The lack of knowledge and understanding has led to misconceived notions. As we enter this time of the year, I thought it would be good to address what is going on the invisible world
Let’s have a right perspective of the spirit world
There are too many misconceptions to address them all
I want to give a foundation as a basis for understanding
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Hebrews 7:3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.
The Spirit World had a Beginning
Psalms 148:1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights!
Psalms 148:2 Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!
Psalms 148:5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, For He commanded and they were created.
Colossians 1:16 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.
It was before the physical world
Job 38:4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
Job 38:5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
Job 38:6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,
Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? [have emotions, not just robots]
Which makes them pretty old already
Immortal
The bible reveals that they are immortal
Luke 20:35 But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;
Luke 20:36 nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
How Many Angels Are There?
Revelation 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne [But they are not always in heaven], the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
As if the number 10,0002 (100M) was not enough, he says 1000’s of 1000’s
For some reason the Jews number them at 906Bn
With this many angels you would imagine there would be a bit of variety
Variety among the Angels
In authority and power and responsibilities
Colossians 1:16 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.
The bible speaks of thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.” “…principality and power and might and dominion, principalities and powers in the heavenly places,” and “…angels and authorities and powers.”
Revelation 12:7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought,
In description and looks
Seraphim
Isaiah 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.
Isaiah 6:2 Above it stood seraphim [plural]; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
Translated fiery serpent else where
24 elders etc described as Spirits of God,
Cherubim
Cherubs flaming swords not bow and arrow in diapers, in fact Satan is referred to as a cherub
What Angels Look Like
Seraphs feet and face
Some Angels Have Man-like Features
Daniel 8:15 Then it happened, when I, Daniel, had seen the vision and was seeking the meaning, that suddenly there stood before me one having the appearance of a man.
Daniel 8:16 And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.”
Daniel 8:17 So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.”
Daniel 8:18 Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright.
Daniel 8:27 And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it.
Daniel 9:20 Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God,
Daniel 9:21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly [no wings spoken of], reached me about the time of the evening offering.
Daniel 10:5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz!
Daniel 10:6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.
Other passages reveal that they either look like men or can manifest themselves that way.
Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
Lot did this, I wonder sometimes if I have
Some Angels Look Like Animals
Revelation 4:6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.
Revelation 4:7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
Revelation 4:8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
A combination of features
Ezekiel 1:5 Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.
Ezekiel 1:6 Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings.
Ezekiel 1:7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves’ feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze.
Ezekiel 1:8 The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings.
Ezekiel 1:9 Their wings touched one another. The creatures did not turn when they went, but each one went straight forward.
Ezekiel 1:10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle.
Ezekiel 1:11 Thus were their faces. Their wings stretched upward; two wings of each one touched one another, and two covered their bodies.
With all this power and might and ability
Angels do not have the same potential as man
Hebrews 2:5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels.
Hebrews 2:6 But one testified in a certain place, saying: “WHAT IS MAN THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL OF HIM, OR THE SON OF MAN THAT YOU TAKE CARE OF HIM?
Hebrews 2:7 YOU HAVE MADE HIM A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND SET HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS.
Hebrews 2:8 YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels
1 Corinthians 6:2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
Hebrews 1:13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, TILL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES YOUR FOOTSTOOL”?
Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
What is implied here? This is our purpose and they act as agents of God to help us in one way or the other to accomplish God’s goal for us. They do this in a number of ways
What is the purpose of Angels?
Deliver Us From Evil
Psalms 91:1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalms 91:2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”
Psalms 91:3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence.
Psalms 91:4 He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
Psalms 91:5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Psalms 91:6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
Psalms 91:7 A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.
Psalms 91:8 Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.
Psalms 91:9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
Psalms 91:10 No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
Psalms 91:11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.
Psalms 91:12 In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
Psalms 91:13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
Psalms 91:14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
Psalms 91:15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
Psalms 91:16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”
Lot being led out of the city; Daniel in the Lion’s den- My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, (Daniel 6:16, 19–23).
Acts 12:5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
Acts 12:6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.
Acts 12:7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.
Acts 12:8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.”
Acts 12:9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
Acts 12:10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
Acts 12:11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”
God ordains it and the angels fulfill it
Peter knew that this could possibly be a dream or a vision; not like our dreams; these can be so real that it is hard to distinguish
Matthew 26:51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
Matthew 26:52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.
Matthew 26:53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 72000-78000 based on the Roman legions
Matthew 26:54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”
Do Guardian Angels Really Exist?
Matthew 18:10 “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.
Angels can aid us
Physically
Not just keep us from harm
Matthew 4:5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,
Matthew 4:6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘HE SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE OVER YOU,’ and, IN THEIR HANDS THEY SHALL BEAR YOU UP, LEST YOU DASH YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’ ”
Matthew 4:11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
Done fasting
Genesis 24:40 But he said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s house.
Example of Elijah being provided food by an angel with food when he was discouraged
1 Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”
1 Kings 19:5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.”
1 Kings 19:6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again.
1 Kings 19:7 And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.”
1 Kings 19:8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.
Aid us emotionally
Acts 27:20 Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.
Acts 27:21 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss.
Acts 27:22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
Acts 27:23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,
Acts 27:24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’
Acts 27:25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.
Angels are Messengers of the Word of God
aggelos
ang’-el-os
From ἀγγέλλω aggellō (probably derived from G71; compare G34; to bring tidings); a messenger;
Guide and Direct
Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers,
Acts 7:53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”
Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.
Hebrews 2:2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward,
Many more examples show they deliver the word of God not just because it is there job but also because they are invested in our success
They are invested in our success
They want to see us saved.
Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Matthew 24:30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Matthew 24:31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
Angels Are Instruments of Correction
To the Unrighteous
Matthew 13:40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.
Matthew 13:41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,
Matthew 13:42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just,
Matthew 13:50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
I mentioned Sodom and Gomorrah before; Angel of Death for Passover; Against Assyria 185000 one night; and of course Revelation is replete with examples of angels carrying out the future will of God
On the people of God
2 Samuel 24:10 And David’s heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O LORD, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”
2 Samuel 24:11 Now when David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying,
2 Samuel 24:12 “Go and tell David, ‘Thus says the LORD: “I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you.” ‘ ”
2 Samuel 24:13 So Gad came to David and told him; and he said to him, “Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or shall you flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ plague in your land? Now consider and see what answer I should take back to Him who sent me.”
2 Samuel 24:14 And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”
2 Samuel 24:15 So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from the morning till the appointed time. From Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand men of the people died.
2 Samuel 24:16 And when the angel stretched out His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “It is enough; now restrain your hand.” And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
2 Samuel 24:17 Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, “Surely I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, be against me and against my father’s house.”
“Interactions” with Angels
Don’t Contact and Worship Angels
Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”(Revelation 22:8–9)
Colossians 2:18 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,
Most commentaries and translators point out that the Greek conveys here the meaning of someone who tries to initiate contact with the spirit world.
Romans 1:25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Do not speak evil of angels
Jude 1:8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. [glories]
Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
Jude 1:10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.
Part 2 – Fallen Angels