Ask a Minister - "Do the fallen angels have power to travel between heaven and earth?"

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Question: Satan was able to go back and forth to Heaven for a while after he was cast out of heaven. Did the 1/3 of angels who rebelled also have that power for a while or where they locked to this earth right away like Satan is now?

Answer: In answering your question, I would like to start with the results of the fall of Satan and those with him. The idea of 1/3 comes from Revelation 12:4. There seems to be five results indicated by scripture as listed by Henry Thiessen in "Lectures in Systematic Theology."

They all lost their original holiness and became corrupt in nature and conduct (Matthew. 10:1; Ephesians. 6:11; Revelation 12:9).

Some were cast down to hell (Tartarus) and are held their in chains until the day of judgment (2 Peter 2:4).

Some of them are left free and engage in definite opposition to the work of good angels (Revelation 12:7-9; Daniel 10:12, 13, 20, 21; Jude 9).

There may have been an effect on the original creation (Genesis 1:1,2)

They will, in a future day, be cast to earth ( Revelation 12:8,9) and, following their judgment (1 Corinthians 6:3), into the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6).

I believe the first part of your question is referring to the book of Job chapters one and two. Remember, Job is probably the first book of the Bible to be authored. We find Satan able to approach God with accusations concerning Job. In Revelation, the last book (chapter 12), we see this role of Satan still continuing. Since we are in the middle of this sequence, it seems probable that Satan does have some access to heaven. The Bible also shows good angels and evil angels in conflict. This probably is also, at least in part, occurring in heaven.

To answer your question specifically, the Bible indicates a portion of the 1/3 fallen angels having at least limited access to heaven with the goal of disrupting the relationship of God with his redeemed creatures.

I would suggest getting hold of a theology book (such as the one mentioned) and look up the section on Angelology.

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This page was last updated August 18, 2010.