Just to be clear, this thread is focused on examining the evidence for the idea of a fallen, rebellious angel—not the divine angels, who are ministering spirits sent to serve the saints destined to inherit the Kingdom of God on earth.
Aside from Revelation 12—which is highly symbolic and often misapplied—where else in the Bible are we given a clear account of heavenly rebel angels? Is there a backstory that provides all the details Christians commonly attribute to this creature today?
Is Revelation 12 all you have? Because if it is then this belief is in a lot of trouble.
Definition of divine
Having the nature of or being a deity.
Definition of diety
A god or goddess.
Why not rather call the angels "holy angels" as the scriptures do and leave off of the whole divine angels wording since Satan is also called the god of this world and it makes more sense to refer to them as holy angels when you are speaking of them.
You made it about what you aparently do not want it to be about when you stated
Yes, you need to be mindful
the word for angels can also be used of human messengers.
Mortal flesh
can sin and die - Romans 6:23
Divine Nature cannot - Luke 20:36
You use the words "divine nature" to refer to angels (in contrast to mortal men) all the while acknowledging that the angels can also be used of human messengers, but then contrast betwen one (mortal men) that can sin and die and the other (the angels) that you state cannot. That does not work, and Luke 20:36 does not support that angels cannot sin, but rather that the other would not die (and being equal to) rather than made lower than the angels (as Jesus was made) suffering death. And therefore they die no more.
I thought Matthias started the thread, but now (out of all the threads you always go off topic on) you want to get strict and want to focus on a specific area when all I have done is look at the contrast you laid out.
I don't know why you snipped my post down to just the last verse. You lumped what you said, cannot sin into the category of angels (using Luke 20:36) when there is no mention of sin in that verse. Equal to the angels refers to dying no more there. Yet you contrast between what is mortal (or men, who CAN sin and die) from angels who die not (adding "they cannot sin" either) and call Psalm 78:49 which shows evil angels a bad translation, and arent interested in 2 Peter 2:4 which speaks of " For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell".
@talons had asked on the other thread
So you are saying
there are no fallen angels in our earthly realm ?
Scripture shows
Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon;
and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Rev 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world:
he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
You responded to
@talons question about fallen angels, saying
Divine nature cannot sin - God's nature!
Even though Peter speaks of angels sinning here
2Peter 2:4
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment
If the angels had sinned, then there are such things as evil angels, but if I post
Psalm 78:49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble,
by sending evil angels among them.
You respond,
"
Poor translation - should read messengers. No such thing as an evil angel"
You said on another thread,
"
In Scripture, “devils” always refer to human beings the term simply means “false accuser” and is never used in a positive sense."
In this verse here it says,
Luke 8:30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion:
because many devils were entered into him.
According to your understanding, if devils always refer to human beings, do you believe that many human beings entered inside that man?
And then here the devils entered into the swine
Luke 8:33 Then went the devils out of the man,
and entered into the swine
So you said, devils always refer to human beings, and is never used in a positive sense but I should be mindful the word for angels can also be used of human messengers.
And had you said, men can both sin and die but only angels cannot die, and just left it there I can agree with that, since even you allow for angels/messengers to also be speaking of men (in a certain capacity). And if you include men (who can sin) into the area of angels (who cannot die). Then men can sin and not surely die, and it just messes with the contrasting you seek to give it.
To the apostle Peter's words here
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour
You had replied (on another thread) this way,
This makes me laugh that Christians think there is a lion going around devouring people (knee slapper!)
Both Paul and Peter refer to the same as a lion
2Ti 4:17
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and
that all the Gentiles might hear:
and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
Devouring people is shown in the context of speaking God's words also
Jerm 5:14 Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts,
Because ye speak this word, behold,
I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
So when Peter says he
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour he is likely playing off the same shown here
Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said,
From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.