Summary: The Judgment of the Demons Page 3
Christian Churches of God
No. P80z
Summary:
The Judgment of the Demons
(Edition 2.0 19941203-19991212)
This paper deals with the period at the end of the millennial reign of Christ when the demons are judged against the performance of the elect in the last Millennium.
Christian Churches of God
PO Box 369, WODEN ACT 2606, AUSTRALIA
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(Copyright ? 1994, 1999 Wade Cox)
(Summary ed. by Wade Cox)
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The Judgment of the Demons
Summary: The Judgment of the Demons Page 3
To address the judgment of the demons, one has to establish the ancient perceptions and beliefs of the peoples regarding the actual roles such identities played (and play) in the government of the nations, with Satan, their leader as the god of this world.
Satan was the original covering cherub in the heavenly realm, but he profaned his role, and was demoted, together with the ones who joined in his rebellion.
In Revelation 1:10-20 it is plain that Christ is the Angel, or Head of the Churches of God. Each church era is governed by an angel to whom Christ addressed the message given by God the Father.
In 1Timothy 5:21 Paul includes the loyal angels with the elect, and thus logically they will be included in any promises to the human elect.
The patristic writers held that angels were in charge of the churches, and governed the created structure. This concept of the role of angels in governing the earthly realms was held by Israel and the Testaments, and also by the Gentiles.
Deuteronomy 32:8 states God set the boundaries of the peoples of the earth according to the number of the divine beings. Some texts read “according to the children of Israel”, which was a deliberate alteration after Christ’s death, to disguise the role of the angelic beings.
Daniel 4:13,23: The “watchers” was the term used of angelic beings who issue decrees for the regulation of earthly activities.
Both Christ and the Archangel Michael stand for Israel, with Michael as the subordinate entity (Dan. 12:1).
All the nations, each under a fallen angel, were arrayed against the chosen nation, Israel. However, Origen contends that the Powers can repent, as whole nations accepted Christ more readily than others.
The repentance by the fallen angelic powers is of great moment for the question of the Omnipotence of God. Origen’s position regarding their repentance is correct, given the Biblical philosophy.
Satan has been judged (Jn. 16:11). The angels have yet to be judged (1Cor. 6:3).
In Genesis 3:15 the heel of mankind and the head of Satan are “bruised”. Neither is vanquished, so the rift is reconcilable and the fallen Host and indeed Satan, can repent.
Philippians 2:1-11: Satan’s actions were judged against the actions of Christ, as each hold the rank of Morning Star. The demons, as leaders of the nations will be judged against the elect, who will administer nations in the Millennium.
Modern Christianity does not understand the sequence of death and resurrection and eternal life for humans, so cannot comprehend that demons do have the capacity to repent. Once committed to thinking demons can’t repent, and that Satan was evil from the beginning (which he was not, from Ezek. 28:15) and that mankind has an immortal soul, and can live eternally without need of the one True God for salvation, then 1Corinthians 6:2,3 is also incorrectly construed.
Let us examine Isaiah 14:1-30.
Verses1-3: the millennial setting when Satan is bound for 1000 years (Rev. 20:1).
Verses 4-7: beginning of the millennium, with the fall of the beast power.
Verses 8,9: the second resurrection (Rev. 20:5).
Verses 10-12: Satan’s power is restrained, and he has “become like unto us” – i.e. a man. Christ became human, and chose to obey God. Then Satan will become human and also have to make a final choice: Eternal life or eternal death (Phil. 1:1-11).
Verses 13-23: Christ was the “righteous branch” but Satan was the “abominable branch”.
Verses 24-30: developments up to the Millennium.
Demons can interact with men, but are subject to Christ and the elect from the ordination of the 70 (Luke 10:17-20).
The demons have variable degrees of freedom, and allocated domiciles.
Matthew 8:28-32 (especially verse 29) shows they know they have a set time to be judged.
Mark 5:1-10 (verse 7): the demons recognize Jesus as the Son of the Most High God. Why can’t modern Christianity also acknowledge this truth, and abandon the lies of Binitarianism and Trinitarianism?
The power of the demons and Satan is transferred to the beast power, and the two Witnesses are killed, after three and a half years of admonition to the world, using the same powers Moses had (Rev. 11:1-14).
The Host also have an angel over them in the pit (Rev. 9:1-11). There are four angels who are released in the latter days, and they control an army of 200 million and kill a third of mankind.
Satan is restrained for the period of the millennium, but his power is restored at the end of that time, in order to deal with the nations (Rev. 20:1-3). Verses 4-10 show how quickly mankind is deceived once again by the great deceiver (Rev. 12:9).
The false prophet and the beast are concepts, as are death and hades. There will be no more false prophecy or an evil organization that controls the world.
Verses 11-15 show the very end. The ones who accept God’s rule will be translated into spirit beings. Dissidents will die and their dead bodies burnt.
The judgment of Satan was not to damnation, but to a future time when he and the fallen host will receive correction, and the process of enlightened leadership and mercy from God.
It is not God’s will that any should perish (2Pet 3:9), so there is the prospect that all His created beings, loyal and disloyal, and all humans can repent and become eternal Sons of God.
To suggest that demons can’t repent, and are consigned to eternal punishment in hell, is a satanic thought process, and impugns God’s love for all His creation.
God’s omniscience perceived that the Host and humans would sin, and unless He developed a system whereby all could repent and be saved, He would have been acting against His own rules – i.e. God is not a respecter of persons (Deut. 10:17. Rom. 2:11). Hence, the Host can repent and are redeemed by Christ’s sacrifice.
Christ’s sacrifice to atone for sin once and for all, was not confined to humans, but encompassed all of the Host as well. Christ is high priest of the Host, as well as humans.
At the beginning of creation Satan and the Host were all part of the flock. Satan is no less our brother, as a son of God, and as such, has recourse to repentance and eternal life, as does every human
The choice belongs to every man, and choice belongs to Satan and the fallen Host, as well.
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Summary: The Judgment of the Demons Page 3