"DIABOLOS "(devil) means slanderer, and is always in
the singular. He is the master spirit of evil. Other evil
angels are called "diamomes" (devils). Pride and ambition
were especially the sins by which Satan and his companions fell.
The revolt appears to have been but one, to have existed at one
time, and to have united those who shared in it in the same guilt
as well as in the same undertaking. —Edwards.
Although the angels were originally created perfect, yet they
were mutable. Some of them sinned, and kept not their first
estate; and so, the most blessed and glorious, became the most
vile and miserable of all God's creatures. They were expelled
the regions of light, and with heaven lost their heavenly disposition,
and fell into a settled rancor against God and malice
against men. What their offense was, is difficult to determine,
the Scripture being silent about it. Some think envy, others unbelief;
but most suppose it was pride. As to the time of the
fall, we are certain it could not be before the sixth day of the
creation, because on that day it is said, "God saw everything
that he had made, and behold, it was very good;" but that it
was not long after is very probable, as it must have preceded the
fall of our first parents. The number of the fallen angels seems
to be great, and like the holy angels, perhaps, have various orders
among them. —Charles Buch.
All the Fathers are unanimous as to the existence of angels
good and evil. They hold that it is evermore the allotted task
of good angels to defend us against evil angels, and to carry on
a daily and hourly combat against our spiritual foes. They
teach that the good angels are worthy of all reverence as the
ministers of God and as the protectors of the human race.
—Mrs. Jameson.
He was Wisdom and the Word
And sent His angels ministrant,
Unterrifled and undeterred,
To rescue souls forlorn and lost,
The troubled, tempted, tempest-tost,
To heal, to comfort or to teach.
—Longfellow.
The infernal serpent, he it was whose guile,
Stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived
The mother of mankind, what time his pride
Had cast him out of heaven, wii.li all Lis host
Of rebel angels, by whose aid aspiring
To set himself in glory 'bove his peers,
He trusted to have equaled the Most High,
If he opposed; and wuh ambitious aim
Against the throne and monarchy of God,
Raised impious war in heaven and battle proud,
With vain attempt.
—Milton.
