The Devil and His Angels
By Dr. Ken Matto
Matthew 25:41 (KJV) Then shall he say also unto them
on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for
the devil and his angels:
Since I became a Christian 35 years ago, I had been
taught and had believed that Matthew 25:41 focused only on the angels who
rebelled with Satan. Recently I have been pondering that verse and I started to
wonder if that belief has limited the scope of this verse. If you pick up any
commentary you will read that this verse is specifically speaking about the
fallen angels in Satan’s rebellion. Looking at this verse, I believe it speaks
to another group and that is the unbelievers. Now in the Hebrew Scriptures, we
have an interesting verse in Proverbs which we need to look at.
Proverbs 16:4 (KJV) The LORD hath made all things for
himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Notice that the verse speaks about the Lord making all
things for himself and that includes the wicked for the day of evil and that day
of evil is Judgment Day. In other words God has continued to create those who
will not become saved and the main reason that is so, is because those who are
the elect of God come through family lines. I am sure that those who are reading
this will see in their own family lines, as I have seen in mine, that there are
more unsaved than saved. I became saved in late 1980 and the only way I could
become saved is because God chose me before the foundation of the world to
become saved. Ephesians 1:4 (KJV) According as he hath chosen us in him
before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame
before him in love: I realize words like election and predestination are
abhorrent to those who tout free will but that is their problem. They violate
Revelation 22:19 by rejecting these words which are totally biblical.
Since God named me before the foundation of the world
for salvation, He was now responsible to get me the gospel and apply it to me so
I could become saved. I don’t say this joyfully but both my parents, as far as I
can tell, died unsaved and at this point my only living brother is unsaved. I am
the only one in my immediate family who has become saved, 1 out of 4. So the
wicked or unbelievers come into this world and through family lines, believers
also come into this world. So this is why God continues to create those who will
not become saved. We are speaking of Limited Atonement in this arena, in that
some will be saved and other will not and as a result, even if unbelieving
families have believers in them, it does not have any effect because each person
is judged on their own sins.
Now I want to return to Matthew 25:41 and show how we
have limited the scope of this verse. This verse speaks about the everlasting
fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels. Now that definitely is
speaking about the fact that those angels who rebelled against God in Heaven and
went with Satan are definitely heading for eternal damnation. Now the word I
want to focus in on is the word “angels.” In the Greek it is word “angelos” and
it carries the meaning of “messenger, angel, or envoy.”
The word is translated “messenger” in the following
five verses:
Matthew 11:10 (KJV) For this is he, of whom it is
written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy
way before thee.
Mark 1:2 (KJV) As it is written in the prophets,
Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before
thee.
Luke 7:27 (KJV) This is he, of whom it is written,
Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before
thee.
2 Corinthians 12:7 (KJV) And lest I should be exalted
above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a
thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be
exalted above measure.
Philippians 2:25 (KJV) Yet I supposed it necessary to
send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and
fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
In the following four verses, it is translated
“messengers:”
Luke 7:24 (KJV) And when the messengers of John were
departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out
into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
Luke 9:52 (KJV) And sent messengers before his face:
and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for
him.
2 Corinthians 8:23 (KJV) Whether any do inquire of
Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be
inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
James 2:25 (KJV) Likewise also was not Rahab the
harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent
them out another way?
In all nine instances, the word is speaking about
human beings and not spirit beings as we see in Revelation and other places in
Bible. Now I want to ask a series of five questions related to messengers.
1) Those who teach Evolution, are they messengers of
Satan since they deny creation, and the Creator?
2) Those who teach Atheism, are they messengers of
Satan since they deny the existence of God?
3) Those who teach false religions, are they
messengers of Satan since they deny salvation through Christ alone?
4) Those who teach homosexuality is okay, are they
messengers of Satan denying the teachings of Scripture and the attack on
marriage?
5) Those who hate and attack Christians, are they
messengers of Satan?
I think you get the point. Matthew 25:41 is not just
speaking about those angels who rebelled with Satan, but is also speaking about
those people who have chosen to follow Satan in this world by doing what they
can to attack and destroy the body of Christ. The same fate awaits these people
as does those fallen angels. That is why the Lord is stating that everlasting
fire was prepared for the devil and his angels (messengers) because it does not
matter whether it is the spirit beings or human beings. Opposition to the
Kingdom of God and the Lord Jesus Christ will yield eternal punishment!