Bible Questions and Answers

 

Thank you for your question.

I make the assumption that you are meaning powers in heaven separate from, and antagonistic to, God and His purpose. If the Bible taught that such is the case, I would believe it. Since the Bible teaches no such thing, I cannot believe it. In heaven the will of God is done perfectly. There is no other power in heaven and earth but God.  Everything that is done in heaven is done by the power of God.

Deuteronomy 4:35 ... that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.

39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

Deut. 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

God is the author of both Good and Evil (excepting, of course, the evil of sin – which is disobedience to God’s will).

Amos 3:6 ... shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

Job understood that both good and evil come from God.

Job 1:21 ... Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips (which means he spoke the truth).

The evil of crucifixion was a cup given to Jesus by his Father. It was necessary for our salvation.

John 18:11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

Pilate could have had no power to condemn Jesus except it was given him by God.

John 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

God set up Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel 2:37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

All kings, good and evil are given their power by God.

Daniel 4:17 ...to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

All Governments, good and evil are given their power by God.

Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

The only creature in heaven and earth that disobeys God is man. His disobedience is called sin and because of it hedies.

The rule is clear.

Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die...

Christ (who did no sin) died to save us from our sins. This is the Gospel taught in the Bible. When he was raised from the dead he was given all power both inheaven and earth in the same way that Pharaoh gave Joseph all power in the land of Egypt.

Joseph

Genesis 41:40Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

Jesus

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Peter confirms that Christ has authority over the angels in heaven and the authorities and powers on the earth.

1Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authoritiesand powers being made subjectunto him.

When he returns he will establish the Kingdom of God and rule the earth in righteousness. In the fullness of time he will abolish sin and death.

The prayer that he taught his disciples includes a request for this time to come when the will of God will be done on earth as it is donein heaven.

Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

If God’s will is not done perfectly in heaven, there is no point in asking for the same level obedience of earth. The nonsense that is preached about fallen angels comes from taking that which is figurative (figurative language is often used in the Bible) as literal. It overlooks that the reward of the righteous is to be made ‘equal to the angels’. This is equated with eternal life. If angels sin then the righteous will still be able to sin and the promise of ‘eternal life’ becomes a sham. 

The satan (literally adversary) in Job could not work without God’s power and permission and the narrative cannot be used to support angelic disobedience.

People are sometimes referred to as ‘angels’ which, literally, is ‘messengers’.

John the Baptist:

Matthew 11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

John the baptist’s disciples:

Luke 7:24 And when the messengers of John were departed,

Jesus’ disciples:

Luke 9:52 And sent messengers before his face:

In revelation the collective eldership of each of the seven churches is figuratively called the ‘angel’.

Revelation 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write;

The ‘angels that sinned’(2Peter 2:4) or ‘kept not their first estate’(Jude 1:6) is referring to the rebellion of Korah Dathan and Abiram (Numbers 16) who were elders at the time of Moses.

The idea of spiritual forces of Evil striving against God in heaven (or earth), apart from man, is only tenable when unambiguous Bible passages to the contrary are ignored or dismissed.

I hope this helps

Glenn Smith