Why Aren’t Fallen Angels Also Reconciled at the Cross?

Dr. Craig answers an ATONEMENT question submitted online following his lecture for Apologia Sweden.

We welcome your comments in the Reasonable Faith forums:

[clintgreive]

But imagine actually knowing God already, then falling into sin. These angels knew exactly what they were getting themselves into and it's unsurprising they won't be reconciled.

[nateauld]

I've always thought of it as a matter of revelation. The angels have seen God directly and so have a higher accountability in their decisions. I think this also plays into things like God's severity with Israel after leaving Egypt; they were guided by a pillar of smoke/fire every day/night and had seen the plagues in Egypt so they were more accountable for their decisions. I think God withholding himself from view for anyone is a matter of mercy potentially where God may not want to reveal Himself to someone only to have to punish them for not obeying Him once they've seen Him. We ask for miracles and revelation but aren't aware of the depth of our sinfulness and willingness to turn from God - but He is and is potentially choosing mercy based on our intentional rejection of Him.

[Doubtyadoubts]

Yo we literally just had this question last Sunday!!💯💯

[metazs]

I wish this would've been longer with more in depth explanation. Great videos Dr. Craig. Thank you.

[bonginkosinkabinde]

Love it how he mentions “we’re just speculating here”.

[beowulf.reborn]

"For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt ... For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay.' And again, 'The Lord will judge his people.' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." ~ Hebrews 6:4-6, 10:26-31

If this is how the Scriptures speak of Christians. Who, having received the knowledge of the truth, and having been enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, turned away from the LORD and continued willfully in a lifestyle of sin, then I think Dr. Craig is right that angels, who, having stood in the presence of the LORD, hardened their hearts and willfully rebelled against Him, simply cannot be restored. It is impossible.

[runemaster]

This is the best answer I've heard so far

[chuimataisinglai]

Great answer so far I wish to listen more longer explanation

[Mimi-xwxt]

Whenever i have a glance of God's goodness, i weep with joy and get a strong desire to worship Him for eternity on my face. It has always stumped me how angels can see God fully, not a glance but fully, and still choose to be disobedient.

[mikaelarkanghel]

Angels are great in strength gifted to them by the Father. Spirit does not have the frailty that the flesh has.. to whom much is given much is expected. They have certainty of the existence of God whereas men must believe in Him whom they have never seen and will never see whilst they live in the weakness of the flesh. Knowing of a certainty that God lives yet they have chosen to go against Him is a willful choice taken with full knowledge of the consequences and so they have chosen.

[Wade_Adakai]

Angels have such an incomprehensible amount of knowledge on the Holiness and Power of God, so much so that making a decision to deny Him and rebel is absolutely inexcusable, and thus, sentenced to eternal punishment.

[ActuarialNinja]

The eternal separation from God of fallen angels makes sense if you accept the very plausible assumption that angels are able to sufficiently understand the consequences of their actions. Each fallen angel's decision to be "against God" is final, not because God is cruel and wouldn't forgive (no doubt He would if any asked Him forgiveness), but because they totally understood in advance the pain and misery that came with their choice, and therefore having their horrible choice actualized would not be sufficient to change their mind and repent. Their decision had, in effect, built into it the understanding that it came with pain and misery. It is what they signed up for and it is what they got.

[SpaceCadetJesus]

Since there is no biblical explicit or implicit answer to this question, Dr. Craig can give his answer as speculation and be as right as anyone. Personally though, I'd say at the very start of their creation they know God face to face for the entirety of their existence, have assigned roles by God, do not have mortal weaknesses and have spiritual strength enough to refuse disobedience, can talk with God face to face and are depended upon to orchestrate heavenly activity. With such clarity of relationship and importance to God, it's known that to leave your assigned post, your refusal to return will result in judgement without mercy. Some fallen angels are allowed transit through the universe, while others are so violent that they are locked in eternal chains awaiting their judgment. 2/3rds of heaven stayed their post, the other 1/3 gave their loyalty to Satan, left their station and thus fell from the "grace" of God. A better question I believe is: Knowing God so completely what cause(s) would there be that a highly intelligent angel would consider leaving God's grace even though they knew it was inescapable punishment for eternity?
This is all speculation based on my private understanding of my Bible.

[seinfan]

In some extradimensional time scale, there very well could be or has been a redemptive process for them.

[xehanortasemka]

I always just simply thought they were incapable of experiencing salvation. To be born again one must chose to repent of sin and believe the gospel. A daily choice. One that takes us out of the realm of belief and into one of knowledge. An angel is the opposite. Created with knowledge they are incapable of suspending that knowledge and moving into a realm of belief in order to experience salvation that comes with repentance.

[correctchristian]

Angels, fallen or otherwise, are not humans. "For God, so loved the world . . ."

[keymaker]

Essentially the same answer the Catholic Church offers, which is no surprising considering the Aristotelian commonality between Catholic theology and Dr. Craig's approach.

[edwardtbabinski]

What about Colossians 1:20 “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” Satan isn’t among “all things?”

[dotails]

Knowing God personally, I think its likely he will forgive them too.

[davidnewhart]

Another thing to mention: Jesus mentioned the unforgivable sin which is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is basically completely rejecting God.

The Fallen Angels rejected God. They blasphemed against the Holy Spirit.