BIBLE STUDY October 20, 2011 Citadella

The Study of Angels (Angelology)

The Nature of Angels Created beings - Psalm 148:2,5 Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. ….. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. Spirit beings – Hebrews 1-14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Superior to man in intelligence and power (although limited) – Psalm 103:20 Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.

The Nature of Angels Described as hosts and not race and therefore cannot procreate – Luke 2:13,14 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Not created in the image of God and therefore does not share in his redemption Will be judged by man at the end of the age – 1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? …… Are not to be worshipped – Colossians 2:18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize.

Ministry of Angels for God To God: defending and proclaiming holiness To Christ: ◦ Announced His birth (Luke 1:26-38) ◦ Protected Him in infancy (Matt 2:13; 20) ◦ Ministered to Him after 40-day temptation (Mt 4:11) ◦ Strengthened Him in Gethsemane (Luke 22:43) To believers– “ministering spirits” (Heb 1:14) ◦ Physical protection (Ps 34:7) ◦ Physical provision (as to Elijah in 1 Ki 19:5-7) ◦ Encouragement (as to Paul in a storm (Acts 27:23-25) ◦ Direction (as to Philip to witness to Ethiopian (Acts 8:26) ◦ Assist in answers to prayer (Peter’s release from prison (Acts 12) ◦ Carries believer’s home (Lazarus carried to paradise Luke 16:22) To unbelievers ◦ Giving judgment on unbelievers (Sodom, Gen 19) ◦ Tribulation agents (Rev 4-19)

Summary of angelic service 1. The worship of God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8), 2. As messengers of God (Dan. 9:22; Luke 1:11, 26; 2:9; Rev. 1:1), 3. As soldiers in spiritual combat (Dan. 10:13f; Rev. 12:7), 4. As ministers to God’s people (Heb. 1:14)

Elect and Fallen Angels Elect or holy Angels – are those who have remained true to God, being sinless spiritual beings Mark 8:38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels. 1 Timothy 5:21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Jesus Christ and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. Fallen Angels – are those who rebelled against God. Matthew 25:41 Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Lucifer/Satan Isaiah 14:12-14 How you have fallen from heaven, O Morning Star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of the assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.

Lucifer/Satan Ezekiel 28:12 …. You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you; ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.