The Doctrine of Angels

Their Nature

  1. Angels are persons–Persons possess attributes of personality. The essential facets of personality are intelligence, emotions, and will.
    1. Intelligence--Angels are highly intelligent. Angels were created as a higher order of creatures in the universe, (Heb 2:7). The angel Lucifer was described as being full of wisdom, (Ez 28:12). Angels are able to communicate and have conversations, (Mt 28:5; Rev 17:1), and they possess a good understanding of God, (Ja 2:19; Rev 12:12).
    2. Emotions—Angels experience great joy when souls are added to the kingdom of God, (Lu 15:10). They sing praise to God, (Job 38:7; Is 6; Rev 5:9ff.). They are elated that they take part in watching God’s redemptive plan unfold, (Lu 2:14; Heb 1:6).
    3. Will—Satan fell, because he desired to usurp authority belonging solely to God (Is 14:12-15), yet there are other angels who continue to submit in doing the will of God. This is evident by the phrase, thy will be done as it is in heaven (Mt 6:10 cf. Ps 103:20).
  2. Angels are created, spiritual beings
    1. Created—Angels were created by the very spoken word of God (Ps 148:2,5; Neh 9:6; Col 1:16), probably during the opening seconds on day 1 of the creation week cf. Job 38:6-7. As a created being they are limited in their knowledge, power, and activity (1 Pt 1:11,12; Job 1:6). They were created holy (Ge 1:31; Mt 25:31; Jude 6). Angels will be subject to judgment, (1 Co 6:3; Mt 25:41; Re 19:19,20).
    2. Spirits—Angels are incorporeal (spirit) beings (Heb 1:14). They do not possess a physical body but do have some form of localized capacity (Ez 1:5-8; Is 6:2; Re. 7:1). This is evident in that they are spatial creatures, moving (requires time) from place to place, (Da 9:21; 10:13,20; Lu 1:31). They do not marry or pro-create (Mt 22:30; Lu 20:34-36). They do not die (Lu 20:35,36). Note: Angels have been allowed by God to become visible to men to fulfill His divine purpose (Ge 18:2; 2 Ki 6:17; Lu 24:4).
  3. Some angels have fallen from their holy estate.
    The Scriptures claim to their existence validates it as reality. Seven books of the Old Testament teach their reality (Genesis, 1 Chronicles, Job, Psalms, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zecheriah). Their existence is acknowledged by Christ (Mt. 4; John 8:44), Paul (Eph 2:22), John (1 John 3:8), James (Ja 4:7), and Peter (1 Pt 5:8).

The Works of Good Angels

  1. Ministry to God--Hebrews 1:14 states that angels are ministering spirits. Their ministry consists of worship and service.
    1. Worship—The beginning of angelic ministry begins with the adoration and worship of the Creator God. There are angels surrounding His glorious throne singing continual praise (Ps 148:1,2; Is 6:3; Heb 1:6; Rev 4:6,8,9; 5:8,9,11,12).
    2. Service—Angels communicate the will of God (Da 8:16,17; 9:21-23; 10:11; 12:6,7). They execute the purposes of God (Ps 103:21; Mt 13:39-42). Angels execute the judgments of God (2 Sa 24:16; 2 Ki 19:35; Ps 35:5,6; Rev 8:2; 16:1).
  2. Ministry to Believers—Angels serve in several capacities in their ministry to them who shall be heirs of salvation (Heb 1:14).
    1. Delivering—Angels in times past have been used by God to deliver His messages (Da 9:20-12:13; Rev 1:1). God authored, the Holy Spirit inspired, and in a couple of instances the angels delivered. Angels are no longer delivering God’s word (Heb 1:1; 2:2,3).
    2. Providing—Angels may provide direction as one did to Philip (Ac 8:26), or food and drink as to Elijah (1 Ki 19:5-7). Angels also serve to protect the children of God from danger (Da 6:22; Ac 12:7-11; 5:19,20; Ps 91:11-12).
  3. Ministry to Unbelievers—The ministry of angels to unbelievers is very negative.
    1. Announcing—Angels announce impending judgment to unbelievers (Ge 19:13; Rev 14:6,7; 19:17,18).
    2. Executing—Angels execute God’s judgement (Gen 19; Ex 12:23,29; 1 Ch 20:12-15; Rev 6-19).

The Works of Evil Angels

  1. Accusation—Satan loves to stand before God to accuse the brethren (Job 1:1-6; Rev 12:10).
  2. Destruction—Satan not only wants to tempt God’s people but he wants to destroy them (1 Pt 5:8).
  3. Instruction—Satan and his followers want to proclaim false doctrine (1 Ti 4:1,2).
  4. Persecution—From the nation of Israel in the Old Testament to individual lives throughout the scripture Satan and his followers has sought to destroy God’s people through persecution.
  5. Perversion—Satan perverted the authority of the word of God beginning in the garden (Ge 3:1). He desires to turn people from the truth (2 Ti 4:3,4). He denies the deity of Christ (2 Pt 2:1), the grace of salvation (1 Jn 4:1,3), the second coming (2 Pt 3:4), and wants to convince others of this falsity as well.
  6. Possession—Unbelievers can be possessed by demons (Mk 1:23-26). Evidences of demon possession are both physical (Mt 12:22; Mk 9:17-29; Lu 9:37-43; 13:11-17), and mental (Mk 5:1-20; 9:14-29).
  7. Temptation—Satan tempted Christ (Mt 4) and he wants to do the same to believers (1 Ch 21:1; 1 Th 3:5).