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I have two questions really. According to Christian beliefs, do angels have free will? If the answer is yes, then that indirectly answers my second question.

If they don't, how was Lucifer able to chose to rebel against God, and thus become the Devil? Without free will he could not have chosen his own path, so this confuses me, unless angels do have free will and therefore have the choice to sin (and in the process they are doomed without a chance for redemption). This also makes me wodner how so many angles left God according to the Bible and followed Lucifer. Did that require free will?

This is a legitimate question, I am not trying to insult anyone's beliefs, I just really want someone to explain it to me without accusing me of "trying to instill my faithless ideas" on them. Much thanks.

2007-04-11 12:14:12 · 10 answers · asked by Enchantress 3 in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

I guess I should clarify why I asked a question that seems to be answered already. I asked this question to friends, one lutheran, one catholic, one pentacostal. They all said that angels do not have free will, free will was gift to mankind. And even in some movies it is hinted that they do not have free will. When I asked the second question to my pentecostal friend, she got offended. I did not want to make the same "mistake" with the other two.

2007-04-12 02:58:20 · update #1

10 answers

Honestly, this is a question i was pondering over last week, and for my own conclusion i came to the point that angels too have free will. If angels didn't have free will, than Evil would have never been an option. If evil were never an option, than that means that GOD created Satan as an evil being and was unjust in sentencing him to damnation without a chance. Obviously the Angels were presented with the same opportunity Adam and Eve were, except Satan fell to Pride and influenced his following. One true sign of the Angels having free will, is that all of the Angels in heaven didn't follow Satan's deception. When GOD created GOOD and EVIL he didn't want a group of robots, but beings who chose to follow them b/c that was their own desire.

2007-04-11 12:22:49 · answer #1 · answered by James L 2 · 1 0

Satan’s fall from heaven is described in Isaiah 14:12-14 and Ezekiel 28:12-18. Satan (Lucifer) was one of the highest angels, perhaps the highest (Ezekiel 28:14). Lucifer knew God in all His glory. For Lucifer to rebel despite what he knew about God, it is the utmost of evil. As a result, God does not give Satan and the other fallen angels the opportunity to repent. Further, the Bible gives us no reason to believe they would repent even if God gave them the chance (1 Peter 5:8). God gave Satan and the angels the same choice He gave Adam and Eve - to obey Him or not. The angels had a free will choice to make - God did not force or encourage any of the angels to sin. They sinned of their own free will - and therefore are worthy of God's eternal wrath

2007-04-11 17:25:42 · answer #2 · answered by Freedom 7 · 0 0

I even haven't any clue the position you got here up with the angels actually falling from heaven or that their "wings" were stripped or maybe the concept that each and each and every one angels had wings. Sorry. The Bible says some issues about angels and maximum of each and every thing else that folk have self belief to be real about angels will be traced to thoughts in the darkish a lengthy time period or myths from different religions. The Bible does factor out that particular kinds of angels had wings at the same time as others did not. the tale about the angels rebelling is particularly sketchy (and does no longer factor out angels dropping their wings). Edit: that's in many circumstances common that angels can no longer repent, in spite of the indisputable fact that the Bible does no longer rather say one way or the different. better, devil being a fallen, rebellious angel is more often than not a Christian conception. The Jewish coaching is that devil is an "hostile" angel that teaches with the help of trial, and is not any longer the evil foe of God. reading interest from this perspective makes better experience and it solves many theological complications.

2016-11-23 13:00:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Looks like you answered your own question.
Yes angles have free will. The angles still in heaven also have free will as the angles with Lucifer. A full one third bought what Satan was peddling that day and were cast out of heaven. Kinda like you would an unruly house guest and his friends. The other angles were a little to smart to fall for it. You have to remember this is the first time anything like this has ever happened. That is why God has to let allot of things happen that he does not like. Sin like a bad cold has to run it's course, then God can kill it. Unfortunately allot of people and angles are going to have to die, because they will not allow God to save them

2007-04-11 12:29:59 · answer #4 · answered by Atheist 3 · 0 0

They must do for the rebellion to have occured. However, I would not think its lilely that any more angels will rebel. They have been around a long time. They have seen the evil that resulted from Satan's fall, they have seen how appalling he became. They have seen God's salvation plan on Earth, and seen the goodness of God. They know Satan's unenviable fate. So even with free will one can't imagine them rebelling now.

2007-04-11 12:42:14 · answer #5 · answered by Cader and Glyder scrambler 7 · 0 0

I believe the angels were created with free will.
I believe Lucifer had free will and exercised it to promote himself to be equal with God. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-19)
It is commonly accepted that one third of the angels followed in his rebellion. This is based on an interpretation of Revelation 12:4.
I believe God allowed this to occur, knowing before He created any sentient free-willed beings, that rebellion was an inevitable possibility.
Nevertheless God preceded with His plan for the sake of those who would obey Him and follow Him willingly.
I doubt if Lucifer fully understood that when he chose to pursue this course he would be locked into his own choice and become Satan, the Opposer of all God promotes. Satan became a slave of his own fallen nature and now must play out the drama to its conclusion. His nature being such as it is, he is intent on dragging down as many souls with him to the Lake of Fire that he can.
As I understand it, one of the ultimate goals and intentions of God is to acquire for Himself a people with free will, who will understand the consequences of rebellion, and who will gladly and willingly and lovingly choose to obey God and live in harmony with and submission to Him forever. God has so ordained things in His infinite wisdom that rebellion will not be a recurring event in the Kingdom of God.

2007-04-11 12:33:29 · answer #6 · answered by wefmeister 7 · 0 0

They have a limited freewill.
Angels do not have the Authority from GOD to Choose their own words.
They are servants, you Tell them what to say.
satan chose his own words, and got kicked outta heaven for doing it--for good. satan and those angels will NEVER be redeemed.
They hate our guts (Human Beings)--we are made in the Image and Likeness of GOD, and WE can be REDEEMED (make it back to Heaven) through Jesus.
Angels are not human beings capable of our feelings and emotions.
satan and his crew are the Enemy of ALL MANKIND. Their best trick is to divide us up.
They are the source of all divisive thoughts in mans mind to divide us up.

2007-04-11 12:25:56 · answer #7 · answered by maguyver727 7 · 0 0

Yes it was free will.
One third chose to follow Satan.
He must have been quite a talker.
Very convincing.
There fore they are thrown out of heaven.
Where do you think they went?
So they were in rebellion against God.
Have they been called fallen angels?
Fallen from where to where?

You are touching on

2007-04-11 12:23:15 · answer #8 · answered by chris p 6 · 0 0

The fact that Lucifer CHOSE to sin answers your question.

2007-04-11 12:20:16 · answer #9 · answered by Q 6 · 0 0

quote:
how so many angles left God according to the Bible and followed Lucifer. Did that require free will?

Satan draw 1/3 of God's children away.

Rev 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

They did have free will.

quote:
How was Lucifer able to chose to rebel against God, and thus become the Devil?

Eze 28:4 With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:

thy wisdom, not GODs

Eze 28:5 By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:

Satan took pride within himself.

Eze 28:6 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God

He always wanted to be GOD.

Eze 28:12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

Sing a sad song on the king of Tyrus(little rock,not our ROCK)

Eze 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

As the Serpent, the tree of good and evil.
Every stone, meaning he wore the breastplate of a priest.
GOD created him.

Eze 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
He was once a cherub, protector of the Mercy seat, in the Holy mtn/government of God.
stones of Fire 1 Pet 2:5

Eze 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Isa 14:13

Eze 28:16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

violence 2555 chamac khaw-mawce' from 'chamac' (2554); violence; by implication, wrong; by meton. unjust gain:--cruel(-ty), damage, false, injustice, X oppressor, unrighteous, violence (against, done), violent (dealing), wrong.

This is his death sentence, why he is called the son of perdition John 17:12.

He sinned and let 1/3 of GODs children away in apostasy!

Eze 28:17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

Ever wonder what he looks like? He is beautiful!

Eze 28:18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

sanctuaries, sacred place, sanctuary, holy place churches
multitude of sins, and thy traffick,

"I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee."
This is what its like to go into the Lake of Fire, 2nd death.

Eze 28:19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

To be turned to ashes, blotted out of the book of Life.

Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

2007-04-11 12:45:15 · answer #10 · answered by Theophilus 5 · 1 0

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