The question about life on other planets has fascinated the human mind since the time of Leonardo Devinci. Scripture makes it clear that there is another life form also created by God.
What we can know about them is found only in God's Holy Word. There is absolutely no other source of information on the subject.
There are two orders of extra-terrestrials, Angels and demons. Within those orders there are ranks and divisions, hierarchy and organization.
ANGEL a word signifying, both in the Hebrew and Greek, a "messenger" and hence employed to denote any agent God sends forth to execute his purposes. But its distinctive application is to certain heavenly intelligence whom God employs in carrying on his government of the world. The name does not denote their nature but their office as messengers.
A. APPEARANCES OF ANGELS.
THE APPEARANCES TO ABRAHAM AT MAMRE Genesis 18:1-2 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. [2] Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. .Genesis 18:33,19:1 When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home. Gen 19:1 The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.
(1) THE ANGELS APPEARED TO ABRAHAM AS _________.
THE APPEARANCE TO JACOB AT BETHEL
Genesis 32:24-28 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. [25] When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. [26] Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." [27] The man asked him, "What is your name?"
"Jacob," he answered.
[28] Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."
TO JOSHUA AT GILGAL Joshua 5:13-15 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"
[14] "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?"
[15] The commander of the LORD'S army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.
(1) WHAT WAS THE APPEARANCE OF THE COMMANDER TO JOSHUA? _________________________________.
This is thought of as a pre-incarnate appearance of the Christ. "Of the Angel of the Lord" speaks of doubtless manifestations of the Divine presence of Jesus. A revelation of Jesus, before His physical birth.
WHO APPEARED TO HAGAR
The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. [8] And he said, "Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?"
"I'm running away from my mistress Sarai," she answered.
[9] Then the angel of the LORD told her, "Go back to your mistress and submit to her." [10] The angel added, "I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count." [11] The angel of the LORD also said to her: "You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery. [12] He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers."
(1) HAGAR UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS PERSON WAS AN ANGEL, BUT WAS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT HIS SEMBLANCE, THAT CREATED ANXIETY IN HER? _____ ______________________________________________________
ANGEL AT THE BIRTH OF SAMPSON
Judges 13:1-24 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, so the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years. [2] A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was sterile and remained childless. [3] The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, "You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son. [4] Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean, [5] because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines."
[6] Then the woman went to her husband and told him, "A man of God came to me. He looked like an angel of God, very awesome. I didn't ask him where he came from, and he didn't tell me his name. [7] But he said to me, 'You will conceive and give birth to a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from birth until the day of his death.'" [8] Then Manoah prayed to the LORD: "O Lord, I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born." [9] God heard Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman while she was out in the field; but her husband Manoah was not with her. [10] The woman hurried to tell her husband, "He's here! The man who appeared to me the other day!" [11] Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he said, "Are you the one who talked to my wife?"
"I am," he said.
[12] So Manoah asked him, "When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule for the boy's life and work?"
[13] The angel of the LORD answered, "Your wife must do all that I have told her. [14] She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, nor drink any wine or other fermented drink nor eat anything unclean. She must do everything I have commanded her."
[15] Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, "We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat for you."
[16] The angel of the LORD replied, "Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the LORD." (Manoah did not realize that it was the angel of the LORD.)
[17] Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the LORD, "What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?"
[18] He replied, "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding." [19] Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock to the LORD. And the LORD did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched: [20] As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground. [21] When the angel of the LORD did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it was the angel of the LORD.
[22] "We are doomed to die!" he said to his wife. "We have seen God!" [23] But his wife answered, "If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or now told us this." [24] The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the LORD blessed him,
(1) FROM THESE PASSAGES, ESPECIALLY VERSE 6, HOW WOULD YOU ENVISION THE APPEARANCE OF THE ANGEL? ______________________.
AT THE TOMB OF JESUS.
Matthew 28:2-9 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. [3] His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. [4] The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
(1) HOW DID THE ANGEL APPEAR TO THE GUARDS? ___________________________________________________.
[5] The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. [6] He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. [7] Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." [8] So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. [9] Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
(1) HOW DOES THIS PORTION PORTRAY THE APPEARANCE OF THE ANGEL TO THE WOMEN? __________________________________________________.
Such expressions as "like the angels", are found in verses like Luke 20:36a "and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. The fact is, whenever angels appeared to man, it was always in a human form. Genesis 18:2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
(1) ABRAHAM SAW THREE ___________. HE ALSO SAW SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THEM FOR ABRAHAM ____________ LOW TO THE GROUND.
Genesis 19:1 The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.,
(1) LOT RECOGNIZED THEM AS ANGELS BUT DID THE MEN OF SODOM?__________________________________.
(2) THEY SAW THEM AS ____________________________.
Genesis 19:5 They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."
Luke 24:4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.
Acts 1:10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
(1) WHAT WERE THE APPEARANCE OF THE ANGELS IN THESE VERSES? ___________________________________.
(2) YET SOMETHING SET THEM APART THAT THEY WERE IDENTIFIABLY SEPARATE FROM HUMANS, COULD IT HAVE ONLY BEEN THE CLOTHES?_________.
B. ANGELS ARE SUPERIOR TO HUMANS
Hebrews 1:4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
(1) JESUS (GOD) IS ___________________ TO THE ANGELS.
Hebrews 2:6-7 But there is a place where someone has testified: "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? [7] You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor.
(1) WHEN JESUS BECAME A MAN (BORN OF A WOMAN) SCRIPTURE DECLARES THE HE WAS MADE A LITTLE ____________ THAN THE ANGELS. BY IMPLICATION THIS WOULD MAKE HUMANS ________ THAN THE ANGELS.
C. THESE SUPERIOR BEINGS ARE VERY NUMEROUS."Thousand thousands," etc.
Daniel 7:9-10 "As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. [10] A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. Matthew 26:53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
Luke 2:13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Hebrews 12:22-23 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, [23] to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,
(1) HOW MANY ANGELS ARE THERE? _______________________________.
I. THEY ARE ALSO SPOKEN OF AS OF DIFFERENT RANKS IN DIGNITY AND POWER
Zech 1:8-15 During the night I had a vision--and there before me was a man riding a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses.
[9] I asked, "What are these, my lord?"
The angel who was talking with me answered, "I will show you what they are."
[10] Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, "They are the ones the LORD has sent to go throughout the earth."
(1) WHAT DID HE LOOK LIKE? _____________________.
[11] And they reported to the angel of the LORD, who was standing among the myrtle trees, "We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace."
(1) THE MAN AMONG THE MYRTLE TREES IS IDENTIFIED AS AN ________.
(2) WOULD IT BE FAIR TO ASSUME THAT HE IS OF HIGHER RANK, BECAUSE THE OTHER ANGELS REPORTED TO HIM? ____________.
[12] Then the angel of the LORD said, "LORD Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?" [13] So the LORD spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.[14] Then the angel who was speaking to me said, "Proclaim this word: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, [15] but I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they added to the calamity.'
(1) HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE THIS ANGELS' JOB DESCRIPTION? ___________________________________________________________.
Daniel 10:13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Daniel 12:1 "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book--will be delivered. 1 Thes. 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
(1) MICHAEL IS DESCRIBED AS ONE OF THE _________ PRINCES.
(2) WHAT IS HIS JOB DESCRIPTION? ____________________
(3) WHAT KIND OF AN ANGEL IS MICHAEL? __________________.
Jude 1:9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"
(1) THIS VERSE ONLY MAKES SENSE IF YOU UNDERSTAND THAT ANGELS HAVE DIFFERENT RANKS AND POWER, EVEN FALLEN ANGELS. WHY WOULD MICHAEL FEAR TO BRING AN ACCUSATION AGAINST LUCIFER? ___________________________.
Col 1:16 For by Him [Jesus] all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
(1) Who is it that creates rank, and gives power and authority in both heaven and on earth? _____________________________________.
II. AS TO THEIR NATURE, THEY ARE SPIRITS
Heb 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
(1) Angels are _________________.
Link to understand body soul and spirit in men..the human dilemma
III. ANGELS LIVE FOREVER
Luke 20:36a for neither can they [translated Christians] die anymore, for they are like angels,. . .
(1) This verse indicates that angels are _____________.
IV. ANGELS ARE NOT PERFECT. Imperfection is ascribed to them as creatures
Job 4:18 If God places no trust in his servants, if he charges his angels with error,
(1) ACCORDING TO THIS PASSAGE IN JOB, IS AN ANGEL SO PERFECT THAT HE CANNOT ERROR? _________
Matthew 25:41 "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me,accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared forthe devil and his angels;
2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;
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.
(1) SINCE ANGELS ARE ETERNAL BEINGS, WHAT KIND OF PLACE OF JUDGEMENT IS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO SIN? ___________________________________________________________
Matthew 24:36 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
(1) THIS PASSAGE WOULD INDICATE THAT ANGELS DO NOT HAVE PERFECT KNOWLEDGE. TRUE____ FALSE___
1 Peter 1:12 It was revealed to them [prophets of old] that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
As imperfect creatures they may fall under temptation; and accordingly we read of "fallen angels." Of the cause and manner of their "fall" we are wholly ignorant. We know only that according to Jude "they left their first estate" That God has prepared a place of eternal destruction for them. 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.
(1) SINCE WE KNOW THAT ANGELS DO NOT DIE. DOES IT MAKE SENSE THAT THE FIRE, OR PLACE OF DESTRUCTION WOULD HAVE TO BURN ETERNALLY? ______
Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. Rev 12:9 The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him., and that they are "reserved unto judgement" (2 Peter 2:4).
(1) WHERE ARE THE FALLEN ANGELS RESIDING TODAY? __________.
(2) HAVE THEY BEEN CAST INTO THE ETERNAL FIRE? ___________.
2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;
(1) IF ANGELS WERE PERFECT CREATURES WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO SIN? ___________________________________________.
(2) WHERE IS THEIR PLACE OF INCARCERATION? ________
(3) WHEN JESUS WAS ABOUT TO CAST THEM OUT OF THE DEMONIAC, (DISEMBODIED) WHERE WERE THE DEMONS AFRAID THAT HE WOULD SEND THEM BACK TO? _________ Luke 8:30-31 Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him. (31) And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
(4) WOULD IT BE TO MUCH OF A REACH, TO ASSUME THAT, BECAUSE THEY BEGGED PERMISSION TO ENTER THE SWINE, DEMONS MUST HAVE POSSESSION OF A PHYSICAL BODY, TO REMAIN AWAY FROM THE ABYSS. ____ ISN'T THAT TRUE OF HUMANS ALSO? TO REMAIN IN THE PHYSICAL REALM WE MUST POSSESS A PHYSICAL BODY.
A THOUGHT ABOUT THE OVERWHELMING PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD. AS WE HAVE SEEN ABOUT ONE HUMAN COULD HOUSE A LEGION OF DEMONS. THE MAGNITUDE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THAT A LEGION OF HUMANS COULD NOT CONTAIN HIM. HIS INDWELLING PRESENCE IS WITHOUT LIMIT.
V. THEY ARE POSSESSED OF SUPERHUMAN INTELLIGENCE AND POWER. Mark 13:32 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
(1) IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT THIS VERSE IMPLIES THAT ANGELS ARE AWARE OF MOST HEAVENLY THINGS EXCEPT THIS? ____
2 Thes. 1:6-7 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you [7] and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.
(1) WHO WILL BE DOING THE PAY BACK? THE LORD JESUS' HIS ______________ ANGELS.
Psalm 103:20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
(1) WHAT DOES GOD CALL HIS ANGELS HERE? ________________ ONES.
VI. THEY ARE CALLED THE "ELECT"
1 Tim. 5:21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.
(1) APPARENTLY THE __________ ANGELS HAVE A VIEW INTO THE CREATION AND THE FUNCTIONING OF THIS WORLD.
VII. THEY ARE CALLED "HOLY " Luke 9:26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
(1) THE WORD HOLY MEANS "SET APART". THESE ANGELS ARE ________.
A. They are not to be worshiped Col 2:18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.
Rev 19:10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
B. THEIR FUNCTIONS ARE MANIFOLD.
1. IN THE WIDEST SENSE THEY ARE AGENTS OF GOD'S PROVIDENCE
Exodus 12:23 When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. Hebrews 11:28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel
(1) IN THIS INSTANCE THE ANGEL IS FUNCTIONING AS AN AGENT OF ______________.
Psalm 104:4 He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants..
Isaiah 66:15-16 For behold, the Lord will come in fire And His chariots like the whirlwind, To render His anger with fury, And His rebuke with flames of fire. 16For the Lord will execute judgment by fire And by His sword on all flesh, And those slain by the Lord will be many.
(1) THE VERSE IMPLIES ANGELS WHO WOULD DRIVE HIS CHARIOTS AND CARRY OUT HIS _________________.
2. THEY ARE SPECIALLY GOD'S AGENTS IN CARRYING ON HIS GREAT WORK OF REDEMPTION. There is no notice of angelic appearances to man till after the call of Abraham. From that time onward there are frequent references to their ministry on earth as we have already studied in Genesis 18-19; Genesis 24:7,40; Genesis 28:12; Genesis 32:1.
They appear to rebuke idolatry. Judges 2:1-4 The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, "I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you, [2] and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.' Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? [3] Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you." [4] When the angel of the LORD had spoken these things to all the Israelites, the people wept aloud,,
(1) WHAT DID THE ANGEL COMMUNICATE TO THE ISRAELITES? __________
An angel appeared to call Gideon Judges 6:11-12 The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. [12] When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.")
(1) THE ANGEL COMMISSIONED GIDEON A MIGHTY _____________.
As we have already studied an angel appeared to consecrate Samson in Judges 13:3.
3. In the days of the prophets, from Samuel downward, the angels appear only in their behalf.
1 Kings 19:5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat."
2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. The context of this passage makes it clear that this was a heavenly army.
[18] As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, "Strike these people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
"Daniel 4:13 "In the visions I saw while lying in my bed, I looked, and there before me was a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven. Daniel 4:23 "You, O king, saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live like the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.'
Daniel 10:10 A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. Dan 10:13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.
(1) IS IT CLEAR THAT DURING THIS PERIOD THE ANGELS APPEARED AS AN AID TO THE PROPHETS OF GOD? ___
C. The Incarnation introduces a new era in the ministrations of angels. They come with their Lord to earth to do him service while here. They predict his advent Matthew 1:20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, [27] to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. [28] The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." [29] Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. [30] But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. [31] You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. [32] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, [33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." [34] "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" [35] The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. [36] Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. [37] For nothing is impossible with God." [38] "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
(1) IN THIS INSTANCES AS WELL AS OTHERS, (ZACHARIAS AND ELIZABETH, THE SHEPHERDS) THE ANGEL(S) ANNOUNCED THE __________________________________________________?
They minister to him after his temptation and agony
Matthew 4: 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Luke 22:43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. and declare his resurrection and ascension Matthew 28:2-8 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. [3] His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. [4] The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
Angels minister comfort to the people of God.
[5] The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. [6] He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. [7] Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." [8] So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. John 20:12-13 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
[13] They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"
"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." Acts 1:10-11 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. [11] "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
They are now ministering spirits to the people of God
Hebrews 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
(1) WHAT IS PART OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION OF ANGELS DURING THE CHURCH AGE [NOW]? ____________
Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Psalm 91:11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
Matthew 18:10 "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
Acts 5:19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.
Acts 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."
Acts 10:3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!"
Acts 12:7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.
Acts 27:23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me.
They rejoice over a penitent sinner
Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
They bear the souls of the redeemed to paradise Luke 16:22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.
They will be the ministers of judgement hereafter on the great day
Matthew 13:39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Matthew 13:41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.
Matthew 24:31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
The passages (Psalm 34:7, Matthew 18:10) indicate that God employs the ministry of angels to deliver his people from affliction and danger, and that the angels do not think it below their dignity to minister even to children and to the least among Christ's disciples.
Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Matthew 18:10 "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
The "angel of his presence" Isa 63:9 In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
Exodus 23:20-21 "See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. [21] Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him".
Exodus 32:34 Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin."
Exodus 33:2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.
Numbers 20:16 but when we cried out to the LORD, he heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. "Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.
Luke 1:19 The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.
(1) DO ANGELS WORK IN THE LIVES OF GOD'S PEOPLE? ____________
(2) IF ANGELS ARE OTHER WORLD BEINGS, DO THEY QUALIFY AS ANOTHER LIFE FORM OR "EXTRA-TERRESTRIALS?__________________
D. ANGELS DO NOT MARRY
Matthew 22:30 "For in the resurrection they [Believers] neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
Mark 12:25 "For when they [those who died in their faith] rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
(1) IF ANGELS DO NOT MARRY, IS IT LIKELY THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A FAMILY TO RAISE, NO CHILDREN, AND THUS ARE NOT EQUIPT TO PROPAGATE? _________
E. ANGELS ARE OF DIFFERENT ORDERS
Isaiah 6:2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
(1) THE "IM" MAKES THE WORD SERAPH PLURAL. THIS ORDER OF ANGELS IS CALLED _________________.
Genesis 3:24 So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim, and the flaming sword which turned every direction, to guard the way to the tree of life.
(1) THESE ANGELS ARE OF THE ORDER OF ___________
Jude 1:9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you."
(1) MICHAEL IS IDENTIFIED AS OF THE ORDER OF ______________?
CONCLUSION: Angels are spirit beings; They number are at least ten thousand times ten thousand. They are of different ranks and orders. God often uses them as messengers. The only trustworthy source of knowledge about angels must be gleaned from Scripture.
If you have insight, suggestions or questions please Email me, Greg, at deans@interpath.com.
For a brief study of fallen angles - click on demons.
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