About Angels. The lesson “The Ministry of Angels” was prepared by Dmitriy Leo, senior pastor of Father’s Blessing Church, in 2020.
1. The Origin of Angels
The Bible describes the existence of both good and evil angels. Psalm 148:2–5 describes angels alongside the sun, moon, and stars as part of God’s creation.
In the Gospel of John 1:3, it is written that God created everything in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers (Colossians 1:16; Ephesians 6:12). It follows that angels were created by God.
The time of their creation is nowhere stated, but it is obvious that the creation of angels took place before the creation of heaven and earth (Gen. 1:1), because in the Book of Job 38:4–7 it is written: “all the sons of God shouted for joy” when God laid the foundations of the earth.
God’s angels already existed when Satan appeared (Gen. 3:1) and deceived humanity.
2. How Many Angels Are There?
There is an innumerable multitude of angels. It is written, “the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” (Revelation 5:11). The psalmist says: “The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord is among them, at Sinai, in the sanctuary” (Psalm 68:17).
The Lord Jesus told Peter that God the Father could send more than twelve legions of angels if He asked for it (Matthew 26:53). In the Epistle to the Hebrews, thousands of angels are mentioned (12:22).
Angels of God can appear individually (Acts 5:19), in pairs (Acts 1:10), or in groups (Luke 2:13).
3. The Nature of Angels
A. They are incorporeal
Angels are also called “spirits.” Hebrews 1:14 says: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” Angels are incorporeal, but they have often appeared to people in bodily form (Gen. 18:1–9; Luke 1:26–28; John 20:12; Heb. 13:2).
When the angels of the Lord appear in human form, they look 100 percent like people and even eat food just as people do.
Gen. 19:1 Those two angels came to Sodom in the evening, when Lot was sitting at the city gate. When he saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. 2 “My lords,” he said, “please come into your servant’s house. You can wash your feet and spend the night, and in the morning continue on your way.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the town square.” 3 But he urged them so persistently that they followed him and entered his house. He prepared food for them, baked unleavened bread, and they ate.
However, this does not mean that angels have physical bodies. This means that angels can take on human form.
B. They are of different ages
Most often, angels appeared to people as men. “Luke 24:4 As they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in shining garments stood beside them.” At the same time, Mark 16:5 says: “As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe.” The angel described appeared to be a young man.
I. They are stronger than man
The angel caused a great earthquake when he appeared to roll away the stone from the tomb (Matthew 28:2). “And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb and sat on it.” Angel freed the apostle from prison (Acts 5:19; 12:7).
More examples:
2 Kings 19:35 And it happened that night: the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies.
2 Peter 2:11 whereas even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings before the Lord.
Acts 12:23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the Abyss and a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
G. They are lower in the hierarchy than Christians
1 Corinthians 6:3 says: «Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life?»
In the spiritual hierarchy, angels are under Jesus and His Church—that is, Christians. (Ephesians 2:5–7) “God made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”
D. They are not omnipresent
They cannot be in more than one place at the same time. They travel throughout the earth, moving from one place to another (Daniel 9:21–23). This takes time, which is why angels are sometimes delayed (Daniel 10:12–14).
E. They have emotions
Angels are emotional beings and can rejoice, contrary to the belief of some that they are stern and fearsome.
Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Luke 2:13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests!”
4. Types of Angels
A. Angels.
The word “angels” means “messenger” in both Hebrew and Greek. Only the context can show whether the word refers to human or heavenly “messengers.”
Messengers of the Lord.
Daniel 6:22 My God sent His angel, and He shut the mouths of the lions.
Acts 12:11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen to me.”
Messengers from among people.
For example, the word [malakh] is used in Scripture to describe not only “angels of the Lord,” but also people who were sent somewhere.
Gen. 32:3 Jacob sent messengers [malakh] ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 He gave them this command: “Say this to my lord Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says: I have lived with Laban and have remained there until now.
Gal. 4:14 And although my physical condition was a trial for you, you did not despise or reject me then. You welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself!
Rev. 2:8 To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: “These are the words of the First and the Last, who died and came to life again:
In other words, the word angel itself does not necessarily refer to a heavenly being; it means “messenger.”
Angels are also referred to as the “sons of God.” This expression is used in Job in reference to angels, including Satan.
B. Archangels.
The term “archangel” appears only twice in the Bible (1 Thess. 4:16; Jude 9). The name of one of the archangels is Michael. However, it is clear that there are other archangels as well. They were sent from Heaven to carry out the most important assignments.
For example, Michael was sent to help the messenger angel deliver God’s answer to Daniel. Michael and the angels were sent to destroy Satan and his angels, who were trying to kill the child and the woman.
C. Cherubim.
It is believed that this means “to cover” or “to guard.” A cherub guarded the entrance to the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:24). Two cherubim were placed above the cover of the ark in the Tabernacle and in the Temple (Exod. 25:19).
Cherubim were depicted on the inner curtains and on the curtain in the Tabernacle (Exod. 26:31), and they were also carved on the doors of the Temple (1 Kings 6:32). We believe that cherubim are angels who “guard God’s Throne and presence.”
D. Seraphim.
They are mentioned only once in the Bible (Isa. 6:2–6). We believe that the seraphim lead heaven in worship of Almighty God.
5. Whom the Angels Obey
A. All angels obey God.
Ps. 102:20 Praise the Lord, you His angels, mighty in strength, who carry out His commands and obey His word.
B. All angels also obey Jesus Christ.
1 Pet. 3:22 He has ascended into heaven and is at God’s right hand, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.
Heb. 1:6 And again, when God brings His Firstborn into the world, He says, “Let all God’s angels worship Him.”
6. The Fall of the Angels
A. The Fact of the Fall
Various passages of the Bible mention evil angels (Ps. 78:49; Rev. 9:11; 12:7–9). The Bible names Satan as the leader of the evil angels (Rev. 12:7).
B. The Time of the Fall
The fall of the angels occurred before the fall of humanity, because the serpent (Satan) entered the garden and persuaded the human being to sin (Gen. 3:1). Based on Rev. 12:9, we believe that the serpent and Satan are one and the same person.
“The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”
B. Reasons for the Fall
This is a great mystery. However, it is important to remember that every creation of God possesses free will, and consequently the ability to sin or not to sin. This means that at first Satan and the other angels were in a position where they themselves could choose and then be held accountable for their actions.
Many believe that the Prince of Tyre symbolizes Satan in Ezek. 28:11–19. It says there that he became proud (1 Tim. 3:6) and therefore fell. The king of Babylon may also symbolize Satan (Isa. 14:11–15), and the reason for his fall was pride.
There is no doubt that the reason for Satan’s fall also became the reason for the fall of the other angels. The dragon swept away one-third of the stars with its tail (Rev. 12:4). This may be an indication of the one-third of the angels who fell with Satan.
C. Result of the Fall
They all lost their holiness and became corrupt in nature and conduct (Eph. 6:11 and following). One group of angels was cast into hell, where they are held in chains until the day of judgment (2 Pet. 2:4). The other group of angels remained free and took a position in opposition to the work of the good angels and people (Eph. 6:12).
Ultimately, the evil angels will be cast into the lake of fire (Matt. 25:41; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6). At the same time, Satan will be confined in the abyss for a thousand years before being cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:2–3, 10).
End of the first lesson
Source: Father’s Blessing Church
Teacher: Dmitriy Leo
