We believe that God created angels first and then the material universe. Lucifer was created good and then, through the negative exercise of his free will led a rebellion against God. The angels who did not follow him are those that served God today; those that followed Lucifer, now called Satan, are the demons. We believe in the angelic conflict as a spiritual reality and that, because of this, all believers are in spiritual warfare.
Genesis 3:1-7, 15, 24; 19:1-3, 10-16; Job 1:6-12, 38:4-7; Isaiah 6:1-7; 14:12-15; Ezekiel 1:4-14, 22-25; 28:12-19; Daniel 10:12-13; Luke 1:26-38; 2:8-15; Revelation 4:5-11; 5:8-11; 12:7-9; 20:1-3; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Ephesians 5:12, 6:10-18
We believe that Satan is, as a created angel, an actual person not an imaginary influence or principle. He is in no manner related to Jesus Christ who is God the Creator. Satan was not created evil but he was created with free will, just as mankind was later in creation, having the ability to choose between obedience or disobedience to God his Creator and Lord. He once enjoyed heavenly honor and privileges, but through pride, ambition, and self-will, he rebelled against God and became the head of the fallen angels who joined him in rebellion and who form the demonic world. This brought the judgment of God upon his head. As the enemy of God, he is also the enemy of all true believers and he desires to hinder God’s good purpose in the life of all believers. Satan has no power over the believer who resists him, for Satan will flee from the believer who resists. No child of God can ever have his body invaded by unholy demons as the believer is kept by the power of God. Nor should any believer attempt to interact with the demonic world for any reason. This includes a prohibition against, but not limited to, sorcery, magic, witchcraft, necromancy, fortune telling (divination), astrology (including horoscopes), the occult in any form, sexual perversion, drug abuse, new age philosophies, and all false religions. Yet Satan is a defeated foe and will eventually be cast into the lake of fire, the eternal place of punishment prepared for the Devil and his angels.
Genesis 3:1-7, 15, 24; 19:1-3, 10-16; Job 1:6-12, 38:4-7; Isaiah 6:1-7; 14:12-15; Ezekiel 1:4-14, 22-25; 28:12-19; Daniel 10:12-13; Matthew 13:41-42, 25:41, 46; Luke 1:26-38; 2:8-15,16:19-26; Ephesians 5:12, 6:10-18;1 Peter 5:8-9; Revelation 4:5-11; 5:8-11; 12:7-9; 20:1-3, 11-15