Category: angels
The Power and Limitations of Angels and Demons
This is the sixth in a brief series of posts on angels.
Who are demons? Where did they come from? What are they like? And what do they do? Scripture clearly affirms the reality of demons. In the New Testament alone, all of the writers except for the writer of Hebrews mention demons — for a total of more than 100 references. Jesus often casts out demons and authorizes His disciples to do the same. Never does the Lord correct anyone for his or her belief in demons.
References to demons are far less frequent in the Old Testament. The shedhim of Deut. 32:17 and Ps. 106:37 are lord-idols whom the Hebrews regard as visible symbols of demons. The seirim of Lev. 17:7; 2 Chron. 11:15; Isa. 13:21 and 34:14 also are demonic conceptions, according to Charles Ryrie in Basic Theology.
Demons in Scripture exercise great power and knowledge; they clearly recognize Jesus as God and fear Him; they work actively against Jesus; and they promote false teachings known as “doctrines of demons.”
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Satan: The Evil One
This is the fifth in a brief series of posts on angels.
There is ample evidence in Scripture that a supernatural creature called Satan actually exists. He is a created being, not merely a symbol of evil, a figure of speech, or a mysterious dark force.
He is an angelic being of superior intelligence and power; a roaming lion with a ravenous appetite for evil; a master of disguise who often appears as an angel of light; a pathological liar who shades his words with half-truths and misquoted Scripture; a once-anointed cherub who reflected the glory of God before becoming the great dragon who may have led as many as one-third of the angelic host to rise up in rebellion against their Creator.
He is a prince over a dark and unseen domain; the god of this present world system; the accuser of believers; the one who blinds unbelievers from a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and binds them as slaves to sin.
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The Angel of the Lord
This is the fourth in a brief series of posts on angels.
There is in Scripture one “angel” who is above all others. He is not created. His name appears more than 40 times in the Old Testament, but never in the New Testament. He is called “the Angel of the Lord,” “the Angel of His Presence,” “the Captain of the Lord’s Hosts,” and “ I AM WHO I AM” — a name reserved only for the one true and living God.
Who is this awesome messenger?
Ancient Israelites believed him to be a special angel, the highest revelation of the unseen God. Similarly, Roman Catholics generally regard the Angel of the Lord as an angelic representative of God.
Evangelicals, on the other hand, regard Him either as a theophany, a manifestation of God that is tangible to the human senses, or as a Christophany, an appearance of the preincarnate Son of God.
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The Ministry of Holy Angels
This is the third in a brief series of posts on angels.
Most of the work of holy angels is performed in heaven, where angels minister to God with praise and worship (Ps. 148:2; Rev. 5:11-12). At the same time, angels carry out important duties on earth. In Angels Dark and Light, Gary Kinnaman says this earthly ministry falls into at least eight broad categories.
Angels are messengers
Angels deliver good news, such as the birth of Christ (Luke 2:9-14). They bring prophetic messages, such as the unlikely birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-25). Angels also bring commendation and condemnation, as in the messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor (Revelation 2-3). “Herald angels” announce spectacular and significant events, like the resurrection of Christ (Matt. 28:5-7) and the resurrection of the just (1 Thess. 4:16-17). Last, angels provide instruction and direction (Matt. 2:13).
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Names and Ranks of Holy Angels
This is the second in a brief series of posts on angels.
If God calls the stars by name (Isa. 40:26), do all angels and demons have names? Are some more important than others? Do they have different responsibilities? Various levels of authority? Is God’s angelic host a true heavenly army – with each soldier assigned a name, rank, and serial number? Our study this week focuses on how angels are named and organized.
Angelic names
Angels are called by many names in Scripture. General names include:
Angel. The Greek word angelos and the Hebrew word malak mean messenger. These words are used of angels, men, demons – even occasionally of the pre-incarnate Christ.
Minister. The Greek word leitourgos means servant or minister, especially in connection with religious duties. The Hebrew word mishrathim is used in much the same way.
Host. The Hebrew word sava encompasses all of God’s heavenly army (Ps. 103:21).
Chariots. This term applies to angels in the sense that they are part of God’s army (2 Kings 6:16-17; Ps. 68:17).
Watchers. This term denotes angels as supervisors and agents under God, employed by Him in the control of world government (Dan. 4:13, 17).
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