Angels...Real or Not?

Introduction

Just the other day I heard someone in conversation say “we all have our demons”...

I’ve also heard people say at funerals “now he’s got his wings and having a good time”.

“my guardian angel was looking after me”

Many people have used the term “guardian angel” as a common expression, yet without much understanding of an angel’s true existence.

In our culture today, you will find churches dedicated to the worship of Satan with a minister who calls himself the high priest of Satan.

In some areas of our country and the world, people worship, pray to, and fear demons and evil spirits.

To some Satan is just whimsical character with horns, a tail and a pitchfork…a personification of evil, but doesn’t really exist.

What do you say to the individual that bases their understanding of angels from the Hollywood scene that when we die we become angels?

The Bible speaks clearly about the existence of Satan, demons and angels and what they are capable of doing and not doing.

Definition

· The Hebrew word for angel is malak and simply means messenger.

o It could be a human messenger –

1 Kings 19:2 NASB95

Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”

1 kings 192

o It could be a divine messenger –

o It could be a divine messenger –

Genesis 28:12 NASB95

He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

o The basic meaning is “one who is sent”.

o The basic meaning is “one who is sent”.

o It appears 103 times in the Old Testament

The Greek word for angel is angelos and occurs 175 times in the NT.

o Only used of men 6 times.

o It also means messenger…one who speaks in the place of the one who has sent him.

· Other terms used in reference to angels

o Sons of God – ;

o Holy ones – ,

Psalm 89:5 NASB95

The heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.

Psalm 89:7 NASB95

A God greatly feared in the council of the holy ones, And awesome above all those who are around Him?

o Host – denoting the armies of heaven – ;

o Host – denoting the armies of heaven – ;

Psalm 89:6 NASB95

For who in the skies is comparable to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty is like the Lord,

Nature and attributes

Nature and attributes

· Spirit beings – they do not have fleshly bodies –

Hebrews 1:14 NASB95

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

o Sometimes they may reveal themselves to mankind in the form of human bodies –

o Sometimes they may reveal themselves to mankind in the form of human bodies –

Genesis 18:3 NASB95

and said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by.

o They do not function as human beings in terms of marriage –

o They do not function as human beings in terms of marriage –

Mark 12:25 NASB95

“For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

o They are not subject to death –

o They are not subject to death –

Luke 20:36 NASB95

for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

· Created beings

Created beings

o ; ;

· Created simultaneously and innumerable in number

o – it was a singular act meaning Jesus is not still creating angels.

o – they cannot reproduce so their number is static

o ; – their number is myriads – countless

· Higher order than man

o – Jesus taking on flesh made him lower than the angels

o – not subject to death

o – possess greater wisdom than man but yet it is limited ()

o ; ; – greater power than man yet it is limited ()

o

§ Not created in God’s image and do not share our glorious destiny of redemption.

§ Man will be exalted above the angels.

Classification of Angels

· Governmental rulers – refers to ranking of angels.

o Rulers – first or high rank

o Powers – those invested with authority

o World-forces of darkness – authority over the world

o Spiritual forces of wickedness – describes their character and nature

o refers to the “prince of the kingdom of Persia” – this was a fallen angel under Satan’s control opposing Michael.

· High Ranking angels

o Michael – archangel – ;

§ Only one

§ Protector of Israel – ;

o Chief princes –

· Prominent individuals

o Michael – who is like God

o Gabriel – God is strong, man of God – ;

§ God’s special messenger

o Lucifer – shining one, star of the morning –

§ May have been the wisest and most beautiful of all God’s created beings

§ Originally placed in a position of authority over the cherubim surrounding God’s throne.

· Divine attendants

o Cherubim

§ Highest order or class

§ Their main purpose and activity is to proclaim and protect God’s glorious presence. Sovereignty and holiness.

· ; ;

Genesis 3:24 NASB95

So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.

Exodus 25:17–22 NASB95

“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide. “You shall make two cherubim of gold, make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat. “Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends. “The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing one another; the faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the mercy seat. “You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I will give to you. “There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.

Ezekiel 1 NASB95

Now it came about in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. (On the fifth of the month in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile, the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and there the hand of the Lord came upon him.) As I looked, behold, a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright light around it, and in its midst something like glowing metal in the midst of the fire. Within it there were figures resembling four living beings. And this was their appearance: they had human form. Each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight and their feet were like a calf’s hoof, and they gleamed like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides were human hands. As for the faces and wings of the four of them, their wings touched one another; their faces did not turn when they moved, each went straight forward. As for the form of their faces, each had the face of a man; all four had the face of a lion on the right and the face of a bull on the left, and all four had the face of an eagle. Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each had two touching another being, and two covering their bodies. And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went. In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches darting back and forth among the living beings. The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire. And the living beings ran to and fro like bolts of lightning. Now as I looked at the living beings, behold, there was one wheel on the earth beside the living beings, for each of the four of them. The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was like sparkling beryl, and all four of them had the same form, their appearance and workmanship being as if one wheel were within another. Whenever they moved, they moved in any of their four directions without turning as they moved. As for their rims they were lofty and awesome, and the rims of all four of them were full of eyes round about. Whenever the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them. And whenever the living beings rose from the earth, the wheels rose also. Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction. And the wheels rose close beside them; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. Whenever those went, these went; and whenever those stood still, these stood still. And whenever those rose from the earth, the wheels rose close beside them; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. Now over the heads of the living beings there was something like an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, spread out over their heads. Under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward the other; each one also had two wings covering its body on the one side and on the other. I also heard the sound of their wings like the sound of abundant waters as they went, like the voice of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army camp; whenever they stood still, they dropped their wings. And there came a voice from above the expanse that was over their heads; whenever they stood still, they dropped their wings. Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man. Then I noticed from the appearance of His loins and upward something like glowing metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His loins and downward I saw something like fire; and there was a radiance around Him. As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.

o Seraphim

o Seraphim

§ Burning ones

§ Pictured surrounding the throne in

Isaiah 6:2 NASB95

Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

§ Praise and proclaim the perfect holiness of God.

§ Praise and proclaim the perfect holiness of God.

Ministry

·To God by defending His holiness and surrounding His throne.

·To Christ

o Predicted His birth –

o Protected Him – ,

o Ministered to Him in His temptation –

o Strengthened Him –

o Announced His resurrection –

o Attended His ascension –

o Will attend His 2nd coming –

o Will gather Israel to the land to prepare His return and rule –

o Will add to His splendor –

· To believers

o Physical protection

§ ; ; ; ;

o Physical provision –

o Encouragement –

o Direction – ; ,

o Assist in answers to prayer – ;

o Carry believers home –

· To unbelievers

o Announcing and meting out judgment

§

§ , ,

§

§

§ Matt/ 12:39-42

§

§

Satan

The word 'satan' is the Hebrew transliteration of the word 'adversary.' Therefore, Satan is the one who opposes God. Satan is the most powerful of the fallen angels.

Satan, also known as Lucifer and the Devil, is said to be the one who entered the Garden of Eden and convinced Eve to disobey God.

There is debate among scholars regarding the time of the fall of Satan.

Some say that he fell when he moved Eve to disobey God.

Others state that Satan fell sometime before that and merely manifested his adversarial nature in the Garden.

Still others say that there was a great battle in heaven long before the Garden of Eden, and that Satan took one-third of the angels with him.

, "And another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4 And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven, and threw them to the earth..."

Revelation 12:3–4 NASB95

Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.

Of course, the first mention of the devil is found in the Garden of Eden, but it isn't until the post-exilic period (538 B.C.) that the figure of Satan is more prominently displayed: ; ; and 1 Chron. 21:1.1

Of course, the first mention of the devil is found in the Garden of Eden, but it isn't until the post-exilic period (538 B.C.) that the figure of Satan is more prominently displayed: ; ; and 1 Chron. 21:1.1

Every NT writer refers to him in some way

, "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.", "And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, 'How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 'And if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.'", "And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him."

The motive for Satan's rebellion may very well be found in the following verses:

, "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! "13 But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. 14 'I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'"

In the future, there will be a judgment where the devil will be cast out:

, "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

The reality of Satan is witnessed by the extensive references to him in the Scriptures.

o Every NT writer refers to him in some way

Jesus makes reference to him 25x

He is not some imp with a pitchfork, horns and a tail.

· Personality

o Intellect

§ Schemes and is crafty –

§ Deceives indicating his ability to think and plan –

§ He knows and uses the Scripture in his deceptions –

o Emotion

§ Desire to exalt himself above God –

§ Desires to trap believers in their conceit –

§ Vents great wrath –

o Will

§ Attempted to entice Christ to sin –

§ Wish to be like God –

o Actions

§ Speaks –

§ Tempts –

§ Plans –

§ Accuses believers –

§ Deceives and destroys –

· His origin

o – prior to the fall

§ Enjoyed an exalted position

§ Filled with wisdom and beauty

§ Blameless

o His fall

§ &

§ Cast down from the presence of God

§ His downfall was his pride

o He is morally accountable before God

§

§ His actions are all subordinate to and restricted by God

· His judgment

o Removed from his high position

§ In his rebellion he took 1/3 of the angels with him – ;

o Defeated announced in the Garden

§

o Rendered powerless at the cross

§

o Completely cast out during the tribulation

§

o Bound for 1000 years

§

o Final judgment is the lake of fire

§

Demons

· Angels who chose to follow Satan in his rebellion.

o ;

· Two groups

o Those who are free and active in the world.

o Some are bound in confinement

§ In hell – – because of some enormous sin – could be this same confinement

§ In the pit – ;

· indicates these demons will be released during the tribulation to afflict people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads –

· Characteristics

o Spirit beings –

o Localized but not omnipresent –

o Intelligent but not omniscient

§

§

§

o Powerful but not omnipotent

§ ;

§ ;

§

· Activity

o Inflict disease – , – (only as God permits – remember Job)

o Influence the mind – ; ; ;

§ Solution – ;

o Deceive people – ; ;

o Deceive entire nations –

· Demon possession

o Demon possession occurs when a demon resides within a person, exerting direct control and influence over that person with certain derangement of mind and/or body.

o A Christian cannot be possessed by demons since the Holy Spirit is residing within them.

§ However, a Christian can be a target for demonic activity to such an extent that he may give the appearance of demon possession.

o Facts

§ The New Testament records a great outbreak of demon possession during the time of Jesus’ journey on earth.

· The gospels abound with this evidence.

· They were no doubt in opposition to His Messiahship.

§ Extra biblical writers such as Justin Martyr and Tertullian make reference to this.

· Judgment

o Same as Satan

Conclusion

· Angels are real and were created by God for a purpose. They are not to be worshipped. We can stand in awe of God in His creation of them and to express gratitude to God for their ministry to us. We must be careful not to attribute every misfortune or sinful response to the presence of Satan or his minions. They are powerful, but God is more powerful. They cannot be everywhere present as God is. However, we must also beware of taking them too lightly. God gave us His armor for a reason.