Answers

Here are the questions from Sunday:

1. When were angels cast down?
2. When were they created?
3. What exactly was it that Lucipher did to get kicked out of heaven?
4. What was/is the purpose of angels?

I think I have been able to find good answers to these questions in Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine.

You can read most of the related text here: Google book preview of Grudem's Systematic Theology.

Question 1: When were angels cast down?
According to Grudem, we don't exactly know the time that the angels were cast down. We do know that it had to happen prior to Satan tempting Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3.1). Grudem also suggests that it occurred after the sixth day of creation since God proclaims everything He created good (Genesis 1:31). Grudem says "but beyond this, Scripture give us no further information". (Grudem p. 402)

Question 2. When were the angels created?
Grudem says that they did not always exist but were part of the creation. Quoting Ezra 'You are the Lord, you alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host ... and the host of heaven worships you' (Nehemiah 9:6; cf. Ps. 148:2,5)Grudem 397). He goes on to explain that the angels had to be created before the seventh day because Genesis 2:1 states "Thus the heavens and earth were finished, and all the host of them" and that it's possible (but not definite) that Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 may indicate that the heavens were complete because earth is specifically called out to be without form and void.


Question 3. What exactly was it that Lucipher did to get kicked out of heaven?
Grudem points out that at the end of creation God "say everything that he had made, and behold it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). (Grudem 412) Since this is true, the heavens did not even have evil angels (demons or Satan aka. Lucipher) at that time. (412) I referenced earlier in the week the passage that best declares the reference to what he did:
Isaiah 14:12-15
12 How you have fallen from heaven,
O morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!

13 You said in your heart,
"I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. [a]

14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High."

15 But you are brought down to the grave,
to the depths of the pit.


more to come...