Ken L. Sarles

ANGELOLOGY - Lesson #2-3

CLASSIFICATION, MINISTRY, DESTINY OF ANGELS

The Doctrine of Angels Lesson #2-3                           Prof. Ken L. Sarles

CLASSIFICATION, MINISTRY,

DESTINY OF ANGELS

1A.  Classification of Angels

1B.  Terms of Classification

1C.  Sons of the Mighty (bene elohim) Ps. 29:1; 89:6

The Hebrew term is descriptive of great strength and might.

2C.  Sons of God (bene elohim)

1D.  Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7

2D.  Does not denote holy character because it is also used of

     Satan

3D.  Deut. 14:1; Hos. 1:10

     4D.  Hebrew idiom here refers to a class of powers

3C. Gods (elohim) Ps. 8:5; Heb. 2:7

Term is used both for God and for angels

4C.  Holy Ones

1D. Ps. 89:5,7; Job 15:15; Dan. 8:13

2D. Separated ones, set apart to God

3D.  Reflects the holy character of the angels

4D.  POINT: Hebrew term meaning “elect angels”

5C.  Stars  (kokab, aster)

1D. Job 38:7, stars linked with angels

2D. Deut. 4:19, 17:3, worship of the stars linked to idolatry

3D. Rev. 12:3‑4

2B.  Categories of Angels

1C.  Cherubim Hebrew plural of cherub. Perhaps the highest order of angels, their appearance is beyond human comprehension or imagination

1D. Description

     1E. Gen. 3:24, stationed at the gate to‑the Garden of

          Eden with flaming swords after man was expelled

2E.  Exod. 25:17‑22  - Over the mercy seat of the Ark    

3E.  Ezek. 1:1,28; 10:4; 18‑22

     4 living creatures are cherubim, and with 4 faces

     (man, lion, ox, eagle) and 4 wings

2D.  Distinctions

1E.  They signify the presence of God since they are always associated with His throne

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2E.  They proclaim God's glory, holiness, sovereignty

3E.  They speak of God’s upapproachability by fallen man.

2C.  Seraphim

1D. Description

1E.  Hebrew term means "burning ones" which probably

points to consuming devotion rather than a type of

ministry

2E.  Appearance:

IF.  2 wings cover their face ‑ can't bear full vision of God's glory

2F.  2 wings cover their feet ‑ reverent, hesitant to enter uninvited

3F.  2 wings to fly ‑

2D. Distinctions

1E. They proclaim the perfect holiness of God. Isaiah 6 – “Holy, Holy, Holy”

2E.  They proclaim man's need of cleansing from sin.

3C.  Living Creatures

1D.  Identification

1E.  In Ezekiel:

IF.  Each had 4 faces

2F.  Each had 4 wings

3F.

2E.  In Revelation:

IF.  Each creature had one face, though each face was different

2F.  Each creature had 6 wings

3F.  Eyes around them and within them        

2D.  Distinctions

     It. They worship God

2E.  They direct God's judgment in the Tribulation

IF.  Rev. 6, they each call for judgment of the first 4 seals

2F.  Rev. 15, one of them distributes to 7 bowls of wrath to 7 other angels

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       4C.  Individually Named Angels

            1D. Michael ‑ Name means "who is like God?"

                 1E.  Description

                      1F.  Dan. 10:13, one of the chief princes

                      2F.  Dan. 12:1, stands guard over Israel, seems to

                           have a special role in the life of the nation

                      3F.  Jude 9, called the archangel, either chief of

                           all the angels, or the best known of the

                           archangels (class of angels) 

                 2E.  Duties

                      1F.  Dan. 10:21, defender of Israel, battles fallen

                           angels in defense of the nation

                      2F.  Dan. 12:1, will protect Israel in the Great

                           Tribulation

                      3F.  Rev. 12:8‑9, will lead an angelic army against

                           Satan

2D. Gabriel

     1E. Description

1F.  Name: “Mighty One of God”  

2F.  Dan. 9:21, called "the man Gabriel"

3F.  Lk 1:26, called "the angel Gabriel"

4F.  Lk 1:19, calls himself "Gabriel who stands in the presence of God

2E. Duties

IF.  God's special prophetic messenger concerning God's kingdom program and plan of redemption

2F.  Appears 4 times:

1G.  Dan. 8:16 Prophecy of 4 kingdoms   

2G.  Dan. 9:21 Prophecy of 70 weeks

3G.  Lk. 1:9 Prophecy of John the Baptist to Zacharius

4G.  Lk. 1:26 Prophecy to Mary of Jesus’ birth

5C.  Specially Designated Angels

1D. The 24 Elders (Rev. 4:4)

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                    1E.  The View that they are Men:

                         1F.  Representatives of the Church in heaven during

                              the Tribulation

                         2F.  "Elder" refers to an office in the church,

                              position of rule

3F. The crowns are the rewards received by believers.

2E.  The View that they are Angels:

     1F. Angels of a priestly character

2F.  Associated with the 4 Living Creatures who are definitely angels

3F.  Rev. 5:10 best mss. read "them, they" instead of "us, we" indicating that the 24 are not including themselves in the Church

2D.  The 4 "Wind" Angels (Rev. 7:1)

1E.  Special angels given control of the elements of nature

2E.  By implication angels may exercise a certain control over nature today

3E.  Does not mean that the earth is 4‑cornered. 4 points of the compass

3D. The 7 "Trumpet" Angels (Rev. 8:2) Described by their function

4D. The 7 Plague Angels (Rev. 15:1)

5D.  Other Angels

1E. The "Fire" Angel (Rev. 14:18)

     2E. The "Water" Angel (Rev. 16:5)

     3E. The "Abyss" Angel (Rev. 20:1)

     Had the key to the abyss where Satan was cast, bound

     with a chain for 1000 years

3B.  Ranks of Angels

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1C.  Thrones, thronoi, refers to those who sit upon thrones

2C.  Dominions, kuriotetes, those who rule

3C.  Principalities, arkai, those who govern

4C.  Authorities, exousiai, those invested with imperial responsibility

5C.  Powers, dunameis, those who exercise supremacy

4B. Numbering of the Angels

1C.  By Legions (Matt. 26:53) At the time of Augustus Caesar, a Roman legion ‑ 6000 men, with another 6000 support and auxiliary troops. This means that Christ could have called at least 72,000 ‑ 144,000 angels if the number represents first century military ranking

2C.  By Multitude

1D.  I Kgs. 22:19 ‑ all the host of heaven

2D.  Lk 2:13 ‑ a multitude of the heavenly host

3D.  Heb. 12:22 ‑ an innumberable company

3C. By Multiplication

1D. Ps. 68:17 ‑ thousands upon thousands

1E.  4000 by addition

2E.  4,000,000 by multiplication

2D. Dan. 7:10 ‑ myriads upon myriads

3D. Reb. 5:11 ‑ 10,000 X 10,000 + 1000's of 1000's

2A. The Ministry of Angels

1B. Their Ministry to' God

1C. In Worship

     1D. Is. 6; Rev. 4,5

           Their primary ministry is worship and praise of God

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2D.  Job 38:7; Rev. 5:8‑9                                        

They sing praises to God ascribing honor, majesty, power,

     and glory to Him

2C.  In Service

1D.  Meaning: angelos,  malak

     Terms mean

     2D. Examples:

          1E. Matt. 11:10 ‑ John the Baptist, Elijah

          2E. Lk. 1:11 ‑ Gabriel

          3E. POINT: Can be used of either men or angels in its root meaning of                                                  “messenger.”

3C. In Exhibiting God's Providential Control

1D. Over Nature

1E. Proper View:

1F.  They do produce effects in the natural world even though they are distinct from the natural world

2F.   Their effects in the natural world are invisible and non-detectable empirically.

3F.  They are limited in their effects by God's control

2E.  Improper view:

1F.  Assumption that all natural effects were produced by angelic agency, held by many Medievalists and some Charismatics

2F. Violates two principles

1G. Do not assume a cause of an effect without evidence

                                         2G.  No more causes for an effect should be

                                  assumed then are necessary to explain the

                                               effect (Okham’s razor – Principle of parsimony)

3G.  A distinction must be kept in mind between the ultimate cause, which is God, and the proximate cause which may be natural or angelic.

2D. Over Nations

     1E. Dan. 10 There are angelic beings controlling government and warring against one another

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2E.  Rev. 13

     Ministry of the beast over 10 nation confederation

4C.  In Executing God's Judgments

1D. Past Judgments

1E.  Gen. 19:12‑13, destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

2E.  Ps. 78:49, plagues on Egypt

3E.  Exod. 12:23, execution of all Egyptian first‑born

4E.  I Chron. 21:15‑16, destroyed 70,000 Israelites

     because David had taken a census

2D. Future Judgments

1E.  Rev. 12:7‑9

2E.  Rev. 14:17‑20, The angel with the sickle judges the

     earth with much bloodshed

3E.  Rev. 16:1, Angels pour out bowls of wrath on the

     earth

2B.  Their Ministry to Christ

1C.  At His Birth

1D. His Birth Prophesied

1E. Lk. 1:26‑28  To Mary

2E. Matt. 1:18‑23  To Joseph

2D. His Birth Proclaimed, Lk. 2:8‑15

Angels announce birth to the shepherds

2C.  During His Life

1D.  In Infancy – Protected                   

     1E. Matt. 2:13‑15  To Joseph > Egypt

2E. Matt. 2:19‑21  To Joseph > Return

2D.  In Testing ‑ Strengthened

1E.  Matt. 4:11, angels strengthened Christ after 40 days of fasting and Satan's temptation

2E.  Lk. 22:43

     Angels ministered to Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane

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3D.  In Betrayal ‑ Prepared to Defend

     Matt. 26:53

3C.  After His Resurrection

1D.  Announced His Resurrection

     1E. Matt. 28:1‑2

2E.  Lk. 24:5‑8 – Angels announce to the women

2D.  Accompanied His Ascension, Acts 1:9‑11

     The cloud receiving Him may have been a cloud of angels.

     2 angels then appear to the disciples

3D.  Subjected to His Authority, I Pet. 3:22

     Angels, powers and authorities have been subjected to

     Christ who is at the right hand of God

3B.  Their ministry to Believers

1C.  In Predicting (revealing)

1D. Acts 7:38; Heb. 2:2 - giving the law of Moses

2D. Dan. 7‑9, revealing 4 kingdoms, 70 weeks

3D. Zech. 4:1; 5:5; 6:5 ‑ interpretation of visions

4D. Lk. 1:11 ‑ predicted birth of John the Baptist

5D. Most of the Book of Revelation to John      

2C.  In Providing

1D.  Ps. 78:25, angel's food, manna in the wilderness, "bread of the mighty ones" may be Canaanite imagery, but more probably angelic provision under God's direction

     2D.  I Kgs. 19:5‑8

          Angels provided food, drink for Elijah after his victory

          on Mt. Carmel

3C. In Protecting

1D.  Gen. 32, Jacob may have been protected by angels from Esau

2D.  II Kgs. 6:15‑17, an army of angels protected Elisha, his servant at Dothan from the Syrian army

3D.  Dan. 6:22, an angel protected Daniel in the lion's den

4C.  In Preserving

1D.  Acts 5:17‑20; 12:5‑10, an angel supernaturally delivered the apostles, later' Peter from prison, commissioned them to continue preaching.

2D.  Rev. 7:1‑4

     Angels will seal the 144,000 and protect them from the

     judgments of the Tribulation

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         5C.  In Persevering

              1D.  Acts 5, angels encouraged the apostles in the midst of

                   opposition and persecution

              2D.  Acts 27:22‑24

                   Paul was encouraged by an angel while in a storm at sea

6C.  In Praying

1D.  Dan. 9, Gabriel answered Daniel's prayer

2D.  Acts 12, angels responded to the prayers of the church by miraculously freeing Peter from prison

3D.  Rev. 8:2‑4

     Angels assisted in lifting the prayers of the saints to

     God

7C.  In Pointing the Way

1D.  Matt. 1:20‑21

     An angel instructed Joseph to marry Mary though she was

     pregnant

2D.  Matt. 28:5‑7

     Angels instructed the women at the tomb to inform the

     apostles of the resurrection

3D.  Acts 8:26

     An angel instructed Philip to go south on the Gaza road

     4D.  Acts 10:1‑8

          An angel instructed Cornelius to send for Peter

8C. In Passing to Heaven

1D.  Lk. 16:22 ‑ Lazarus, the poor man, was carried away by angels to heaven

2D.  Jude 9 ‑ the archangel Michael disputed with Satan over the body of Moses

9C. NOTE: The ministry of angels today is not the same as in Scripture. 1) They no longer reveal 2) Their ministries are not visible/undetectable.

4B. Believers' Relationship to Angels in the Present Age

1C.  Our Association with Angels

1D.  In the Present

1E.  By virtue of our election, we are now in association

     with the elect angels, both have God as Father

2E.  Our position in Christ actually brings us closer to God than the angels (Jn. 17, Heb. 1‑2)

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2D.  In the Future

1E.  Rev. 20:4‑6, we shall rule in the Millennial Kingdom with the angels

2E.  I Cor. 6:3, we shall judge the fallen angels, which is an enormous responsibility

3E.  POINT: We need to begin now, exercising wisdom, since we will be judging in the future.

2C. Our Attitude Toward Angels

1D. What it should be

1E.  Awed by their Power

     We should respect their supernatural personhood and

     power but stop short of reverencing.

2E.  Appreciate their ministry, Heb. 1:14

     They are God's ministers on our behalf and we should

     acknowledge this fact and express our thanksgiving to

     God

3E.  Admire their Example

           IF. Instant obedience

           2F. Incessant Worship

           3F. Unfailing Loyalty, Allegiance

           4F. POINT: As elect angels, their character matches their standing. As

                      elect men, ours should too.

2D. What it should not be ‑

1E.  According to Revelation

IF.  Exod. 20:1‑6, the first commandment forbids worship of anything other than God Himself

2F.  Col. 2:18, Paul specifically forbids worship of angels

2E.  According to Angelic Instruction, Rev. 22:8‑9

     John was told by the angel whom he saw not to worship

     him, but to worship God alone. And this is one of

     the last commands of Scripture.

3E.  According to Angelic Example

IF.  Is. 6, Seraphim worshipped God

2F.  Rev. 4, The 4 Living Creatures worshipped God as Creator of all

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3F.  Rev. 5, a multitude of angels worshipped Christ, crying out "Worthy is the Lamb"

4F.  POINT:

3A. The Destiny of Angels

1B. During the Tribulation

1C. Worshipping, Rev. 4, 5

1D.  In contrast to peoples' response to the Lamb of God on earth

2D.  POINT:

2C. Judging

1D. Rev. 8:1‑11L15, 7 trumpets of judgment

2D. Rev. 15:6‑7; 16:1‑21, 7 bowls of wrath

3D. Rev. 9:1‑11, locust‑demons set free from the abyss

2B. During the Millenium

1C.  Gathering

     1D.  Matt. 13:41‑42; 25:31‑32, angels will gather the nations

          before Christ at His Second Coming for judgment

2D.  Matt. 13:43; 24:31, angels will gather God's elect into the Millennial Kingdom

2C.  Binding, Rev. 20:1‑3

     An angel with a chain will bind Satan and cast him into the

     abyss for 1000 years. This will probably include demons as

     well.

3B.  After the Millennium

1C.  Casting, Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:7‑10

After Satan's last rebellion, he and his angels will be cast

into the Lake of Fire

2C.  Reigning, Rev. 21‑22

     Angels will reign with Christ in the new heavens and the new

     earth