1 John 3:8 NAS95(8) the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

Adam and Eve were not the first sinners. They were tempted to sin by a sinner. The serpent had a problem with God long before he spread error about God. God promised the serpent the seed of a woman would destroy the works of the original sinner. God’s problem is not with us. His problem is with the one who spreads lies about him.  

The theme of God reconciling all things is in two of Paul letters.

Colossians 1:19-20 NAS95 (19)  For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,[Jesus] (20)  and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

Ephesians 1:9-10 AMP (9)  He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, (10)  with regard to the fulfillment of the times [that is, the end of history, the climax of the ages] to bring all things together in Christ, [both] things in the heavens and the things on the earth.

While most Christian doctrine is narrowly focused on the reconciliation of humanity to God, the Bible paints a much bigger picture of reconciliation that encompasses all things in heaven and on earth. God’s purpose for the church is broader than ministering to people on earth.

Ephesians 3:8-10 NAS95

(8)  To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, (9)  and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; (10)  so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.

God is revealing his manifold wisdom to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places through the church. The problem started in the angels. The angels who remained faithful to God will not be left out of the reconciliation.

Angels have an integral part in God’s plans. They existed before God created humanity and shouted for joy when he laid the foundations of the earth.^[1] At some point, a third of the angels became disgruntled with God and rebelled, which means that they have a free will. Some, probably the ringleaders of the rebellion, are chained in darkness until judgment day.^[2]

The remaining rebel angels that freely roam about are called devils. They know they will pay a terrible price for their actions. That is confirmed in the account of Jesus casting the devils out of the men of the Gadarenes. They pleaded with Jesus not to torment them before the appointed time.^[3]At the end of this age, the archangel Michael will cleanse the heavens of rebellious angels by casting them to earth where they will suffer God’s wrath with rebellious humanity.^[4]

The angels who remained faithful to God during the rebellion need to know the truth about God just as humanity does. As the angels assist God in implementing his plan for humanity they are growing in their understanding of God’s wisdom.

Angels guarded the tree of life after Adam and Eve sinned. They carried out God’s judgments against Egypt, gave the law to Moses on Mount Sinai, and fought the enemies of Israel. They imparted messages to the Old Testament prophets, ministered to Jesus while he lived on earth, and are sent by God to minister to us, the heirs of salvation.

The book of Revelation reveals angels will announce the breaking of the seals, blow the trumpets, and pour out the bowls of God’s judgment upon the earth. At the end of the age, an angel will preach the gospel from the heavens to every nation. Angels will then separate humanity into two groups: the “wheat,” who are true believers, and the “tares,” counterfeit followers of Christ. And they will praise God for his righteous judgments against his enemies in the heavens and on earth. 

The age in which we live is affected by both the good and evil angelic rulers and authorities in heaven. The rebellious angels/devils that continue to resist God are responsible for creating problems on earth.

As Christians, our struggle in this world is not against people made of flesh and blood, but against the original sinners. The rulers, authorities, powers of darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. The only way to win our struggle against these evil rulers and receive the fulfillment of the promises God made to Abraham and his seed is to conduct our affairs with the kind of faith that creates equality and produces justice for all both in heaven and on earth—the faith God taught to Abraham one step at a time.