INTRODUCTORY STORY: A missionary by the name of John G. Paton tells an interesting story. He & his wife were missionaries in the New Hebrides Islands. One night some hostile natives surrounded his house with the intention of killing them and burning their house down. John Paton & his wife prayed all night. When daylight came they were amazed to see the natives turn and leave. They praised God for His deliverance.

A year later, the chief of the tribe got saved. Mr. Paton asked him about that attack and why they left that night???  The chief was surprised and asked John, “Who were all those men you had with you there?” John said that it was just he and his wife. But the chief argued that they had seen hundreds of big men with swords guarding their house and they were afraid to attack. WERE THESE ANGELS?

2^nd INTRODUCTORY STORY:  During the Korean War, a group of 6 Marines were cut off behind enemy lines while fighting against the Chinese. They were trapped for 6 days. It was close to 20 degrees below zero!!  They had had nothing to eat for days. It seemed they might have to find the enemy and surrender. BUT… one of those Marines was a Christian. He witnessed to his friends, gave them Scripture passages to learn, and taught them to sing a hymn. After singing the song, they heard a crashing noise from the bushes behind them. A wild boar ran toward them – and just as one of them was about to shoot it; that wild pig fell over, dead, right in front of them. They ate well that night!! The next day, at daybreak, they heard a voice calling to them. It was a South Korean who spoke perfect English. He led them back through the woods and around a mountain to safety within their own lines. When they turned around to thank him, he had disappeared! WAS THIS AN ANGEL?

INTRODUCTION:  Is Hebrews 13:2 really saying what it appears to be saying? Is it possible to meet an angel here on earth? Have you already met an angel and were completely unaware that you had done so??

• There is a lot of interest in angels and the spirit world today:

-         In the last 50 years there has been a tidal wave of interest in books about the occult, spirits, and angels.

-         This is due to an increased activity of demons and angels as we approach the coming of Jesus Christ.

• There are a lot of questions that people have about angels:

-          What are angels?

-          Where did they come from? 

-          When were they created?

-          What do they look like?

-          Do angels have wings?

-          Are angels and demons the same?

-          Do Christians have guardian angels?

• There is also a lot of confusion and misconceptions today about angels. 

-          Some of these misconceptions are due to the influence of mythology and other stories we have heard, such as “ghost stories”, etc.

-          Some of these errors came from church or Jewish traditions that were passed down as “facts”. 

FOR EXAMPLE: In various writings people have claimed to know the names of at least 102 angels; however, the Bible only names 2 (other than Lucifer). The Talmud (ancient Jewish commentary) claims there are 7,405,926 demons. The Cardinal Bishop of Tusculum estimated in the 15^th century that there were over 133 million demons ---- BUT the Bible does not say how many angels or demons there are!! The Bible DOES teach that for every 1 demon there are 2 angels doing God’s work!!

-          Much of this error comes from how the media (Hollywood) portrays angels.

FOR EXAMPLE:

How many of you think that angels are women?

How many of you think that angels “glow” when they speak to

you?

-          Some of these errors come from confusing the angels with other creatures mentioned in the Bible (cherubim and seraphim):

Cherubim

-          They are mentioned in the Bible 94 times.

-          They were placed as guards outside the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24).

-          They guard the throne of God (Psalm 80:1 & 99:1).

-          They have wings and can fly (Psalm 18:10).

-          Satan may have been one of the cherubim (Ezekiel 28:14-16).

Seraphim

-          They are only mentioned by name in Isaiah 6:2 & 6.

-          These creatures fly above the throne and praise the Lord!

-          Revelation 4:6-9 MAY be a description of the seraphim (OR may be a description of another angelic creation).

KEY POINT: This infiltration of so-called “facts” about angels from other religions, traditions, Catholicism, paganism, and art leads to “syncretism” = the combination of various beliefs which results in a new belief.

EXAMPLES OF SYNCRETISM (regarding angels):

1. Zoroastrianism was the first religion to introduce angels as females. This Eastern religion (which began in the 5^th century) believed angels could appear as either men or women – at will.
2. “Child angels” came from the Roman / pagan “cupid”.
3. Wings and halos were introduced by artists --- and have absolutely no Scriptural basis whatsoever.

What does the Bible say about angels? 

• The Bible is our ONLY authority – and the ONLY source of accurate information about angels!!  (Listening to other sources will make you as confused as a termite in a yo-yo!) J
• This study is referred to as the doctrine of angelology.
• The Bible mentions God’s angels 375 times.  It refers to Satan’s angels over 300 times (116 times in the Four Gospels alone)!!
• God wants us to know the truth about these creatures – and we can only learn the truth from the Word of God…

What does the word, “angel”, mean?

• The Old Testament uses a Hebrew word, pronounced mal-awk = its root meaning is “to dispatch as a deputy” and is translated in the KJV as “angel”, “messenger”, or “ambassador”.
• The New Testament uses a Greek word pronounced ang-el-os whose root meaning is “to bring tidings”.  The word describes one who is sent, such as an envoy or a messenger.
• In short, both original words mean messenger.
• This gives us an insight into their purpose.

NOTE: Not all references to an “angel” in the O.T. are describing regular angels; some verses are describing Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament there are numerous references to Someone called “The Angel of the Lord” – this was a special angel Who either was God or represented God. We refer to this Angel as the “pre-incarnate Christ” or “theophonies”. 

1.)    It is evident that God had a “body” before His Incarnation

A.    Genesis 1:26-27 = He determined to make man after His own image

B.     Genesis 3:8 = He walked in the garden with Adam and Eve.

2.)    Jesus had a body in the Old Testament and He appeared several times as “The Angel of the Lord”:

EXAMPLES OF THEOPHONIES:  Exodus 3:1-14; 23:20-23, Genesis 16:7 & 13; 18:2, 16-17 & 20-22, Judges 6:12-14; 13:20-22

COMMON MISCONCEPTION: Angels are NOT glorified human beings. Humans do NOT become angels when they die.

1.)    Matthew 22:30 says that after the resurrection we shall be “as” the angels; BUT it does NOT say that we shall “be” angels.

2.)    Hebrews 12:22-23 distinguishes between the “innumerable company of angels” and the saints of God.

3.)    Psalm 8:5 & Hebrews 2:7 says that man was made lower than the angels and in the future shall be made higher than the angels.

4.)    I Corinthians 6:3 says that the saints will one day judge the angels.

So….What are angels? What are they like?

• Angels are spirit beings that were created before humans.

-          Psalms 148:2-5 clearly says they were created by God. See also Colossians 1:16.

-          The Bible does NOT say when the angels were created OR when some of the angels fell, but Genesis 1 declares that everything God had made was very good – in the beginning.

-          Most likely, they were made in Genesis 1:1 when God made the “heavens”.

-          They are referred to as “spirits” in Hebrews 1:7, 14 and Psalm 104:4.  However, sometimes they appear on earth in a bodily form.

• Angels do not die (Luke 20:34-36).  However, since God alone has immortality (I Timothy 6:16); they owe their continued existence to God, Who sustains them.
• They do not marry (Matthew 22:30). (But the Bible doesn’t specifically say that they are “sexless”.)
• They do NOT reproduce.  (Matthew 22:30)
• There are a vast (fixed) number of them (Hebrews 12:22, Revelation 5:11, Daniel 7:10).
• They are NOT to be worshiped (Colossians 2:18, Revelation 22:8-9).

EXAMPLE: As early as the 4^th century, Constantine the Great built a church in honor of Michael the archangel. Entire books have been written teaching people how to pray to the angels – which is idolatry!

• They possess great wisdom; but they are not omniscient. (Compare II Samuel 14:20 & Matthew 24:36)

NOTE: I Peter 1:11-12, I Corinthians 4:9 and Ephesians 3:10 indicate that angels endeavor to learn about God’s redemption plan from watching the saints of God. (REMEMBER: Luke 15:10 says there is joy in the presence of angels when a person gets saved; it does NOT say that angels rejoice.)

• They possess great strength, but they are not omnipotent. (II Peter 2:11)  Rev. 4:8 indicates that they have no need for rest.

-          They may have power to control the weather. (Revelation 7:1 & 16:3-12)

-          The plagues of Egypt were accomplished by evil angels (Psalm 78:41-49-55)

• They are not omnipresent. They move, walk, and fly about (without wings). According to Ezekiel 1:14 they can move as fast as a flash of lightning (speed of light = 186,282 mph).

What do angels look like?

• Although spirit beings, whenever they dealt directly with humans they usually appeared as men (Genesis 19:1, 5).
• Angels do not have wings. Cherubim and Seraphim do have wings.

Can angels be saved?

• Angels are described as a company or host; NOT a race.

• Hebrews 2:16 explains that God did NOT make provision for the salvation of angels.

-          Angels sinned as individuals.

-          There was not one angel that sinned as some sort of a “Federal head” representative of all.

-          Consequently, there is no provision for salvation for angels. Christ could not become one of them; He would have to become “each” one of them and that would violate their free will – thus fallen angels are unredeemable!

• Some angels are fallen and are known in Scripture as evil spirits or demons. (Psalm 78:49, Matthew 25:41, II Peter 2:4, Jude 6, Revelation 9:11; 12:7-9)
• Those angels that are fallen are completely and totally corrupt and unclean. They cannot repent. They will never receive forgiveness. They delight in leading men and women into sin. In Mark 3:11, they recognized Jesus Christ – and fell down before Him (acknowledging Him) – YET they cannot truly worship God. They hate God. They are at war with God! We normally refer to these fallen angels as demons.

How did perfect angels fall??

1.)    God did NOT ordain it so.

2.)    It was NOT a natural product of nature.

3.)    It was NOT due to their environment.

4.)    They fell because they used their free will to engage in an act of rebellion against God.

A.    God made both angels and man with a free will.

B.     Originally, (before their respective falls), man and angels had the ability to sin or not sin.

C.     Satan and his demons fell prey to sinful emotions and lusts similar to what man experiences: pride, greed, undue ambition, love of wealth and power, selfishness, and discontentment.

      What happened to the angels that fell?

1.)    II Peter 2:4 = Some are in chains in the lowest part of hell until their temporary release during the tribulation period (Rev. 9:1-11)

2.)    Jude 6-7 = Some are in chains because they “kept not their first estate” and “left their own habitation” – and (verse 7) possibly engaged in some kind of immorality/homosexuality.

NOTE: I do NOT believe that Genesis 6 describes such an event.  If these angels somehow changed (“metamorphed”) themselves into some sort of half-human / half-angelic creature they are now chained up in hell and NOT loose as “demons”.

3.)    Revelation 9:14 = four of them are bound in the Euphrates River.

4.)    Some are free and serve the devil as demons or unclean spirits.

NOTE: In Acts 23:8, the Bible records that the Pharisees differentiated between angels and evil spirits, but that doesn’t prove that this distinction is true.

COMMON MISCONCEPTION: Demons are NOT the disembodied spirits of a pre-Adamic race; NOR are they the spirits of the giants supposedly produced when the sons of God married the daughters of men in Genesis 6.  Supposedly, these evil spirits have a strong desire to live once again within a human body.

1.)    The spirit of man comes forth from God.

2.)    When a person dies, his spirit/soul goes straight to heaven or straight to hell.  They do not wander around.  They do not turn into ghosts, demons, witches, or anything else.

3.)    Even if Genesis 6 were referring to angels of Jude 6, the Bible declares that these fallen and “changed” angels are chained up in hell – and that would not explain what demons are if they are not “regular” fallen angels.

Are all angels the same? NO. There are various orders (ranks) and forms of angels (Romans 8:38, Ephesians 1:21, 3:10, Colossians 1:16, 2:15, 1 Peter 3:22).

EXAMPLES: There are only 3 specific angels mentioned by name in Scripture:

1.)    Michael is the only angel in the Bible that is specifically called an archangel; however Daniel 10:13 seems to indicate that there are other “chief princes”.  He and the righteous angels under him defeated Satan and his demons after which they were cast down to the earth (Revelation 12:7-10). It was Michael who stopped Satan from stealing the body of Moses after he died (Jude 9).

-          The word “archangel” is found two times in Scripture: I Thes. 4:16 & Jude 9

NOTE: Other apocryphal books (and Jewish traditions) describe 7 archangels: Michael, Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Zariel, Gabriel, and Remiel) – BUT only Michael is named an archangel in the Bible.

-          Michael is described as the prince of the nation of Israel (Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1)

NOTICE: In Daniel 10:13 & 20 Michael was opposed by someone called “the prince of Persia”. The Bible also mentions a “prince of Greece”. (It seems that the Prince of Greece was coming to continue helping Daniel.)

From this passage, we learn that here was a demon who held a position over the Empire of Persia. Many have assumed that angels are assigned as heads over nations or parts of the world. This supposition fits the context of Daniel 10; however, the Scripture does NOT clearly teach this so we would only be “guessing”.

2.)    Gabriel is a high ranking angel who delivered important prophetic messages from God to specific people, including to the prophet Daniel (Daniel 8:15-17, 9:21-24), to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist (Luke 1:11-19), to Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ (Luke 1:26-35)

3.)    The very high-ranking angel Lucifer (meaning Light Bearer) was at first an obedient and righteous servant of God - at one time he could have been the best friend that a Christian could have! But he rebelled, becoming known as Satan (meaning accuser). (Ezekiel 28:15-17 and Isaiah 14:12-15)   He is known by several names:

1.      Satan = adversary (Job 1:6)

2.      Devil = slanderer and accuser (Rev. 12:10)

3.      Dragon = sea-monster (Rev. 12:3)

4.      Serpent = crookedness and deceitfulness (Gen.3:1)

5.      Beelzebub = lord of the house (Matt. 10:25)

6.      Belial = worthless (II Cor. 6:15)

7.      Lucifer = light-bearer (Isa. 14:12 & II Cor. 11:14)

8.      The evil one = a description of his character (I John 2:13; 5:19)

9.      The tempter = a description of his purpose (Matt. 4:3)

10.  The god of this world = a sponsor of religion (II Cor. 4:4)

11.  The prince of the power of the air = a leader of an organized army of demons (Eph. 2:2)

12.  The ruler of this world = influence over human governments (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11)

BEWARE… of the work of evil spirits:

NOTE: The word “demon” came from a Greek word, “daimon” – which was from a root word meaning “to know”.  The early Greeks believed these were intelligent spirits who helped people.  The Bible refers to them as demons and unclean / evil spirits!! Christians should NEVER have anything to do with demonic influences such as the following:

-          spirit guides

-          fortune telling (tarot cards, palm readings, etc)

-          horoscopes

-          occultism

-          false religion

Can demons possess a person’s body?  Absolutely. There are numerous examples of this in Scripture.

What are the symptoms of demon possession?  Since we cannot see the demons; how did demon-possessed people in the Bible appear? 

-          Some had various sicknesses (KEY: these sicknesses would not respond to medical treatments.)

-          Some had disablements (blindness / muteness / crippled bodies)

-          Some had extraordinary strength

-          Some were vexed: they were fearful, wild, torturing themselves (Mark 5:2-20)

-          Some had suicidal tendencies (i.e. throwing themselves in the fire, etc.)

-          Some had uncontrolled body movements such as screaming or grinding teeth

-          Some were naked or began to take off their clothes.

-          At least one person had the ability to tell fortunes (Acts 16:16-18)

NOTE: There are differing beliefs regarding “demon possession”.  Some claim that only unsaved people can be possessed; while saved people can be “oppressed”. The difference being that the demons work from the inside of the unsaved person and from the outside of the saved person.

Others claim that possession and oppression are synonymous: that both terms refer to the influence of demons.  They point to the only usage of the word “oppressed” in the Bible (Acts 10:38) and point out that it is referring to demon possesses peoples.  However, I cannot find any example in Scripture of a saved person being possessed or needing a demon to be ordered out of them… consequently I do NOT believe that a believer can be possessed of a demon.

However you want to make the distinction, the undeniable truth is this: both saved and unsaved can be influenced / vexed / controlled … by demons.

• Sometimes demons can influence us to sin. EXAMPLE of Acts 5:3-4. 

NOTE: We cannot blame all our sin on the devil because we do not need demonic influence in order to sin!  The Bible lists at least 45 sins underneath the label “works of the flesh”.

-          We sin because of our sin nature; not because of the devil

-          If there were no demons we would still sin… by choice, habit, or by ignorance.

• Sometimes demons can cause sickness and disease. EXAMPLE of Luke 13:10-16. HOWEVER…not all sickness is from Satan; nor can we claim (as some charismatics do) that God’s redemption plan includes freedom from disease and sickness.

PRAISE GOD…

I John 4:4 = Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

            James 4:7 = Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

PRAISE GOD….

1.)    God is still in control of the social and political realms of this world.

2.)    The power of Satan and his hosts is limited by the presence (and prayers) of Christians in this world.

3.)    Satan’s ultimate destruction is already guaranteed.

What do (good) angels do?

• Angels were very active throughout the Old Testament,

-          They rejoiced when God made the earth.  Job 38:4-7

-          They were present in Jacob’s dream = Genesis 28:10-13.

-          They helped with the Destruction of Sodom, announcing the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah, serving Jacob (Genesis 28:12, 31:11, 32:1, 48:16),

-          Moses (Exodus 3:2),

-          Joshua (Joshua 5:13-15),

-          Gideon (Judges 6:11-40),

-          Samson (Judges 13),

-          Elijah (1 Kings 19:5-8),

-          Elisha (2 Kings 6:14-17),

-          An angel chastised Israel after David’s sin (II Samuel 24:15-16)

-          Daniel (Daniel 6:22), 9:21-23 ,10:5-14

-          Destroyed the Assyrian army that had surrounded Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:35)

-          An angel was dispatched to kill King Herod (Acts 12:23)

-          They were active in communicating the Scriptures to man. (Gal. 3:19, Hebrews 2:2, Acts 7:38 & 53, and Zechariah 1:9, 13,14,19; 2:3; 4:1,4,5; 5:5; 6:4-5)

COMMON MISCONCEPTION: Because angels were instrumental in delivering the Word of God in the past, some claim that extra-Biblical revelations can be delivered by angels still today.  This is NOT true. The Word of God has been completed. All extra-Biblical revelations today are NOT of God.

• Angels were directly involved and present in the events in the life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ:

-          They foretold His birth to Mary (Luke 1:26-37) and Joseph (Matthew 1:20-21),

-          Announced what He would be named (Matthew 1:21),

-          Directed their flight to Egypt to escape Herod (Matthew 2:13,20),

-          Served The Lord after His Temptation (Matthew 4:11),

-          At Gethsemane on The Fateful Night (Luke 22:43),

-          Rolled away the stone at The Garden Tomb (Matthew 28:2),

-          Announced His resurrection to the women (Matthew 28:5-7 AND Mark 16:5-8),

-          Were present when He appeared to Mary of Magdala (John 20:11-14)

• Angels are just as active in the New Testament.

-          They were directly involved with the progress of the early Church:

§  an angel rescued Peter from prison (Acts 12:7-9),

§  struck Herod dead for blasphemy (Acts 12:23),

§  directed Cornelius (Acts 10:3),

§  was with Paul when he was shipwrecked on Malta (Acts27:23)

-          Angels will be instrumental in the events of The Return Of Jesus Christ:  A great number of them will appear with Him (2 Thessalonians 1:7), when they will gather His elect (Matthew 24:31). They will be like reapers (Matthew 13:49-50). They will separate the righteous from the wicked. (Matthew 13:41, 49). Angels will carry out many of the events of the end-time The Seven Seals.

KEY NOTE: The appearance of angels is very rare and was only done in extreme circumstances. In 2,100 years of Old Testament and New Testament History, there are only 32 recorded, Biblical instances of men and women seeing and meeting with angels.

What do angels do now?

1.      They worship God in heaven. (Psalm 103:20-21)

2.      They are engaged in spiritual warfare.  

A.    (Swihart) “Angels aren’t being destroyed, but they are being hindered and sometimes rendered immobile.  Until these temporarily defeated angels are assisted by other angels, especially by those angels of a superior status they remain dormant.”

B.     Angels help to answer our prayers.

3.      They are protecting us.

A.    (Swihart) “The angels are actively engaged in protecting us from so-called accidents that do not fulfill God’s plans.”

B.     Psalm 91:1, 11-12; 34:7

4.      They are strengthening and encouraging us. 

A.    Example of angels who ministered to Christ in Matthew 4:11 and Luke 22:43

B.     Although God could easily keep us safe and provide for us without using angels, He has chosen to use them as “ministering spirits”.

Do we have a guardian angel?

1.)    Hebrews 1:14 = "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?"

A.    “inheritance” is for the children of God

B.     “salvation” is a reference to future (complete) deliverance.

C.     This verse says that angels watch over every believer until the redemption / salvation of their body

2.)    Psalm 34:7 = "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them".

3.)    Satan, himself, described a “hedge” of protection around the believer in Job 1:10.

4.)    Matthew 18:10 = Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

A.    The verse seems to indicate that angels stand at attention in heaven waiting for a command to go and minister to every little child – whenever called upon.

B.     The verse says “their angels” as if specific angels are assigned to each person.

5.      Luke 16:22 = These verse teaches that angels take some part in carrying us to heaven.

How do you judge an experience that you thought was “angel-related”?  OR… how do you judge teaching or testimonies about angels?

1. By the Word of God
   1. Nothing that is of/from God will ever contradict OR add to the Word of God.
   2. Your experience (nor anyone else’s) does NOT supersede God’s Word.

2. By its emphasis (honor) on Jesus Christ.

Do not be deceived by… personality, finances/wealth, number of converts/believers, or supernatural acts.  No angelic appearance will ever do anything to take away glory from Jesus Christ. If the Holy Spirit refuses to steal God’s glory then we know that God’s (good) angels will never bring any glory to themselves. They will not identify themselves as angels neither will they do anything to feed the current frenzy of curiosity to delve into the spirit-world.

CONCLUSION: Thank God for ministering, protecting angels!!!

Hebrews 13:2 = "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it."

INVITATION: You can experience something angels cannot experience = salvation.

·         Are you saved?

·         Are you sure?

  You can participate in something angels cannot participate in = evangelization

·               Are you serving the Lord?

·               Have you spoken to anyone about Jesus today?