Fallen angels lived in the glory of God from the time of their creation. They dwelt in the presence of God, they worked in the presence of God, and they lived in the presence of God. They were exposed to attributes you and I have not yet been exposed to much less allowed to entertain; therefore, once they rebelled against God, they were without mercy and unable to retain it because of their acquired knowledge. Angels have been exposed to secret places and in some events the deeper things of God that very few have ever seen. Clearly, their request for forgiveness was unjustified as they had absolutely no excuse for rejecting the goodness of God and then conniving to usurp authority over Him. Their rebellion was indeed blasphemy in the truest sense of the word.

Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse (Romans 1:19-20).

While the above scripture is speaking to mankind’s rejection of Jesus and the power of His Holy Spirit, this is an eternal declaration and it also applies to the angelic. Gross rebellion is difficult but still redeemable for mankind after repentance and surrender to God’s authority; but woe to the one who has rebelled against the goodness of God after dwelling in the divine presence of God and regularly tasting of the divine. This scripture is speaking specifically to the mature in Christ, those who have an established foundation in the deeper things of Christ. The scripture in the Book of Hebrews states it this way:

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame (Hebrews 6:4-6).

The preceding verses in this passage of scripture list for us what is considered rudimentary in the kingdom of God from a learning perspective:

Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment (Hebrews 6:1-3).

The above verses are essentially the basics of Christianity 101 and every believer should have this foundation established in their personal walk with God; as no one can move into deeper maturity unless they have established these fundamental principles to doctrinal understanding.

Although men and women didn’t have access to the throne of God like the angelic before the foundation of the earth, we do indeed have access to the throne of God now. Jesus has made it possible for you and me to have intimate fellowship with the Father. He paved the way for you and me to receive mercy for our shortcomings and forgiveness our own rebellion by becoming sin for us. Our knowledge of God and His Holy Spirit are acquired here, in this dispensation, on this earth; whereas angels had their opportunity in the heavenlies; but just as each group—mankind and the angelic—have each been given their position of assignment, both groups have also been given specific perimeters by which to live. We could say the angels learned to worship God while in heavenly places; while mankind learns how to worship God here on earth. Each group has its destiny and each group has the ability to accept or reject God’s will. So while some may think God’s decision to permanently reject the fallen angels is extreme, we know it is not at all extreme based upon the conditions by which the angels were allowed to live. So if the angles had free will and yet suffered the consequences of rebellion, then how much more will we as men and women suffer the consequences of rebellion against God being made in the very image of God? (Genesis 1:26).

We didn’t have the opportunity to move in diverse realms of glory or taste of the divine goodness of God like the angles did in Heaven; we were hidden in the Father before the foundation of this world; but through our assignments here on earth, we have the opportunity to acknowledge the goodness of God and learn to embrace what is holy. As we learn to obey the instructions of the Father as they are written in His Word, we too can partake of the divine nature of God if we allow Holy Spirit to mature us through the working of His might power. Consequently, just as the angles were without excuse for their rebellion against God in Heaven, we too are without excuse if we reject God’s goodness while here on earth.

Rebellion is a serious issue and one God addresses with all who refuse to accept His sovereignty, whether they are human or angelic. He is the creator, we are the created. He is the potter, we are the clay, and while God does give us free will to choose between light and darkness; goodness and evil; He also has the right to eternally excommunicate anyone who attempts to usurp His authority. After all, are we God? Do we have the ability to sustain the dimensions of the universe, holding each layer in the palms of our hands? Do we have the ability to create the human form, decorate the expanse of the earth with our own paintbrush, or establish the parameters of the oceans and their borders? We can’t even calculate the amount of stars in the skies much less create anything. We can only observe and discover through research and study what is available to us through those things God has released from His very heart. We have the cars we drive because God released our ability to design them in His time, as He willed, for His purposes. We create nothing. He truly is the beginning and the end; what a humbling revelation.

So let’s remember to give God the respect He is due and let’s not pity angles that chose to reject the awesome greatness of God and stirred up rebellion in the heavenlies creating such gross division. God hates division; and all rebellion does is divide and separate us from God’s very best. And while we are to pray for men and women who may be under the spell of rebellion, we are never to show pity for the angles of God that lived in the presence of His Divine Glory then chose to reject His authority. There is never redemption for any who have been enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come (Hebrews 6:4-6) and then rebelled against that glory. Take a lesson from the angels; there is no path of repentance for anyone who dwells in the secret places of God’s glory then chooses to embrace rebellion.