144 – The Doctrine of Angels

SEMESTER 3

144 – The Doctrine of Angels

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: THEOLOGY III LESSON # 44
THE DOCTRINE OF ANGELS

INTRODUCTION:

1. The existence and form of angels has always been controversial.
2. The Sadducees did not even believe in their existence (the modernists of the day).
3. Others hold to individual angels, guardian angels, and even angels as the state of resurrected saints.
4. Only Scripture can give us a reliable view of them.

I. THE NATURE OF ANGELS

1. They are created (not self-existent) beings. (Psa 148:1-5, Col. 1:16, Gen. 1:31, Gen. 2:3)
2. They are pure spirits (not sinless but) without material, as an essence of their being. (Luke 24:39)
3. They are a higher creature than man. (Heb. 2:7)

i. They are greater in might. (II Pet. 2:11, Mat. 26:53, Mat. 28:2, II Thes. 1:7)
ii. Yet, they are ministering servants to believers (Heb. 1:14), and are to be judged by them. (I Cor. 6:3)
iii. Thus, we may well conclude that in his glorified state, man shall ascend above angels. (Eph. 1:20-21, Phil. 2:6-9)

4. Angels are considered sexless by some, because of Mat. 22:20.

i. Frequent use of masculine names and pronouns causes me to doubt this.
ii. I expect that they are non-productive and thus, non-marital, yet masculine.

5. They are deathless beings, (Luke 20:36) thus, eternal spirits.

II. CLASSES OF ANGELS

1. Elect angels, not chosen to salvation, but to preservation from a fall. (I Tim. 5:21)
2. Fallen angels. (II Pet. 2:4, Jude 6)

III. RANK, ORDER AND ORGANIZATION AMONG ANGELS

1. Michael is revealed to be the Archangel (chief angel). (Jude 9, I Thes. 4:16)
2. Gabriel seems to occupy a very high place among angels. (Dan. 8:16, Dan. 9:16-21, Luke 1:19)
3. I cannot describe an order, but such Scriptures as Col. 1:16, Eph. 1:21 and Eph. 3:10 seem to make it sure that they are not of equal authority nor responsibility.
4. I expect differing and sovereignly appointed powers and offices as in the case of men.

IV. THEY ARE NOT TO BE WORSHIPED

1. They are not worthy of worship. (Rev. 22:9)
2. Worship of angels is out of order. (Col. 2:18)

V. THE DUTIES AND ACTIVITIES OF ANGELS

(This must be considered under two divisions: The activities of holy angels and of fallen angels. I will deal with the activity of fallen angels under the study of Satan. This heading shall address only the employment of holy angels.)

1. They praise God and obey Him. (Ps. 103:2, Ps. 148:2)
2. They rejoice in the redemption of men. (Luke 15:7-10)
3. They minister to the recipients of grace. (Heb. 1:14, Dan. 6:22, Acts 12:8-11)
4. They carry communication from God to men. (Gen. 19:1-13, Mat. 1:20, Acts 10:3-6)
5. They execute the purposes of God. (II Sam. 24:16, II Chro. 32:21, Acts 12:23)
6. They meditated in the giving of the law. (Acts 7:53, Gal. 3:19, Heb. 2:2)
7. They ministered to Christ personally. (Mat. 4:11, Luke 22:43)
8. They will accompany Christ when He returns. (Mat. 25:31-32, II Thes. 1:7-8)

(You will notice that most of their activities are not constant or by commis­sion. They are rather special, irregular and by specific, divine direction.)

Note: I acknowledge that this particular outline is chiefly the work of T. P. Simmons, aided by J. P. Boyce and John A. Broadus.