ANGELS
by Ron Wyatt
Originally published in Newsletter # 10 in1995)
Today there seems to be a tremendous interest in the subject of "angels". We see television programs about them, newspaper and magazine articles, and even entire books on the subject. But some of the information we have seen is not Biblical.
What is an "Angel"?
The word translated to read "angel" means "a messenger", from "angello", to deliver a message. The angels of God are those created beings who do His will and bidding.
The Bible speaks of two types of angels- cherubim, which have two wings (1Kings 6:24; Satan is a fallen cherubim- Eze. 28:14) and seraphim, which have six wings (Isa. 6:2). Both classifications are referred to as "ministering spirits", and "flames of fire" (Heb. 1:7, 14).
PSA 103:20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. 4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: We are told that the righteous have angels of God all around them to protect them and help them overcome evil: PSA 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. We are told that children have angels:
MAT 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Sons of God- Angels?
The angels "...neither marry, nor are given in marriage" (Matt. 22:30) which clarifies the common misconception raised in regards to "the sons of God" in Gen. 6:4. (Read also Matt.19:5, 6, 1Cor: 6:16, and 1Cor.15:39) Some people believe that the "sons of God" were angels who married women and bore children. But 1John 3:2 plainly tells us who the Sons of God are:
"Now are we the sons of God..." This next verse shows that God has never called an angel His "son"-
HEB 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son,... ?
The "sons of God" spoken of in Gen. 6:4:
...when the SONS OF GOD came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them,... were the descendants of Adam's son, Seth, for it was only through this line that men began to worship the Lord: GEN 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name SETH:... 26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: THEN BEGAN MEN TO CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD. (Margin: Or, "to call themselves by the name of the Lord.") I
t becomes apparent that the Sethites, who followed the Lord, were influenced by the provocative dress and behavior of the female descendants of Cain (daughters of men), and married them.
2CO 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my SONS and DAUGHTERS, saith the Lord Almighty.
These texts clear up exactly who "the sons of God" mentioned in Gen. 6:4 were. Again, when talking about those who are resurrected at His second coming, Christ said:
MAT 22:30 For in the resurrection THEY NEITHER MARRY, NOR ARE GIVEN IN MARRIAGE, BUT ARE AS THE ANGELS OF GOD IN HEAVEN. See also Mark 12:25.
The very idea that Satan and other fallen angels could reproduce themselves is terrifying!
Satan- an Angel
At some point in time, before man was created, one of the angels, named Lucifer, no longer content with his position of highest among the created angels, wanted more, as is written in this parable about the king of Tyrus:
EZE 28:2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:...
While this passage is speaking to this "king", we soon recognize the absolute proof that it refers to Lucifer:
EZE 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God;.... 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth;... 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will BRING THEE TO ASHES UPON THE EARTH IN THE SIGHT OF ALL THEM THAT BEHOLD THEE. 19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and NEVER SHALT THOU BE ANY MORE.
We learn in Revelation that when Lucifer, or Satan, fell, he took 1/3 of the angels with him:
REV 12:4 And his tail drew the THIRD PART OF THE STARS OF HEAVEN, and did cast them to the earth:...7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, THAT OLD SERPENT, CALLED THE DEVIL, AND SATAN, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
It is also here that we learn that the angels are also sometimes symbolicly called "stars", as the serpent is said to have cast 1/3 of the "stars of heaven" to the earth. This sheds light on a few other passages where "stars" are mentioned- when speaking about "filthy dreamers" who "defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities", Jude says they are like:
JUD 1:13 ...wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
Their fate is here expressed through symbolism. But in this next text, Christ plainly tells the fate of the wicked, as well as the fate of Satan and his fallen angels:
MAT 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
It is interesting to note that the "fire" is here said to be "prepared" for "the devil and his angels", not men. This is because Christ died for ALL men, and had they all only accepted His free gift, none would suffer this fate.
But the "fire" is here described as "everlasting"- does it burn forever? Of course not- the word translated "everlasting", "aionios" means "an undescribed duration". Vine, in his "Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words" explains: "The use of `aionios' here shows that the punishment referred to... is not temporary, but final, and accordingly, the phraseology shows that its purpose is not remedial but retributive." T
he fires don't burn "forever"- they burn until absolutely nothing is left to burn. Remember Sodom & Gomorrah?
JUD 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha,... are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Sodom & Gomorrah aren't still burning, yet they are an "example" of the result of the "eternal fire". It is ultimately cleared up in Revelation:
REV 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: WHICH IS THE SECOND DEATH.
The wicked people have "their part" in this "lake" which we learned from Christ, Himself, was originally designated only for the fallen angels and Satan.
Evil Angels- Devils
The angels who rebelled, including Satan, are referred to as devils. These "fallen angels", like the faithful ones, have supernatural powers beyond our comprehension. Just as the good angels are ever working to protect us from evil, the fallen ones are ever working to seduce us with lies and seek to keep us from a knowledge of the truth. They also work constantly to destroy us physically, with illness and other physical harm:
HEB 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy HIM THAT HAD THE POWER OF DEATH, that is, THE DEVIL;
It is Satan and his angels that trouble man, seeking not only to destroy him with physical death, but with eternal death. However, as powerful as all the angels are, they are all limited by God as to what they can do. He allows the fallen ones to do all they can to try to destroy man, but we can pray and in His time, His angels come to our aid. And we are assured the victory. In this next passage, we are told to put on the whole "armour of God"- yet the only "action" we are called on to do is in the last verse:
EPH 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 PRAYING ALWAYS with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
The angels, as God's messengers, are always ready to come to the aid of the righteous. And they will always victor over Satan:
JAM 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Christ Sometimes Called an "Angel"
Christ is referred to as "the angel of His presence":
ISA 63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the ANGEL OF HIS PRESENCE saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old;
The "messenger of His covenant":
MAL 3:1 Behold, I will send MY MESSENGER, and he shall prepare the way before me: and THE LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even THE MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts,
And "the Angel of the Lord":
EXO 3:2 And THE ANGEL OF THE LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
We know that this is referring to Christ when we continue to read the entire passage:
EXO 3: 4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, GOD called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 6 Moreover he said, I AM THE GOD OF THY FATHER, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
This passage shows that not only was the entity in the burning bush called the "angel of the Lord', it was called "God", and "I am". The identity of "I AM" is firmly established by the words of Christ, Himself:
JOH 8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.
Many serious Bible scholars believe Michael, the archangel, to be another of Christ's titles. The name Michael, in both Hebrew and Greek means "(One) Who is like God". He is referred to in Dan. 10:13 as "One of the Highest Rulers" (a member of the Trinity). Jude 9, Matt 17:2 and Mark 9:2 indicated that Michael resurrected Moses. There is no Biblical record of a cherubim or seraphim being used for raising the dead. Daniel 10:21 calls Michael "your (Daniel's) prince", or "One who has dominion":
PSA 145:13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy DOMINION endureth throughout all generations.
DAN 4:3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his DOMINION is from generation to generation.
1 Thes 4:16, 17 and John 5:25- 29 tell us that at the sound of His voice "all that are in the graves will come forth... some to everlasting life... the evil to damnation". These passages show that at times, Christ is referred to as an angel, which is simply indicative of one of His Divine offices.
He not only IS GOD, the SINBEARER, our HIGH PRIEST, etc.,- He is the Messenger, in many cases, Who actually comes in Person to deliver certain messages. He is also the Leader of the angels, which is indicative of His office of Archangel, or "One Who is Leader of the angels".
