Know God and be known by God.
Angels:
- Are they real ?
- If there are angels, there must be demons
- Do all have guardian angels?
What do the Bible says about Angels?
Are there male and female angels?
Do all have guardian angels?
Can a Christ follower be demon possessed?
What does the bible says about Angels?
Context: Angels in the Bible refers to Messenger or agent. These terms can be applying to human beings.
Characteristics of Angels:
Colossians 1:16: Angels are created beings.
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Angels do not reproduce: Matthew 22:30
For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.
Angels are immortal: Luke 20:36 nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of resurrection.
Angels are large in numbers: Revelation 5:11
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousands times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.
Angels are not to be worshipped: Rev 22:8-9
Now I, John, [a]saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.
Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. [b]For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
Classification
There is no specifics in the bible how angels are classified but we know from the bible that there are some classifications for angels like Michael is a higher rank angel than the rest of the angels.
Archangel Michael: Dan 10:21, 12;1, Thess 4:16, Jude 9&16
Cherubim and Seraphim Eze 1, 10 &28; Rev4/Isa 6
Gabriel Messenger Daniel 8:16, 9:21, Luke 1:19
Rulers and Principalities, Powers: Eph 1:21, 3:10& 6:12 Col 1:16
Spiritual Host Eph 6:12
Calling of angels
Praise: Isa 6:3, Psalm 148:2, Revelation 5:11
Proclaim: Jesus’s birth (Luke 1:11&26) Rapture (1 Thess 4:11), Jesus’ second coming (Matthew 25:31
Pronounce Judgement (Gen 19, Revelation)
Perform: Slaughtering the Assyrian army (2 Kings 19( Herod struck dead and was eaten by worms (Acts 12:20-23) ) Reapers (Matthew 13:39-40, Rev 14:14-20)
Provide care :(for Christ followers): Hebrews 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Providing direction: Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26) Cornelius (Acts 10) Paul’s journey to Rome and shipwrecked (acts 27)
Prayer (Response to prayers): Peter escape from prison helped by an Angel. (Acts 12:5-10)
Parting Souls: The Rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-22)
Whats the big deal?
Hebrews 13:2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!
2) Are they male and female angels?
Every pronounce applied to angels in the bible uses the masculine gender.
New Testament Greek “Angelos” is a masculine noun.
Angels appeared in human form-they are males
Angels do not get married
Angels are ministering Spirits not human.
- Do all have a guardian angel? NO!
Many people think that Christians have guardian angel due to this verse: Matthew 18:10
See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
“Their” is a Greek collective pronoun suggests that believers are served by angels in general.
“Their angels” is in plural, referring to a group of angels on standby ready to help God’s children instead of permanently assigned.
Whats the big deal?
We served an all powerful, all knowing , all loving God, seek God rather than seek guardian angel.
Can a Christian be demon possessed? NO! Lets look at some definitions:
Demon possession refers to a person being control directly and completely in his or her thoughts/actions that can be against his/her will.
Demon influenced refers to a person being oppressed or influenced by the demon to continue with his/her sinful behavior but he/she can exercise the will against it. A Christ follower can be demon influenced.
Spiritual attack due to open door or foothold which the individual left for the devil to take advantage of. Examples are unrepentant sin, godless living etc. A Christ follower can also fall into this category.
Spiritual attack can also be experienced by fervent believers.
Examples of demon possession:
- Demon harassment example King Saul-1 Samuel 16:14-15, 18:10-11; 19:9-10
- Physical impairment resulting in becoming mute, suffer epileptic seizure, blindness, physically bent over etc.
Matthew 9:32-33, 12:22, 17:18, 7:26-30, Luke 4:33-36; Acts 16:16-18
- Extreme possession example the man with legion of demons-Mark 5, Mark 9,
Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. Luke 22:3
“Entered”- Thoughts going into a person’s mind, to go out or come in; enter; of men and animals, as into a house or a city. Can refer to food, entering into the mouth. Also refers to Satan entering into Judas’ body. If we look at the life of Judas, he never belonged to Jesus but the devil. Likewise, we can be a Christian, serving a ministry or church, but who we belonged to will determine if we can be influenced or possessed.
Examples of demon influenced
Matthew 16:23
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Key: What fills our life? Filled with the Holy Spirit!
Ephesians 5:18
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
What does it look like being filled with Satan’s evil intentions?
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? -Acts 5:3
Guard our hearts. Examine our hearts:
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.-Proverbs 4:23
And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.-2 Tim 2:24-26
Application:
Serve God and not the devil. Always choose to build up one another.