27 ; Matt 8:28-34 ; Matt 17:14-20 ; Matt 8:16). It is my belief that demons are still active today.
Is that possible? Can both passages be correct?
If Satan and his angels (a.k.a. “demons”) “lost their place in heaven,” where are they? John continues by saying that they are “hurled to the earth” which would explain why our world is plagued by demons. Peter, on the other hand, tells us that the angels who sinned were “sent… to hell.” Are these the same angels that John is referring to?
I do not know.
There is an old expression that refers to “hell on earth.” It may be that when Satan and his angels lost their place in heaven, the place they were put has access to the people of earth.
The point Peter is making is that God’s justice is universal. God’s standard for righteousness applies to heavenly beings as well human beings. I am wading into the weeds here because… well, because that is what I do. 🙂 I hope that it is helpful to look at God’s Word and understand that there are things beyond our knowledge. We can’t critique something we know nothing about, so we have to take today’s passage and the one from Revelation at face value.
Meanwhile, it is more important that we understand that God’s judgment hangs over all who subvert his will.
Application: Do not fall into the trap of thinking that because we are God’s creation that he will spare us from judgment even if we do not believe in Jesus.
Food for Thought: If Satan’s angels are able to taunt us while being bound in “chains of darkness,” what could they do if they were free?
Wow, I come back from a week out of town and I get this question! (lol)
I have always been taught and believed that there is a spiritual war being waged behind the human perception. In this war, mankind are sometimes used as pawns.
Daniel 10: 12-14
Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”
I only bring this up because some fallen angels are active, but other are not.
Jude 1:6
And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.
So the question, to me, is if Satan’s angels are able to taunt us while being bound in “chains of darkness,” what could they do if they were free?
Having been in the military, I know a lot of military history. Throughout history, most nations do no allow a “free-for-all” style of warfare. Most nations try and have some type of “rules” when it comes to human suffering. I know that they are not always followed, and that they change.
I do believe God has “rules” about the spiritual war being waged, and because I believe this war takes place on Earth behind human perception, God has placed these rules to hold back the suffering. Prior to the Revolutionary War, European fighting style was to line up in rows on a field of battle and take shots at each other until the two army’s met in the middle. The primary purpose was to keep it out of the populated areas, to keep non-combatants safe. I believe God has done the same for us.
A good example of this is in 1 Corinthians 10:13 “no temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it”
if Satan’s angels are able to taunt us while being bound in “chains of darkness,” what could they do if they were free?
I don’t believe the human condition would be able to suffer it. Not that I think in anyway that God would lose the battle, just that it would cause so much unnecessary suffering to humans. I say unnecessary because there is a level of suffering that is in God’s plan.
Hebrews 12:11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Very hard question to articulate a concise answer to, but I think I did.
Chris,
Welcome back! Yes, you did a good job, too. Thank you!
I appreciate the military perspective and the idea of there being “rules of engagement.” Of course in the spiritual realm, they would be unilaterally enforced by God, but the principle is the same.
Thanks for the devotion brother. Some of these passages may be hard to connect the dots because they could be talking about present day verses future, etc.
But to the question, I believe we always see Satan on a leash. He can only go so far because God is sovereign and rules over the angelic realm just as He rules over all creation. Everything was created by Christ and for Christ and He sustains all things, which allows Him supremacy over all – including the angelic realm. Colossians 1: 15 – 17.
Rich,
Luke records Jesus saying, “He replied, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’” (Luke 10: 18-20)
I always have thought it interesting that he spoke in the past tense. Yet speaking from an eternal perspective into our temporal perspective obviously has its challenges.
Most important is your point about Satan being “on a leash.” That is comforting!
Hey Jeff,
Your comment sent me to Luke 10. Do you think the attribute of God’s Omniscience was being made known here?
This would confirm God’s presence in Christ and account for His speaking of this in the past tense.
Ron
Ron,
Let me just point out that it is much easier asking the questions than it is answering them! 🙂
What you say could be, yet I am inclined to think that God, being aware of future and past tense inside the bubble called time that his creation exists in, meant that it was something that had already happened.
There is a point in Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus where his pronouns shift from the singular to the plural. He says:
“Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.”
I have always felt that this is an indication of Jesus speaking from the heavenly perspective as the collective “we.” (“We” meaning Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”)
This is similar to the text in Genesis 1:28 where it quotes God using the same collective voice:
“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’”
So you make a good point. There are times when God reveals attributes about himself by how he speaks. Was that what Jesus intended with the comment about Satan?
Maybe… 🙂
I find it a joyful blessings when I come back later to read everyone’s comments and I get goosebumps reading comments about scripture that I wasn’t on my mind and then I had to look it up. I am thankful for the Holy Spirit in each of you that helps me get back into Gods word more and more. Praise the Lord for all of the encouragement that helps my relationship with Christ. Thank you.
o
They could only do what God allowed. Free or not free. Chains or not. All heads will bow all knees will bend.
Amen, Mr. T.
Amen!
10-26-2021, 2 Peter 2:4, If Satan’s angels are able to taunt us while being bound in “chains of darkness,” what could they do if they were free?
Satan and his angels are created beings. God is Sovereign, the power of God would remain supreme. Salvation through Christ would remain available to all mankind, the power of the Holy Spirit would continue to convict and all who seek refuge in the Lord would have the full armor of God for our protection.
I didn’t see your comment before I posted, but I very much appreciate your inclusion of the armor of God in your response! With God as our refuge and protection, what could any force do?
Ron,
Great point! Whatever power Satan and his minions are allowed to exercise in our world serves to drive us to our Lord for protection.
I agree with Chris, there isn’t a concise answer. As well as with Rich that we could easily try to apply truth for different points in time to the same moment and thus muddle our theology. This would take more than a three minute study! But it is interesting how each are reminded of different passages here: Revelation, Daniel, Jude, Hebrews, Colossians.
But my mind immediately goes to Job. Which is in agreement with T’s comment. Whether demonic forces are chained or not can seem irrelevant when you think of how they must be allowed by God to affect the lives of humans.
What could they do if they were free? Only what God allowed. Right? At least what they do to people seems to be. I suppose a counter question would be, how are their actions held back in regards to humans and how are they held back in regards to other spiritual forces?
As Chris brought up in Daniel, the spiritual opposition to the angel coming to respond to Daniel’s prayer I wonder whether the same permission is sought from God to delay the angels as is sought to touch one man on Earth.
I can’t confidently answer beyond saying that God knows, God has control, and God wins.
Welcome, A!
Thank you for your comments. Good summation: “God knows, God has control, and God wins.” Exactly!
I appreciate the reference to Job, too. I was thinking about him myself and the story where Satan asks God’s permission to test Job. I also think about Jesus when he says, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.” (Luke 22:31)
In John’s telling of the Last Supper (John 13: 1-17), Jesus washes the feet of all of his disciples, even Judas the betrayer. Evil is all around, in many forms. Yet, as you point out, God wins. 🙂
Wow,..pretty deep discussion here,..give the devil and inch and he will take a mile,..give God a heart and He will fulfill the desires,..
God builds things up and you know what the devil does,..tears things apart,..he doesn’t want anything good that God loves to do for others,..and with God it’s the total opposite for those that love Him,..
Like I said it was a pretty deep discussion here,..not sure if my answer was anywhere near what’s above,..by the way,..thanks people for all the input,..love the theology here,..keep smiling!
Hi John!
Thanks for joining in! Leave it to you to bring it all home: “Give the devil an inch and he will take a mile.”
Nicely said, and a very valid answer to today’s question!
As I’m scrolling and reading comments, again it’s nice to see everyone glorifying God with their comments. It puts a smile on my face how deep everyone is digging into this topic about our Lord. I feel like He has shown his favor on this discussion.
Hi Mr. T,
Thanks for checking back in. I agree; God does show his favor on all of the discussions here.
This one has been extra fun.