GOD'S DIVINE FAMILY

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

The bible speaks a great deal about spiritual beings. (some 300 times)

The bible uses military terms like archangels and prince to describe Michael and Gabriel.

Other angels mentioned as messengers of the Lord. When they show up in the bible they take on human form.

There are different types of angels as well

Cheribum are first mentioned in Eden tasked with guarding the entrance so that Adam and Eve could not return after they were kicked out.

Seraphim are mentioned in Isaiah 6:1-7 standing over the throne of God worshipping the Lord.

Angels Differ from Human Beings

No human gender. (they have need of one since they do not reproduce like us) While on assignment they may appear as a man or a woman.

No human body. They do not need one bc they are spiritual beings. In Gen 19:16

Abraham’s family was saved by angels in human form.

Hebrews 13:2 ESV

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

3. No Human Limitation They do not grow old, get sick, or die

They differ from God

God is eternal. Angels were created by God. They have a beginning.

God is all knowing. Angel (including fallen angels) have been observing Human behavior throughout history, as a result they have great insight and awareness.

God is all present not limited by time and space. Angels are limited and must travel. “the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth.” Luke 1:26

God is all powerful. Angels are not

God is sovereign. Spirit beings do not have ultimate authority.

God is worshipped. Angels are not to be worshipped.

Luke 20:35–36 ESV

35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, 36 for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

God’s Divine Council

Psalm 82:1 ESV

1 God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:

Elohim = It is a general term in Hebrew to describe spiritual beings.

“Yahweh, for example, is an elohim, but no other elohim is Yahweh.”

God uses this council as a leadership team much like a church would. The bible often refers to this council as “the assembly of the holy ones”, “the mount of assembly”, “the court…in judgment” and “the heavenly host”

Their Primary Purpose

They Observe God and what he does much like a son observes his father work.

They serve as messengers and ministers. For example they ministered to Jesus Mark 1:12-13

God occasionally invites the divine council to participate in ministry planning.

1 Kings 22:19–21 ESV

19 And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; 20 and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’

The War in Heaven

Like humans, spirit beings are given free will (perhaps because loving relationships require choice.) Evil entered the picture when the angel known as Lucifer rebelled against God in an attempt to overthrow God and rule the kingdom.

Revelation 12:7–9 ESV

7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

The new battlefield is earth.

Luke 10:18 ESV

18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

As we continue the series “UNSEEN” my desire is for all of us to understand the reality of the spiritual realm and how it affects our daily lives. Evil entered the world when satan and his followers were cast out of heaven. As a result sin