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Angels, Introduction Introduction:
Angels have been the subject of a lot of speculation and discussion. Some of it
is biblically based and some superstition. Numerous movies and TV shows have
been based on angels; Highway to Heaven, Touched By An Angel, Angels In the
Outfield, A Wonderful Life, Heaven Can Wait, and many more. Sometimes they are
shown as being like us in appearance and sometimes dressed in white and with
wings. We even talk about people in reference to them being like an angel. In
this series we want to look at numerous questions and areas: Do we have angels
that watch over us? What role do angels have in God’s scheme of redemption?
What is the nature of angels? Do dead people become angels? Etc. I)
Angel-- Malah (Hebrew) –, means messenger A)
Used 1.
103 times in Old Testament 2.
199 times Angel in NKJV 3.
96 times Angels in NKJV 4.
Yet in many passages Malah translated messenger, prophet, and priest B)
Human messengers – 1 Kings 19.2 1.
Haggai the prophet, Haggai 1.13 2.
Applied to a priest, Malachi 2.7 3.
Applied to John the Baptist and Jesus, Malachi
3.1 C)
Divine messengers – Genesis 28.12 1.
Sent from heaven to do the will of God ISBE 2.
Sent primarily to deliver messages to men D)
Angelos (Greek) means messenger 1.
Used 175 times and primarily referring to heavenly beings sent by God, Hebrews 1.14 (spirits); angels of heaven in Matthew 24.36; heavenly host in Luke 2.13 2.
Only used a few times referring to men, Galatians
4.14 E)
Watchers in Daniel 4.13,17,23 II)
The Nature Of Angels A)
Spiritual beings – created by God, Psalm 148.1-5 1.
Natural abode is in heaven; speak of angels as coming down from heaven, Matthew 18.10
a. Angel called to Abraham from heaven, Genesis
22.11, 15, Galatians 1.8
b. The angels announcing the birth of Jesus,
Luke 2.8-13 2.
Innumerable, Hebrews 12.18-22 3.
Not married or given in marriage, Matthew
22.30 always described as being males 4.
They do not die or age B)
Moral agents 1.
Capable of sin, 2 Peter 2.4 C)
Appearances 1.
Sometimes as men
a. Gideon –Judges 6
b. Manoah – “a man of God came to me” Judges
13.6
c. Jacob wrestled with an angel – Genesis
32.24 2.
Sometimes appeared in white apparel, Matthew
28.3-4, Acts 1.10
a. Never described as having wings.
b. Only Cherubim and Seraphim have wings 3.
Different ways the appeared
a. Suddenly present – Peter in prison, Acts
12.7
b. In visions –Cornelius saw an angel in a vision, Acts
10.3
c. Visibly and invisibly – that is seen and not seen, Balaam and the
donkey. The donkey could see the angel but Balaam could not. Numbers
22.25-31 III)
Three Specific Angels A)
Angel of the Lord, used 54 times in Old Testament and 1 in New Testament 1.
Possibly referring to one specific angel (My angel) Exodus 23.23 2.
The angel came from God or was sent by God. 3.
Interestingly the term “death angel” or “angel of death” is not found in
the Bible. B)
Gabriel – used 4 times in Bible, Daniel 8.16; 9.21 1.
Appeared to Zacharias in Luke 1.19, 26 2.
Name means hero of God. C)
Michael – 1.
Who is like unto God 2.
Named in Daniel 12.1, 1 Thess. 4.16 3.
Disputed with devil over the body of Moses Jude
9 IV)
Angels Are Not A)
Deity 1.
Their role is determined by God 2.
Not worthy of worship, Revelation 22.8-9 3.
Did not know God’s plan of salvation, 1
Peter 1. 12. B)
Not dead saints, young children, etc. reincarnated as angels 1.
Shows depict angels as lost souls that need to do something so as to go to
heaven. 2.
Neither are they ghosts C)
Our source of authority 1.
Galatians 1 points out that even if an angel should preach another Gospel to not
listen to it. 2.
Therefore, if an angel did appear to you and told you to do something different
to not listen to them. D)
Subject to the Gospel of Christ 1.
The Gospel is not being preached to angels but men. 2.
Jesus did not die for the angels but for men. Conclusion:
All of God’s creation has a purpose. Are you living up to yours? |