The Abbreviated Doctrine of Angels (Angelology)

Wenstrom and Ballinger on the Function of Angels

77% of adult Americans believe in angels, according to a December 2011 Associated Press-GfK poll. I must admit this surprised me; but it is also good to know, in general, that 77% of adult Americans believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, according to a 2012 Rasmussen poll.

The Abbreviated Doctrine of Angels (Angelology)

1.       As previously discussed, these are 2 angels who have come with our Lord to Abraham. However, it is not clear at this point that Abraham knows that this is Jehovah Elohim or that these are angels. Their purpose seems to be tied more to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah than it is to meeting Abraham. Gen. 18:1–2, 16, 22 19:1, 12–13

2.       Our word for angel is a transliteration from the Greek word aggelos (ἄγγελος) [pronounced AHN-geh-loss], which means messenger, envoy, one who is sent, angel, a messenger from God. Strong’s #32. Although this word is often translated angel (Matt. 2:19 28:2, 5 Luke 1:13–19 2:9–10), it is not used exclusively for angels (Matt. 11:10).

3.       The existence of angels is clearly taught in the Bible, as they are found over 100 times in the Old Testament alone. However, this did not mean that people encountered angels all of the time. In Gen. 6, apparently every person had some kind of contact with fallen angels; but after that point, their appearance to man was rare; and since the completion of the canon of Scripture, it is not clear that any contact is allowed between man and angels.

4.       Angels were created before man; and man is clearly inferior to angels (although this, apparently, will change). Psalm 148:2–5 Heb. 2:6–9 2Peter 2:11

5.       There are both fallen and elect angels. Elect angels have never sinned; fallen angels have followed Satan (which is about a third of the angels—Rev. 12:4). Fallen angels are also called demons in Scripture. Psalm 103:20 Matt. 24:41 Mark 8:38 2Cor. 12:7 Jude 6 Rev. 12:7–12

6.       Although I have heard discussion by many theologians about the redemption of angels, I have not come across any evidence that an angel can sin against God and then later be redeemed.

7.       Angels apparently have an ability to adopt a physical, human form which functions just as our bodies function. They are able to eat, they are able to grab, and, in the case of Gen. 6, able to copulate with and impregnate human women. Gen. 6 18:8 19:16 Heb. 13:2

8.       However, angels appear to have bodies of light which are not governed by the same laws of physics that we are. Daniel 9:21 10:5–6 Matt. 28:2–4 Col. 1:16 Heb. 1:7, 14

9.       Although angels are powerful beings, they cannot stand between you and God; they cannot take your salvation from you. Rom. 8:38

10.     We appear to be an object lesson for angels, who spend much of their time observing mankind. Eccl 5:6 Daniel 4:13, 17, 23 1Cor 4:9 Eph 3:10 1Tim. 5:21 Heb. 12:1. This is not too different from our obsession with watching movies.

Some of this material came from:

Lewis Sperry Chafer, D.D., Litt. D., The. D.; Systematic Theology; Kregel Publications; ©1976 Dallas Theological Seminary; Vol. 7, pp. 13–15.

Robert Dean’s Notes, Genesis Lesson #98, 7/19/2005; accessed April 17, 2012.

http://christiananswers.net/q-acb/acb-t005.html accessed April 17, 2012.

For additional study, try:

http://ichthys.com/2A-Angelo.htm

http://biblestudyplanet.com/angels-and-demons/

http://bible.org/article/angelology-doctrine-angels

http://www.versebyverse.org/doctrine/angels.html

As an aside, I mention the poll about believing that Christ rose from the dead, because this is directly related to our preservation as a nation; one of the lessons that we will learn in Gen. 18.

There are two categories of angels: fallen and elect. The fallen angels have rejected the authority of God and have sinned; elect angels have not. This doctrine concentrates on the elect angels.

This doctrine is not the same as the Doctrine of the Angelic Conflict. That doctrine focuses more upon the warfare between the fallen and elect angels, and how it plays out in our own lives.

Wenstrom and Ballinger on the Function of Angels

1.       Angels are God's servants who are dispatched from the throne room of heaven to execute God's purposes. The ministry of the elect angels falls into several categories. Generally speaking, the elect angels: (1) Protect, (2) Provide, (3) Prepare, (4) Proclaim the Word of God and (5) Execute God's Judgments.

2.       Wrapping one’s head around the concept and function of angels, it might be best understood as, the CEO of a company delegates responsibilities to those under him. This does not mean that he is incapable of taking care of these responsibilities, nor does it mean that he is adverse to dealing with such things personally. In a large organization, the one at the top is primarily all about delegating responsibilities to those within the chain of command. Although this is not a perfect analogy, it may help us to understand God’s use of the angels to take care of certain responsibilities.

3.       In relation to God, the elect-angels perform the following services:

          1)       They act as attendants around the throne of God, and are waiting to serve Him and do His bidding. Psalm 103:20 Isa. 6:1f Job 1:6 2:1 Rev. 5:11 8:1ff

          2)       They continually, night and day, offer praise and worship God in heaven. Isa.6:3 Psalm148:1,2 Heb. 1:6 Rev.4:8; 5:11–12

          3)       Some angels are observers who rejoice over what the Lord does. Job 38:6-7 Luke 2:12-13 15:10

          4)       Some angels will function as soldiers in battle with Satan. Rev. 12:7

          5)       Angels are used by the God as instruments to execute His judgments. Rev. 7:1 8:2

4.       In relation to the nations, the elect-angels and non-elect angels perform the following services:

          1)       Angels announce and inflict judgment (Sodom was a city-state). Gen. 19:13

          2)       Michael, the archangel, is the guardian of the nation of Israel. Daniel 10:13, 21 12:1 Jude 9

          3)       The non-elect angels rule over the Gentile nations (Daniel 4:17 Eph. 6:11-16) and seek to influence their human leaders (Daniel 10:21 11:1).

          4)       In the Tribulation the elect-angels will be the agents God uses to pour out His judgments. See Rev. 8-9 and 16.

5.       Angels were quite active in the life and ministry of Jesus. In relation to Christ, the elect-angels perform the following services:

          1)       Angels informed Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds of Christ's birth. Luke 1:26-38 2:8-15 Matt.1:20

          2)       An angel warned Joseph to take Mary and the baby Jesus and flee into Egypt (Matt. 2:13-15), and an angel directed the family to return to Israel after Herod died (vv. 19-21).

          3)       Angels ministered to Jesus after His temptation. Matt.4:11

          4)       An angel strengthened Him in Gethsemane (obviously, this would be strengthening Jesus in His humanity—in this case, the resolve of His humanity). Luke22:43

          5)       Angels were poised to deliver Him from His enemies. Matt.26:53

          6)       An angel rolled the stone from the empty tomb. Matt.28:1–7

          7)       Angels announced His resurrection to the women on Easter morning. Matt. 28:5-6 Luke 24:5- 7

          8)       Angels were present at His ascension and gave instruction to the disciples. Acts 1:10-11

          9)       Angels ascended with Him into heaven. Acts 1:11

6.       In relation to His coming again, the elect-angels perform the following services:

          1)       The voice of the archangel will be heard at the translation of the church. 1Thess. 4:16

          2)       They will accompany Him in His glorious return to earth. Matt. 25:31 2Thess. 1:7

          3)       They will separate the wheat from the tares (the righteous from the unrighteous) at Christ's second coming. Matt. 13:39-40

          4)       Angels announce and inflict judgment. Rev. 14:6-7 Acts 12:23 Rev. 16:1

7.       Angels in relationship to some individual believers:

          1)       The angels delivered Lot and his family from the destruction of Sodom. Gen. 19

          2)       Angels prepared the way for the servant of Abraham who went to find a wife for Isaac. Gen. 24

8.       In relationship to the believer, angels have done/will do the following:

          1)       Angels protect and deliver God's people. Heb. 1:14 Daniel 6:22 Psalm 91:11 Gen. 19:11 Acts 12:11 Matt. 18:10

          2)       They guide and encourage believers. Matt. 28:5-7 Acts 8:26 27:23,24

          3)       They interpret God's Word to men (no longer an issue with the closing of the canon). Daniel 7:16 10:5,11 Zech.1:9,19 4:1,5 5:5-11 6:4,5

          4)       There is the teaching angel of Revelation. This is a concentrated period of conflict, so that the accumulation of doctrine in a person’s soul is not a lifetime endeavor. Rev.1:1 17:7 22:16

          5)       Angels mediated the Law to Moses. Acts 7:53 Gal.3:19

          6)       Angels carry the saved home when they die. Luke16:22

          7)       They execute judgment on individuals and societies (Acts12:23 Gen.19:12,13 Ezek.9:1,5,7; note the active role they play in the judgments of the Tribulation, Rev.16).

9.       In relation to the Church:

          1)       Hebrews 1:14 describes ministry of the elect-angels "servant-spirits who are divinely commissioned and repeatedly dispatched for service on behalf of those who are destined to inherit salvation." In this, however, Scripture points to a number of specific ministries:

          2)       The elect-angels bring answers to prayer. Acts 12:5-10

          3)       They help in bringing people to the Savior. Acts 8:26; 10:3

          4)       They may encourage in times of danger. Acts 27:23- 24

          5)       They care for God's people at the time of death. Luke 16:22

          6)       How some of these things occur in our own lives today is unknown; this is a set of activities which we do not observe in the post-canon period of the Church Age.

10.     In relation to the introduction of a new dispensation, angels are actively involved when God institutes a new epoch in history:

          1)       They joined in praise when the earth was created. Job 38:6-7

          2)       They were involved in the giving of the Mosaic law. Gal. 3:19 Heb. 2:2

          3)       They were active at the First advent of Christ. Matt. 1:20 4:11

          4)       They were active during the early years of the church. Acts 8:26 10:3, 7 12:11

          5)       They will be involved in events surrounding the Second advent of Christ. Matt. 25:31 Thess. 4:1

11.     Angels as spectators.

          1)       They rejoice when even one sinner is saved. Luke 15:10

          2)       They actually learn Bible Doctrine from the local church, taking a keen interest in our assembly. Eph. 3:10 1Peter 1:12

          3)       They observe all the affairs of men, and are pleased or offended, as the passage on hair suggests. 1Cor. 11:10

          4)       They took great interest in the incarnation. 1Tim. 3:16

12.     The angelic hierarchy is divided into two categories:

          1)       The college of heralds and

          2)       The angelic army. Most angels do not have wings. Wings are an insignia of rank.

                     (1)      Seraphim have the highest rank with six wings (Isa. 6:2 Rev. 4:8).

                     (2)      Cherubim have four wings, plus the uniform of wisdom (Gen. 3:24 Ezek 1, 10, 28ff).

13.     Miscellaneous points:

          1)       We are never told to pray to angels or to depend upon angels. Our prayer and dependence is to be directed to God the Father; and, if angels are involved, then He will see to that.

          2)       Although there is great angelic activity in the church age, they do not appear to be visibly manifest to us in the post-canon Church Age. Bear in mind, seeing an angel in the Old Testament was rare (just like miracles in the Old Testament were rare); such things appear to be even more rare in the post-canon, New Testament period. Personally, I would be suspicious of anyone who claims to have seen an angel or witnessed a miracle. This does not mean that I doubt the power of God; but we live in a period of human history where His Word has eclipsed the manifestation of God’s supernatural power. 2Peter 1:16–21

          3)       Furthermore, God is teaching angels as well; and there is no better way to teach someone than to have them actually do something. Illustrative of this: I recall seeing my father fix the brakes of my car on several occasions. However, a roommate, later on, told me how to fix my own brakes, but did not touch them himself. I learned how to do my own brakes from my roommate because of this approach.

          4)       Angelic involvement in this earthly realm communicates God’s essence and character to them as well.

From http://gracebiblechurchwichita.org/?page_id=1163 accessed January 14, 2015

and http://www.versebyverse.org/doctrine/angels.html accessed January 14, 2015. These points were occasionally edited and new material was added as well.