THE DUST-EATERS

The Dust-Eaters

Angels are individual spirit-beings. In the beginning, when God created them they all were good. Jehovah-triune likened them to singing ‘morning stars’ (Job 38:7). I suppose therefore in their natural state angels have or are ‘bodies’ of light. However, Scripture makes it very clear that not all angels remained good. For Peter, for example, says, ‘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.’ 2 Peter 2:4. And Jude says, ‘And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved under everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.’ Jude 6. The Bible refers to these fallen angels as demons.

John says, ‘And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world: he was cast to earth, and his angels were cast out with him.’ Revelation 12:7-9. Luther and Calvin held that Michael is the uncreated Angel of the LORD, i.e., the eternal Word who became flesh. Jesus Christ is the Light of the world and the Bright and Morning Star who came down from heaven (John 1:8, 3:13, 9:5; Rev. 22:16). Indeed, Jesus cast out demons aplenty, even a whole legion of trembling demons from one man (Mark 5:8-9).

Michael, Gabriel, and Satan are the only angels with names in the Bible; in which only Michael is referred to as THE archangel (Jude 9). Paul apparently is referring to ranks of (fallen) angels where he says, ‘For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.’ Ephesians 6:12. As Michael is the head of His angels, so our adversary the Devil has (fallen) angels under him (Rev. 12:7-9).

John says, ‘For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.’ 1 John 3:8. Paul says to the Romans, ‘And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.’ Romans 16:20. In the Garden of Eden, immediately after Adam and Eve had sided with him in his rebellion against God, Jehovah-Triune said to the devil-possessed serpent, ‘On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life.’ Genesis 3:14b. Therefore the devil is a dust-eater. Help! Are we not dust? Will the devil devour us? Changing the picture slightly, Scripture does say, ‘Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.’ 1 Peter 5:8. But we have this following piece of good news to comfort us, ‘As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him. For he knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.’ Psalm 103:13-14.

‘Lucifer’ means ‘light-bearer.’ Paul says, ‘For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.’ 2 Corinthians 11:14. But just as the stars disappear with the brightness of the dawn, so Satan and his demons will vanish before the face of Christ, the Light of the World, for the Sun of Righteousness has arisen with healing in His wings (Mal. 4:2). And John has seen Satan’s final end, ‘The devil… was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone… [to] be tormented day and night forever and ever.’ Revelation 20:10. How is this accomplished? ‘At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people… And many who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever.’ Daniel 12:1-3. Christ’s cross and resurrection crushed the serpent’s skull. Thus the devil and all his demons are dust-eaters!

‘Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And then He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”’ Luke 10:17-20. 

Dear Christian, the Word is our sword. ‘And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts…’ 2 Peter 1:19.