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Fallen Angels

Beloved,
 
I have been reading several books on doctrine recently and came across this gem.  It is in regard to Satan and fallen angels.  At first I didn't think it would be all that interesting, but I find that as I read, I was compelled to think of the world situation as it stands now. The thing that attracted my attention was the idea that the worlds problems could be solved by the efforts of man.  And the idea that Satan is for so many things.  It occurs to me that Satan is for women's rights to abortion, is for divorce, is for illicit sexual behavior under the auspices of freedom.  All these things, and more, may sound altruistic, but they have their ends in judgment and death.  As the proverb says,
 
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Pro 16:25 
 
With that in mind, I present this excerpt,

~Al
 
"The Bible, in reference to the demons, calls us to responsibility and prayer.  Think, for instance, of the Lord's Prayer.  The last petition asks for deliverance from evil.  But the prayer does not begin with evil; it speaks of evil only after guilt has been confessed.  Satan is not an explanatory principle that does away with our guilt. The reality of Satan's power does not undo the reality of our personal responsibility in evil.  But when we have prayed for forgiveness of our own sin we also pray for resistance against the evil power, against him who has only a little time left[1], who seeks to lead men astray, who accuses the brethren before the throne of God, and who strives mightily to blind men to the great salvation that has really come into the world.
For this reason, we shall not be able to do battle with the evil of the world in our own time by means of the armament of human morality and plans for world improvement.  For Satan's ways are not unknown to us—so says Paul[2] in warning the congregation.  His designs can be summed up in one word: anti.  He is anti-creation and anti-redemption.  The antichrist shall appear to be for many things.  He shall be for culture, for human religions, for the earth, for development of life.  But he shall be anti-Jesus Christ.  In this sense, the power of Satan is a negative power.  It is a power that shall be revealed as nothing when the Parousia[3] of Jesus Christ confronts the Parousia of the antichrist[4].  The basic weakness of Satan since the cross will then be made manifest.
We fail to see this now. The power of Satan appears undiminished and Satan appears unconquerable at times.  But our failure lies in part with the fact that Satan appears now as an angel of light.  The false prophets, against whom Paul warns, bring this to the Apostle's mind.  Satan stands before the entrance to a dry desert and proclaims it is the gateway to Paradise.  He witnesses to the light with signs and wonders, but is really bidding men to follow him into darkness.  Only in the light of Him who is the Light of the World does it become wholly clear that Jesus Christ is indeed the powerful conqueror of Satan."
--G.C.Berkouwer, Satan and the Demons, Basic Christian Doctrines Edited by Carl F.H. Henry, 1962
 
 
 
 
 

[1] Rev. 12:12
[2] 2Cor.2:11
[3] The meaning of PAROUSIA is the time when Jesus Christ will return to judge humanity at the end of the world: second coming. 
[4] 2Thess. 2:9

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