Question Six of Chapter One of the Third Decade
How many angels fell from heaven
It is asked how many angels there were who fell from heaven.
To this it appears that fewer were those who fell than those who remained.
This is proved by reason and by authorities.
First, by reason.
For sin is contrary to natural inclination. But those things which occur contrary to nature happen in the fewer number of cases, while nature attains its effect either always or in the greater number of cases.
Second, it is proved by authorities, and first by the authority of Elisha in Book IV of Kings, chapter 6, who said to his servant: “There are more with us than with them.” This is expounded concerning the good and evil angels.
And in Revelation, chapter 12, it is said that the dragon drew with him the third part of the stars—that is, the third part from the nine choirs of angels.
Certain persons nevertheless say that so many fell that a tenth order could have been made from them.
But if someone curiously wishes to know the determinate number of the good and evil angels from their legions, let him seek acute arithmeticians and abacists.
These things are from Thomas, First Part, question 63, article 9.