When were angels created?
Daniel asks, "When do you think angels were created?
This is a great question. We don’t know precisely when God created angels, but here’s what we can know.
Angels are a significant part of the spiritual realm, and they are mentioned throughout the Bible. Angels are created beings, and they were created by God for specific purposes.
We know that God created everything, and that would include the angels. Angels are not eternal beings. In Colossians 1:16, Paul said:
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him (ESV).
We know that there was a certain day that God created Satan. Speaking of Satan in Ezekiel 28:15, God said this:
You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you (ESV).
We also know from Genesis that God created the heavens and the earth on the first day of the creation week.
One thing that is interesting about the angels is that as God was creating, the angels were watching and shouting for joy. God told Job about this in Job 38:4-7. He referred to the angels as “morning stars” and “sons of God” and said:
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Here is where things are not entirely clear. The angels celebrated as God laid the foundation of the earth. That could be either day 1 of creation when God made the heavens and the earth, or day 3 of creation when God made dry land. Either way, we know that angels were created before day 4.
The timeline between creation and the fall in Genesis is not clear. We don’t know how long Adam and Eve lived in the garden before the temptation. As it relates to your question, Satan rebelled before the temptation of Adam and Eve, but he did not rebel before the creation. He was part of the creation.
I hope this helps.
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Jo, we believe that God created Satan with the ability to choose between obeying God or rebellion against God. Adam and Eve in the garden has the same condition. God gave them a command, and, the ability to choose between obeying that command or rebelling. That said, everything God does is right and good. So, even though He created us with the ability to rebell, the way He created us was good.