On Angels: Introduction

Introduction to Angelology There are approximately 389 occurrences of “Angel” in the Old and New Testament combined and these occurrences occur in 42 of the 66 books of the Bible. • Hebrew and Greek words for angel can both be generally translated as “messengers” • Neither Satan nor demons are referred to as “angels” in the OT. o So in the OT, taking out the references to human messengers, “Holy Angels” , (as opposed to Satan and demons, or the fallen angels) are referred to 24 times and Angel of the Lord, 89 times • Unlike the OT, in the NT by far the greatest term for angel, or messenger is referring to Holy Angels (152 times), it appears in 18/27 books and there are also 2 references to Angel of the Lord. Characteristics of Angels: 1) They possess the three identifiable traits of personhood: a mind (1 Peter 1: 10-12, Matt 28:5) will (1 Peter 1: 10-) and emotions (Hebrews 1:6, Job 38:7, Luke 15:10). 2) They can be visible or invisible (2 Kings 6: 14-17) 3) They are multilingual. They apparently speak in whatever language the hearer will understand 4) They are created beings (Col 1:16) a) which is why they are sometimes called sons of God (Job 1:6) b) And as created beings, they are not to be worshipped: (Rev 19:10, Col. 2:18) c) Unlike humans, angels neither procreate (reproduce) nor die. This means the angelic population was fixed at creation 1 • Neh. 9:6 You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven, The heaven of heavens, with all their host, The earth and everything on it, The seas and all that is in them, And You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You. • Rev 12:4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. o This indicates that Satan lured 1/3 of the angels to defect and join him 5) This would mean that Holy Angels outnumber demons 2:1. 6) Nowhere in the Bible does it give the exact number of angels, but the number is vast (Rev 5:11), myriads of myriads 7) They are Spirit-beings (Hebrews 1:13-14) a) and by Christ’s definition a spirit is immaterial, one without flesh and bones (Luke 24:39) b) As Spirit beings, they are without gender and cannot reproduce after their own kind; (Matt 22:30, Gen. 1:27) Mark 16:5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 8) HolyAngels were created morally pure and remain so in perpetuity, being called Holy Angels (Mark 8:38) a) As such, the Holy Angels are Elect angels (1 Tim 5:21) who do not need redemption from a fallen state o Heb 2:14-16 14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not [a]give aid to angels, but He does [b]give aid to the seed of Abraham. o Hebrews 1:13-14 But to which of the angels has He ever said:“Sit at My right hand,Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? 9) Holy angels cannot die because they have not sinned o Luke 20:36 But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 nor 2 can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. a) After we are resurrected, we are equal to the angels in that we are also everlasting b) Fallen angels also can’t die, but will be punished eternally in the Lake of Fire o Rev 20:10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where[a] the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Holy Angel’s Organization: 1) Different words such as archangel, indicate that there is some type of hierarchy in the ranks of angels, but Scripture never elaborates on the specifics of this to explain their order or function. 2) There are also at least 3 types of angels identified in Scripture: a) Cherubim – mentioned multiple times b) Seraphim – only mentioned in Isaiah 6 c) The myriads – go by various titles such as sons of God, hosts, holy ones, living creatures, etc. 3) Only two Holy Angels have names: a) Michael: Jude 9 and others b) Gabriel: Daniel 8:16 and 9:21and in Luke Holy Angels’ Power: 1) They are stronger than humans, but not omnipotent like God (Ps 103:20) 2) They are greater than humans in knowledge, but they aren’t omniscient like God Matt 24:36: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of [a]heaven, but My Father only. 3) They are swifter and more mobile than humans, but not omnipresent like God 3 o Dan 10:12-14 12 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. 4) They are not bound by physical space – they can travel from heaven to earth and back again o Gen 28:12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. ▪ This could be a hint at “how”. But it could also be a metaphor to give us assurance that they do indeed offer assistance on earth. • Some use the story of the Rich man and Lazarus to say that angels transport us believers to heaven when we die o Luke 16: 22-23 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. o It may be so, but given this is most likely a parable we need to be careful not to say this with absolute certainty. Angel of the LORD: • The phrase Angel of the LORD appears only in the OT and refers to a unique, one-of-akind envoy. o About 90 uses of Angel of the LORD in the OT, in 16 of the 39 OT books This special person is mentioned in the OT by multiple titles1: The Angel of the LORD The angel of God Gen 16:7 Gen 21:17 1 John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue: General Editors, Biblical Doctrine, (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2017), 720. 4 His angel Gen 24:7, 40 My angel Ex 23:23 The angel of his presence Is 63:9 The messenger of the covenant Mal 3:1 So who is this mystery angel of the OT? At least 4 possible identities have been offered over the centuries2 1. An angel from heaven, possibly the archangel Michael 2. Melchizedek, the King of Salem 3. The LORD Yahweh (the Father) Himself – a theophany (an appearance of God) 4. A preincarnate appearance on earth by the Lord Jesus Christ – a Christophany So, how can we narrow this down? One key is to look at the Characteristics of Deity3: • The “Angel of the LORD” exhibits qualities that can only be associated with deity - The Angel of the LORD: 1) Claims divine nature and equality with God o Ex 3: 2-5 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”4 So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”And he said, “Here I am.”5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” 2 John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue: General Editors, Biblical Doctrine, (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2017), 720. 3 John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue: General Editors, Biblical Doctrine, (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2017), 720. 5 o Can see this also in Genesis 16: 11-13 2) Displays divine attributes o Ex. 23:21 Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him • Forgiveness of sins 3) Yet the LORD (Yahweh) and the angel of the LORD are not the same person. • For instance, the LORD sends the angel as in Ex 23:21 above and • and the Angel of the LORD and the LORD speak to each other at times such as in Zech 1: 12-13 Zech. 1:12-13 Then the Angel of the LORD answered and said, “O LORD of hosts, how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry these seventy years?”13 And the LORD answered the angel who talked to me, with good and comforting words. Conclusion: • Since the Angel of the LORD is Divine, He can’t be a created angel, even an archangel • He also can’t be the King of Salem, Melchizedek: Melchizedek was the historical king of Salem (Jerusalem area) in the time of Abraham • True theophany – a self-manifestation of the LORD (Yahweh) Himself has the attributes of deity, but this approach does not account for the evidence that: • The LORD “sends” the Angel and they speak to each other • However, two separate persons is in perfect harmony with the triune composition of the Godhead (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit) Conclusion: The only identification that satisfies all the characteristics in the biblical record is a Christophany – the preincarnate appearance of the second person of the triune Godhead, the eternal Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. 6 Some Common Questions and Answers: 1) Who entertained Angels unawares – do we often do that and have actual encounters with angels? Hebrews 13: 1-2: Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. • The writer of Hebrews is not suggesting that believers should expect angelic visitations As more biblical evidence that we shouldn’t “expect” this: a) There are only 26 specific historical encounters with holy angels (10 in OT and 16 in the NT) in the span (Abraham to visions to John in Revelations) about 2100 years in which these encounters happened. (1 historical encounter with angels every 80 years) b) The OT encounters involved the patriarchs (such as Abraham) and the prophets (such as Daniel) c) The NT encounters occurred over a period of about 100 years and were to the writers of the NT plus to other individuals for very special reasons – like to Joseph when Mary was pregnant. d) The point being, many claim to have seen, or encountered angels even yet today and while Scripture does not exclude the possibility, we need to understand that in every instance of Scripture they were reserved for very significant events and limited to very important people of God. 2) When were Angels created? Gen 1:31 – 2:2 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. • So this implies that they were created before the seventh day of creation when God rested. 7 • Exodus 20:11 is even more explicit about this: Ex 20:11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. • So we can at least confirm that all the angels were created by the sixth day of creation Can we get any more specific? Gen 1:1-5 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness [a]was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. [b]So the evening and the morning were the first day. Job 38: 4-7 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the [b]line upon it?6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? a. Job 38:7 indicates that the angels sang during the creation of the earth, which would indicate they were created first. b. And if this were the case this could imply that God created the angelic beings early on the first day c. However, this is only speculation – we can’t be certain. 3) Will Christian’s judge and/or rule over Angels? 1 Cor 6: 6-11 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? • Context is not ruling over, but of adjudication or judicial sense • Holy angels don’t need to be judged and Scripture never gives even the slightest indication that they will be judged • Likely refers to evil angels, or demons, because Scripture says they will be judged 8 2 Pet 2:4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to [a]hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; Since we as believers will sit with Christ on His throne: Rev 3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. And have authority to judge: Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for [a]a thousand years. • Judgment of fallen angels makes the most sense in context as opposed to ruling over Holy Angels 4) Do we all have Guardian Angels? Matt 18:10 Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven • The context of the chapter where this verse is taken is instruction about humility and the need to become as little children (completely trusting with no resources of their own to bring to bear) to become true believers and thus those “little children” who do this may be “believers” • This verse suggests that children (or believers) are at least sometimes protected and served by angels, but it is not definitive proof that we each have an assigned guardian angel • Since the pronoun “their” is collective and is referring to multiple children/believers this verse may simply refer to the fact that children (and believers) are served by angels in 9 general like we see in: Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? o This verse also corresponds to “believers” – those who inherit salvation and again it talks about the group of believers, not necessarily to each individual believer • In Matthew 18 since it says their angels always see the face of the Father in heaven – in context this could be saying to treat any child, or fellow believer, with contempt is extremely serious since God and the holy angels are so concerned with their well-being. • So, it is possible that all children, or believers, have assigned guardian angels, but we can’t declare that with certainty. 5) Into what do Angels long to look? 1 Pet. 1: 10 – 12 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to [e]us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into. • Angels strain to see the salvation fruit that is resulting from Christ’s suffering on the cross, resurrection from the dead and ascension into heaven • They have a holy curiosity to understand the kind of mercy and grace that they will never experience since Holy Angels don’t need to be saved and fallen angels can’t be saved 10