THE DOCTRINE OF ANGELS Part 1
Forerunner Messenger Alliance (Doctrine)
The Doctrine of Angels – Part 1 Carlos Sarmiento
THE DOCTRINE OF ANGELS Part 1 INTRODUCTION We should not to think that man is the highest form of created being. There are lower forms of life between man, the animal kingdom and other various grades of life. So it is that between man and God there exist creatures of higher than human intelligence and power. Yet, in the coming kingdom of God, man will be exalted to the highest order of life, lower only to God. Indeed, the existence of lesser deities in all heathen mythologies presumes the existence of a higher order of beings between God and man, superior to man and inferior to God. This possibility is turned into certainty by the express and explicit teaching of the Scriptures. It would be sad indeed that we should refuse to believe in an order of spiritual beings simply because they are beyond our sight and touch.
I. THE EXISTENCE OF ANGELS A. The Teaching of Jesus: There are a sufficient number of passages, though they are by no means all, to prove that Jesus believed in the existence of angels. Jesus is not here expressing a superstitious belief existing among the Jews at that time. This was not the habit of Jesus. He did not fail to correct popular opinion and tradition when it was wrong, e.g., His rebuke of the false ceremonialism of the Pharisees, and the unbelief of the Sadducees in the resurrection. (See also Matt.13:41, 26:53, Mark 8:38) “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 18:10 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 13:32 B. The Teaching of Paul and other Apostles: One key reason for why Paul wrote the Epistle to the Colossians was to correct the gnostic theory of the worshipping of angels (see also Eph.1:21, Col.1:16). The Apostle John also believed in an angelic order of beings as did other writers of New Testament scripture; (Mark 8:38, Luke 2:43 John 1:51, Heb. 12:22, 1 Pet.3:22; 2 Pet.2:11, Jude 1:9, Rev 12:7, 22:9). www.ForerunnerMessengerAlliance.org
[email protected]
Phone: 407-877-5970
Forerunner Messenger Alliance (Doctrine)
The Doctrine of Angels – Part 1 Carlos Sarmiento
These and numerous other references in the Scriptures compel the candid student of the Word to believe in the existence of angels. “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.” Colossians 2:18 “. . .and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7
II. THE NATURE OF ANGELS A. They are Created Beings: All angelic beings that exist today, even the ones that rebelled against the Lord were created by God. None of them are self existent. Angels are not the spirits of the departed, nor are they glorified human beings (Heb.12:22-23). “You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You.” Nehemiah 9:6 “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” Colossians 1:16 B. They are Spiritual Beings: That there are many, many angels in existence is clear from the teaching of the Scriptures. Although the angels are "spirits," they nevertheless often times have appeared to men in visible, and even human form (Gen.19, Judges 2:1, 6:11-22, Matt.1:20; Luke 1:26, John 20:12). There seems to be no sex among the angels, although wherever the word "angel" is used in the Scriptures it is always in the masculine form. “Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.” Psalm 104:4 “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14 www.ForerunnerMessengerAlliance.org
[email protected]
Phone: 407-877-5970
Forerunner Messenger Alliance (Doctrine)
C.
The Doctrine of Angels – Part 1 Carlos Sarmiento
They are Beings of Great Might and Power: The Bible records that an angel was able to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, and other guilty cities. Another angel smote every first-born of Egypt and rolled away the great stone from the mouth of the Jesus' tomb. Another angel had power to lay hold of that old dragon, the devil (Rev.20:2, 10); while one another smote a hundred and eighty five thousand Assyrians (Isa.37:36). Their power is delegated; they are the angels of His might (2 Thess.1:7), the ministers through whom God's might is manifested. They are mighty, but not almighty. “Bless the LORD, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.” Psalm 103:20 “. . . whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.” 2 Peter 2:11
D. There are Various Ranks and Orders of Angels: We read of Michael, the archangel (Jude 9; 1 Thess.4:16); angels, authorities, and powers which are supposedly ranks and orders of angels (1 Pet.3:22; Col.1:16). In the Apocryphal books we find a hierarchy with seven archangels, including Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel. The fact that archangels are mentioned in the Scriptures proves that its doctrine of angels was not derived, as some supposed, from Babylonian and Persian sources. E. The Number of Angels: Angels are innumerable in number. We do not know the exact number of them but we do know that there are multitudes upon multitudes of them that are doing the will and service of God and His Kingdom. “And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:17 “Is there any number to His armies? Upon whom does His light not rise?” Job 25:3 “Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” Matthew 26:53 “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels.” Hebrews 12:22
www.ForerunnerMessengerAlliance.org
[email protected]
Phone: 407-877-5970
The Doctrine of Angels – Part 1 Carlos Sarmiento
THE DOCTRINE OF ANGELS Part 1 INTRODUCTION We should not to think that man is the highest form of created being. There are lower forms of life between man, the animal kingdom and other various grades of life. So it is that between man and God there exist creatures of higher than human intelligence and power. Yet, in the coming kingdom of God, man will be exalted to the highest order of life, lower only to God. Indeed, the existence of lesser deities in all heathen mythologies presumes the existence of a higher order of beings between God and man, superior to man and inferior to God. This possibility is turned into certainty by the express and explicit teaching of the Scriptures. It would be sad indeed that we should refuse to believe in an order of spiritual beings simply because they are beyond our sight and touch.
I. THE EXISTENCE OF ANGELS A. The Teaching of Jesus: There are a sufficient number of passages, though they are by no means all, to prove that Jesus believed in the existence of angels. Jesus is not here expressing a superstitious belief existing among the Jews at that time. This was not the habit of Jesus. He did not fail to correct popular opinion and tradition when it was wrong, e.g., His rebuke of the false ceremonialism of the Pharisees, and the unbelief of the Sadducees in the resurrection. (See also Matt.13:41, 26:53, Mark 8:38) “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 18:10 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 13:32 B. The Teaching of Paul and other Apostles: One key reason for why Paul wrote the Epistle to the Colossians was to correct the gnostic theory of the worshipping of angels (see also Eph.1:21, Col.1:16). The Apostle John also believed in an angelic order of beings as did other writers of New Testament scripture; (Mark 8:38, Luke 2:43 John 1:51, Heb. 12:22, 1 Pet.3:22; 2 Pet.2:11, Jude 1:9, Rev 12:7, 22:9). www.ForerunnerMessengerAlliance.org
[email protected]
Phone: 407-877-5970
Forerunner Messenger Alliance (Doctrine)
The Doctrine of Angels – Part 1 Carlos Sarmiento
These and numerous other references in the Scriptures compel the candid student of the Word to believe in the existence of angels. “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.” Colossians 2:18 “. . .and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7
II. THE NATURE OF ANGELS A. They are Created Beings: All angelic beings that exist today, even the ones that rebelled against the Lord were created by God. None of them are self existent. Angels are not the spirits of the departed, nor are they glorified human beings (Heb.12:22-23). “You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You.” Nehemiah 9:6 “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” Colossians 1:16 B. They are Spiritual Beings: That there are many, many angels in existence is clear from the teaching of the Scriptures. Although the angels are "spirits," they nevertheless often times have appeared to men in visible, and even human form (Gen.19, Judges 2:1, 6:11-22, Matt.1:20; Luke 1:26, John 20:12). There seems to be no sex among the angels, although wherever the word "angel" is used in the Scriptures it is always in the masculine form. “Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.” Psalm 104:4 “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14 www.ForerunnerMessengerAlliance.org
[email protected]
Phone: 407-877-5970
Forerunner Messenger Alliance (Doctrine)
C.
The Doctrine of Angels – Part 1 Carlos Sarmiento
They are Beings of Great Might and Power: The Bible records that an angel was able to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, and other guilty cities. Another angel smote every first-born of Egypt and rolled away the great stone from the mouth of the Jesus' tomb. Another angel had power to lay hold of that old dragon, the devil (Rev.20:2, 10); while one another smote a hundred and eighty five thousand Assyrians (Isa.37:36). Their power is delegated; they are the angels of His might (2 Thess.1:7), the ministers through whom God's might is manifested. They are mighty, but not almighty. “Bless the LORD, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.” Psalm 103:20 “. . . whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.” 2 Peter 2:11
D. There are Various Ranks and Orders of Angels: We read of Michael, the archangel (Jude 9; 1 Thess.4:16); angels, authorities, and powers which are supposedly ranks and orders of angels (1 Pet.3:22; Col.1:16). In the Apocryphal books we find a hierarchy with seven archangels, including Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel. The fact that archangels are mentioned in the Scriptures proves that its doctrine of angels was not derived, as some supposed, from Babylonian and Persian sources. E. The Number of Angels: Angels are innumerable in number. We do not know the exact number of them but we do know that there are multitudes upon multitudes of them that are doing the will and service of God and His Kingdom. “And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:17 “Is there any number to His armies? Upon whom does His light not rise?” Job 25:3 “Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” Matthew 26:53 “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels.” Hebrews 12:22
www.ForerunnerMessengerAlliance.org
[email protected]
Phone: 407-877-5970
