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Angels, Position & Role

Hebrews 1.1-4

Introduction: Angels are mentioned in 34 of the 66 Books in the Bible. They are in 17 New Testament and 17 Old Testament books. Angels are mentioned 108 times in the Old Testament and 186 times in the New Testament. We have to realize that they do exist and not be like the Sadducees, Acts 23.6-9

Lesson 1: Angel means messenger, The Nature of Angels, Three Specific Angels, and Angels Are Not

I) Angels In Hebrews

A) Hebrews 1.1-4 distinct creation  not being God, or man, or animal, Psalm 8.4,5

1. In speaking of the position of Jesus as better than the angels.

2. Deity is to be worshipped, angels are not, v. 6

3. Jesus now are the right hand of God and given all authority over all creation including the angels, 1 Peter 3.21-22.

4. Ministering spirits, v. 14 we will notice later on some of what they do.

B) Hebrews 2.1-3

1. Superiority of the New over the Old Covenant is the general theme

            a.  Angels spoke the word of God which comprised the Old      Covenant, Galatians 3.19

            b. By the direction of angels, Acts 7.51-53

2. Superiority of Jesus over the angels, Hebrews 2.6-9

            a. Jesus by becoming a man was in a position lower than the angels

            b. Before taking on the body of flesh Jesus was above the angels.

            c. The order is God—Angels – Man – Animals

            d. Therefore Jesus as a man was lower than the angels.

            e. Literally in the Hebrew “Thou has lowered him a little beneath         Eloheem” or “Thou has made him fall but little short of Eloheem”

3. Hebrews 2.16 He did not give aid to the angels

            a. Jesus did not take on the body of an angel. He did not die on the cross as an angel but a man.

            b. His blood is for mankind and not angels, v. 9

4. Man will be heirs of salvation not angels. Angels will be in heaven but not as heirs.

5. Man will be glorified not angels, Romans 8.16-17, 29-30

C) Hebrews 13.1-2 some have unwittingly entertained angels

1. Teaching on showing hospitality and love for strangers.

2. Example of Lydia in Acts 16 as she provided a place for Paul.

3. Perhaps this passage is referring to Abraham in Genesis 18 when he offered hospitality to two men (angels).

4. Point is we need to provide hospitality for we do not always know who that stranger may be. Matthew 25.34,35

5. Keep in mind the word angel does not always refer to heavenly being but messenger of God.

II) Angels Represent God  By way of metonymy

A) Metonymy – figure of speech by which one thing is meant for another

1. The cup referring to the contents in the cup.

2. Acts 9.4 Saul was persecuting Christians but Jesus asked Saul why he was persecuting Him.

B) God is using the angel to represent Him

1. Hagar was promised descendants that could not be numbered by “The Angel of the Lord” Genesis 16.7-13

2. The angel stopped Abraham from offering Isaac, Genesis 22.11-12

3. God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, Exodus 3.2-4; Acts 7.35

4. Who lead the children of Israel during the Exodus? Ex. 13.21; 14.19

5. God spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai , Exodus 19.3; 31.18; Acts 7.38,53

III) Angels Do The Following:

A) Execute God’s judgment

1. Angels was ready to kill Balaam, Numbers 22.22-23, 32-33

2. Sennacherib, 2 Kings 19

            a. He took the Northern 10 Tribes captive in chapter 18.

            b. Hezekiah was King of Judah and Sennacherib came up against     Jerusalem , 1 Kings `18.3

            c. Hezekiah prayed to God for deliverance, 2 Kings 19.15-19, 20.

            d. 2 Kings 19.35 angle of God killed 185,000 Assyrians.

3. Herod Agrippa was killed by an angel, Acts 12.20-23

B) Directed people

1. Directed Elijah to go to King Ahaziah and tell him, he would die, 2 Kings 1.1ff.

2. Philip told to go to on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza , Acts 8.26

3. Note: When angels directed people they did so through speaking to them, i.e. Cornelius had a vision but the angel spoke to him, Acts 10.3-6.

C) Offered assurance and comfort to people

1. Elijah in 1 Kings 19.5-8 provided food and water

2. Paul while in a storm on the way to Rome , Acts 27.21-24. esp. 23

D) Revealed God’s will

1. In the Book of Revelation, Rev. 1.1; 22.16

2. Throughout the Book of Revelation we have passages with angels revealing the wraths to come.

E) Worshipping God

1. Revelation shows the angels in heaven worshipping God, Revelation 7.11

2. Proclaiming that we should worship God, Revelation 22.9

F) Separate the righteous and the wicked on the Day of Judgment

1. Parable of the Tares, Matthew 13.40-42, 49-50 the angels with gather and cast them in to the furnace of fire.

2. We will be judged by God’s word but they will execute that judgment. 2 Thess. 1.7-8

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