Angels

Matt Horine

Sunday Seminars • Sermon • Submitted a year ago

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What are angels? Why did God create them?

Notes

Transcript

Introduction

What are angels? Why did God create them?

Explanation & Scriptural Basis

A. What are Angels?

Definition: Angels are created, spiritual beings with moral judgment and high intelligence, but without physical bodies.

Created Spiritual Beings

Angels have not always existed - they were created

Nehemiah 9:6

“You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.

Psalm 148:2

Praise him, all his angels;

praise him, all his hosts!

Psalm 148:5

Let them praise the name of the Lord!

For he commanded and they were created.

Angels exercise moral judgment

Some of them sinned and fell from their positions of authority

2 Peter 2:4 (ESV)

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

Jude 6 (ESV)

And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—

They are intelligent beings who speak to people and sing praise to God

Matthew 28:5 (ESV)

But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

Revelation 4:11 (ESV)

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they existed and were created.”

Revelation 5:11 (ESV)

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,

Angels are “spirits”

Hebrews 1:14 (ESV)

Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

Therefore, angels cannot be seen unless God gives us a special ability to see them

Numbers 22:31 (ESV)

Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.

2 Kings 6:17 (ESV)

Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Luke 2:13 (ESV)

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

Other Names for Angels

Sons of God

Holy ones

Spirits

Watchers

Thrones, dominions, principalities, and authorities

Colossians 1:16 (ESV)

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Other Kinds of Heavenly Beings

There are three other specific types of heavenly beings named in Scripture. Whether we think of these as special types of “angels” (in a broad sense of the term), or whether we think of them as heavenly beings distinct from angels, they are nonetheless created spiritual beings who serve and worship God.

Cherubim

They were given the task of guarding the entrance to the Garden of Eden

Genesis 3:24 (ESV)

He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

God himself is said to be enthroned on the cherubim

Psalm 18:10 (ESV)

He rode on a cherub and flew;

he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.

Over the ark of the covenant in the OT were two golden figures of cherubim with their wings stretched out above the ark

It was here, at the ark, in the holy of holies of the tabernacle/temple that God would dwell with his people

It was a return to Eden

Exodus 25:22 (ESV)

There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.

The cherubim were a reminder of God’s presence and holiness and that mankind cannot enter into it in their sinful state

Seraphim

The only mention of the seraphim is in Isaiah 6. Their purpose is to continually worship the Lord and call attention to his holiness

Isaiah 6:3 (ESV)

And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

the whole earth is full of his glory!”

The Living Creatures

Both Ezekiel and Revelation tell us of other kinds of heavenly beings known as “living creatures” around God’s throne

Ezekiel 1:5–14 (ESV)

And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning.

Revelation 4:6–8 (ESV)

And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,

who was and is and is to come!”

They have an appearance like a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle.

They represent various parts of God’s entire creation

They continually worship the Lord day and night

Names of Specific Angels

Only two angels are specifically named in Scripture.

Michael

Jude 9 (ESV)

But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”

Revelation 12:7–8 (ESV)

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.

Daniel 10:13 (ESV)

The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,

Gabriel

Daniel 8:16 (ESV)

And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.”

Daniel 9:21 (ESV)

while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice.

Gabriel is a messenger sent from God to speak to Daniel

Gabriel is also identified as God’s messenger to Zechariah and Mary in Luke 1.

Luke 1:19 (ESV)

And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

Luke 1:26–27 (ESV)

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.

It would seem that Michael is chief or prince over God’s heavenly armies and that Gabriel is a chief messenger of God

Do People Have Guardian Angels?

Scripture tells us that God sends angels for our protection

Psalm 91:11–12 (ESV)

For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways.

On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

There seems to be no convincing support for an individual guardian angel but rather that angels provide general protection and guarding of God’s people

The Power of Angels

Angels have very great power given to them by God

Psalm 103:20 ESV

Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!

Angels are seemingly “greater in might and power” than rebellious human beings

2 Peter 2:11 (ESV)

whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord.

Human beings, at least for their time on earth are made “lower than the angels”

Hebrews 2:7 (ESV)

You made him for a little while lower than the angels;

you have crowned him with glory and honor,

Their power is given to battle against evil demonic powers under the control of Satan

Daniel 10:13 (ESV)

The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,

Revelation 12:7–8 (ESV)

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.

Revelation 20:1–3 (ESV)

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

When Jesus returns, we will be raised to a position higher than that of angels

1 Corinthians 6:3 (ESV)

Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!

Who Is The Angel Of The Lord?

Several OT passages speak of the angel of the Lord in a way that suggests that he is God himself taking on a human form to appear briefly to various people in the OT.

Hagar

Genesis 16:10 (ESV)

The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.”

Hagar responds by calling “the name of the LORD who spoke to her, ‘You are a God of seeing.’

Genesis 16:13 (ESV)

So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.”

Abraham

When Abraham is about to sacrifice his son Isaac, “the angel of the Lord” calls to him from heaven

Genesis 22:11–12 (ESV)

But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

Jacob

The “angel of God” appeared to Jacob in a dream, he said,

Genesis 31:13 (ESV)

I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.’ ”

Moses

The angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush and said,

Exodus 3:2 (ESV)

And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.

Exodus 3:6 (ESV)

And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

These are clear instances of the angel of the Lord or the angel of God appearing as God himself, perhaps more specifically as God the Son taking on a human body for a short time in order to appear to human beings.

When Were Angels Created?

All angels must have been created before the seventh day of creation.

Genesis 2:1 (ESV)

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

It is possible that God created angels on the first day of creation.

Genesis 1:1 (ESV)

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Immediately afterward we read that the earth was without form and void.

Genesis 1:2 (ESV)

The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

No mention is made to the emptiness or voidness of the heavens

This may suggest that the uninhabitable state of the earth is contrasted with the heavens where, perhaps, God had created angelic beings and assigned them various roles and orders.

The book of Job suggests even more clearly that angels were worshipping God as he created

Job 38:6–7 (ESV)

On what were its bases sunk,

or who laid its cornerstone,

when the morning stars sang together

and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

However, these are only hints in Scripture and nothing is clearly explained so we must remain content with not having all the information and that God has kept some things hidden from us.

Sometime before Satan tempted Eve in the garden, a number of angels sinned and rebelled against God.

2 Peter 2:4 (ESV)

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

Jude 6 (ESV)

And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—

This event happened at some point after the sixth day of creation when God saw all that he had made and said that it was very good. But beyond this, we do not have further information.

The Place of Angels in God’s Purpose

Angels show the greatness of God’s love and plan for us

Human beings and angels are the only moral, highly intelligent creatures that God has made.

Therefore we can understand much about God’s plan and love for us.

Human beings are the only creatures said to be made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26-27)

It seems safe to conclude that human beings are more like God than even angels are.

Angels sinned and rebelled, just like Adam and Eve did, yet God did not provide a path for redemption for the fallen angels, only for sinful, rebellious human beings.

2 Peter 2:4 (ESV)

For God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

Hebrews 2:16 (ESV)

For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.

Angels remind us that the unseen world is real

Just like the Sadducees denied the existence of anything supernatural in their day...

Acts 23:8 (ESV)

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

Many today deny the reality of anything they cannot see.

The constant teaching from the Scriptures of the existence of angels is a reminder to us that there is an unseen world that is very real

Angels carry out some of God’s plans

Angels bring messages to people from God

Luke 1:11–19 (ESV)

And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

Acts 8:26 (ESV)

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place.

Acts 10:3–8 (ESV)

About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Acts 27:23–24 (ESV)

For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’

Angels carry out some of God’s judgments

A plague upon Israel

2 Samuel 24:16–17 (ESV)

And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, “Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father’s house.”

The destruction of the Assyrian army

2 Chronicles 32:21 (ESV)

And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword.

Killing King Herod for not giving God glory

Acts 12:23 (ESV)

Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

Pouring out bowls of God’s wrath on the earth

Revelation 16:1 (ESV)

Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

Angels will accompany Christ as a great army when he returns

Matthew 16:27 (ESV)

For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

Luke 9:26 (ESV)

For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

2 Thessalonians 1:7 (ESV)

and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels

Angels patrol the earth as God’s representatives

Zechariah 1:10–11 (ESV)

So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, ‘These are they whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.’ And they answered the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, ‘We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest.’

Angels carry out war against demonic forces

Daniel 10:13 (ESV)

The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,

Revelation 12:7–8 (ESV)

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.

An archangel will proclaim Christ’s return

1 Thessalonians 4:16 (ESV)

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Angels directly glorify God

Psalm 103:20 (ESV)

Bless the Lord, O you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his word,

obeying the voice of his word!

Psalm 148:2 (ESV)

Praise him, all his angels;

praise him, all his hosts!

Isaiah 6:2–3 (ESV)

Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

the whole earth is full of his glory!”

Luke 2:14 (ESV)

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Hebrews 1:6 (ESV)

And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”

Luke 15:10 (ESV)

Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Our Relationship to Angels

We should be aware of angels in our daily lives

There are several ways our lives are enriched by an awareness of the existence and ministry of angels in the world today

When we worship, we are joining not only with the great company of believers who have died and come into God’s presence in heaven, but also with a great multitude of angels

Hebrews 12:22–23 (ESV)

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

The author of Hebrews suggests that angels can sometimes take human form, apparently to make “inspection visits.”

Hebrews 13:2 (ESV)

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

NYC story of someone handing me money

When we are suddenly delivered from a danger or distress, we might suspect that angels have been sent by God to help us, and we should be thankful.

An angel shut the mouths of lions

Daniel 6:22 (ESV)

My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”

An angel delivered the apostles from prison

Acts 5:19–20 (ESV)

But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

Angels ministered to Jesus in the wilderness

Matthew 4:11 (ESV)

Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

Beware of receiving false doctrine from angels

Galatians 1:8 (ESV)

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

There is a possibility of deception

Satan disguises himself as an angel of light

2 Corinthians 11:14 (ESV)

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

We must guard ourselves against satanic deception tempting us to disobey the clear teachings of Scripture

Do not worship angels, pray to them, or seek them

Revelation 19:10 (ESV)

Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

1 Timothy 2:5 (ESV)

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

No where in Scripture do we see God calling on us to seek after angels…we are to seek after God

Do angels appear to people today?

In the earliest days of church history, angels were very active

An angel told Philip to travel south on a road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza

Acts 8:26 (ESV)

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place.

An angel instructed Cornelius to send a messenger to get Peter to come from Joppa

Acts 10:3–6 (ESV)

An angel promised Paul that no one on his ship would be lost and that he himself would stand before Caesar

Acts 27:23–24 (ESV)

The author of Hebrews encourages his readers, none of whom are apostles or even first-generation believers associated with the apostles that they should continue to show hospitality to strangers, apparently with the expectation that they too might sometime entertain angels without realizing it

Hebrews 13:2 (ESV)

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

There seems to be no compelling reason to rule out the possibility of angelic appearances today