The church at Colossae had been invaded by false teachers who were teaching a false humility and the worship of angels as a part of the means to spirituality. WebWest window of the Church of St Michael and All Angels, Somerton. It appears from Revelation 12:3-4 that one-third of the angelic hosts chose to follow Satan. Some would claim that this Old Testament passage should not be applied in modern times, but in Hebrews 1:14 the author of Hebrews does not seem to draw that distinction. 25:31; 1 Thes. They were set apart by God and for God as His servants and as attendants to His holiness (cf. And another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 2:9-10; Col. 2:10, 15).10. They are protectors of humans and are usually depicted as warriors or soldiers with swords. The Scriptures disclose the truth that the angels learn much about God from His activities through the person and work of Christ and through the church, especially in the unfolding of Gods plan of redemption. First, being the creation of a holy God, they were created perfect without any flaw or sin. Thankfully, when were connected to Jesus in saving relationships, we have the power to overcome any type of evil including influences from fallen angels. Some have considered angels, including Satan, as merely the abstract personification of good and evil, but such is not at all in keeping with the teaching of Scripture. 3 Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, 1983, p. 434. Three other terms undoubtedly referring to angels are seraphim (Isa. Upcoming Horror Movies & Latest Horror Movie News. However, is this the proper depiction of angels as mentioned in the Bible? (2) Their Activities as Described in Scripture: Though their great power is always a derived power from God, the mighty works they accomplish, as in the execution of Gods judgments, demonstrate their superhuman strength (cf. Whether they loosely believe in a concept like the human spirit, or they believe part of them will live on when their b Get expert commentary on biblical languages, fresh explorations in theology, hand-picked book excerpts, author videos, and info on limited-time sales. The book of Job with its revelation about Satan, the angels, Jobs trials and his responses to his suffering add important insight to our understanding and response to the moral problem of evil. Even after sin entered the world, Gods good angels, who did not rebel against Him, are called holy (Mark 8:38). No angel literally appeared in such form. See also Psalm 80:1; 99:1. He forgot his creatureliness and wanted to become like God (cf. Still, in some passages He distinguishes Himself from Yahweh (Gen. 16:7-14; 21:17-18; 22:11-18; 31:11-13, Ex. Best Horror Movies for 13 Year Olds and Tweens, 10 Nightmarish Horror Movies on Netflix Full of Jump Scares, Everything About Shadow People You Need to Know. They are also in charge of sending duties of the lower angels. (3) For an impersonal agent, Pauls thorn in the flesh described as a messenger of Satan (2 Cor. Paul also tells us that the Lord will return from heaven with the archangels call (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Worship God (Revelation 19:10). The words king, kings, kingdom, etc., occur thirty times in twenty-five verses in this book. Web2. But seemingly He chooses to employ the intermediate ministry of angels on many occasions. In the Bible, angels cant usually be seen by humans unless God reveals them (see Numbers 22:31, 2 Kings 6:17, Luke 2:13). But, by Matt Slick | Feb 14, 2023 | Questions, People. Similarly, the sightings and descriptions of the angels were arranged into an angelic hierarchy, with 10:13f; Rev. In the book of Revelation, an angel warns John not to worship him: You must not do that! They had seen him as the governor of the universe; but never till now as a subject! Angels are diverse! All rights reserved. Investigate what is being written in books and said in seminars and you will find numerous publications and teaching filled with what is nothing less than pure demonic deception. In Relation to the Church: Hebrews 1:14 describes their ministry as ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation. In this, however, Scripture points to a number of specific ministries: they bring answers to prayer (Acts 12:5-10), they help in bringing people to the Savior (Acts 8:26; 10:3), they may encourage in times of danger (Acts 27:23-24), and they care for Gods people at the time of death (Luke 16:22). This possibility is turned into certainty by the express and explicit teaching of the Scriptures. 1:12; 3:1; 12:8). Man, who is so prone to idolatry as to worship the works of his own hands, would hardly be able to resist the worship of angels were they before his eyes.18. 2 Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology, Victor Books, Wheaton, IL, 1987, chapter 17, electronic media. They who until now had, filled with awe, been praising Him for the wonder of creation, now see His wisdom glorified in a new form in the Christian communion through the manifold ways by which lost men are saved. Scripture doesnt tell us if this refers to Michael, or if there are other archangels as well. 53; Rom. They have great power and autonomy over humans but do not come in close contact with us. Illustrations of their power are seen in Acts 5:19; 12:7, 23; Matthew 28:2 (the stone rolled away by the angel weighed about 4 tons). Since God is Spirit (John 4:24) it is natural to assume that there are created beings who more closely resemble God than do the mundane creatures who combine both the material and immaterial. Though theologians have been cautious in their study of angels, in recent years we have been bombarded by what could easily be called Angelmania. As suggested by the fellowship that can be observed in the Trinity between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Gods very being necessitated that He bring forth creatures for fellowship, but He did not create these creatures as robots who have no choice.
Thrones or dominions. 3:10). Fallen angels: The Bible also tells us that some angels have fallen from the glorious way that God had originally designed them to be. The apostle Paul provides a precedent for this in his warning regarding selecting novices for elders in 1 Timothy 3:6-7. They worship Gods person and cleanse Gods people. 12:17). 9:21; Luke 1:26). 9:2127). They are constantly seen in the activities of worshipful adoration of God and in humble service, totally submissive to the will of God. Box 1353 |Nampa, ID 83653 USA1-800-803-8093, If you have any issues, please call the office at 385-246-1048 or email us at. Have We Turned Our Favorite Preachers and Teachers into Idols? While many details about angels are omitted, it is important to keep in mind three important elements about the biblical revelation God has given us about angels. They guarded the entrance to the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24). From celebrating worship in heaven to responding to peoples prayers on earth, angels are constantly working on diverse assignments from God. For Instructors and School Administrators. The Dominions are also known as the Lordships. They cannot be everywhere at once. Different types of angels in the Bible. We are told of a few specific types of angels that form a hierarchal structure. These are the Thrones, Powers, Rulers and Authorities . There are Archangels, Cherubim, Seraphim also. We do not know whether they are one and the same or are different categories. 34. Guardian angels: The closest angels to humans are the guardian angels that help guard us during our earthly lifetimes. 3:10; 1 Pet. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. Hebrews 10:29-31 says. This idea could be supported by Job, where we read that the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy when God laid the cornerstone of the earth and sunk its bases (Job 38:67). They seem to function as guardians of the holiness of God, having guarded the way to the tree of life in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:24). . (Revelation 20:13). Their jobs include praying for us, delivering messages from God to us, and rescuing us from danger in situations where our lives are at stake and its not yet our time to pass away. WebDuties of Angels. While all the angels were originally created holy and without sin, there was a rebellion by Satan, who, being lifted up by his own beauty, rebelled and sought to exalt himself above God. However, in the Book of Tobis, Raphael said to Tobias that he was one of 7 who stood before the Lord, where Michael and Gabriel considered to be the other two among the 7.
(2) Gabriel (Dan. A highly organized hierarchy of angelic beings is referred to with the word thrones (qronoi), powers (kuriothtes), rulers (arcai), and authorities (exousiai). Col. 2:18). Believers sometimes feel that they can go it alone or expect victory without any prior, organized preparation and discipline. Today believers are experientially lower than the angels, yet positionally higher because of their union in Christ (cf. Angels, however, have limitations compared to man, particularly in future relationships. 9 different types of angels and Their Roles to us on Earth First Sphere of Angels Seraphim Cherubim Thrones Second Sphere of Angels Dominions Virtues 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. Seraph means the burning ones. He holds degrees from Harvard (AB), Westminster Theological Seminary (MDiv, DD), and Cambridge (PhD). Likewise, we must be zealous about guarding Gods glory in worshipmaking sure it aligns with Gods Word, as God can only be worshiped in spirit and truth (John 4:23). Nevertheless, he became puffed up with pride over his own beauty and power. First Sphere of Angels. Mankind, including our incarnate Lord, is lower than the angels (Heb. 10:13), of whom Michael was one, as the highest ranking angels of God. As mentioned, men are warned to never worship angels for they are only creatures. In Jeremiah 23:16, God cautions that false prophets speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of theLord. When considering an angelic message, we can exercise spiritual discernment by testing them, according to 1 John 4:1: Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world. We can test the angels by following the advice in 1 John 4:2: This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. For instance, the doctrine of the trinity is not explicitly taught in the Bible, but it is clearly taught implicitly in Scripture. An understanding of one of Satans names is helpful here and is loaded with implications. They are also described as having a lions God is infinitely wise. When Christ returns, an archangel will proclaim his coming (1 Thessalonians 4:16, see also Revelation 18:12, 21, 19:1718, and other passages). The Bible mentions these different types of angels: Archangels: These angel leaders lead teams of angels working on specific types of God-given assignments. However, if you search the Bible for mentions of angels, these images are actually not found. Authorities or powers. Some question whether the Seraphim and Cherubim are actually angels since they are never clearly identified as angels, but due to the nature of angels and their service as superhuman servants of God, this is the most logical place to classify them. However, due to the ministry and abilities given to them in the service of God, they have access to the entire universe. And in essence, he was. This was not the king of Persia but rather a fallen angel under Satans control; he was a demon of high rank, assigned by the chief of demons, Satan, to Persia as his special area of activity (cf. The objective is to make the Bible our authority rather than the speculations of men or their experiences or what may sound logical to people. 5:1 with 5:9f). function() {
22 The terms and descriptions given there certainly go far beyond that of any human monarch. 1 William Evans, The Great Doctrines of the Bible, Moody Press, Chicago, 1912, p. 215. 5. 12:12). 5:11; with Matt. As the second man from heaven He is viewed as the head and beginning of a new and exalted race of people. 1:2). There is the angel who has power over fire (Rev. 5:12), as observers who rejoice over what He does (Job 38:6-7; Luke 2:12-13; 15:10), as soldiers in battle with Satan (Rev. Angels are spiritual beings who worship God in heaven (Revelation 4:8, Hebrews 1:6) and whom God sends to Earth to serve those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14). Ryrie writes: Angels then qualify as personalities because they have these aspects of intelligence, emotions, and will. Further, other passages clearly teach us that there are often angelic or demonic forces behind the reign of human kings or kingdoms (cf. But are these what we think of as guardian angels? 1 Cor. By the exercise of this personality, both mankind and angels could have fellowship with God and bring glory to Him. The angel told John in verse 9,Dont do that! WebWe can range the famous angels and their duties as follows; Gabriel (Peace be Upon Him): The Archangel Gabriel (Alayhissalam) is one of the four greatest angels. But they did perform these ministries and may well continue to do so even though we are not aware of them. They are also responsible for taking orders from upper angels and turning those orders into miracles for the deserving. If he neglects to obey, angels will also see and be grieved. As a separate order of creatures, they are both distinct from human beings and higher than humans with powers far beyond human abilities in this present age (cf. The most basic characteristic of the good angels is seen in the way they are described in Hebrews 1:14 as ministering spirits and in the accounts of their many and varied activities of ministry as described in Scripture. From the Bibles characterization of Satan as adversary (1 Pet. In this, Paul demonstrates superiority and rightful place of worship as supreme (cf. Though the doctrine of angels holds an important place in the Word of God, it is often viewed as a difficult subject because, while there is abundant mention of angels in the Bible, the nature of this revelation is without the same kind of explicit description we often find with other subjects developed in the Bible: Every reference to angels is incidental to some other topic. Following the revelation given to John, on two occasions the apostle fell on his face in worship, but the angel quickly told John not to worship him and then gave the reason. They are often depicted as human beings with rays of light around them, some of them having halos and crowns, and most of them having feathered wings. He has served over eighteen years in pastoral ministry, and currently serves as a chaplain and professor at Handong G More. Angels havent always existed. God gave both angels and human beings personalities with intellect, emotion, and volition. The next two chapters, then, develop this theme of Gods wisdom and power. That angels are spirits seems to follow (although not necessarily from Jesus assertions that angels do not marry (Matt. Even Calvin was cautious in discussing this subject (Institutes, I, xiv, 3).2. I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus. The unfallen angels are also spoken of as holy ones (Ps. Their devotion to Gods glory becomes exceedingly prominent and specific in Revelation. This is true of both the good and evil angels. This, of course, does not abdicate man from his responsibility to choose what is good nor can we blame Satan for our own sin, though he is always on the prowl to promote sin and to deceive and tempt us. The reason lies in Satans deception and in the vacuum of mans heart as he continues to seek answers apart from God and Scriptures revelation of God and His plan of salvation in Christ. The First Sphere of Angels is the highest hierarchy in the angelic choir. There are different types of angels with unique roles: archangels, cherubim, and seraphim, for example. Lets take a look at different types of angels. 6:3; Heb. They are also known to be keepers of celestial records, which hold the knowledge of God. In Relation to the Nations: In relation to the nation of Israel, Michael, the archangel, seems to have a very important ministry as their guardian (Dan. 14 Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, Moody Press, Chicago, 1996, electronic media. 11:14). Do not make my Fathers house a marketplace! (John 2:16). Therefore, they praise and proclaim the perfect holiness of God. There is an important question that needs to be asked. To witness the submission and condescension of God incarnate, even to the death of the cross, was an awesome declaration of Gods character as holy and immutable. His high position and beauty, of course, were the products of Gods grace and creative powers, not Satans. He tells Zechariah, I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God (Luke 1:19). The Virtues are shaped like sparks of light, focusing on maintaining the natural world and inspiring living things in things like science. 14:18), the angel of the waters (9:11), the angel of the abyss who will bind Satan (20:1-2). How much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who has contempt for the Son of God, and profanes the blood of the covenant that made him holy, and insults the Spirit of grace? Its important to be open to those messages. Angels are not created in the image of God, therefore, they do not share mans glorious destiny of redemption in Christ. Cherubim were considered to be angels that guarded sacred things. While arguments can be made, there seems to be no definitive biblical proof for the existence of guardian angels.. 6:2), as are the symbolic creatures of Ezekiel 1:6 (cf. Then, in Daniel 10:13 he is called one of the chief princes. 16:14). Think of this! Heb. There are now 3 Cherubim angels (Ophaniel, Rikbiel, and Zophiel) from the original 4 Cherub in Heaven; Lucifer was a Cherub before his fall from grace in Heaven over the free will of humans. Shortly after I asked God to help me, I encountered a tall human man, whose voice and words appeared angelic in nature. They minister to us at His bidding under His authority and power. BAG, p. 112). 4:13, 17, 23). Those temporarily confined are in the abyss (Luke 8:31; Rev. 12:7) who does battle (Dan. It is believed that angels are not visible or human beings, but rather, spirits in being. 1:16, 20). In August of 2001 he was diagnosed with lung cancer and on August 29th, 2002 he went home to be with the Lord. Though the exact time of their creation is never stated, we know they were created before the creation of the world. The person attempting to make such judgment is described as one who delights in false humility and the worship of angels. The context suggests that he seeks to impose these things on the Colossians and that this is the means by which he attempts to disqualify them for their prize.19. and the host of heaven worships you (Nehemiah 9:6). These are angels who did not follow after Satan in his rebellion. When you read the first two chapters of Job, the true purpose of Satans accusations become quickly evident.