Q: #615. Can angels feel pain?
A: The Bible has almost nothing to say on this subject. In speaking of angels, we have two kinds of angels in the Bible: “God’s angels,” who serve Him, and carry out His will, and “fallen angels,” which are Satan and his demons. There is nothing in the Bible (that i know of) that shows “God’s angels” experiencing pain of any kind. However, there is one verse which mentions that “fallen angels” can feel pain now, and 2 verses which mention that they will feel pain in the future. These verses are:
(Mt 8:28-29)(NKJV) “When He (Jesus) had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. (29) And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to TORMENT US BEFORE THE TIME?”” (caps emphasis mine) (Also see: Lk 8:27-28)
***Note: “Before the time” seems to point to the next two verses, which will occur in the end times.
(Rev 20:10) “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Also see: Rev 19:20)
(Mt 25:41)(NKJV) “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Related to this subject, I was recently asked the question, “Since demons are fallen angels (Rev 12:3-4,7-9)(Mt 25:41)(Ezek 28:12-19), and angels do not have bodies (they are not “flesh and bone” Lk 24:39), and are spirit by nature (Heb 1:14), and invisible (2 Kin 6:16-17)(Num 22:22-31), how can they be tormented, and burned by fire?”
The Bible does not tell us how this is possible, but God will clearly make it happen somehow. Being pure speculation, I put forth the following “theory:”
We are told that not only will the “lake of fire” in (Rev 20:10) be for Satan and his angels, but it will also be for those unbelievers who followed and belonged to Satan (because they rejected Jesus) (Rev 20:14-15)(Rev 21:8). I believe we are told how these unbelievers will be able to survive being tormented, and burned by fire. Just like believers, all unbelievers in the future will receive glorified bodies (Jn 5:28-29)(Acts 24:15)(Dan 12:2) that are described as immortal (1 Cor 15:42), and imperishable (1 Cor 15:54)(Lk 20:36). Because of these traits, this is why they will be able to survive the “everlasting fire” (where “the worm dieth not“). (Also see: Mt 13:42,50, Mt 25:46, Mk 9:44, Rev 14:10-11)
Keeping this in mind, since we see all through the Bible that God has at times given “His angels” temporary bodies (temporary since they are “spirit” by nature) to carry out His will and plans (i.e. Heb 13:2, Gen 18:1-16, Lk 24:4), might it be possible that God will place the “fallen angels” in “immortal and imperishable” bodies, similar to those of unbelievers, that will survive being thrown into the “lake of fire?”
There may be other “theories” regarding this, but surprisingly, I could find virtually no one who has addressed this subject.
***Note: Neither Satan, nor his demons has the power to create anything, including bodies for themselves.