ANGELOLOGY AND SATANOLOGY
LESSON 30 – ANGELS AND THEIR ROLE
Matthew 22:30, 13:39,
Matthew 25:31
1 Corinthians 4:9
1 Peter 1:10-12
INTRODUCTION
We are not alone we have other creatures who are rarely seen called angels. Who are they? What is their destiny? How do they relate to us? This is a very important study. It is one of the more difficult ones because of its reflection on Satan, and many students find when they study him they have troubles!.
Many seminaries do not cover this subject at all. They believe in flying saucers but do not believe in angels at all. However this is countered in our world by an ever more obvious demonstration of the work of the operative fallen angels called demons. Satan’s forces are less subtle in their work as we draw closer to the end of time, so more people are speaking of these things today.
The angelic conflict is something in which we are involved and as it is a ‘spiritual fight’ we must know our enemy fully, if we are to make a difference in the Lords work he has assigned for us. This is the power struggle between God and Satan that began long before man’s creation; but God will be victorious. If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ it is important that you know where you stand.
There is an increasing awareness of another dimension which has been brought forward by the New Age Movement and by the Spielberg movies. From Star Wars and the like, the theology of many unbelievers takes a form that some sort of force is with them, a force of good. There is also a great expectation by a large number of unbelievers of extra-terrestrials making contact with humanity. We must counter this new age belief with the biblical truth. Many big celebrities have become involved with these groups and it has gained a lot of Media coverage in recent times.
A DVD and book by the name of the ‘Secret’ has infiltrated ‘Christianity’ and is being promoted as a total answer to mankind’s health, wealth and happiness. This ideology promotes the ‘lie’ that we are really masters of our ‘own destiny’ and that teachers such as Jesus, Buddha and others were merely showing us the way to all truth. In effect New Age teaches that we are really ‘gods’ and can achieve whatever we want to attract into our lives. Especially since the beginning of the 21st Century, ‘angels’ have become very ‘fashionable and prominent’ amongst many people.
So we will now look at the subjects of angelology, demonology and eschatology. What we see on the move around us in the changing belief systems of our neighbours is a significant trend. Satan has a huge propaganda machine going at the moment, and those involved are preparing the world for something. In this regard it is important to teach proper biblical eschatology, or prophecy.
This area of theology will also be attacked by covenant theologians who will look down on it and sadly in their beliefs will tend towards liberalism. While people may deny angels the bible makes it clear by their reported activity that they exist.
BIBLICAL STATEMENTS ON THE EXISTENCE OF ANGELS
There are over 300 verses in the Scriptures that refer to angels in 34 separate books ranging from Genesis to Revelation. There are 65 references to angels in Revelation alone and 100 in the Old Testament. If you believe in the Scriptures you have to believe in angels as creatures. Do not take your theology from the painter Rubens; who showed angels as fat pink babies with wings, or from your own cultures pictures of them, but take your views from the bible and let it correct your views.
Some of the angels are seen helping the servants of the Lord, opening prison doors etc. How commentators deal with angels often will give you an indication as to what theological viewpoint they have. A good verse to check out commentators on is Matthew 22:30. If you believe the Lord Jesus Christ is the God man, he will not tell you anything false. He refers to something that must be true, that the angels neither marry nor are given in marriage. The Lord believes in them do you?
GREEK AND HEBREW NAMES
Angels is from the Greek word "aggelos" which means messenger. In the Hebrew it is "Malak", meaning my messenger from which the word Malachi is formed. In the Scriptures the angel or messengers can be either human or angels.
OLD TESTAMENT
The Old Testament which speaks of angels over 100 times always presents them as real creatures. In the 34 occurrences of angels in the Torah they do things in character with their service as messengers. As examples Abraham met and ate with angels Genesis 18, an angel executed judgment on Israel 2 Samuel 24:16, Isaiah refers to a seraphim, Isaiah 6:2, Ezekiel to a cherubim Ezekiel 10:1-3, Daniel mentions Gabriel 9:20-27, and Michael 10:13, 12:1, Zechariah mentions angels as agents of God [chapter 1] and in the Psalms 34:7, 91:11, 103:20 they are shown as the servants of God.
NEW TESTAMENT
The New Testament speaks of angels some 165 times with 65 references in the Book of the Revelation alone. This is more than any other book in the Bible.
The gospels attest to the ministry of the angels to Christ in His birth, life, resurrection, ascension Matthew 2:19, Mark 1:13, Luke 2:13, John 20:12, Acts 1:10-11
In the book of Acts we have them opening prison doors 5:19, 12:5-11, directing Philip and Cornelius in ministry 8:26, 10:1-7, encouraging Paul during a storm on his voyage to Rome
There is also clear references to angels in the writings of Paul -Galatians 3:19, 1 Timothy 5:21 the writer to the Hebrews 1:4, Peter 1 Peter 1:12 and in Jude 6
THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST
Angels were present to assist Jesus Christ after his temptation in the wilderness Matthew 4. He taught that human beings after the resurrection would, like the angels do not procreate. Matthew 22:30, and that they would separate the good and wicked, Matthew 13:39, and will accompany the Lord Jesus Christ at the Second Advent, Matthew 25:31.
Even with this overwhelming Biblical evidence many different commentators will adopt the concepts that Jesus Christ either,
[a] was accommodating people's primitive beliefs,
[b] was a liar,
[c] really did not know
[d] was telling the truth, which of course is the fact of the matter.
It is of note that some, otherwise reasonably good commentators, will take one or other of the above four concepts. It really separates good commentators from the other ones.
ARE ANGELS RELEVANT TODAY?
Are the angels still active? Is it important for us to study them? “Yes”, is the answer to both questions. With the media you see modern man's fixation with super creatures so it is important to study the real super creatures.
1 Corinthians 4:9 - Paul says we are here, upon the earth, on the stage; we are a spectacle for men and angels. Both are watching us. 1 Peter 1:10-12 mentions, that these things, with which we are involved, the angels are interested in and are getting to know things through us. The angels are enthusiastically interested in all the features of God's plan. As Peter and Paul are discovering things, so are the angels.
DOCTRINES
ANGELS
1. There are two kinds of angels:
a) Elect Angels (1 Timothy 5:21) - those which have chosen to remain with God.
b) Fallen angels - those which have rebelled against God and followed Satan: i) imprisoned ones (Jude 6, 2 Peter 2:4) - apparently active on earth prior to the Flood (Genesis 6)
ii) demons, currently active on earth (1 Corinthians 10:20,21, Mark 5:1-20)
2. There are various orders in the angelic realm.
a) Cherubim (highest order) -. (Genesis 3:24, Exodus 25:19-20) Cherubs were originally the defenders of divine holiness. Lucifer (Satan) was a cherub (Ezekiel 28:14)
b) Seraphim - (Isaiah 6:2). Seraph means burning ones.
c) Rulers, Principalities and Powers - can refer to human authorities, but usually refers to angels (and generally to fallen angels). (Ephesians 3:10, 6:12, Colossians 1:16). They control certain segments of the human race, they can control the voice and the mind. (Mark 5:1-20).
d) Ministering Angels
i) Guardian angels. (Hebrews 1:14). Protect and assist believers.
ii) Angels of the waters. (Revelation 16:5). Water is used as a prison. Abyss (Greek), refers to an underwater prison.
iii) Angels of the abyss. (Revelation 9:1, 11 ). An angel which has a special responsibility for the abyss.
iv) Angel of fire. (Revelation 14:18).
v) Angels of judgment. (Revelation 8:2, ch 15, 16) - trumpets and bowls.
vi) Watcher angels. (Daniel 4:13).
3. Appearance of angels:
a) Angels can appear as human beings (Genesis 18:1-2, Hebrews 13:2)
b) Angels are described variously as having wings, many eyes, many faces (Isaiah 6:2, Ezekiel 1) and often glow with brilliant light (Matthew 28:2-3).
c) Lucifer (Satan) was the most beautiful creature ever to come from the hand of God (Ezekiel 28:12-17)
d) Angels are NOT pink fat babies with wings, or red skinned creatures with horns and forked tails.
4. Named angels:
a) Lucifer, son of the morning, was the covering cherub over the Throne of God (Isaiah 14:12). His name is now Satan, the accuser/slanderer (Revelation 12:10)
b) Gabriel a messenger angel (Daniel 8:16, 9:21, Luke 1:19,26)
c) Michael a fighting angel (Revelation 12:7, Jude 9) and guardian angel of Israel
5. Angels and Christ's Incarnation
a) At his birth - (Luke 2:9-15)
b) At his temptation - (Matthew 4:11)
c) At his resurrection - (Matthew 28:2)
d) At his ascension - (Acts 1:10)
e) At the Second Advent - (Matthew 13:37-39, 24:31, 25:31, 2 Thessalonians 1:7)
6. Angels and Man
a) Angels were watching at the time of creation. (Job 38:7)
b) Angels were present when God gave Moses the Law. (Galatians 3:19, Acts 7:53).
c) Angels are watching us now. (1 Corinthians 4:9, Ephesians 3:10, 1 Timothy 5:21, 1 Peter 1:12.)
d) The elect angels rejoice whenever someone is saved (Luke 15:7-10).
7. Many times revelations from God were mediated through angels -
a) The Law of Moses -, Exodus 3:2 , Galatians 3:19, Acts 7:53, Hebrews 2:2
b) Prophetical announcements to Daniel - Daniel 7:16, 8:16-26, 9:20-27, 10:1-12:13
c) Prophetical announcements to Zechariah - Zechariah 1:9, 2:3, 4:1,5, 5:5, 6:4,5
d) Announcement of the birth of John to Zacharias - Luke 1:11-20
e) Announcement of the birth of Jesus to Mary - Luke 1:26-38, and Joseph - Matthew 1:20-21
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