Origin of Demons

While Scripture does not provide a systematic origin narrative for demons with precise chronological details, it offers sufficient revelation to establish their identity as angels who fell with Satan in his primordial rebellion against God's authority. Unlike humanity's fall, which occurred in history and is documented in Genesis, the angelic fall preceded the creation account or occurred in primeval time, leaving us with glimpses rather than a complete narrative. What Scripture reveals, however, is theologically sufficient for understanding the nature and doom of these fallen beings.

Jude speaks of 'angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation,' indicating they abandoned their original rank and dwelling place in rebellion. God has 'reserved them in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day'—their doom is fixed, their sentence awaiting final execution. Peter likewise references 'angels that sinned' whom God 'cast down to hell, and delivered into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.' The Greek word translated 'hell' here is Tartarus, used only in this passage, suggesting a place of confinement for these rebellious spirits distinct from Hades or Gehenna.

Revelation provides the most explicit connection between Satan's fall and the angels who joined his rebellion: 'his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth.' Throughout Scripture, 'stars' often symbolize angels (Job 38:7, Revelation 1:20), suggesting that Satan's rebellion drew a third of the angelic host after him. These became 'his angels,' forming the demonic hierarchy that now opposes God's purposes. Matthew 25:41 confirms this connection, speaking of 'everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels'—the lake of fire was created not for humanity but for Satan and his followers.

These fallen angels became the demons who now serve Satan's kingdom of darkness. They are irredeemable, having sinned in full knowledge without the mitigating factors that attend human transgression. No savior died for angels; no gospel is preached to demons; no repentance is offered to the fallen. Their nature is fixed in rebellion, their character confirmed in wickedness, their destiny sealed in judgment. They now expend their malice afflicting humanity, opposing God's kingdom, promoting false religion, and seeking whom they may destroy before their own destruction comes.