An Apologetical Explanation of

Fallen Angels

What is the sin of the fallen angels?

The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is call the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world–he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (Rev 12:9)

The Devil and the other demons are angels–once good–who sinned of their own free will, rejecting God irrevocably and opposing his will and reign.

In both the Old and New Testaments the demons are represented as personal beings who oppose God and are hostile to human beings, going about like “a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pt 5). Adorned at their creation with sanctifying grace, they sinned and are denied the Beatific Vision and their abode is Hell. Nonetheless, they remain rational beings with the knowledge that they had before their fall, and God permits them–for reasons known only to him–to exercise some influence over us, the animals, and even inanimate creatures. Demonstrating his ultimate power over them, Christ expelled demons and gave his Apostles power to do likewise.

The mystery of evil in the world begins with the creation of the angels, pure spirits whom God created as good and endowed with free will and intellect. Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition reveal to us that some of these angels rebelled against God and have since sought to oppose God’s will and to entice human beings to sin against God; hence, they are portrayed as being at war with God’s faithful angels (cf. Rev 12:7-12). These are demons, and their leader is the Devil, called Satan. (Cf. CCC 391)

It is not clear how these rebellious angels sinned against God, although a reflection of their rebellion may be found in the words of Satan, spoken to our first parents, “You will be like God” (Gn 3:5; cf. CCC 392). Whatever their sin, their decision to rebel against God was permanent and irrevocable, and so the demons remain unrepentant and separated from God forever. (Cf. CCC 392-393)

Scripture refers to Satan as “a liar and the father of lies” (Jn 8:44). As seen in the story of the Fall of our first parents, Satan’s influence in tempting us to sin against God is great, yet Satan is still a creature of God, and his power is not infinite. God is greater still, and his grace can help us overcome the influence of the Devil and remain upright in holiness, attentive to the will of the Father. We can endure the presence of evil in the world because our faith informs us that God is ultimately in charge and will triumph in the end. (Cf. CCC 394-395)

The Catechism addresses this question in paragraph 414.

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