Christian Foundational Beliefs about Angels
One of the topics we sometimes get asked to talk about in our Christian Foundations course has been ‘Who are Angels’? This is a brief overview of what the Bible and Christian mean when they talk about the supernatural world of angles.
The Old Testament hints of the spiritual realm, with invisible, evil, supernatural created cosmic beings who have set out to sidetrack and destroy Israel and the whole world. This conflict is played out in every event that Israel faced as tribes and as a nation. They were surrounded by nations who openly followed other gods and practice inspired by the demonic. These nations had allowed evil to the point where God had to bring judgement
A vast army, of up to 1/3 of these angelic beings exercised their free will and chose to resist their God and Creator. They followed an Archangel, Lucifer as their new master. He has been called many names: ’the great dragon’, that serpent of old, the Devil and Satan. Their purpose is to deceive the whole world, Revelation 12:9, and war against the children of God, Revelation 12:13-17.
The New Testament clearly declares that sometime, somewhere a cosmic rebellion occurred, probably before mankind was created. The book of Mark opens with an open confrontation between the Messiah and Satan, followed by repeated conflicts through Jesus’ ministry.
What is the Origin of Angels?
Angels were created as holy beings (Mark 8:38) by God (Colossians 1:16) before the creation of the universe, the earth and Adam and Eve (Job 38:7, Psalm 148:2, 5).
What is the Nature of Angels?
Angels were created with the ability to fellowship with God. They have a personality expressed by intellect (1 Peter 1:12), emotion (Job 38:7), and free will (Isaiah 14:12-15). They are never said to be made in the image of God, as man is. It appears that they are assigned to a locality or territory, (Daniel 9:21 -23). They are immortal (Luke 20:36) but have limited knowledge (Matthew 24:36).
They are normally invisible (Colossians 1:16) but have appeared to people in the form of strong beings (Genesis 18:1-8) or sometimes as very unusual men (Daniel 10:5-6). Sometimes they come with some sort of supernatural dazzle (Matthew 28:3) unusual living creatures from heaven (Revelation 4:6-8). Usually their appearance affects the people who see them and the response is usually fear and agitation (Luke 1:29).
What is their Spiritual Condition?
Although all angels were created good, there are now two moral classifications: holy and elect, as unfallen angels (Mark 8:38; 1 Timothy 5:21) and the evil and unclean, fallen angels (Luke 8:2; 11:24-26). They are aligned either with God and His purposes (John 1:51) or with Satan and his purposes (Matthew 25:4 1).
They were created by God, accountable to God (John 16:11). Yet, they are a different order of being than are humans (Hebrews 2:5-7). They are invisible, do not procreate (Matthew 22:28-30). They are greater in intelligence, strength, and swiftness to humans (2 Peter 2:11). They not subject to physical death.
What are the Purposes of Ungodly, Fallen angels?
They promote Satan’s program in opposing God (Revelation 12:7) by promoting and encouraging rebellion (Genesis 3), encouraging idolatry (Leviticus 17:7), false religions (1 John 4:1.4), and oppression of mankind.
What are the purposes of the Holy, Unfallen Angels?
They were created to serve God in worship (Revelation 4:6-11) and in ministry (Hebrews 1:7). They are God’s messengers (Psalm 103:20). They act in God’s government by carrying out His decrees (Daniel 10:13, 21). They are sent to protect God’s people (Psalm 34:7) and to execute God’s judgment (Genesis 19:1).
What is their relationship to believers for the Unfallen Angels?
They act to reveal truth (Galatians 3:19), to guide God’s people (Matthew 1:20-21). The good angels are sent by God to help believers (Hebrews 1:14). They are part of the process to provide physical needs (1 Kings 19:6). They are sent to protect (Daniel 3:24-28), to deliver (Acts 5:17-20) and encourage God’s people (Acts 5:19-20). They act in answering prayer (Daniel 9:20-24) and take care of the righteous at the time of death (Luke 16:22) by accompany the dead to their destination (Luke 16:22).
They act as instruments of God’s judgment (Revelation 7:1, 8:2). They help in the process of bringing people to Christ (Acts 8:26, 10:3). They observe the conduct, work and the sufferings of Christians (1 Corinthians 4:9, 11:10, Ephesians 3:10, 1 Peter 1:12). They encourage us in times of danger (Acts 27:23, 24).
What is their Relationship to Believers of Fallen Angels?
Satan’s forces are in direct oppostie to the purpose of the good, unfallen angels. They wage war on humans, accuse the followers of Christ (Revelation 12:10) and plant doubt and disunity. (Genesis 3:1. 3). They play a part in temptation to sin (Genesis 2:1-3). They act to persecute God’s people (Revelation 12:13). They try to prevent service to the body of Christ (I Thess. 2:18) and to disturb the church (2 Corinthians 2:10.11). They are sent to deceive and bring spiritual blindness. They may appear as ‘angels of light’ but are really sent to increase humanity’s shame, guilt, degradation and rebellion to their Creator.
They come in forms of ‘spiritual guides’, plant the inspiration to make-up new gospels, finding ‘new truths’. They are involved in the New Age teachings and other deceptions, often in similar roles to the evil angels in the Old Testament. They are behind much of the inspiration of violent, sadistic, abusive media presentations.
What are the Relationships of evil, Fallen angels to Christ on Earth?
Satan tempted Christ (Mark 1:13), led people to betray and kill Him (Luke 22:3.4). Christ cast demons out and finally defeated them totally on the cross and at His resurrection (Colossians 2:15).
What are the Relationships of Unfallen angels to Christ on Earth?
They announced the birth of Christ (Luke 1:26.38) and guided Joseph to safety (Matthew 2:14). They ministered to Christ after His confrontation with Satan (Matthew 4:11, Luke 22:43). They announced His resurrection (Matthew 28:2-4), His ascension and return (Acts 1:11). (Our thanks to
http://semplicementeio.ning.com/ for this interesting picture. Although we know that there is little contest of power between Christ and SAtan. Jesus is in total victory over the works of darkness.)
Where do Fallen Angels live?
They inhabit the Heavenly (spiritual) realms while some angels are already in the abyss waiting judgement (Revelation 9:1-11). They can live in people when they possess them, or so deceive them that they carry out their purposes without question (Mark 9:14-29). They also live in the bonds of darkness (Jude 6) and in the ‘dry places’ of life. Christians cannot be ‘fully possessed’ by demons as they have the Holy Spirity within them but Christians can be ‘oppressed’ to different degrees by demons.
Where do the Godly, Unfallen Angels live?
They have right to inhabit all three heavenly realms. They are called both to be in God’s presence (Isaiah 6:1-6) and in the heavenly realms around us (Ephesians 3:10).
What is the Destiny of ungodly, Fallen Angels?
They are defeated by Christ (Colossians 2:15). They will be cast into the abyss during the Millennium (Revelation 20:1.2) and finally cast into lake of fire as their final judgement and Punishment, (Revelation 20:10).
What is the destiny of the Godly, Unfallen Angles?
They will be in God’s and Christ’s presence in His kingdom (Revelation 21-22). We will recognise fully them during this time and possible have a relationship with the angels around us.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It is clear from any study that both the Old and New Testaments 
present the picture of the conflict between good and evil, between God and Satan. These forces are at work in the world today, around us in ways that we are often blinded to see. Artists depict this struggle with innocent pictures of angels rather than the powerful forces that they really are.
The most common attitude toward the demonic realm is ignorance and unbelief. Then you can also find the opposite view. Satan attempts to blind us to his existence or to cause other groups to so over emphasis his presence that we forget we have complete authority over his works because of what Jesus’ sinless life Earth, in His death and His resurrection. Jesus has conquered the forces of evil and in His power; we too can stand against the evil around us.
The reality is that both the good and the evil angels are all around us …. the real issue is what gives them to right to influence our life? What legal rights does the enemy use to oppress and harrass God’s people?
Other religions, philosophies and world views exclude the reality of this struggle between good and evil. This certainly helps set the stage for the end time events when Satan’s forces join to create a time of great tribulation for the whole Earth. All anyone has to do is open today’s newspaper to see where Satan’s forces are concentrating. Since Satan is not a creator, his temptations are bound to only what is common to mankind (1 Corinthians 10:13). He still uses the tactics he used on Adam and Eve: greed, fear, shame, guilt, blame, anger and so on. His greatest weapon is the lie Eve fell for – ‘……to be like God…’
We are not to seek after, nor worship angels but to be aware that they are God’s messengers sent to help us in the struggle between good and evil.
An interesting novel written about this battle is This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti (Jun 26, 2003) (256 customer reviews)
| Formats |
Buy new |
New from |
Used from |
Collectible from | ||
| Paperback Order in the next 20 hours to get it by Friday, Aug 12. |
$14.99 |
|||||
| Hardcover |
Other Formats: Mass Market Paperback, Audio CD
Frank Peretti has written three interesting books. You can find these at a special price: Peretti Three-Pack by Frank Peretti (Oct 1, 2003) (43 customer reviews)
| Formats |
Buy new |
New from |
Used from $11.84 |
||
| Paperback Order in the next 20 hours to get it by Friday, Aug 12. Only 16 left in stock – order soon. |
Or find this book at www.koorong.com.au This Present Darkness
PAPERBACK Frank Peretti $12.95
However, it is worth making the point that we do not do ‘fight evil’ in our own ‘goodness as humans or as Christians’ but only in His authority. We must take the attitude that Michael did in Jude 8-9. We must be careful to NEVER judge any angelic beings, even Satan!
(See the coming post on ‘Our Authority in Jesus Christ’.)
May this post help in your understanding of the spiritual dimension from a Christian Foundations point of view.
Susanne Fengler, Blog Author
www.christianfoundations.mentorsnotebook.com/blog
www.hearinggod.mentorsnotebook.com/blog
Tags: Angels
Filed under: Foundations of our Faith, Series #1: Being a Jesus Follower
So Suanne, where did you learn all this? You must read alot of books to know all this. Thanks though, I am interesting in reading every post here! Why don’t our churches talk about this kind of stuff? Marsha
Hi Marsha. Since I have been following Jesus since I was 17 – that’s almost 50 years! – wow! So, no haven’t read all that many books on all these topics. It’s been more what the Lord has taught us in our 20+ years Counselling experience. As far as your question about churches – some do and some don’t. ‘Go figure….’ Really I guess water only rises to the highest level so if they don’t know it, they can’t teach it. Practice what you have been taught and you will grow too. Thanks for your encouragement, blessings, Susanne