Ken L. Sarles

ANGELOLOGY - Lesson #1

EXISTENCE, ORIGIN, NATURE OF ANGELS

The Doctrine of Angels Lesson #1                                 Prof. Ken L. Sarles

           EXISTENCE, ORIGIN, NATURE OF ANGELS

IA.  Introduction to Angelology

     1B. Recent Neglect of Angelology

2B.  Reasons for the Neglect

     1C'. Rejection of medieval Scholasticism

2C.  Rejection of Angel Worship and the Occult

*3C.  Rejection of Supernaturalism

      This is the characteristic of our culture today and is the main

      reason the subject is avoided. Angels are considered to be

      creatures of myth and legend. When they are dealt with, they

      are humanized (Its a Wonderful Life, Heaven Can Wait)

3B.  The Need for a Study of Angelology

     Since they are the subject of revelation they are worthy of study.

     If we are supernaturalists, then we need to know this area of

     theology.

4B.  Benefits to be Gained from a Study of Angelology

     1C. Greater Understanding of the Supernatural Realm

2C.  Greater Insight into the Character of God

     1D. His Providence

2D.  His Justice

 3D. His Mercy

3C.  Greater Motivation for Godly Living

1D.  In thinking on heavenly things, being aware of the spiritual battle.

2D.  In warning us of pitfalls

3D.  POINT: To help us prepare for spiritual battle.

2A.  The Existence of Angels

1B.  As Proven in the Old Testament

     1C. The Pentateuch

1D.  Genesis ‑­

     1E. Chap. 18, 19

     2E. Chap. 32

2D.  Exodus

     1E. 3:2

     2E. 14:19

2C.  The Historical Books

1D.  Judges ‑­

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2D.  II Samuel ‑­

     1E. 14:20, 19:27

     2E. Chap. 24 – Destroying 1000’s because of David’s sin    

3C.  The Prophetic Books

     1D. Major Prophets

1E.  Isaiah ‑­

IF.  Chap. 6 ‑ Seraphim

2F.  37:36, 63:9 ‑ Angel of Jehovah

2E.  Ezekiel ‑

     3E.  Daniel ‑

          IF. Chap. 3 ‑ Angel of Jehovah

          2F. Chap 9 ‑ Gabriel

          3F. Chap 10 ‑ Michael

2D. Minor Prophets

1E.  Hosea – Chapter 6

           2E. Zechariah ‑

                IF. Chap 1 ‑ Patrol the earth

                2F. Chap 2 ‑ Predict judgment

                3F. Chap 4 ‑ Interpret visions

4C. The Poetic Books

           1D. Job – Angels and Satan

2D.  Psalms

1E.  91:11

2E.  103:20

2B.  As Proven in the New Testament

     1C.  The Gospels

     1D. The Birth of Christ - Gabriel                             

      2D. The Death of Christ – Angels minister to Christ              

      3D. The Resurrection of Christ – Angels speak to women  

2C.  The Book of Acts

     1D. 1:10‑11

     2D. 5 : 19 ‑  Peter freed from prison                             

     3D. 8:26

     4D. 10:1‑7

     5D. 27:23‑25

3C.  The Epistles

     1D. Colossians – Paul warns against the worship of angels              

     2D. Hebrews – Chapter 1 – Angels contrasted with Christ

3D.  I Peter – Chapter 3 – Christ has ascended above the angels

     4C.  The Revelation of John

           1D. They worship God

           2D. ‑They protect God's servants

           3D. They administer God's wrath

3B. As Proven by Christ Himself

     1C.  In His Temptation

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2C.  In His Teaching

When He responded to the Sadducean ploy on the resurrection, He compared the resurrected with angels, putting them on the same

     level of truth.

3C. In His Task – Casting out demons, rebuking the, addressing them.                                        

3A.  The Origin of Angels

1B.  The Source of Their Origin

1C.  Ps. 148:2‑5, Angels are commanded to praise God for His creation of them.

2C.  Col. 1:16, A clear reference to the creation of the angelic realm through and for Christ.

2B.  The Means of Their Origin – By divine origin, out of nothing  

3B.  The Time of Their Origin

1C.  Col. 1:16 ‑ Indefinite, at some time in the past

2C.  Job 38:7 0 By implication before the creation of the world

4B.  The Purpose of Their Origin

1C.  To Reveal – Michael, Gabriel

2C.  To Worship ‑ Rev. 4:8‑11

3C.  To Serve ‑ Heb. 1:14  - Ministering spirits

4C.  To Glorify ‑ Rev. 5:11‑12

4A.  The Nature of Angels

1B.  Their Personality

1C. Definition – Angels have personality because they were created by God as personal beings.        

2C.  Cognition

     1D. Evidence

     1E.  Matt. 28:5 intelligent communication

     2E.  I Pet. 1:12 desire to learn

2D. Extent ‑

     1E.  Much greater than man's, since they know Jesus

          Christ, God's plan of redemption

     2E.  Much less than God's omniscience

3C.  Affections

     1D. Job 38:7 ‑ They rejoice at creation

     2D. Lk. 15:10 ‑ They experience joy over a sinner who repents

4C. Volition

     1D. Lk. 8:29 ‑ The unclean spirit responded to the command of

                     Christ

     2D. I Tim. 4:1 ‑ doctrines of demons, deceitful spirits

                     To deceive requires the ability to act

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2B.  Their Properties

1C.  They are Spiritual Beings

1D. The Essence of their Spirituality

     1E. What they are – Spirit beings who are immaterial only.

2E.  What they are not

1F.  They are not human, though they can take on human form (Gen. 18‑19)

2F.  They are not divine

2D.  The Extent of their Spirituality

     1E. With Reference to Space

1F.  Non‑Circumscriptive - immaterial

     They are not confined to space or limited by

     extension as are solid bodies

     2F.  Non‑Ubiquitous ‑  Localized beings.

          They are always somewhere at any given moment,

          and not everywhere simultaneously. ‑They are

          localized, not omnipresent.

2E. With Reference to Time

1F.  They are immortal but not eternal

2F.  They act in time

2C.  They are Immaterial, Incorporeal Beings ‑  No bodily substance

1D.  Testimony of Scripture ‑

     1E. I Cor. 15:44 ‑ Their bodies are spiritual

     2E. Lk. 8:30 ‑ They do not have spatial limitations

2D.  Decision of the Nicean Council, 784

3D.  Decision of the 4th Lateran Council, 1215 incorporeal, substantiae spirituales

4D.  Conclusion ‑   As incorporeal beings, they are invisible, incorruptible, immutable in their state, immortal

3C.  They are Non‑Sexual Beings

1D.  The Evidence

     1E. Pronouns – Masculine pronouns always used

     2E. Matt. 22:28‑30

Angels do not procreate, each angel is a direct

creation of God

2D.  The Exception: Possibly Gen 6

     if "Sons of God" ‑ fallen angels cohabiting with human

     women, producing a race of giants

4C.  They are Immortal, Incorruptible Beings

5C.  Some of them are Winged Beings

1D.  Stated:

     1E. Is. 6 ‑ Seraphim had 6 wings, 2 co covering their face,

2 covering their feet, and 2 to fly

2E.  Ezek. 1 ‑ Cherubim had 4 wings each, moved swiftly,

     made a great noise with their wings

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2D.  Surmized:

1E.  Dan. 9:21 ‑ Gabriel came quickly to Daniel

2E.  Rev. 14:6 ‑ An angel flying in the midst of heaven

3D.  Summarized:

                1E. Wings may be literal or symbolic

                2E. If literal, then they are not physical

                3E. If symbolic, they may represent swiftness to obey God

3B. Their Place (Abode)

     1C. In Heaven

                1D. Is. 6:1‑2

                2D. Matt. 22:30

                3D. Lk. 1:19

                4D. Gal. 1:8

                5D. Rev. 4:6

2C.  In the Second Heaven

     1D. II Cor. 12:2

     2D. I Pet. 3:22

     3D. Job 38:6‑7; Rev. 9:1

3C.  In Heavenly Places

1D.  Eph. 3:10

2D.  Eph. 6:12

4B.  Their Presence (Appearance)

1C.  The Mode

1D.  In Dream

2D.  In Visions:

3D. By Natural Sight:

2C.  The Form

1D.  As Men ‑ To Lot, real enough so that the Sodomites wanted to have relations with them

2D.  As Man‑like Beings ‑

     1E.  Dan. 10 legs, arms like polished metal, face‑like

          lightening

     2E.  Angel rolled stone away from the tomb, face like

          lightening

3D.  As Living Creatures ‑

     4 faces: man, lion, calf, eagle; each had 6 wings, many

     eyes

4D.  As Clothed and Luminous ‑

     1E. Rev. 10:1‑3

     2E. Rev. 15:6

     3E. Rev. 18:1

3C.  The Effect

1D.  Fear

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1E.  Zacharias, Lk. 1:12

2E.  The Shepherds, Lk 2:9

2D. Fainting

1E.  Balaam, Num. 22:27,31 ‑ donkey fell down, Balaam bowed to the ground

2E.  Daniel, 10:8 ‑ no strength, great weakness, complexion changed

3E.  The Roman Guards, Matt. 28:4 ‑ became like dead men

4E.  POINT: Human flesh and blood is overwhelmed by angelic contact, angels are overwhelmed by divine contact.

5B.  Their Power

1C.  It is Superhuman    

1D.  Names ‑ Rom. 8, Eph. 6, Col. 2

     1E. Principalities

     2E. Powers

     3E. Dominions

     4E. World Rulers

2D.  Assertions ‑ II Pet. 2:11, Ps. 103:20 greater in might and power

3D.  Effects ‑ Matt. 28:2, Acts 12:7‑11

2C.  It is Subdivine

1D. Angels  cannot create from nothing

2D.  Angels by themselves cannot alter the laws of nature or act without means

3D. Angels cannot search the heart and judge men of themselves. 1 Kgs. 8:39                 

3C.  Conclusion: Their Power is

1D.  Contingent: Dependent and derivative from God

2D.  Restricted: Must be exercised according to the laws of the natural and spiritual world

3D.  Commanded:  By God at His will to accomplish His purpose.