Who is the Angel of the Lord?

Gem 16:10-13, some passage refers to the Lord (Gen 22:12, Gen 31:11, 13, Exodus 3:2, 6; )
Other times, "angel of the Lord" seems to be distinguished from God (2 Sam. 24:16; Ps. 34:7, Zech. 1:11-13)
"an angel of the Lord" seems to indicate an angel sent by God (Luke 1:11)

Angels are Creatures

Ps. 148:2, 5; Col 1:16
Spirits without material bodies (Eph. 6:12; Heb 1:14; 2 Kings 6:16; Num 22:31)
Appearances to humans are called angelophanes.
- Created with ability to fellowship, with personaility that is expressed by intellect (1 Pet. 1;12), emotion (Job 38:7) and will
- Never said to be created in the image of God.
- Localied beings (Dan. 9:21-23, Luke 1:26, Daniel 10:12-14)
- Immortal (Luke 20:36)
- Limited in knowledge (Matt 24:36)
- Do not marry (Matt. 22:28-30)
- Possess great power (2 Pet 2:11, Ps. 103:20, Eph 1:21, Col 1:16 Matt 28:2)

Angel Terminology

Angel means "messenger" mal'ak in HB, angelos in Gk.
Also known as "holy ones" (Ps. 89:5, 7) or "watchers" (Dan. 4:13, 17, 23) or "spirits" (Heb. 1:14)
As a group they are known as "council", "assembly", "hosts"
They appear to be ranked or portrayed in combinations.
- Principalities, powers, thrones, dominions, authorities
- archangels (Michael Jude 9)

General Biblical Truth About Angels

Angels are spiritual intelligent beings that Go created who are higher than humankind (Col. 1:16; Neh. 9:6; Heb 2:7, Job 38:6-7)
Some have obeyed God continuously, and are called elected angels
Some rebelled against God. Called fallen angels.
In history of redemption, angels do not take centre stage in the Bible. They are servants of God (Heb. 1;4)
They are indicental in the story of redemption. So when we see them act, it's really God's action or speech

Name of Specific Angels

Michael (Jude 9, Rev 12:7-8, Daniel 10:13, 21)
Gabriel (Luke 1:19, 26-27)

God is sovereign over angels

He is sovereign over both good and evil angels, e.g. Job 1:12; 2:6.

How Many are there?

Rev. 5:11 - thousands upon thousands, 10,000 upon 10,000
Ps. 68:18 - tens of thousand and thousand of thousands
Matt 26:53 - twelve legions
Deut 33:2
Heb 12:22
There are multitudes of angels according to Scripture

Activities of Good Angels

Praise and glorify God
- (Job 38:7; Ps. 103:20; Rev. 5:11-12; 8:1-4; Luke 2:13-14)
Reveal and communicate God's message to humans
- e.g. mediators of the law - Acts 7:53; Gal. 3:19; e.g. mediators of God’s Word - Luke 1:13-20; 1:26-38; Acts 27:23
Minister to believers
- Heb. 1:14; e.g. Acts 5:19
To act in God’s government – Dan. 10:13,
Execute judgement on the enemies of God
- 2 Kings 19:35; Acts 12:23; Rev.16:1-17
Involved in the Second Coming
- Matt. 25:31; Matt. 13:39-42; Matt. 24:31

Differing stages of demonic activity in the history of redemption

Old Testament

False God's and children sacrifices
- Deut. 32:16-17, Ps. 106:35-37, 1 Cor. 10:20
Cult prostitution as part of pagan worship (Deut. 23:17; 1 Kings 14:24; Hos. 4:14)
No clear of casting out of demons
- the closest is David playing harp for King Saul (1 Sam. 16:23)

During the Ministry of Jesus

Jesus casting out demon with authority (Mark 1:27)
Kingdom of God has come (Matt. 12:28-29)
Strong man Matt 4:1-11

New Covenant Age

Authority to cast out demons given to the Twelve (Matt 10:8, Mark 3:15) and ten the 70 disciples (Luke 10:17-18) then to the early church (Acts 8:7; 16:18; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9)

During the Millennium

The 1000 year reign of Christ in Rev 20
Activity of Satan and Demon will be further restricted
Rev 20:1-3

At the Final Judgment

Satan and demons will be thrown in the the lake of fire and sulfure (Rev. 20:10)
Judgement of Satan and demons will be complete

Demons

Fallen angels that carry out Satan's work in the world
make war against God (Eph 6:12)
- Victory already won by Christ (1 John 4:4, Matt 12:29)
They also:
- accuse (Rev. 12:10)
- plan doubt (Gen 3:1-3)
- tempt to sin (Eph. 2:1-3)
- persecute (Rev. 12:13)
- prevent service (1 Thess 2:18)
- disturb the church (2 Cor 2:10-11)

Origin of Evil Angels

No direct statements about origin of evil angels
Allusions to it in 2 Peter. 2:4 and Jude 6
- These angels were created by God bnut feel away through disobedience
When did this take place?
- We assume between creation and the fall (Gen 1 and Gen 3)
Isaiah 14:12-15
- Pride and attempting to be equal to God in status and authority

Satan

Chief of Demons is called the devil or Satan, sometimes the adversary or accuser. His character can be understood from the names he is given in scripture. He is called the tempter, Beelzebub, enemy, evil one, Belial, adversary, deceiver, father of lies, murderer, sinner.

Job 1:6, 1 Chron. 21:1, Zech 3:1
"adversary"

Our Relationships to Demons

Demons are still active in the world today
- Not all evil and sin is from Satan and Demons, but some Is
  - 1 Cor. 1:10, 1 Cor. 5:1-5, solution wasn't to rebuke evil spirit or demons but to live holy lives.
  - But Satan and demons are involved in all evil and sins

What About Demon Possession?

people in this world can be possessed by demon
but a believer can not be demon possessed (1 John 4:4; 5:18)
- They can become under influence of demons, with varying severity

Demons are limited by God's control and have limited Power

Job 1:12; 2:6
Can not know the future or any of our thoughts
- Daniel -> God alone is the interpreter of dreams. No one else knows the dream of Nebuchanedzer

How to recognize demon activity

Regular violent self harm (Mark 5:2-5, mark 9:17-18, 20, 22)
Blatantly false doctrinal statments (1 Cor 12:3; 1 John 4:2-3)
... otherss

Satan's Work

Oppose God and His work.
- Mainly work of salvation in Christ
- In the form of temptation
  - Matt 4, Acts 5:3, Eph. 6:11, 1 Pet 5:9-10
Deceives people
- (2 Cor. 11:14-15; 2 Cor 4:4)
Oppose God's work even physical
- 1 Thess. 2:18; 2 Cor 12:7

Stan Can Be Resisted

Though he is powerful He is under God's control
Can be resist and put to flight through Christ
- James 4:7, Eph 6:10-18 (Whole armor of God)

Originator of Sin

Gen 3:1-6; 2 Cor 11:3
a liar and father of lies (John 8:44)
the devil has sinned form the beginning (1 John 3:8)

Significance of the Doctrine of Angels for us

God uses angels to help us, though unseen by us
Angels give example of praise and service to God
Even angels fell from God; a warning for us (1 Cor. 10:12)
Knowledge of the devil’s wiles helps us to be alert to his temptations and attacks
Though powerful, Satan is limited by God in all that he does or can do in the world, and to us (1 John 5:18; 1 Cor. 10:13; James 4:7).
Satan has been defeated by Christ (Matt. 12:29; Col. 2:15), and will be completely/ultimately at His return (Rev. 20:10).
Not made in the image of God
Do not bear children like themselves
No angel Jesus (2 Pet 2:4)
The Unseen world is real (2 Kings 6:17)
Angels are examples for us

Popularity of Angels

Frank Peretti’s books
Spiritual warfare books
Touched by an Angel
Twice in a Lifetime
Dead Like Me

But be careful. Scripture is our authority on angels.

Other Kinds of Heavenly Beings

Cherubim
- (Gen 3:24)
- Ps. 18:10; Ezek. 10:1-22
- Ex. 25:22, vv. 18-21
Seraphim
- Isaiah 6:2-7
The Living Creatures
- Ezek 1:5-14, Rev 4:6-8

Do Guardian Angels Exist?

Probably not
Insufficient biblical evidence on this issue in Scripture

[!bible] Matthew 18:10-14 - ESV 10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

It must be his angle -> referring to Peter when he got released from the prison (Acts 12:15)
God does give use angel to protect believers, but nothing indicates that we're assigned individual angels
Psalm 91:11-12

Cautions

Beware of receiving false doctrin from angels (Gal 1:8, 2 Cor. 11:14; 1 Kinmgs 13:18)
- [[Mormonism]]
Do not worship angels, pray to them, or seek them (Col. 2:18, Rev. 19:10)

Be Aware of Angels in Our Daily Lives

Worshipping with them (Heb. 12:22-23)
Angels are watching our obedience or disobedience
Sometimes angels take physical forms (Heb. 13:2; cf. Gen. 18:2–5; 19:1–3)
Angels sometimes help us (Dan. 6:22; Acts 5:19-20; Acts 12:7-11; Matt. 4:1; Ps. 91:11-12)

Angelology

Guardian Angels

Applciations

Other Heavenly Beings

Angelology

Angels

When were angels created?

What do angels do?

What are "angels"?

How many angels?

Demon Posession

Differing activities of Satan through redemptive history

origin of Satan and Demons

Works of Satan and Demon

Satans

Angel Appearances

Who are some of the named angels?

When Were Angels Created?

All the angels must have been created before the seventh day of creation (Gen 2:1; Exodus 20:11)
Maybe even on the first day of creation (Gen 1:1; Gen 1:2). Heaven is not mentioned to be void. So perhaps angels were already created. (Job 38:6-7)

Do Angels Appear to People Today?

Nothing rules out that angels don't appear to us today.
But we should be very skeptical. Scripture is our sole authority

Rank and Order Among the Angels

michael "archangel" (Jude 9, Daniel 10:13; Rev 12:7-8, 1 Thess 4:16)

Why structure within Angels?

Someone has to lead, even when there is no sinful choices for the elect angels

they’re not all knowing or have some sort of hive mind