Fallen angel
A fallen angel is an angel who has sinned and has been sent out of heaven.
Bible
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The Bible mentions "sons of Elohim" (sons of God) in Book of Genesis, who had evil powerful children. Some Jews and Christians think this refers to angels who left heaven and had children together with human women. There is also another opinion. Some Jews and Christians believe they are not angels, but "kings" who had evil and powerful children instead.
Isaiah compares a Babylonian king to an Angel who wanted to be God himself. So he tried to rise to the highest heaven but fell into the deepest underworld instead. For Christians, this angel was Lucifer. Jews usually don't think this verse really refers to an angel but is only a poem.
In the New Testament, it is said that Hell is prepared for Satan and his fellow (fallen) angels. Jesus is reported to say that he saw Satan fall from heaven. This is the reason why Christians believe that Satan has indeed been thrown out of heaven. This verse also confirms for Christians that the "morning star" in the Old Testament indeed speaks about a fallen angel.
The last chapter of the Bible, the Book of Revelation, describes a battle between the Archangel Michael and Satan. Here, Satan and his angels lose and are thrown out of heaven.
Enoch's Book
[change | change source]The book mentions angels who mated with human women. These are supposed to be the same angels mentioned in Genesis. Their children are the giants. According to the Book of Enoch, the giants were slain by the Archangels or died during the Deluge. The fallen angels are imprisoned in the underworld. The most famous fallen angels are named Azazel and Semjaza. They also teach sorcery and warcraft to humans. Azazel is blamed for corrupting the entire world with his teachings.
Satan is also mentioned in this Book, but he is not among the fallen angels. Satan instead appears to be the one who punishes the fallen angels and sinful humans.
Islam
[change | change source]In the Quran,it is said angels cannot fall from heaven.Satan (named Iblis in the Quran) was a jinn that was kicked out from heaven for disobeying God and the other is a pair of angels called Harut and Marut. Muslims believe that these two were sent to the people of Babylon to be a test and told the people,”We are only a test [for you], so do not abandon [your faith]”(2:102).
- Iblis: When God created the first human (Adam), God commanded the angels to bow before Adam and they listened and bowed. But Iblis argued that he is created from fire while humans are created from clay, so he shouldn't bow down because Adam is inferior to him.Because Iblis thought God's command was unjust, he is no longer allowed to be in heaven and is thrown out.Iblis promises revenge against humanity and promises to mislead humans from the path of good and lead them to the path of hell. For this reason, Iblis seduced Adam and Eve into eating from the forbidden tree leading to them being kicked out of heaven and put on the Earth.
- Harut and Marut: According to the Quran, they were sent to earth to teach humans sorcery.Before teaching humans they told the people not to follow them and commit the sin of magic for it was only a test for them,but they did not listen.