Beloved a lot is being said about angels over the net. Although this will not be a comprehensive study on the subject it will shed some light on the matter. There are many false teachings and doctrines of demons masquerading as light. Today we will look at the two basic types of angels. In the next post we will answer the question of whether it is ok to worship angels. Since this is such a sensitive subject this post will be crammed with as many scripture references as possible to avoid any confusion.
WHAT ARE THE TWO BROAD CATEGORIES OF ANGELS?
1. Gods Angels
Broadly speaking the bible refers to God’s angels (Genesis 32:1) “THEN JACOB went on his way, and God's angels met him.” His angels are holy and are “His sons” (Job 1:6 & 2:1 AMP). They are sometimes referred to as the sons of God.
2. The devil or satan’s angels
And the huge dragon was cast down and out--that age-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the world over; he was forced out and down to the earth, and his angels were flung out along with him, Revelation 12:9 AMP. These fallen angels are known as demons. These are tormenting spirits whose sole purpose is to steal, kill and destroy like their master satan. I would like to put things into perspective for us as believers. Never forget that satan only fell with a third of the angels. So at any given moment, the devil is always outnumbered by the armies of God.
Lastly, satan and God Almighty are not equals and will never be. God is the creator and satan is a created being. This is why in the scriptures you see that God assigned another arch angel to kick satan out of heaven during the rebellion. God has no equal beloved. You don’t believe me? In Job we see that when the angels of God go before His presence, satan also seeks an audience in that congregation to accuse the children of God.
Job 2:1 AMP, AGAIN THERE was a day when the sons of God [the angels] came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan (the adversary and the accuser) came also among them to present himself before the Lord.
The lesser always seeks an audience with one greater than themselves. This topic however is for another post. Let us look at what kinds of tasks the Lord assigns to His angels?
GOD SENDS HIS ANGELS ON VARIOUS ASSIGNMENTS.
Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His commandments, hearkening to the voice of His word. Psalm 103:20 AMP
This is such an important point. Always pray the word of God not emotion because as you can clearly see, His angels listen and perform what is in His word. If you want results, pray His word as we discovered in our last few posts on personal prophesy.
As Messengers
The angels of the Lord are messengers that are intricately involved in the word of God. Let’s look at Acts 7:53a AMP, “You who received the Law as it was ordained and set in order and delivered by angels ...” Beloved in the new covenant (New Testament) it was the angels of God that announced the good news to the shepherds. That is why the bible tells in Luke 15:10 AMP that, “Even so, I tell you, there is joy among and in the presence of the angels of God over one [especially] wicked person who repents (changes his mind for the better, heartily amending his ways, with abhorrence of his past sins).”
As executors of Gods Punishment
The angels of God are His law enforcement agency. They execute whatever commandment they are given by their commander in Chief, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Jesus.
“And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented of the evil and reversed His judgment and said to the destroying angel, It is enough; now stay your hand. And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite,” 2Samuel 24:16 AMP.
As Avengers
Then the Lord commanded the [avenging] angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath, 1 Chronicles 21:27 AMP. We can clearly see that there are angels that are assigned specific tasks. The above mentioned avenging angel has a sword to dispense the justice of God. Elsewhere in scripture we are told about this sword. David was terrified of an angel wielding such a sword, so were Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. If we look at the properties of divine swords mentioned in the word, it ‘can divide spirit and soul’, is ‘double edged’ and ‘terrible and can punish’ its recipients. When the wrath of God is released it is a mighty and terrible thing. “He let loose upon them the fierceness of His anger, His wrath and indignation and distress, by sending [a mission of] angels of calamity and woe among them,” Psalm 78:49 AMP.
As Protectors of His Children
“For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service],” Psalm 91:11AMP. What an awesome promise from God for us. Later on I will cover what these angelic beings are capable of so that you can deepen your understanding of how protected you are.
As Special Assignees for Children
The bible explains to us the angels assigned to children have a very special function. “Beware that you do not despise or feel scornful toward or think little of one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always are in the presence of and look upon the face of My Father Who is in heaven,” (Matthew 18”10 AMP). God loves children so much that he tells us to mimic their faith and belief in Him.
As Warriors in Heavens Armies
“Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts!” Psalm 148:2 AMP
In 2 Kings 6:16-18 AMP we learn about Gods invisible army. Elisha and his servant were surrounded by an enemy with a vast army. His servant feared for he could not decern the protection they had been granted by God. ‘16[Elisha] answered, Fear not; for those with us are more than those with them.17Then Elisha prayed, Lord, I pray You, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the young man's eyes, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.’
In the same way beloved you have the same protection. Gods angels are part of His angelic army that war and fight against the forces of darkness. Jesus is in charge of the hosts (armies) of heaven. We know him in scripture as the Lord of Hosts. Amen! He is the chief commander of these hosts. He is the warrior King. Jesus is risen, He is not in a manger neither is He in a tomb. Let’s see what Revelation 1AMP has to say,’ 8I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord God, He Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty (the Ruler of all).... I heard behind me a great voice like the calling of a war trumpet,..11Saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.... 13And...{I saw} [One] like a Son of Man, clothed with a robe which reached to His feet and with a girdle of gold about His breast.14His head and His hair were white like white wool, [as white] as snow, and His eyes [flashed] like a flame of fire.15His feet glowed like burnished (bright) bronze as it is refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.16In His right hand He held seven stars, and from His mouth there came forth a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full power at midday.17When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead. But He laid His right hand on me and said, Do not be afraid! I am the First and the Last,18And the Ever-living One [I am living in the eternity of the eternities]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore; and I possess the keys of death and Hades (the realm of the dead).
There is no need to fear, this is the God we fall prostrate before. He deserves all honour and glory. The devil and his agents cannot touch you when you are in Christ. He holds the keys to everything. That is why no weapon forged against you can prosper. It has no authority to land. Jesus never said the enemy would not try to throw challenges your way. He said beloved surely trouble will come but He does make a way of escape for you. Take heart my brother, don’t give up my sister, Jesus will always cause you to triumph in Christ Jesus. Praise Jesus. He is the captain of your life and destiny, Amen. Let’s continue with our study.
Some Angels Look Human
Do not forget or neglect or refuse to extend hospitality to strangers [in the brotherhood--being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for through it some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 AMP
As you can see from the above scripture angels appear to have the ability to walk and work among us unnoticed. To do this they would need to look like ‘one of us” in stature and features.
Angels eat human food and angelic food.
Everyone ate the bread of the mighty [man ate angels' food]...Psalm 78:25a AMP. In genesis, Abraham cooked a fatted calf for the angles that came to tell him about the promise child Isaac. Interestingly, angelic food is super charged with divine vigour. When Elijah ate the food prepared for him by Gods angel, “ ... He arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meal forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God,” 1 Kings Chapter 19:8
Angels and Marriage
The angels of God do not marry according to Matthew 22:30 AMP,” For in the resurrected state neither do [men] marry nor are [women] given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven.
Similarly angels are forbidden from taking humans as spouses. ‘And angels who did not keep (care for, guard, and hold to) their own first place of power but abandoned their proper dwelling place--these He has reserved in custody in eternal chains (bonds) under the thick gloom of utter darkness until the judgment and doom of the great day,’ Jude 1:6 AMP.
Let us look at this issue in further detail. Genesis 6 AMP tells us, “ 1WHEN MEN began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them,2The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were fair, and they took wives of all they desired and chose.3Then the Lord said, My Spirit shall not forever dwell and strive with man, for he also is flesh; but his days shall yet be 120 years.4There were giants on the earth in those days--and also afterward--when the sons of God lived with the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. 5The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually.’
Next time we will finish off our look at angels. We will answer questions such as can we and should we worship angels and other topics. Until then God bless.
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