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by Gino Geraci
God Judged the Angels (Jude 6)
"And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;" (Jude 6, NKJV)
God created angelic beings. The angels were in a position of privilege, but they defied the Lord. Some of the angels revolted and rebelled against God. The Bible speaks of the fall of Lucifer who became Satan in Isaiah 14:12-17, and Ezekiel 28:12-19. Revelation 12:4 reminds us that perhaps as many as one third of the angels were involved in this rebellion.
There was an actual coup in heaven. Their sin was voluntary, their punishment certain.
They Did Not Keep Their Proper Domain
The word, “proper,” means beginning, commencement, that which surpasses others and that which was first. It refers to their rank, honor, preeminence, priority, precedence, and princedom. In Jude 6 it refers to the rank and dignity which the angels had in heaven.
The fact that they didn’t maintain their rank, or proper domain must mean that they did something more than sneak out of heaven. Whatever they did, it resulted in being cast down to hell, or more properly Tarturus, the pitch black abyss, an everlasting hole with a complete and absolute absence of light. They are there now.
They Were Cast Into Hell
2 Peter 2:4 say, “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment.”
Jesus spoke of fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). Satan is called the prince of demons (Matt.12:24-27).
What sin did the angels commit to exact such a punishment? Some Bible scholars believe Genesis 6:1-4 provides part of the explanation. Some suggest angels left their original habitation of heaven to dwell with humans on the earth (see Genesis 6:1-3). This may have included possession of human beings.
Sons of God
Those who oppose this view argue that "the sons of God" are really human beings.
However, certainly "the sons of God" is a title given to angels in Job 1:6; 2:1,38:7.
Some Bible scholars feel that the title, “sons of God” is only used in reference to fallen angels, but I believe it’s possible for even fallen angels to be referred to as sons of God. Let me explain why. In the Bible the only beings who have the title 'sons of God' are beings who either have a unique relationship with God or are beings created by God.
Adam is called a 'son of God'. He is called this because he was created by God and had no 'Father' in the procreative sense. The angels are called 'sons of God' because they were made by God. Angels do not seem to have the capacity to reproduce themselves. I suspect the reason is, all angelic beings have the same gender. If all angelic beings are male or masculine--they have no reproductive powers among themselves.
When Adam rebelled in the garden he did not cease to be a “son of God.“ He was simply a son of God who was in rebellion.
Do Angels Have Gender?
Some people argue, "Jesus said the angels don't marry.” This is true. Matthew 22:30 reads, “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.” But look again at the passage. Jesus is making reference to human beings in the resurrection. The religious leaders had come up with an absurd illustration of a woman who had multiple husbands. Whose husband would she be in the resurrection? This is Jesus' answer. People don't get married on the other side of eternity. But, think carefully about this; are we genderless on the other side of eternity? Are we male and female? Do we cease to have gender? Is it possible the angelic beings do in fact have a body and a gender?
People argue that since the angels don’t marry, they don’t have gender. But consider this: some of you have never married. Does that mean you have no gender?
Some Bible teachers argue that angels are spirits and they do not have 'bodies' or physicality or corporeal substance. They do not have muscle, organs, tissue or sexual organs. They feel that even though angels appear in human form in the Bible, that they were not incarnations, and they wrongly assume that the angels were sexless and therefore could not have sexual relations.
But we must remember that the Lord did not teach the angels are sexless, rather they do not marry. A lot of people who do not marry still have gender.
Although there is debate about whether or not the angels have gender and could have had sexual relations, one thing is certain: the angels did not keep their proper domain and because of it were judged.
© 2007 by Gino Geraci
He has served as a police chaplain for several police departments and currently serves as a Police Chaplain for the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Department. Gino has provided emergency service support in many national tragedies. He was a first responder at Columbine High School, Ground Zero in New York, and Platte Canyon High School.
Gino has appeared on scores of national and local radio programs as a guest, including television appearances with Lee Stroebel's Faith Under Fire. He currently hosts a daily radio program with Salem Media in Denver, Colorado area.
Gino is a much sought after conference speaker. He has conducted leadership conferences, Bible conferences, and emergency service support conferences with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Samaritans' Purse, Gospel for Asia in India and Sri Lanka, the Bible League in Africa, Food For The Poor in Jamaica, Mike McIntosh Crusades in Mexico, Somebody Loves You Bible Conferences with Raul Ries in Chile, Columbia and Peru, and pastor's conferences in much of the continental United States.
Gino is currently the pastor of Calvary South Denver where he continues to minister, preach, teach, and serve.
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