Angels and Demons Week 3

Week Three - What power do they have? Angels qualify as personalities because they have these aspects of intelligence, emotions, and will. This is true of both the good and evil angels. Good angels, Satan, and demons possess intelligence (Matt. 8:29; 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Peter 1:12). Good angels, Satan, and demons show emotions (Luke 2:13; James 2:19; Rev. 12:17). Good angels, Satan, and demons demonstrate that they have wills (Luke 8:28-31; 2 Tim. 2:26; Jude 6). Therefore, they can be said to be persons. The fact that they do not have human bodies does not affect their being personalities (any more than it does with God). Their Abilities and Powers Their Knowledge: Jesus said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone” (Matt. 24:36). This comment by the Lord suggest two things: (1) The phrase, “not even the angels” implies that angels have superhuman knowledge, but (2) the main statement of this verse shows they are limited in their knowledge, they are not omniscient. That their knowledge is greater is also suggested by the fact they were present at some of the heavenly counsels, were involved in conveying revelation (Gal. 3:19), and were used of God to interpret visions as with Daniel and Zechariah. Ryrie suggests three reasons for their superior knowledge: (1) Angels were created as a higher order of creatures in the universe than humans are. Therefore, innately they possess greater knowledge. (2) Angels study the Bible more thoroughly than some humans do and gain knowledge from it (James 2:19; Rev. 12:12). (3) Angels gain knowledge through long observation of human activities. Unlike humans, angels do not have to study the past; they have experienced it. Therefore, they know how others have acted and reacted in situations and can predict with a greater degree of accuracy how we may act in similar circumstances. The experiences of longevity give them greater knowledge. Their Strength: Since man is created lower than the angels with limitations angels do not have, we would expect them to possess superhuman strength as well. That angels have greater strength than man is evident from at least two considerations: (1) Specific Statements in Scripture: Scripture specifically speaks of their greater power. Psalm 103:20 at least implies their greater strength in the statement, “Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word.” Then, 2 Thessalonians 1:7 refers to the return of the Lord with His mighty angels in flaming fire. Further, 2 Peter 2:11 reads, “whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord.” The only question here is who is being compared? The major subject of the context is that of the false teachers (humans beings). Therefore, this is a clear statement that angelic beings are stronger than human beings. (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 God’s judgments, demonstrate their superhuman strength (cf. 2 Chron. 32:21; Acts 12:7-11; and the many references to angelic activities in Revelation). In this regard, Elisha’s confidence and prayer for his servant to see the myriad of angels surrounding them in the face of the human forces, suggests their greater power (2 Kings 6:15-17). His confidence was certainly not simply in their greater numbers. 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). The Psalmist exclaimed, “Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, Who alone works wonders” (Ps. 72:18). All miraculous power has its source in God. As angelic creatures, they are subject to the limitations of their creatureliness. They are mighty, but not almighty. Even Satan, a fallen angel, with his angelic powers must operate under the permissive will of God (Job 1:12; 2:6). Their Position In Regard to Man By creation man is lower than the angels (Heb. 2:7-9). Angels are higher in intelligence, power, and movement, yet angels serve men as ministering spirits (Heb. 1:14) sent forth to serve the saints regardless of their high position and power. As mentioned, men are warned to never worship angels for they are only creatures. Today believers are experientially lower than the angels, yet positionally higher because of their union in Christ (cf. Eph 1:20-22; with Eph 2:4-6 and Heb 2:9). Christians share Christ’s seat at God’s right hand. One day, however, believers will be both positionally and experientially higher and will judge angels (1 Cor 6:3). This undoubtedly refers to some kind of governmental direction believers will have over angels. The difference here is of being a servant and a son. The servant may be stronger and have more responsibilities and freedoms, but they are not positionally above a newborn child to their master. With Reference to Christ By His essential nature and being, Christ is higher because He is God the Creator (cf. Heb 1:4ff with Col. 1:15-17). By Christ’s incarnation He became lower for a little while (Heb 2:9), but this only applied to His humanity. By Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension He became far superior to angels as the last Adam and the second man (cf. 1 Cor. 15:45-48; Eph. 1:20-22; 1 Pet. 3:18-22; Col. 2:15). Can they read your mind? The nature of the devil is perhaps nowhere so clearly shown as it is in the first chapter of Job. When you consider this story, you will see that the devil had no idea what was in the heart, or the mind, of Job. The story begins with the devil presenting himself before God and making an assertion of how Job would react in a given set of circumstances. "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, 'From where do you come?' So Satan answered the Lord and said, 'From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.' Then the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?' So Satan answered the Lord and said, 'Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!' And the Lord said to Satan, 'Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.' So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord." (Job 1:6-11) God allowed the devil his experiment; Job lost his livestock, many servants, and even the lives of his children. How did Job react? "Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: 'Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.' In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong." (Job 1:20-22) So, the devil certainly did not know what Job would do. He had not read Job's mind; he had simply made a guess based on his observations (his walking to and fro, and up and down in the earth) and he was wrong. Can they change your mind? The devil inserts evil thoughts into the minds of all of us, including many faithful men found in the Bible; 1 Chronicles 21:1 says, "Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel." David obviously did not realize it was Satan that put the thought in his head, or he would not have complied. The devil is sort of a salesman for evil, with fairly keen but imperfect observational skills that enable him to be rather effective in selling evil deeds; nevertheless, he does not have perfect knowledge of the minds of men, and therefore must not be able to read their minds.

Angels and Demons Week 2

Week Two - Where did angels come from? Using the following verses as a guide, divide into groups of 3-5 people and search your entire bible for the answers to the following questions. Be sure to keep track of where you got your answers so that you can defend them from Scripture. Where did Angels come from? When were they created? How many Angels are there? How many Demons are there? How do they reproduce? How long do they live? Can they die? Psalm 148:1-5 Job 38:4-7 Revelation 12 John 1:1-3 Colossians 1:16 Nehemiah 9:6 Matthew 25:41 1 Corinthians 6:4 2 Peter 2:4 Jude 6 Luke 20:36 Hebrews 12:22 Daniel 7:10 Matthew 25:53 Revelation 5:11 Matthew 22:28 Luke 20:20-36

Angels and Demons Week 1

Week One - Overview – misconceptions and definitions Opening Exercise: On a piece of paper draw a picture of an angel. Turn the page over and draw a picture of Satan. Angels are unseen by human eyes unless God gives us an ability to see them. When angels do appear, they are usually in human form, sometimes brilliant. They do not appear as ghosts or winged animals. When they do have wings it is in a vision, not in a literal viewing. Angels are almost always male. Zach. 5:9 is the lone exception. However, they do not have bodies like us. Hebrews 13:2 “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Satan is not ugly. He does not have a forked tongue, a tail or horns. Ezekiel 28:12 “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.” Can people who die become angels? No. People remain people after they die. Angels were created by Jesus before man was created. Colossians 1:15-17 “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Do angels marry? Can they have sexual relations? Matt. 22:30, "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven." Luke 20:34-36, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage; 36for neither can they die anymore, for they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection." Overview: The Hebrew word for angel is mal`ach, and the Greek word is angelos. Both words mean “messenger” and describe one who executes the purpose and will of the one whom they serve. The context must determine if a human messenger is in view, or one of the celestial beings called “angels,” or if it is being used of the second Person of the Trinity. The holy angels are messengers of God, serving Him and doing His bidding. The fallen angels serve Satan, the god of this world. Though other words are used for these spiritual beings, the primary word used in the Bible is angel. Three other terms undoubtedly referring to angels are seraphim (Isa. 6:2), cherubim (Ezek. 10:1-3), and ministering spirits, which is perhaps more of a description than a name (Heb. 1:13). Illustrations of uses that do not refer to celestial beings: (1) For human messengers from one human to another (Luke 7:24; Jam. 2:25). (2) For human messengers bearing a divine message (Hag. 1:13; Gal. 4:14). (3) For an impersonal agent, Paul’s thorn in the flesh described as “a messenger of Satan” (2 Cor. 12:7). (4) For the messengers of the seven churches (Rev. 2-3). It is also used in connection with the seven churches of Asia, “To the angel of the church in …” Some take this to mean a special messenger or delegation to the church as a teaching elder, others take it to refer to a guardian angel. Thus, the term angelos is not only a generic term, pertaining to a special order of beings (i.e., angels), but it is also descriptive and expressive of their office and service. So when we read the word “angel” we should think of it in this way. “Holy Ones” The unfallen angels are also spoken of as “holy ones” (Ps. 89:5, 7). The reason is twofold. First, being the creation of a holy God, they were created perfect without any flaw or sin. Second, they are called holy because of their purpose. They were “set apart” by God and for God as His servants and as attendants to His holiness (cf. Isa. 6). “Host” “Host” is the Hebrew tsaba, “army, armies, hosts.” It is a military term and carries the idea of warfare. Angels are referred to as the “host,” which calls our attention to two ideas. First, it is used to describe God’s angels as the “armies of heaven” who serve in the army of God engaged in spiritual warfare (Ps. 89:6, 8; 1 Sam. 1:11; 17:45). Second, it calls our attention to angels as a multitude of heavenly beings who surround and serve God as seen in the phrase “Lord of hosts” (Isa. 31:4). In addition, tsaba sometimes includes the host of heavenly bodies, the stars of the universe. “Sons of God” In their holy state, unfallen angels are called “sons of God” in the sense that they were brought into existence by the creation of God (Job 1:6; 38:7). Though they are never spoken of as created in the image of God, they may also be called “sons of God” because they possess personality like God. This term is also used in Genesis 6:2 which tells us the “sons of God” took wives from among the “daughters of men.” Some scholars understand “the sons of God” of Genesis 6:2 to refer to the sons of the godly line of Seth and the “daughters of men” to refer to the ungodly line of the Cainites. Others, in keeping with the use of “sons of God” in Job, believe the term refers to fallen angels who mated with the daughters of men to produce an extremely wicked and powerful progeny that led to the extreme wickedness of Noah’s day. Most who hold to this latter view find further support in 2 Peter 2:4-6 and Jude 6-7.7 Still others believe they refer to despots, powerful rulers. “The Angel of the Lord” The second difficulty concerns the identity of “the angel of the Lord” as it is used in the Old Testament. A careful study of the many passages using this term suggests that this is no ordinary angel, but a Theophany, or better, a Christophany, a preincarnate appearance of Christ. The angel is identified as God, speaks as God, and claims to exercise the prerogatives of God. Still, in some passages He distinguishes Himself from Yahweh (Gen. 16:7-14; 21:17-18; 22:11-18; 31:11-13, Ex. 3:2; Judg. 2:1-4; 5:23; 6:11-22; 13:3-22; 2 Sam. 24:16; Zech. 1:12; 3:1; 12:8). That the Angel of the Lord is a Christophany is suggested by the fact a clear reference to “the Angel of the Lord” ceases after the incarnation. References to an angel of the Lord in Luke 1:11; and 2:8 and Acts 5:19 lack the Greek article which would suggest an ordinary angel. Questions?