ANGELS. . . ANGELS. . . ANGELS
Rev. Richard A. Bolland
Unit 1: Why
Study about Angels?
Unit 2:
Angels are Real
Unit 3:
Lucifer and the Angelic Rebellion
Unit 4:
Angelic Organization
Unit 5:
Angels: God's Agents in Judgment
ANGELS. . . ANGELS. . . ANGELS
Rev. Richard A. Bolland
Bible Study #1
I. WHY STUDY ABOUT ANGELS?
A. Because the Scriptures speak about them so very frequently.
1. ___________ Bible references speak about angels.
2. ___________ in the Old Testament.
3. ___________ in the New Testament.
B. Because they do great things in the Bible: (Name at least three)
1. _________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________
C. Because of honest instances where people - even today - have had angelic encounters:
1. Dr. S.W. Mitchell, celebrated Philadelphia neurologist...
2. Rev. John G. Paton, missionary in the New Hebrides Islands...
D. Because of greatly increased attention to Satan worship and demonic activity.
1. Check out any secular bookstore...
2. Read your newspapers or watch TV...
3. Hollywood films and videos treat the subject with increased frequency...
4. Several highly popular rock groups flaunt their literal worship of Satan and our kids sing along...
E. Because New Age "philosophies/theologies" frequently include participation in paranormal/metaphysical phenomenon.
1. Extra sensory perception as a virtue.
2. Submission to "Spirit Guides" from the supernatural world.
3. Wicca as a legitimate form of religion and especially feminist religion.
4. The encouragement of the "deadening" of sensory/intellectual activity and the encouragement of "opening-up" to the "forces" around us.
F. Because the angels are a source of hope and comfort to believers:
ANGELS. . . ANGELS. . . ANGELS
Rev. Richard A. Bolland
Bible Study #2
I. ANGELS ARE FOR REAL!
A. Why is there a debate?
1. McCandlish Phillips asserts:
"The initiative in scientific discovery lies wholly with man. The initiative in spiritual revelation lies wholly with God. Men can know only what God elects to reveal to them about the spiritual and the supernatural We can know nothing about angels apart from revelation."
2. The unbelieving world cannot discern spiritual things.
a. Read I Corinthians 2:6-16
1.) Who or what is the "spirit of the world"? (v. 12)
2.) What can this worldly spirit reveal to us?
3.) What revelation from God to all people have?
4.) What does this natural revelation teach us? (Rom. 1:18 ff.)
5.) What can't natural revelation teach us?
6.) How can humans know about spiritual things?
b. Angels are spiritual beings and therefore, they may only be discerned ______________________________!
B. Angels are Created Beings:
1. What are some of the commonly understood "stereotypes" we hold about angels?
a. What do they look like?
b. What do they do?
c. Do we become angels when we die and have a chance to earn our wings?
2. Read Colossians 1:15-20
a. Was there a time when angels did not exist?
b. Are the angels among the visible or the invisible creation of God?
C. What are the Characteristics of Angels?
1. Read Hebrews 1:14
a. What kind of form do these angels take?
b. In the Bible we read of angels appearing in physical form. How is that possible if they are spiritual beings?
2. Read Mark 12:25
a. Do angels have "special" relationships with one another?
b. Can angels reproduce?
D. How many angels are there?
1. David notes that he counted 20,000 coursing through the skyways of the stars.
2. Read Psalm 68:17
3. 10,000 angels came down on Mount Sinai to confirm the holy presence of God as he gave the Law to Moses. (Deuteronomy 33:2)
4. Look up Revelation 5:11...How many angels does John see ministering to the Lamb of God in heaven?
5. Read Hebrews 12:22 and ask yourself, "How many angels are there?"
E. Angels are a well organized Army:
1. What's an "Archangel'?
a. I Thessalonians 4:16
b. Jude 9
2. What's a "Cherubim"?
a. Genesis 3:24
b. Exodus 25:18-26
3. What's a "Seraphim"?
a. Isaiah 6:2-6
ANGELS. . . ANGELS. . . ANGELS
Rev. Richard A. Bolland
BIBLE STUDY #3
I. LUCIFER AND THE ANGELIC REBELLION.
A. Lucifer - Whose name means "bright and shining morning light" was also called "Son of the morning" led a rebellion in heaven against the heavenly host.
1. Lucifer, together with Michael may have been one of two archangels.
2. Read Isaiah 14:12-14 & Ezekiel 28:1-2, 15
a. Lucifer's position in heaven was _____________________________
b. Lucifer's spiritual condition before the rebellion was ____________.
b. __________________________________ motivated Lucifer's uprising.
3. When was the war over? __________________________.
4. List out the five "I Wills" proclaimed by Satan: (Isaiah 14:12-14)
a. "I will ________________________________________________
b. "I will ________________________________________________
c. "I will ________________________________________________
d. "I will ________________________________________________
e. "I will ________________________________________________
B. Read Luke 10:17-18
1. Falling from heaven is a way of describing Satan's ____________________ attempt to push God from power.
2. "Lucifer was not satisfied with being subordinated to his Creator. He wanted to usurp God's throne. He exulted at the thought of being the center of power throughout the universe - he wanted to be the Caesar, the Napoleon, the Hitler of the entire universe. The "I will" spirit is the spirit of rebellion. His was a bold act to dethrone the Lord Most High. Here was a wicked schemer who saw himself occupying the superlative position of power and glory. He wanted to be worshipped, not to worship." -- Rev. Billy Graham
3. How many wars have been fought over the desire to possess what did not belong to someone?
4. How many marriages have ended because a spouse desired someone other than the one they had?
5. How many positions at a place of employment have been coveted by someone who was not in line to receive a promotion?
C. Read Revelation 12: 7-9
1. How do you suppose Satan received the name, "The Prince of this world"?
2. Describe Satan's attitude after the fall (Rev. 12:10-12)
3. Do you see in this passage a reason for Satan's attack on Adam & Eve?
D. Read Revelation 12:13-17:
1. Who is the woman who had given birth to the male child?
2. Who are the rest of the woman's off-spring? (v. 17)
E. Revelation gives us a peek at the on-going warfare that is still occurring between the Holy Angels of God and the demons of Satan. His goals are clear:
1. Create havoc among the nations.
2. To use the results of man's fall to bring fire, flood, earthquake, storm pestilence, disease and the devastation of peoples and nations.
3. To subvert and finally destroy God's plans for humanity . . . especially God's plan of salvation as a whole and in the lives of individuals.
F. How Satan works: (Read Genesis 3:1-4)
1. First Satan ___________________ _________________ on God's Word.
2. Secondly Satan ________________ God's Word.
3. Thirdly Satan _____________ ________________ ______________.
G. How could Adam and Eve avoid the Fall?
ANGELS. . . ANGELS. . . ANGELS
Rev. Richard A. Bolland
BIBLE STUDY # 4
I. ANGELIC ORGANIZATION.
A. The angels are clearly organized and ranked according both rank and glory: (Some of those listed in the second and third column are uncertain.)
1. The general structure:
a. Archangels e. principalities i. might
b. Angels f. authorities j. dominion
c. Seraphim g. powers
d. Cherubim h. thrones
2. Read Colossians 1:16
a. What's being described here?_______________________________
_______________________________________________________
b. Dionysius the Areopagite speculated 27 ranks of angels consisting of three major orders each with 9 subdivisions. Much of this conjecturing was based on the apocryphal and pseudepigraphal writings such as Tobit, Enoch, 2 Esdras and the Testament of Levi.
c. While some have concluded that there are only two ranks mentioned in the Scriptures -- Angels and Archangels and that Seraphim and Cherubim denote, not ranks, but special kinds of angels; it is possible that the above listings are indeed a reference to angelic personalities.
B. Archangels:
1. Archangels are referred to only twice is the Bible, both times in the New Testament: II Thessalonians 4:16 & Jude 9.
2. They are referred to, however, by different titles in both the Old and New Testaments:
a. Daniel 12:1 ___________________________________
b. Joshua 5:14 ___________________________________
c. Revelation 12:7 ________________________________
3. There are no references in the Bible which refers to more than one Archangel.
a. Michael is referred to in Jude 9 as the Archangel.
b. Lucifer probably was the predecessor of Michael, hence there have been two Archangels, but not at the same time.
c. The name "Michael" means, "who is like unto the Lord".
4. In the Old Testament Michael seems to be identified primarily with the nation of Israel:
a. Daniel 12:1 ____________________________________________
b. Daniel 10:21 ____________________________________________
5. In both Old & New Testaments, Michael is seen as God's agent for judgment:
a. Rev. 12:7-12 ___________________________________________
b. It is Michael who will lead the holy angels into the battle of the final and victorious conflict between Satan and his demons at the end of this world's history.
c. It is Michael who will shout at the coming of our Lord on the Day of Christ's return and it is Michael who will speak the word of life to all the dead in Christ on that great day of resurrection.
C. Seraphim:
1. Following the Archangels, the Seraphim seem to exercise a differing rank and order:
a. The origin of the term, "Seraphim" is uncertain. It may come from a Hebrew root word meaning "Love", though some think the term means "burning ones" or "nobles".
b. The only specific Biblical reference to Seraphim is found in Isaiah 6:1-6 where we find:
1.) They have ___________ wings.
2.) They have the honor of primarily ________________ God.
3.) They also ________________ and __________________ God's servants.
4.) It can be inferred that Seraphim are indescribably beautiful.
2. As is true of all angels, Seraphim are determined to direct all the glory to God, and not to themselves:
a. For what purpose would the Seraphim cover their faces in Isaiah 6?
b. They seem to be personal attendants to God and sing praises of His glory . . . never their own.
D. Cherubim:
1. Unlike the fat, child-like characters portrayed on Valentine cards, Cherubim are real and very powerful angelic creatures.
a. Ezekiel 10 gives a detailed description of the appearance of the Cherubim:
1.) They have four wings and can fly.
2.) Something that looks like many eyes and wheels intersected by other wheels were a part of their appearance.
3.) They have four faces: of a man, of a lion, of an eagle and of a Cherub.
b. It seems that the Cherubim are present when God is about to do some great act and add to His glory with their presence as the glory of any created being can only be a reflection of their Creator.
1.) Psalm 80:1
2.) Psalm 99:1
3.) Genesis 3:24, It is the Cherubim which guards the entrance to Eden. . . No wonder Adam and Eve stayed away!
4.) At the Exodus, Cherubim are incorporated into the design of wilderness Tabernacle in the design of the mercy seat (Exodus 25:18)
2. Many believe that the "Living Creatures" of the book of Revelation are also Cherubim in action.
D. Honorable Mention for Gabriel:
1. Gabriel is primarily God messenger of mercy and promise.
a. Gabriel appears four times in the Bible and each time he brings good news:
1.) Daniel 8:15-16, Gabriel explains the vision of the anti-Christ.
2.) Daniel 9:20-27, Gabriel tells of the Anointed One who will atone for sin.
3.) Luke 1:9-20, Gabriel tells Zechariah that his wife will bear a son - John the Baptist.
4.) Luke 1:26-37, Gabriel tells Mary that she will bear Jesus.
ANGELS. . . ANGELS. . . ANGELS
Rev. Richard A. Bolland
BIBLE STUDY # 5
I. ANGELS -- GOD'S AGENTS IN JUDGMENT.
A. According to the Bible, history is replete with events in which angels have been working to carry out God's judgments directing the destinies of nations disobedient to God:
1. Hebrews 1:7 indicates that angels bring the storm of ________________ and the judgment of ___________________.
2. Since all authority is derived from God, including the power of the state, it is both logical and biblical that when nations fall, they do so because God's hand is at work in judgment.
a. Consider the fall of the Third Reich.
b. The fall of the Soviet Union and her satellite states in eastern Europe.
c. The fall of the Roman Empire.
d. The fall of Judah and Israel.
e. The fall of the earth itself. (Cf. Rev. 10:1-7, 11:6)
B. Judgment is a righteous act done by God, through His angels.
1. Genesis 18:1-2, 20-21 -- Sodom/Gomorrah are warned.
2. II Kings 19:35-36 -- God executes judgment against Assyria.
3. I Chronicles 21:14-16 -- God's wrath against David's defiance in numbering Israel.
4. Acts 12:19b-23 -- God destroys King Herod.
C. The angels will be God's agents of judgment on the Day of judgment:
1. Matthew 13:47-50 -- Angels carry out the eternal death sentence for those who are without Christ.
2. Revelation 19:11-16 -- It is Christ who passes judgment and His army of angels that carry out that judgment.
II. ANGELS PROTECT AND DELIVER US.
A. What a comfort it would be for us if we realized that the mighty angels of God are always nearby, ready to help us in every circumstance of life. While this is absolutely true, many Christians are either ignorant of this truth or have dismissed it as irrelevant to the reality of their lives.
1. God's angels often protect His servants:
a. II Kings 6:8-18 -- An army of angels strikes the Syrian army blind.
b. Acts 27:20-25 -- An angel tells Paul that the lives of his travel companions will be protected.
2. God's angels in "disguise"?
a. Chinese Christian book store in 1942 during Japanese occupation . .
b. Corrie ten Boom smuggles her Bible into Ravensbruck Concentration Camp...
B. Billy Graham says: "Every true believer in Christ should be encouraged and strengthened! Angels are watching; they mark your path. They superintend the events of your life and protect the interest of the Lord God, always working to promote His plans and to bring about His highest will for you."
1. Genesis 16:1-14 -- Angels bring God's message and protection to Hagar.
2. Psalm 34:7 -- David rejoices in the divine surveillance of the angels.
C. Personal experiences that speak of divine intervention hint at angel activities:
1. Airplane Crash in Texas . . .
2. Volkswagon accident in northern Nevada . . .
3. What are your stories? Remember, there are no coincidences!
4. Consider the personal experience of Peter, Acts 12:1-15.
D. Jesus was watched and cared for by the angels: Matthew 4:11