Against the Darkness is a helpful biblical-theological feast for serious-minded laypeople and pastor-theologians to sink their teeth into and grow in their understanding of angels, demons, Satan, spiritual warfare, the person and work of Jesus, and the second coming of our Lord.

Growing up in Seattle, I often interacted with those who have divergent views regarding angels, demons, and Satan. Typically, the average conversation would run counter to what we as Christians believe about these topics, which provided an opportunity to discuss these matters from a biblical worldview. There, as in many other parts of the country, spirituality was all the rage and confusion often reigned. It’s much the same today. With the growing confusion of spirituality comes the ever-increasing influence of New Age thinking, atheism, Satan, and an increasing interest in the occult worldwide. All of this is why having a good grasp of angels, demons, Satan, and spiritual warfare is critical for Christians who are concerned to grow and develop a biblical worldview.

In his new book, Against the Darkness: The Doctrine of Angels, Satan, and Demons, which is part of the Foundations of Evangelical Theology series from Crossway, Graham Cole helpfully traces these doctrines in Scripture and church history, showing their practical relevance for the Christian life. He writes,

This study is both descriptive and prescriptive in approach. Not only will careful attention be given to describing what is in the biblical testimony to angels, Satan, and demons, but biblical theology as a discipline plays an important role in constructing doctrine as it pays careful attention to the task of description. (21)

In chapters 2 and 3, Dr. Cole explores the role of angels in the created order and their function and ministry. Specifically, he considers the various activities of angels, the seraphim, and cherubim (32–33). In particular, what I appreciated in these chapters was the author’s mention that “the dismissal of angelology leads to a diminished Christian worldview” (47). Such an understanding helps us to heed his warning (43) about not worshipping angels but seeing them as “created spirits that serve God and God’s images in a myriad of ways in heaven and on earth” (48).

In some movies, television, or in science fiction novels, Satan and demons play a prominent role. In his discussion of Satan and demons in chapters 4 and 5, the author helps the people of God navigate away from the popular cultural confusion by grounding his teaching in Scripture. In these chapters, Cole articulates a clear understanding of the work of Satan and demons that squares with biblical orthodoxy.

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