One of her most important duties is to help women heal during their monthly cycles. (In sports terms, the angels may be playing zone rather than man-on-man defense.). Ultimately, Satan and his evil angels, the demons, furnish examples of all that is evil along with the hideous consequences of evil. The Virtues are shaped like sparks of light, focusing on maintaining the natural world and inspiring living things in things like science. 1:5f; Rev. 8-9 and 16). Other types of holy angels: The Bible also mentions other types of angels. Though fallen angels seem to have an abode other than heaven itself, no specific location is given except that Satan will be bound in the Abyss for the thousand years after the Second Coming before he is released (Rev. Please reload CAPTCHA. Ephesians 6:12 refers to ranking of fallen angels: rulers are those who are first or high in rank; powers are those invested with authority; world-forces of this darkness expresses the power or authority which they exercise over the world; spiritual forces of wickedness describes the wicked spirits, expressing their character and nature. Daniel 10:13 refers to the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposing Michael. Seraphims are the highest class of angel. There are 9 different kinds of angels mentioned in the Bible. The second difficulty concerns the identity of the angel of the Lord as it is used in the Old Testament. A careful study of the many passages using this term suggests that this is no ordinary angel, but a Theophany, or better, a Christophany, a preincarnate appearance of Christ. In order to know the truth, we have to ask, what does the Bible say about angels? Our need is to recognize that God is not only sovereign and infinitely wise, but submit in faith to the plan of God. These beings with perfect hair and bodies, dressed in white robes, having halos, and glowing in a ray of light seem to be depicted in paintings and movies. 10 The Bible Knowledge Commentary, NT, John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Editors, Victor Books, 1983, electronic media. 8 The Bible Knowledge Commentary, OT, John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck, Editors, Victor Books, Electronic Media. Ezekiel 28:14 (ESV) says, You were an anointed guardian cherub. 12:7). They are also in charge of sending duties of the lower angels. The countless holy angels who serve as messengers of God are always ready to act whenever God gives them their next assignment. In Job 38:7, God says that all the angels shouted for joy when he created our planet. 10:13f; Rev. }, This last category includes spiritual beings that might be either benevolent or malevolent. As the arch deceiver and antagonist to God, to the church, and to mankind as whole, Satan is the master of disguise. The many references to Gods holy angels in the Bible are chiefly records of their many activities, but two things quickly standout. A study of the angels, both good and bad, furnishes us with a number of lessons as to how we should and should not live both negatively and positively. 5:8)41 and the devil,42 and from his activities as seen in Scripture, it seems only logical that Satan may have argued that God was unloving and that His judgment of Satan and his angels to the lake of fire was unfair and unjust. Another group of angels only mentioned in Isaiah 6 is the seraphim. Though writing about their invisibility to mankind, Chafer has an interesting comment: One reason angels are rendered invisible to human sight may be that , if they were seen, they would be worhiped. Peter tells us that angels long to look (1 Peter 1:12) into the glories of the plan of salvation as it works out in the lives of believers each day. On the other hand, it seems that the holy angels, being faced with the same ethical choice and possessing the same God-given ability to choose, remained and are confirmed in their state of holiness. There are three main types of angels in the Bible: Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones. Since God is Spirit (John 4:24) it is natural to assume that there are created beings who more closely resemble God than do the mundane creatures who combine both the material and immaterial. 1:13). The two women mentioned in this passage are not specifically called angels, but they are clearly agents of God or forces of Satan, like angels, good or evil. Virtues. Entirely new and inexhaustible wealth of divine wisdom was manifested in redemption.43. It seems to describe holy angels who are constantly vigilant to serve the Lord and who watch over the rulers of the world and the affairs of men (Dan. The fact that angels are not omnipresent is made explicit when an angel comes to Daniel and says: I have come because of your words. Chafer quotes Otto Von Gerlach who pointed out: By the revelation of Himself in Christ, by the institution of the Christian Church on earth, God after a manner hitherto unknown glorifies Himself before the heavenly principalities. Apparently the seraphim were an order similar to the cherubim. An interesting note is that in Rom. 14 Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, Moody Press, Chicago, 1996, electronic media. Gods revelation never aims at informing us regarding the nature of angels. The objective is to make the Bible our authority rather than the speculations of men or their experiences or what may sound logical to people. What stood out most in the reading and why? It would be sad indeed if we should allow ourselves to be such victims of sense perception and so materialistic that we should refuse to believe in an order of spiritual beings simply because they were beyond our sight and touch.1. 26 Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, Chicago, Ill.: Moody Press, 1996. In This seems evident by Gods words to Job seen in chapters 38-40, but especially in the following verses: Job 38:2-4 Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge? Their primary purpose is healing and they're also messengers of hope. Some would claim that this Old Testament passage should not be applied in modern times, but in Hebrews 1:14 the author of Hebrews does not seem to draw that distinction. 26:53; Rev. 16:1), but they will separate the righteous from the unrighteous (Matt. 53; Rom. They also glow and serve God as a chariot and carry out some of Gods judgments. One of the key features of Revelation concerns the two kingdoms: the kingdom of the world (Satans kingdom) and the kingdom of God. Angels have various duties, with each having a well defined role. 22:22-31). 148:1-2; Heb. 2:26; Jude 6). 1:2). Christians share Christs seat at Gods right hand. That they are ministering spirits who minister to the saints is presented as a general truth of the Bible and should not be restricted to Bible times. They remind us that we are a holy, priestly people who should be consumed with honoring and worshiping God in everything we do (1 Pet 2:9), and leading others to do the same. Describe the types of angels and their functions and share any applications that can be drawn from them. In contrast, living creatures have one face and six wings (Rev 4:7-8). 3:21-26; Col. 2:10-15; Heb. The two wings to fly with are used to serve God. So having considered the various ways angels minister, we should keep in mind that God does not always deliver us from danger or supply our needs in miraculous ways whether by angels or by His direct intervention. That angel, known as Lucifer before the angelic fall and as Satan afterward, fell from heaven after trying to take Gods power for himself (Isaiah 14:12-14). 10:13, 21; 12:1). These words, used seven times by Paul, indicate an order of angels both good and evil involved in governing the universe (Rom. (2) Angels study the Bible more thoroughly than some humans do and gain knowledge from it (James 2:19; Rev. They were set apart by God and for God as His servants and as attendants to His holiness (cf. They always do the will of God and whatsoever God commands them, they dont have to think twice; they just do it! Revelation 22:8-9 describes how the apostle John tried to worship an angel in gratitude for the visions that the angel had shown him. It may be that fallen angels left their habitation and inhabited bodies of human despots and warriors, the mighty ones of the earth.8. In Relation to the Church: Hebrews 1:14 describes their ministry as ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation. In this, however, Scripture points to a number of specific ministries: they bring answers to prayer (Acts 12:5-10), they help in bringing people to the Savior (Acts 8:26; 10:3), they may encourage in times of danger (Acts 27:23-24), and they care for Gods people at the time of death (Luke 16:22). Elect Angels: In 1 Timothy 5:21, Paul speaks of the elect angels. These are the holy angels who are somehow included in the elect purposes of God. In Matthew 18:10, Jesus refers toguardian angels that God has assigned to every child. 3:10, good angels; and 6:12, evil angels). Time limit is exhausted. 4:9; 11:10; Eph. If you have any questions, please review our, Wayne Grudem is research professor of Theology and Biblical Studies at Phoenix Seminary in Phoenix, Arizona. Archangel Gabriel (Archangel of the West: Essence: Water) Archangels have white wings with blue tips. Ephesians 3:8-11 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; 10 in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. Cherubim, who are mentioned the most in Scripture, are commonly seen guarding the presence of God and the things of God. Ryrie suggests three reasons for their superior knowledge: (1) Angels were created as a higher order of creatures in the universe than humans are. Michael leads the holy angels in battles for good to win over evil. The English word angel is a translation of the Greek word angelos, which means messenger. God has entrusted angels with delivering the most spiritually important messages in history from announcing the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem on the first Christmas, to proclaiming Jesus resurrection on the first Easter. The words king, kings, kingdom, etc., occur thirty times in twenty-five verses in this book. 4:8). 148:1-5). The word archangel is not found in the Old Testament. They are mentioned in Isaiah 6:1 to 8 and depicted as having 6 wings. Angels show us what perfect obedience looks like. In a passage that refers to angels (the host or armies of heaven), we read, You are the Lord, you alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host . Do you know what group Lucifer was in before his fall from Gods grace?God hears our prayers directly, but he sends his angels to assist us and help out his human children.God has many angels at his command, and they are organized into nine different types of angels.Each group of angels has various functions in keeping Heaven in order and answering Gods children. Your email address will not be published. They are like Gods priestly worship leaders who stay around the throne offering God worship and leading others in the same. The four wings that cover their face and feet probably demonstrate their great honor and reverence for Gods holiness and glory (Ex 3:5). It may also be that there are powers and principalities which further describe rank in the angelic realm, butthis is debated. Though sometimes the instrument of aid or deliverance was an angel, New Testament believers recognized it was the Lord who delivered them (see Acts 12:11). 31 James Oliver Bushwell Jr., A Systematic Theology of the Christian Religion, Vol. (3) Angels gain knowledge through long observation of human activities. 44 Chafer, p. 22, cites Dr. William Cooke, Christian Theology, pp. This will be demonstrated later in this study. Seraphim are considered "fiery serpents," and the other divine beings may not view them.There are 4 Seraphim, and each has four faces and six wings.When Seraphim appear on Earth, they prefer to take the forms of tall, thin, clean-cut human embodiments while leaving their fiery serpent forms behind in Heaven. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. In this, Paul demonstrates superiority and rightful place of worship as supreme (cf. He is given the strength to encourage humans to have faith in God, and given the capacity to intervene in the affairs of humans. Though Satan tempts us constantly, our temptation to sin ultimately stems from our own lusts that wage war in our souls (Jam. These facts will help us learn a lot about the angels in the Bible: what they are, why God created them, how their hierarchy works, and much more. 11:15). Now, due in part to the failure of rationalism and materialism to give answers and meaning to life, the emptiness of mans heart along with the futility of his pursuits has given rise to his interest in the mystical, in the supernatural, and in the spiritual. Then, when it seems contrary to human reason, our tendency is to reject it or at least question it or twist the truth to suit our human logic. By creation man is lower than the angels (Heb. Angels protect from physical harm and give believers strength to overcome difficulties, pictured here as wild lions and dangerous snakes. Further, He cannot tempt the creature to sin (Jam. There may be a hint at the creation of angelic beings on the first day of creation, when we read that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1), immediately followed by, the earth was without form and void (Genesis 1:2). 1:18-21). 4:8), (2) as messengers of God (Dan. 9:6). It was after Isaiah saw the holy seraphim in worship and humility (suggested by the covering of their feet) exalting the Lord, that he then saw and confessed his own sinfulness and became a willing servant. 10:13), of whom Michael was one, as the highest ranking angels of God. They are the ones that surround God in heaven and are given tasks to fulfill, such as protecting us, sending us messages, and ruling over cities and towns. Archangels: These angel leaders lead teams of angels working on specific types of God-given assignments. Understanding the above scenario provides us with part of the answer to the age old question of how a God who is good could permit evil, especially if He is omniscient and omnipotent. Consequently, the church becomes a means of unveiling both the manifold wisdom and grace of God to angels, for in Ephesians 2:4-7 Paul wrote: But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. The added description, a holy one in verse 13 may imply there are unholy watchers, i.e., demonic forces who are watching the affairs of men and seeking to influence and destroy. Ryrie writes: The Scriptures clearly indicate two groups of fallen angels, one consisting of those who have some freedom to carry out Satans plans, and the other who are confined. 25:1722); and attended the glory of God in Ezekiels vision (Ezek. Gabriel also announced the birth of John the Baptist to Zacharias (Luke 1:1120). If the angels find it their highest joy to praise God continuously, shouldnt we, too? In his 1990 book Angels: An Endangered Species, Malcolm Godwin estimates that over the last 30 years one in every ten pop songs mentions an angel. 6:1f; Job 1:6; 2:1; Rev. He is the omniscient One in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 5 Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; Even twice, and I will add no more. God may send his angels to help us anytime and anywhere. Job 1:6-11; 2:1-6). Lets do a quick recap of the different types of angels:Archangels: A high ranking type of angelCherubim: First angel mentioned in scripture.Seraphim: Seen around the throne room of God (mentioned in Isaiah)The Living Creatures: Seen around the throne room of God (mentioned in the Book of Revelation)Common Angels: Angels that are mentioned throughout scripture Other ranks and orders are suggested by the terms used of angels in Ephesians 3:10; 6:12, and 1 Peter 3:22. 7 For an excellent discussion and support for this view, see Deffinbaughs study on Genesis 6 in his study of the book of Genesis on our web site. 8:29; 2 Cor. It is these judgments that defeat Satan and his world system and establish Gods Son on His throne on earth. Job 38:7; Neh. Regarding the governmental rulers in the angelic world, Ryrie described this as follows: 1. Do not make my Fathers house a marketplace! (John 2:16). While all the angels were originally created holy and without sin, there was a rebellion by Satan, who, being lifted up by his own beauty, rebelled and sought to exalt himself above God. As they cry out to one another in praise, Scripture says we should do the same. Angels are created beings (Psalm 148:2, 5; Col. 1:16) and ministering spirits (1 Kings 19:5; Psalm 104:4; Luke 16:22). 3:7) and lavished Solomons temple (1 Kings 6:26ff). In this regard, Elishas confidence and prayer for his servant to see the myriad of angels surrounding them in the face of the human forces, suggests their greater power (2 Kings 6:15-17). In Revelation 4:8, they cry out day and night: Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God, the All-Powerful, Who was and who is, and who is still to come! Also, in Revelation 5:12, they, along with the twenty-four elders and other angels, declare: Worthy is the lamb who was killed to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and praise!. 13 Frank E. Gaebelein, General Editor, The Expositors Bible Commentary, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, electronic media, 1997. 22:30) and do not die (Luke 20:36).15. Must a person confess Jesus with his mouth to be saved? How could a loving God send people to hell? Thank you for your interest in supporting CARM. Not the fat babies with wings that now grace greeting cards and book covers. They also wear crowns and scepters. 1:14). I was so tired and dehydrated, however, that I stumbled and nearly fell into the canyon. Here are a few of the ways the Bible tells us how many angels there are: Every biblical reference to the total number of angels suggests that theyre beyond counting. We would simply not have the ability to grasp it in our present state (cf. 28:2; Acts 5:19; 2 Pet. When the disciples in Acts 12:15 say that Peters angel must be knocking at the door, this doesnt necessarily imply that they believe in individual guardian angels. Col. 2:15), Satan is not confined there now, but he and his fallen angels will be and this is a great point of anticipation in the Bible (cf. 14:6-7; Acts 12:23; Rev. They are occasionally pictured in other forms and in other manifestations as with wings, and as a combination of man, beast, and birds as in Ezekiel 1:5f and Isaiah 6:6. In Luke 1:2627 Gabriel told Mary that the One born to her would be great and rule on the throne of David. The Cherubim angel is also described as having 4 wings. 25:20; Isa. But there is another truth regarding angels that needs to be kept in view. Archangel Gabriel, on the other hand, is mentioned in Daniel 8:16, 9:21, and Luke 1. If he neglects to obey, angels will also see and be grieved. Obviously, only Christ can cleanse people of sin. 28:11-15; Isa. 1:24). However, if you search the Bible for mentions of angels, these images are actually not found. In Greek, the word has the prefix of, It is not known if these are a true class of angels or if it is just an expression describing the power of angels. The next two chapters, then, develop this theme of Gods wisdom and power. In Revelation a number of angels are specifically associated with certain judgments that will be poured out on the earth like the seven trumpets and the seven last plagues (Rev. Their divine duty also includes bringing Gods blessings to Earth, in the form of miracles. In addition, it illustrates a very poor grasp of what the Bible really teaches about angels and about God. The church at Colossae had been invaded by false teachers who were teaching a false humility and the worship of angels as a part of the means to spirituality. Worship of angels was one of the false doctrines being taught at Colossae (Colossians 2:18). There are different kinds of angels with different characteristics and roles: cherubim, seraphim, and archangels. It might be hard to believe that only two names of angels are actually mentioned in the Bible. (2) Also, the seraphim cleanse Gods people from sin. 1, Part 3, Abridged Edition, John F. Walvoord, Editor, Donald K. Campbell, Roy B. Zuck, Consulting Editors, Victor Books, Wheaton, Ill., 1988, p. 284. 10:21; 11:1). Likewise, we must be zealous about guarding Gods glory in worshipmaking sure it aligns with Gods Word, as God can only be worshiped in spirit and truth (John 4:23). Nevertheless, the believer recognizes that it is the Lord who does these things whether directly through using angels (notice Peters testimony that the Lord delivered him from the prison though God actually used an angel to accomplish it, Acts 12:7-10 compared with vv. Because of Satans sin, he was thrust out of his exalted place and became the great adversary of God and Gods people (see Ezek. (function( timeout ) { Hebrews 12:22, for instance, describes thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly.. All rights reserved. The term, devil, as used so often of Satan, means, slanderer, defamer, one who accuses falsely.40 This name reveals him in one of his key characterizations in Scripture. In August of 2001 he was diagnosed with lung cancer and on August 29th, 2002 he went home to be with the Lord. There are no examples in Scripture of anyone praying to an angel or asking angels for help. (4) For the messengers of the seven churches (Rev. The Bible does not tell us precisely why Michael, the archangel, and the devil disputed over the body of Moses. 3. His name means man of God or God is strong. Gabriel seems to be Gods special messenger of His kingdom program in each of the four times he appears in the Bible record He reveals and interprets Gods purpose and program concerning Messiah and His kingdom to the prophets and people of Israel. In a highly significant passage, Gabriel explained the events of the seventy weeks for Israel (Dan. 1). However, these popular images of angels are not exactly true. What are the various types of angels in Scripture? Angels, though spirit beings and very powerful, are not omnipotent, omniscient, nor omnipresent. 14:12) means shining one or star of the morning. He may have been the wisest and most beautiful of all Gods created beings who was originally placed in a position of authority over the cherubim surrounding the throne of God. 12:7). Thats where systematic theology is helpful: scholars like Wayne Grudem carefully organize everything the Bible says about a topic, so you can see it all at once. 6:3; Rev. 12:7), and (4) as ministers to Gods people (Heb. The First Sphere of Angels is the highest hierarchy in the angelic choir. This was new. 4:4). This gracious plan of love was not only anticipated in the Old Testament, but was actually first announced to the serpent (the devil in disguise) in Genesis 3:16, which is significant in view of the angelic conflict and the slanderous accusations of Satan. The Scriptures disclose the truth that the angels learn much about God from His activities through the person and work of Christ and through the church, especially in the unfolding of Gods plan of redemption. (3) For an impersonal agent, Pauls thorn in the flesh described as a messenger of Satan (2 Cor. In Matthew 6:1, Christ warned, Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Everyone has their own "personal angel" known as their Guardian Angel with us daily. J. Hampton Keathley III, Th.M. The issue of Satans rebellion to Gods authority may well explain Pauls statement in 1 Corinthians 11:10 that a woman is to have a symbol of authority on her head because of the angels. Adam was the head of the first race of men, but Christ became the head of the second race of regenerated men. 8:38, Eph. 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. There were chief princes (Dan. Satan, in tempting Christ, quoted 91:11-12 (Matt. As the glorified and exalted God-man He became the last Adam. Ezek. As is clear from Revelation 12:7 and many other passages, the leader of these fallen angels, or demons as they are also called, is Satan (cf. The Archangel Michael is the chief angel of the warrior angels. While the Bible only specifically mentions one angel Michael as an archangel (Jude 1:9), Christian tradition and apocryphal Christian scriptures identify several other angels as archangels: Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel. As demonstrated by Isaiah 6, the seraphim serve two roles: (1) They are consumed with praising the person of God as they continually cry out to one another, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord who commands armies! Ryrie writes: Angels then qualify as personalities because they have these aspects of intelligence, emotions, and will. This likely emphasizes the superhuman authority of angels and demons exercised in relation to the affairs of the world (Eph. This Lamb is alone able to accomplish what no one else in the universe is qualified and able to do. First Sphere These angels are said Therefore, they praise and proclaim the perfect holiness of God. 4:13, 17, 23). 2:7-9). 3:19), and were used of God to interpret visions as with Daniel and Zechariah. WebMost angels fall between 29-34% spiritual level. Instructor: This was new.44. Tell Me, if you have understanding. One of the most persistent questions from Christians is why do the wicked prosper. The seraphim remind us to always be zealous in worshiping and serving God. This term is also used in Genesis 6:2 which tells us the sons of God took wives from among the daughters of men. Some scholars understand the sons of God of Genesis 6:2 to refer to the sons of the godly line of Seth and the daughters of men to refer to the ungodly line of the Cainites. Cherubim are mentioned in several places throughout Scripture: Another type of angel, the seraphim, are only mentioned once in the Bible. No other passages address relationships between angels, so anything beyond this is simply speculation. Indeed, there are different types of angels, and heres a look at what the various types of angels do. 1:6; Rev. Jude 1:6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day. Here the seriousness of disobedience (vs. 22), which is essentially defined as rebellion (vs. 23), is underscored by the comparisons made to divination and idolatry.
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