Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14 NIV).
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons (1 Timothy 4:1 NIV).
The Book of Hebrews begins by explaining how much greater Christ is than even the angels—the first chapter ends with the acknowledgement that angels are sent to serve those who believe in Christ. Paul warned Timothy that spirits and demons would lead some believers astray with their lies. Scripture clearly teaches us that both angels and demons work among us, the former to lift us up, and the latter to deceive us.
The 2023 Institutional Workers’ Survey asked church employees how much they agreed with the statement that angels and demons are active in the world. The results are presented below.
Among educational employees, 91.3% strongly agreed or agreed more than disagreed that angels and demons are active in the world, while 8.7% strongly disagreed or disagreed more than agreed. The highest percentage of “strongly agree” responses were reported in the Inter-European Division, at 92.1% and in the South American Division, at 91.9%. The highest percentage of “strongly disagree” responses was reported in the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division, at 17.4%.
Among non-educational employees, 91.6% strongly agreed or agreed more than disagreed that angels and demons are active in the world, while 8.4% strongly disagreed or disagreed more than agreed. The highest results of “strongly agree” responses came from the South American Division, at 89.4%. The highest rate of “strongly disagree” responses came from the West-Central Africa Division, at 19%.
Ellen White warned us that “we do not understand as we should the great conflict going on between invisible agencies, the controversy between loyal and disloyal angels. Over every man, good and evil angels strive. This is no make-believe conflict. It is not mimic battles in which we are engaged. We have to meet most powerful adversaries, and it rests with us to determine which shall win” (Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 7, p. 213). Indeed, the chief focus of the book The Great Controversy is the story of this battle, this great controversy, between the powers of good and evil, God and Satan, right and wrong.
Although more than 90% of both educational and non-educational workers believe in the literal existence of angels and demons working in the world, there are still places in the world where this truth is denied, and not only in the secular, postmodern areas where we might expect it.
You can access the full report here.
Created in collaboration with the Institute of Church Ministry.
Published by ASTR on 10/05/2026