Biblical Teaching from a Reformed Perspective

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy
name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou
hast magnified thy word above all thy name. Ps. 138:2

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a study on angels by Mike Aldridge


Question:  "When did God create the angels?"

Answer: Job 38:4-7 describes the angels worshipping God as He was creating the world - "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?  Tell me, if you understand.  Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!  Who stretched a measuring line across it?  On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone - while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? " (Job 38:4-7).  So, although the Bible does not specifically say when God created the angels, it was sometime before the world was created.  Whether this was a day before, or a thousand years before, we cannot be sure.

I.   What is an angel? Where did angels come from?

      A.   The word "angel" is derived from the Greek word angelos, meaning
              "messenger." (See 1 Thessalonians 4:16.)

      B.   Angels are supernatural beings distinctly separate from the race of man.

                    1 Corinthians 6:3; 15:39-41
                    Hebrews 1:14

      C.   They were created by God (Psalms 148:2-5; Colossians 1:16) sometime
              prior to the existence of man (Job 38:7).

      D.   They neither marry nor reproduce (Luke 20:34-36), but are "an innumerable
              company."     

                    Deuteronomy 33:2
                    Job 25:3
                    Psalms 68:17
                    Matthew 26:53
                    Luke 2:13
                    Hebrews 12:22
                    Jude 14 ("saints" = "holy ones")
                    Revelation 5:11

II.    Why were angels created?

        A.   For ministry to God (worship).

                    Nehemiah 9:6
                    Psalms 148:2
                    Isaiah 6:2-4
                    Matthew 18:10
                    Luke 2:13
                    Hebrews 1:6
                    Revelation 5:11, 12; 7:11

       B. For ministry to man (the "heirs of salvation").

                    Genesis 28:12
                    Psalms 104:4
                    Matthew 4:11 (Mark 1:13)
                    Hebrews 1:7, 14

III.   Does each Christian really have a guardian angel?

        A.   Scripture speaks of those angels appointed by God to watch over the elect.

                    Psalms 91:11, 12
                    Matthew 18:10

        B.   The early church understood that each believer had a special angel.

                    Acts 12:15

IV.   Specific duties have been assigned to angels.

        A.   Angels minister to the physical needs of God's people.

               1.   They provide protection and deliverance from danger.

                            Genesis 19:1, 11, 15
                            Psalms 91:11-21
                            Daniel 6:22
                            Matthew 26:53
                            Acts 5:18, 19

                 2.   Angels can impart physical strength to man in his time of need.

                            Daniel 10:8-11, 16-19
                            Matthew 4:11 (Mark 1:13)
                            Luke 22:43

                 3.   Sometimes they are even sent with man's supply of food for                        nourishment.

                           1 Kings 19:5-8

       B.   Gabriel imparted skill and understanding to Daniel concerning the vision
               he had received from God.

                     Daniel 9:21-23; 10:14

       C.   Angels serve as a supernatural means of communication between God               and man.

              1.  For the purpose of direction.

                           Luke 1:11, 19, 26, etc. (Matthew 1:20; 2:13, 19, 20; etc.)
                            Acts 8:26; 10:3-6, 22

             2.   For encouragement.

                           Genesis 21:17-19
                           Daniel 10:12
                           Acts 27:23, 24

             3.   For revelation.

                           Revelation 22:6, 16

                   a.   The Law was delivered by angels.

                                Acts 7:53
                                Galatians 3:19
                                Hebrews 2:2

                   b.   Visions have been interpreted by special messengers from God.

                                Daniel 7:16; 8:15, 16, 19; 9:21-23; 10:14
                                Zechariah 1:9, 13, 14, 19; 4:1-6, 11-14; 5:1-3
                                Revelation 17:7, etc.

       D.   God uses angels to execute His judgment on the unrighteous.

                    Genesis 19:1-25
                    2 Samuel 24:16, 17
                    2 Kings 19:35 (Isaiah 37:36)
                    1 Chronicles 21:15
                    2 Chronicles 32:21
                    Ezekiel 9:2, 5, 7
                    Matthew 13:41, 42, 49, 50; 24:30
                    Acts 12:23
                    Revelation 7:1, 2; 8:2-13; 9:15; 15:1; etc.

       E.   Angels have a role to fulfill even after the death of a believer.
              (See Luke 16:22.)

V.   What are angels like? Do they really have wings?

       A.   Angels are spirits (Hebrews 1:14), and a "spirit hath not flesh and
               bones" (Luke 24:39). But angels can take on the "appearance of man."
               (See Daniel 8:15; 10:16, 18.)

               1.  "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have
                     entertained angels unawares."

                           Hebrews 13:2

               2.  Angels have been mistaken for men and received by men of God
                    as guests in their own homes.

                           Genesis 18:2-6; 19:1-3

      B.  Scripture describes cherubim and seraphim as having wings.

                    Exodus 25:20, etc.
                    1 Chronicles 28:18
                    Isaiah 6:2, 6
                    Ezekiel 1:4-25; 10:1-22; 11:22
                    Revelation 4:6-8

      C.  When seen in their glory, angels may have a special brightness upon them.

                    Daniel 10:6
                    Matthew 28:2-5
                    Luke 24:4
                    Acts 1:10; 10:30

      D.  Angels have superhuman strength.

                    Genesis 19:1, 11
                    Psalms 103:20
                    Matthew 28:2-7, 20
                    Acts 5:19; 12:7, 23
                    2 Thessalonians 1:7
                    2 Peter 2:11
                    Revelation 5:2

       E.   Those angels that remained faithful to God (after the downfall
              of Satan) are obedient to His commands.

                    Psalms 103:20
                    Luke 7:8

       F.  Angels have at times been fearful to look upon.

                    Judges 6:22, 23; 13:6
                    Daniel 8:16-18, 27
                    Luke 1:11, 12
                    Acts 10:3, 4

VI.   From where did the "fallen angels" of which the Bible speaks come,
        if nothing God created was evil?

        A.   All the angels were created good and holy.

                    Genesis 1:31, etc.

        B.   In fact, Lucifer (Satan) and his followers were once in heaven .

                    Isaiah 14:12
                    Ezekiel 28:13, 14
                    Luke 10:18
                    Revelation 12:8

        C.   However, they "kept not their first estate (or, principality), but left their
                own habitation." They rebelled against God, and a war in heaven resulted.

                    Isaiah 14:12-15
                    Ezekiel 28:13-17
                    2 Peter 2:4
                    Jude 6, 7
                    Revelation 12:7-9

         D.   This is still taking place between the powers of darkness and light.

                    Daniel 10:13, 21
                    Ephesians 6:11-17

         E.   In the end, Satan and his angels will be cast into the lake of fire forever.

                    Matthew 25:41
                    Revelation 20:10

VII.   What rank or place in God's creation do angels hold?

         A.   Angels are not greater than man.

                1.   They are ministering servants of the elect of God.

                            Psalms 104:4
                            Hebrews 1:7, 14

                2.   They will be judged by men.

                           1 Corinthians 6:3

                3.   Man was a higher order than the angels.

                           Psalms 8:4-5 (Actually, the word here translated "angels" is the                            Hebrew "Elohim" - meaning, "Godhead," as in Genesis 1:1.)
                           Hebrews 2:5-9

       B.   There are different ranks of angels, too. The Bible mentions two archangels
              (or, "chief messengers," as in 1 Thessalonians 4:16) by name.

              1.   Michael.

                            Daniel 12:1, 2
                            Jude 9
                            Revelation 12:7

              2.   Gabriel.

                            Daniel 8:15-17; 9:21
                            Luke 1:11-13, 19, 26

        C.   Angels are subject to God.

                    1 Peter 3:22

               1.   They are wise (2 Samuel 14:17, 20), but they are not omniscient
                      (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32; 1 Peter 1:12).

               2.   They are immortal (Luke 20:36), but they are created beings (Psalms
                      148:2-5; Colossians 1:16).

               3.   They are strong (Genesis 19:1, 11; Psalms 103:20; Matthew 28:2-7;
                      Acts 5:19; 12:7, 23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 2 Peter 2:11; Revelation 5:2),
                      but they are not omnipotent (Daniel 10:13).

               4.   They are not to be worshipped (Colossians 2:18; Hebrews 1:4, 5, 13;
                      Revelation 19:10; 22:8, 9) and do not accept sacrifices (Judges 13:15,                      16).

               5.   God said that no man could see Him and still live (Exodus 33:20); but
                      seeing an angel will not make a person die (Judges 6:22, 23; 13:6,                      19-23).

VIII.   It is good to recognize the significance of angelic ministry, but any overemphasis upon their service to man is not desirable, and even condemned.

                    Colossians 2:1

 
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