A Study On Angels. Demons And Satan Series

A Study on Angels

I. Introduction

A. Why Study the Nature and Activities of Angels and Demons?

1. Holy Angels (Unfallen)

a. It builds our hope that God is for us. (Matt. 4:11; Luke 22:43; Acts 5:19-20)

Matthew 4:11 Then the devil *left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

Luke 22:43 Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.

Act 5:19-20 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life."

b. It builds our confidence the God has the victory! (2 Kings 6:15-17; 19:35; Matt. 26:53).

2 Kings 6:15-17 Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." And the LORD opened the servant's eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

2 Kings 19:35 Then it happened that night that the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men rose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead.

Matthew 26:53 "Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

c. It provides a beautiful example of utter obedience and devotion to God. (Ps 103:19-21)

Psalm 103:19-21 The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all. Bless the LORD, you His angels, Mighty in strength, who perform His word, Obeying the voice of His word! Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You who serve Him, doing His will.

2. Fallen Angels / Demons

a. It gives us an awareness of the dangers associated with the devil. (Eph 6:11; 1 Peter 5:8)

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

1 Peter 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

b. It gives us a clearer picture of the severity and effects of sin. (Matt 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6; Rev 12:9)

Matthew 25:41 "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;

2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;

Jude 1:6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day,

Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

B. The Meaning of the Terms 'Angel' and 'Demon'

The word 'angel' refers to created spirit beings, some of whom are holy and some evil. The OT term for angel is mal'ak and the NT term is angelos, both of which refer to one sent with a message, or one acting as a messenger.

The biblical terms for angel are used of human messengers in some instances (1 Sam. 23:27; 1 Kings 19:2; Luke 7:24; 9:52).

1 Samuel 23:27 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land."

1 Kings 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time."

Luke 7:24 When the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

Luke 9:51 When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem; Luke 9:52 and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him.

Often, in the OT particularly, the term is used for The Angel of the LORD (Gen. 16:7-14; Judg. 6:11-14; 2 Sam. 24:16; Zech. 1:12-13; Matt. 1:20),