Angels Angels A Study Of Gods Unseen Creation

Angels

Angels A Study Of God’s Unseen Creation By Rev. Dan Domke

Angels • Do you have any stories?

The Sainted President Alvin Barry wrote • It seems as though angels have captured the imagination of people everywhere. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about angels, along with superstitions and unscriptural understandings.

What people believe! DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF ANGELS? Yes 69% No 25% Nancy Gibb Time Magazine December 27, 1993

What people believe! DO YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE YOUR OWN GUARDIAN ANGEL? Yes 46% No 21%

What people believe! WHICH BEST DESCRIBES WHAT YOU BELIEVE ANGELS TO BE? A. Higher spiritual beings created by God with special powers to act as his agents on earth 55% B. The spirits of people who have died 15%

What People Believe. C. An important religious idea but merely symbolic - 18% D. Figments of the imagination 7%

What people believe! HAVE YOU EVER PERSONALLY FELT AN ANGELIC PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE? Yes No 32% 35%

What people believe! DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF FALLEN ANGELS, OR DEVILS; (DEMONS)? Yes No 49% 45% Notice how the results begin to merge!

Where is the only place we can learn about angels?

Angels Some people say we cannot have a doctrine on angels because belief in angels is not necessary for salvation.

Angels or Not “In all ages men have become Christians who did not know that there were angels. But when a man has become a Christian and reads the Bible, he will find in it, from Genesis (the word angel is used 11 times in Genesis) to Revelation (51 times in Revelation and 192 total times in the Bible). ”

By Grace. . . Therefore we believe in Angels. • We believe in Christ. • We believe by the means of the Gospel. • We believe the Bible. • We believe in the content of the Bible.

By Faith in Christ we believe the bible! Once, through faith in the Bible, we believe in Christ, believing in angels is part and parcel of being a Christian.

We believe in them because God teaches us through His Word that they exist and are around us all the time.

Truth is the truth • “. . . the doctrine of the angels sets side by side with the central article of Christ, the Savior of Sinners. ” • F. Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, Vol. I, page 498.

. The existence of angels and the time of their creation • The Bible from Genesis to Revelation bears witness that there angels. Therefore on the testimony of Scripture, not on reason or probability, we believe in angels.

. The existence of angels and the time of their creation • Angels were created in the "Hexaemenon, " the six day of creation. They were not created before the universe because before the creation there is only God. —Genesis 1: 1

. The existence of angels and the time of their creation • John 1: 1 -3 • In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (NIV)

. The existence of angels and the time of their creation • They were not created after the universe, because God ceased creating. On which day of the hexaemenon were the angels created? We cannot say.

. The existence of angels and the time of their creation • Colossians 1: 15, 16— He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created:

• . . . things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

. The existence of angels and the time of their creation Colossians 1: 16— The three orders of Creation • (1) All Body • (2) All Soul • (3) Body and Soul

. The Word Angel means The name “Angel” is an official title. It does not describe the angels’ makeup. The essence is “pneu`ma” or spirit. The official title describes their work as ambassadors/messengers.

. The Word Angel means Mal. 2: 7, 3: 1 7 “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction—because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty.

The Word Angel - means Matt. 11: 10 Matthew 11: 10 10 This is the one about whom it is written: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you. ’

The Word Angel - means • Matt. 11: 10 10 This is the one about whom it is written: ”‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you. ’

The Word Angel - means • John 3: 17, 34 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. … 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.

The Word Angel - means John 6: 40 – 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. ”

The Word Angel - means Gal. 4: 4 -6 – 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

"Angel of the Lord. " Gen. 22: 11 -12 48: 15 -16

"Angel of the Lord. " Gen. 22: 11 -12 • 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham!” • “Here I am, ” he replied. • 12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy, ” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son. ”

"Angel of the Lord. " Gen. 48: 15 -16 • 15 Then he blessed Joseph and said, – – – – – “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, 16 the Angel who has delivered me from all harm —may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly • upon the earth. ”

To worship or not • It would be manifest idolatry to pray to an angel and invite his blessing. A created angel would never swear by himself. —Gen. 22: 15 -18.

To worship or not —Gen. 22: 15 -18 • 15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,

To worship or not • An easy way to test whether the word refers to God or a created angel is in the context, "when either the name Jehovah or divine works or divine. . .

To worship or not worship is attributed in Scripture to an angel, then this angel must be understood to be the Son of God, who is referred to as "the angel of the Lord. "

Nature of Angels Immaterial Beings Luke 24: 39 q Applies to both good and evil angels q

Nature of angels • Can assume human form - Gen. 18: 1 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby.

Nature of angels • Can assume human form Gen. 19; The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening,

Nature of angels • Can assume human form Hebrews 13: 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Nature of Angels • In contrast man who is Body and Soul : both material and immaterial- Angels are nonmaterial Gen. 2: 7 & Eccl. 12: 7

Nature of Angels • Gen. 2: 7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Nature of Angels • Eccl. 12: 7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, • and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Angels are spirits immaterial beings • Jesus forbids us to give angels any kind of earthly, physical quality. • Luke 24: 39—Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I (Jesus) have. " (NIV)

Angels are spirits immaterial beings • A spirit is the direct opposite to every physical form we have, including our future glorified bodies. The same applies to evil angels (demons).

Spiritual conflict • "We wrestle not with flesh and blood. " —Ephesians 6: 12

Angels can appear as human. • Gen. 18 and 19 are examples. , But they are only assumed forms, not real bodies; a way for invisible angels to temporarily become visible. • • Angels cannot only be seen but also they can eat. It was a real eating in Gen. 18: 8; 19: 3.

Property of angels • Have intellect - Eph. 3: 10 {good angels} - Gen. 3 {evil} Matt. 4 • Can interact with Humans a. Lot - Gen. 19: 16 (Three individuals - One was God, two were angels).

Posses great Power b. Excel in strength - Ps. 103: 20 c. Mighty - 2 Thess. 1: 7 d. Devil -- Strong man Matt. 12: 29 e. More powerful than human beings – Ps. 91: 11 -13

Power limited – Ps. 103: 20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.

Angels know the wisdom of God and are in church Sunday mornings. (Eph. 3: 10) Good angels are ministers to the heirs of salvation.

q. Evil angels have knowledge or intelligence: q Temptation of Eve is example Gen. 3, q Temptation of Christ is another, Matt. 4.

• They have power to interact with material things. q Angel able to take Lot and his family to safety and instruct them. Gen. 19: 16

q. Devil takes Christ into the holy City, Matt. 4: 5. q. Angels, though very intelligent, do not know everything; only God is omniscient.

q. They do not know the future except what God has revealed in Scripture. q Angels do not know the thoughts of men. This is only God's right. "You only know the heart of all the children of men. " — 1 Kings 8: 39

q. Do not turn angels into gods by giving them attributes that belong to God.

Number of Angels 1. Dan. 7: 10 Thousands upon Thousands 2. Luke 2: 13 Thousands upon Thousands 3. Hebrews 12: 22 Innumerable

4. Rev. 5: 11 “. . . voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. ” 5. Deut. 33: 2 “He came with myriads of holy ones from the south, from his mountain slopes. ”

6. Psalm 68: 17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.

7. Number of Demons Rev. 12: 4 • His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. . .

How many are “thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. ”? It’s a whole bunch!

Angels are organized in terms of authority and glory

Good Angels Ranks or classes of Good Angels a. Archangels, 1 Thess. 4: 16 b. Angel - Daniel 9: 21; Luke 1: 19

Good Angels c. Guardian Angels - Heb. 1: 14 d. Cherubim – Gen. 3: 24 e. Seraphim – Isa. 6: 2

Good Angels f. Thrones, powers, rulers, authorities – Colossians 1: 16 g. Rulers – Ephesians 6: 12

Colossians 1: 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. (NIV)

Angels guide the saints to heaven Matthew 24: 31—And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heaven to the other. (NIV)

Guardian Angels Heb 1: 14—Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

The Angel of the Fall and Rebellion • Satan - Is. 14: 12 - Ez. 28: 12 - Jn. 8: 44 • Demons - Rev. 12: 4 Demons are real • (1) Matt. 9: 33 17: 18 • (2) Luke 11: 24

Hell created for the devil not for man. — Matthew 25: 41 • Hell a temporary place. —Rev. 20: 14 • Men who reject the Savior are following Satan. Hence end up with the same fate.

Spiritual Warfare Satan's conspiracy 1. Eph. 6: 10 -12 2. 2 Thess. 2: 9 -10 3. 2 Cor. 11: 14 4. Character of: Liar, Murderer - Jn. 8: 44

Demon’s Role Purpose One: to cause men to suffer - Rev. 9: 15 Purpose Two: to lead men astray - Rev. 12: 9

Angel’s Role 1. Jude V. 9 to oppose Satan, but only in the Name of the Lord 2. Are traveling/moving through the world - Heb. 1: 14, 13: 2 3. Michael's Role

Angel’s role • a. Archangel - Michael God's Administer of Judgment • b. Michael protects and defends the people of God • c. See Dan. 10: 20 -21; see Rev. 12: 7

Demonic Spirit • (1) Prince of Persia Demon with whom the Angel in Dan is fighting: Prince of Greece • (2) See also Eph. 1: 1 "ruler or Prince of the kingdom of the Air"

The Christian’s Victory is a Gift of Grace, Christ the Real Victor • A. The Cross of Christ 1 Corinthians 1: 17 • 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

The Christian’s Victory is a Gift of Grace, Christ the Real Victor • A. The Cross of Christ Galatians 6: 14 -14 6: 14 - May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

The Christian’s Victory is a Gift of Grace, Christ the Real Victor • B. Proclaiming the Gospel is the cause of Satan's downfall - Luke 10: 18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. ”

The Christian’s Victory is a Gift of Grace, Christ the Real Victor • C. Greater is he. . . 1 John 4: 4 • 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.