Angels and Demons: Debunking the Myths

Lesson 5 w/AnswersHoly Angels: Part 2

Angel Demon

With this lesson we will conclude our study of the Holy Angels by looking at their number, their powers, their classifications, individual angels mentioned in the Bible, the ministries of the angels, and the angels as spectators. We will observe from our study that angels are so numerous that we can’t count them, yet God knows each one. We will also discover just how powerful they are, how they are classified in the Bible, and the awesome ministries that God has given them.

Let’s examine the following scriptures and allow God to open our eyes to a truly unseen and unbelievable world: the world of the angels.

  1. What do the following verses indicate regarding the number of the angels?
    1. Hebrews 12:22
      1. ANSWER: There is a definite number, however it is so large that we can’t comprehend it, i.e., "myriads", or an innumerable company of angels.
    2. 1 Kings 22:19
      1. ANSWER: They stand before the throne as the "host of heaven".
    3. Psalm 68:17
      1. ANSWER: They are described as the "chariots of God".
    4. 2 Kings 6:17
      1. ANSWER: One detachment literally "filled" the hills.
    5. Daniel 7:10
      1. ANSWER: Around the throne, myriads and myriads; and "ten thousand times ten thousand".
    6. Luke 2:13
      1. ANSWER: "A great company of the heavenly host appeared" as the angels announced Christ’s birth.
    7. Matthew 26:53
      1. ANSWER: This passage references "more than twelve legions of angels".
    8. Revelation 5:11
      1. ANSWER: "Thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand" around the throne in Revelation.
  2. The power of the angels comes from God; this is true for all created beings. This also indicates that their power is restricted. For example, they cannot create or search the human heart; they are NOT mind readers. What do the following verses indicate regarding the power of the angels?
    1. Ephesians 6:10-12, 1 John 4:4 and Jude 1:9
      1. ANSWER: These verses indicate that resisting evil influences and thwarting evil requires God’s involvement—for both good angels and man.
    2. Angels are powerful. What do these verses reveal to us about their power: 2 Kings 19:35 and 1 Chronicles 21:11-14?
      1. ANSWER: In one example, a single angel destroys 185,000 members of the Assyrian army in a single night. In a second example, an angel kills 70,000 Israelites in three days using a plague, as part of David’s punishment for instituting a census.
  3. The Representation of the Angels — There are five major representations of angels: thrones, dominions, principalities, authorities, and powers. These heavenly spheres of rule exceed human empires as the universe exceeds the earth. What do the following verses tell us about the angels and their classifications?
    1. 1 Timothy 5:21
      1. ANSWER: Angels were created for a purpose.
    2. Ezekiel 1:5
      1. ANSWER: Cherubim are angels with high and holy positions; their responsibilities are closely related activities around the throne. They are defenders of God’s holy character and presence.
    3. Genesis 3:22-24, Exodus 25:17-20, Romans 3:24-26, Exodus 26:1, and Revelation Chapter 4
      1. ANSWER: Angels are at the gates of Eden, the cover of the Ark, and surrounding the throne in Revelation Chapter 4.
    4. Isaiah 6:1-3 and Revelation 4:8
      1. ANSWER: Seraphim act in unceasing worship, providing a ministry of purification and their humility.
  4. We can observe that three general classifications of angels exist: the Cherubim, the Seraphim and the "Living Creatures"—these are the angels of the highest station. While he Cherubim deal with the altar and the Seraphim deal with the laver; the Living Creatures reveal the fullness of divine life by way of their unceasing activity and participation in the worship of God. (Note: looking at the activities of the angels provides us insight into what life is like in God’s presence. i.e., "no sun, no moon, no night". Just as the angels are always active today, so I believe that we will all be very in the new heaven and new earth.) In addition to the above, there "individual angels and "specifically-designated" angels.
    1. What do the following verses indicate to us regarding individual angels?
      1. Isaiah 14:12
        1. ANSWER: Lucifer, "Son of the Morning", was the most exalted of the angels. He has 40 different titles in the Bible, and he was the first to sin, thereby becoming Satan.
      2. Daniel 12:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, Jude 1:9, and Revelation 12:7-12
        1. ANSWER: The archangel Michael (1) has great authority, (2) leads the armies of heaven, and (3) his voice will be heard when Christ returns for the church.
      3. Daniel 8:15-27, Daniel 9:20-27, Jeremiah 25:11-12, and Luke 1:26-33
        1. ANSWER: These verses indicate that Gabriel is a messenger or revealer of divine purpose.
    2. How do the verses below describe specific-purpose angels? Note their designations.
      1. Genesis 19:13, 2 Samuel 24:16, 2 Kings 19:35, Ezekiel 9:1,5,7 and Psalm 78:49
        1. ANSWER: These verses describe Angels of Judgment.
      2. Daniel 4:13 and Daniel 4:23
        1. ANSWER: These verses describe a Watcher Angel.
      3. Revelation 9:11
        1. ANSWER: This verse references the Angel of the Abyss.
      4. Revelation 14:18
        1. ANSWER: This verse describes an Angel of Fire.
      5. Revelation 16:5
        1. ANSWER: This verse references an Angel of the Waters.
      6. Revelation 8:2
        1. ANSWER: This verse specifically refers to a unique group of Seven Angels.
  5. The ministries of the angels are comprised of primary, secondary, and tertiary ministries.
    1. What do the following verses indicate to us regarding the primary ministry of angels? See Isaiah 6:2-3, Psalm 148:12, and Revelation 4:8.
      1. ANSWER: The verses describe a primary ministry of worship.
    2. What does the following verse indicate to us regarding the secondary ministry of angels? See Hebrews 1:14.
      1. ANSWER: This verse specifically calls out ministering to the saints.
    3. Other ministries of angels are represented in the activities described in the verses below.
      1. Genesis 18:1-2, Galatians 3:19, Acts 7:53, and Psalm 91:11-12
      2. Daniel 3:25 and Daniel 6:22
      3. Matthew 13:41-42
      4. Matthew 24:31
      5. Matthew 16:27
      6. Luke 12:8-9 and Jude 1:14-15
      7. Hebrews 12:22-24
      8. Revelation 21:12
      9. Luke 16:22
      10. Acts 5:19, Acts 8:26, Acts 10:3-7, Acts 12:7, and Acts 27:21-25
  6. What do the following verses indicate to us regarding the angels as spectators?
    1. Luke 15:10, Luke 12:8-9, 1 Tim 3:16,and Revelation 14:10-11
      1. ANSWER: They are described as observers.
    2. 1 Corinthians 6:3
      1. ANSWER: They will be judged by humans.
    3. The angels were, and will be, present at many past and future events. What are some of these events, as referenced in the verses below?
      1. Job 38:7
        1. ANSWER: They were present at creation
      2. Galatians 3:19, Acts 7:53, and Hebrews 2:2
        1. ANSWER: Angels were directly involved in the giving of the Law.
      3. Luke 2:13
        1. ANSWER: Angels heralded the birth of Christ.
      4. Matthew 4:11
        1. ANSWER: Angels tended to Christ after His temptation by Satan.
      5. Matthew 28:2
        1. ANSWER: An angel rolled the stone away as part of the resurrection of Christ.
      6. Acts 1:10
        1. ANSWER: Angels were present immediately after the ascension of Christ.
      7. Matthew 13:37-39, Matthew 24:31, Matthew 25:31, and 2 Thessalonians 1:7
        1. ANSWER: Angels have critical roles during the second coming of Christ.

Now that we have concluded our study of the Holy Angels, we will turn our attention to the fallen angels, and the chief fallen angel himself, Satan, as we study continue our studies in the next lesson. May God use this study to open your mind, your eyes, and your heart to the world of angels surrounding us, as they carry out God’s will.

Thanks for studying with us.

In Christ,

Wes

[2012]

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