The Doctrine Of Angels #2 Series

ANGELOLOGY

The Doctrine of Angels #2

The Nature of Angels #2

Dr. Russell K. Tardo

This study of the Doctrine of Angels, will cover not only the holy angels, but also unholy angels, i.e., the demons and the devil, all spiritual beings. There exists a spiritual world, the spiritual dimension right alongside this one but it’s invisible to the human eye. Not only do these spiritual beings exist, but they also interact with man on a daily basis. They positively interact with humans for the benefit, for the good, for the welfare of man. The Bible refers to them as ministering angels. The holy angels minister positively on man’s behalf but there are spiritual beings that minister negatively to man’s hurt. The latter are the unholy beings, the fallen angels. This group is the demonic realm who attacks human beings with all types of temptations to sin, sinful thoughts, including such things as sickness and disease. The Bible reveals these things are the result of demon oppression.

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil.... [Acts 10:38]

Sickness is demon oppression, but demons also minister their evil in other ways. They minister fear and doubt concerning the Word of God. The devil is the one who causes people to question God’s Word, to question God’s faithfulness. It was while Adam and Eve were still in the Garden of Eden that the devil subtly inquired, Hath God said?.... Even in the Garden, the devil questioned the commandment of God, i.e., the word of God to Adam and Eve, and he continues in that pattern today. He will do all in his power to get the believer to question the Word, to question the promises. The devil is a minister of oppression as well as depression and every other sort of depraved and corrupt behavior.

I. THE NATURE OF ANGELS (recapitulation / summarization)

During the last session, the teaching dealt with the Nature of Angels. Some of the topics discussed included the fact that angels are like men in some ways but in other ways, they are not like men at all. At times they appeared like men and many, many times in the Bible they were even mistaken to be men. The book of Hebrews tells believers they should entertain strangers because in so doing, some have entertained angels unaware. The believer is to offer hospitality, love and compassion to others. In many other ways angels are quite unlike men. Let’s be clear, however, that the nature of men and the nature of angels are not at all the same, but two completely different things.

A. Angels Are Created Beings.

Our previous study emphasized that angels are created beings. God created the angels; they will live forever.

35But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. [Lk. 20:35-36]

Not only do the angels not die, but they also do not age, i.e., they do not grow older. They’re of a different order than men. Though the angels will live forever, they did not always exist because they’re not eternal. Only God is eternal. He alone possesses the attributes of deity such as eternity, omnipresence, omnipotence, omniscience, etc. Angels are created beings, albeit powerful beings, they are nevertheless created. There was a time in eternity when the angels did not exist. In saying there was a time in eternity; one must understand that term must be used a bit freely because in eternity there was no time. Time is a created thing. There was no time before God created the world, the universe, the moon, stars, sun, etc. Recognize that time didn’t exist until God created the earth. In way of explanation, time is a measurement of the earth’s rotation. That’s all that time is. It measures the earth’s rotation, i.e., how long it takes the earth to turn on its axis (24 hours), how long it takes it to revolve around the sun (365 days). How could there be time before there was an earth to revolve? Therefore, in eternity past, before God created the earth, the planets, the moon, stars, etc., there was no time. God’s an eternal creature. Time is something finite and very diminutive in the sight of God. That’s why time does not affect God. He’s more extensive than time, i.e., larger than time. That’s why these spiritual beings whose existence predates time are unaffected by time.

B. Angels are Personal Beings.

Angels are not only created beings, but also personal beings, possessing personal characteristics. They have feelings and emotions. They rejoice over one sinner brought to repentance.