How are God, angels, men and devils related, according to the Scriptures?
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I see a lot of pseudo-Scriptural mysticism on the subject of the identities of angels and devils, men and God. I say mysticism not to dismiss attempted explanations categorically, but because the Scriptures do not seem to say explicitly that men and angels, God and man, and even man and devils are not (or were not once) of the same kin. Yet it is common to see whole theologies that rely on some kind of eternal genetic or pseudo-genetic distinction between God and man, and angels and man, which naturally gives rise to complex soteriologies and speculations such as that otherworldly creatures or fallen angels have interbred with humans , giving rise to giants and so on, despite no such genetic distinction being apparently drawn in the Biblical text; only the use of different, possibly synonymous terms in different places. Does any such distinction exist, or are the terms not synonymous in terms of origin, heritage, kind or type?
There are some notable cultural distinctions of caricature. We see descriptions of angels as having wings , but it is not clear whether these are literal or figurative. I am not sure where horns for devils come from, apart from John's descriptions of the beasts of worldly and Satanic power.
There are depictions such as Isaiah's vision of the Lord on His throne surrounded by seraphs, and it is not always immediately clear to the reader whether such depictions are to be taken as metaphorical or actual beings as to their attributes (having six wings, etc.).
What is the Scriptural evidence delineating God(s), angels, men and devils as to their original identity and genetics or one-time kinship, if any? Or do the Scriptures demonstrate any kind of genetic relation between them, so to speak? Are "classes" of beings to be understood as eternal barriers, or acquirable statuses of the creature?
This is related to the questions
https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/38693/origin-of-the-idea-that-demons-and-fallen-angels-are-the-same-thing , and https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/4530/46886 , but is intended to be more general and comprehensive in scope across these classes of beings.
What denominations have teachings on this subject specifying the relationships among these types of beings, and what Scriptural citations do they use to corroborate their views?
Were these four types of beings originally all one type of being? What is the end of man in relation to these classes?
Asked by pygosceles
(2139 rep)
Apr 19, 2024, 06:31 PM
Last activity: Nov 18, 2024, 11:02 AM
Last activity: Nov 18, 2024, 11:02 AM