Part 7 of 15 –

The Angelic Creatures

 

A “creature” is a created living being. This includes angels and humans. Man was originally created lower than the angels. Upon one’s regeneration, they are “in Christ,” then possessing the very life of Christ (Col 3:4a) and thereby positioned higher than the angelic creatures.

As discussed in Part 3, every believer in this age of the pure grace of God has been baptized with a dry baptism into “the body of Christ.” This occurs at the moment they “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and that God hath raised him from the dead” (Act 16:31). Believers saved under “the dispensation of the grace of God” are only eternally “sealed” (Eph 4:30) and secure “in Christ.” Grace believers are “in Christ” and therefore positioned “far above all principalities, powers, mights, and dominions” (Eph 1:21). That is, “far above” the Luciferian heavenly angelic host who currently occupy the positions of rank and authority over the lower heavens and the earth. One day, upon the rapture of “the body of Christ,” its members will physically occupy the heavens in glorified spirit-bodies (like Jesus’ resurrected glorified body), then having rule and authority over the angels and the heavenly realms. In fact, Paul says the angels will one day be judged by members of the “body of Christ” (1 Cor. 6:3).

Since Lucifer’s rebellion and fall, there now are both good and evil of the angelic host. There is no reconciliation or salvation available for the fallen angels who, with the Devil, are destined for “the lake of fire.” Yet today they still occupy positions of rank in the heavenly sphere and over the earth, being titled; “principalities, powers, mights, and dominions.”

Archangels:

The word “archangel” comes from the Greek (arch angělǒs), meaning “chief angel.” It derives from the Greek archō, meaning to be “first in rank or power”; whereas aggělǒs means “messenger,” commonly translated “angel.”

“ Archangel ” is only used twice in the New Testament; 1 Thes 4:16 and Jude 1:9. Only Michael and Gabriel are mentioned by name as angels in the New Testament. Some extra-Biblical writings say Uriel and Raphael are also Archangels. Michael is the only angel the Bible named expressly as “Michael THE archangel” (Jude 1:9). Daniel 10:13 refers to Michael as “one of the chief princes (archangels).” The word “prince” here is the ancient Hebrew word “sar,” which means: “a head person (of any rank or class), a chief, as a general, etc.” The archangel Michael is traditionally seen as the protector of ancient Israel, the forerunner of the spiritual Israel who will one day receive their Messiah in “the kingdom on earth in the Millennium. The Angel Gabriel tells Daniel, “Michael your prince” is the only one that remains after the fall of Lucifer and the fallen angelic host (Dan 10:21).

Angels:

The “angels” (Greek, angělǒs), meaning “messenger,” are the lowest order of the angelic host, and the most recognized. We discuss the others in the next installment. Angels are most concerned with the affairs of living things. These are some Biblical facts concerning angels.

“Angel” in Hebrew is “malak,” (Strong’s 4397), a spirit being that is “a messenger who is dispatched as a deputy” of God. Angels were God’s created instruments who serve in governing the heaven and then the earth. The angels not only glorify God in the celestial (heavenly) realm wherein they rule, but they also serve His purposes over the terrestrial (earthly) world and its individual regions. They appear as men (no wings).

• The number of angels is countless. Hebrews 12:22 … an innumerable company of angels…
• Angels are invisible spirit beings (Numbers 22:22-31) and they appear as men in many accounts in the Bible (Genesis 18:2-8), having no wings.
• Angels sometimes intervened in the affairs of individuals – Hagar, Lot , Isaac, Jacob, Daniel, Mary and Joseph, Mary Magdalene, Zacharias, Philip, Peter, Samson’s father, Cornelius, John, and Paul in Acts 26, and more.
• Angels are strong (1 Chronicles 21:16; Revelation 18:21) and powerful (Psalm 103:20; 2 Peter 2:11; Revelation 10:1, 18:1).
• Angels are radiant from being in God’s presence (Judges 13:6; Luke 2:9). They behold the face of God (Matthew 18:10).
• Ever since Jesus of Nazareth ascended into heaven and sat on the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers became subject to Him as Lord and Christ (1 Peter 3:22).
• Angels are not all-knowing (Matthew 24:36; 2 Thessalonians 1:7) but they are wise (2 Samuel 14:17, 20).
• The Bible always speaks of angels in the masculine gender. Angels in heaven are not given in marriage (Matthew 22:30).
• Angels are immortal: they do not die (Luke 20:36; Hebrews 2:9, 15-16).
• Angels are holy (Matthew 25:31).
• Angels do not need rest (Revelation 4:8).
• Angels protect God’s Old Testament people of Israel (Psalm 34:7, 91:9-13).
• Just one angel killed 185,000 men of the Assyrian army in a single night (Isaiah 37:36).
• Angels speak their own language (1 Corinthians 13:1).

• Angels ascend to and descend from heaven (Genesis 28:12; John 1:51), always going out from God (Christ) and returning. Angels aren’t limited by an earthly body and can move instantly through space. Angels can come from the highest heaven to earth or from one end of the universe to the other in an instant.
• Angels learn the wisdom of God by observing God’s people under grace (1 Cor 4:9; Eph 3:10).
• Angels desire to look into the things of salvation by grace through faith and the Spirit of life given to indwell believers (1 Peter 1:10-12).
• Angels will “gather the elect of Israel ” at the end of this age, in the Tribulation (Matt. 24:31).
• Angels experience joy when one sinner repents (Luke 15:10).
• Angels are sometimes referred to as “stars,” “servants,” and the “host of heaven” (Judges 5:20; Job 25:5, 38:7; Revelation 1:20).
• Angels possess greater power and might than humans (2 Peter 2:11).
• “Let no man defraud your reward by delighting in false humility and worshiping of angels… (Colossians 2:18).

As imposters, not only can Satan appear as an “angel of light” (2Cor 11:4), but also his fallen angels can falsely appear as “the ministers of righteousness” (2Cor 11:15). Paul warned that Satan’s evil apprentices show up in the form of false prophets and “false apostles” (2 Cor. 11:13-15). They are deceivers, seducing people away from the pure “doctrines” (1Cor 4:13) of “the faith” (1Cor 16:13) to the “doctrines of devils” (I Timothy 4:1-2; I John 2:18-22). Many today still hold to elements of “the Law” (1Tim 1:5-9) and “works” requirements (Titus 3:5) in order to either “obtain salvation” or for Christians to “gain God’s favor” are “doctrines of devils.” These are commonly promoted from so-called Christian pulpits and accepted by many of their adherents. These conflict with Paul’s “gospel of the grace of God” (Act 20:24) in this day of “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph 3:2).

In Revelation we see a religious leader on the scene referred to as “the False Prophet” who will be who will witness to “the Beast” – the Anti-Christ, “LEADING MANY ASTRAY TO TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST” (Rev 19:20). We are told to avoid giving place to the Devil, to flee from all forms of witchcraft and the occult (Leviticus 19:31), This includes books about witchcraft, fortune telling, necromancy (communing with the dead), sorcery, trances, hypnosis, horoscopes, séances, astrology, casting spells, etc. These practices open a door to give the Devil a foothold in one’s life. Just because some thing miraculously came true in accord with the words of a “fortune teller,” this does not mean it is of God – it is of the power of Devils.

Jesus warned “the lost sheep of the house of Israel ” that in the last days there would be “signs and wonders” to “deceive.” Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise FALSE CHRIST, and FALSE PROPHETS, and SHALL SHEW GREAT SIGNS AND WONDERS; insomuch that, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, THEY SHALL DECEIVE THE VERY ELECT (of Israel ). Being “hid with Christ in God” ( Col 3:3), every believer is “sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph 1:13, 4:30) by the Holy Spirit, untouchable by “the Wicked One.” Believers are secure in Christ.

“We know [absolutely] that ANYONE BORN OF GOD does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but THE ONE WHO WAS BEGOTTEN OF GOD (Christ) CAREFULLY WATCHES OVER AND PROTECTS HIM [CHRIST’S DIVINE PRESENCE WITHIN HIM preserves him against the evil], and “THE WICKED ONE” DOES NOT LAY HOLD (GET A GRIP) ON HIM OR TOUCH [HIM].” (1 John 5:18 (AMP)

This above specifically refers to the Anti-Christ not touching the elect of Israel ’s tribes in the Tribulation (Rev 7:1-12). By extension, any genuine believer who is “born of God” is not going to be touched by the Devil or his minions.

The only power the Devil has toward those who are “born of God” is deception born of a lie. The fallen angels are still messengers, but not of the light. None of the angelic host has been “born of God.” They are only created spirit beings and they can never possess the life of God. Lying spirits are the only remaining tool of the enemy. Sadly, the “spirit of error (Gk., plane, delusion)” (1John 4:6) is the “LYING” spirit that deceives many of Gods people.

Many are deceived by deceived religious leaders since they do not “study (the word) to shew thy self approved unto God…rightly dividing the word of God” (2 Tim 2:15). We don’t follow prophets, pastors or priest. Jeremiah 5:31 (NIV) The prophets PROPHESY LIES, the PRIESTS RULE BY THEIR OWN AUTHORITY, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end? Sadly, many prefer the words of men to that of the inspired written word of God.

In Old Testament times, angels were sent, actually appeared to, and spoke with several of God’s people. The “Law” was given to men for that time by angels (Galatians 3:19). Angels have protected God's people of the Nation Israel (Psalm 34:7, 91:9-13). Michael the archangel interpreted Daniel’s vision, and the angel Gabriel joyfully announced the conception of Jesus to Mary (Luke 1:26-27). Yet, by contrast, there is no Biblical record of angels of any sort speaking to or appearing to men in the Biblical record after Acts 28 (~AD 61). This was and is the time of Paul’s 2^nd imprisonment and “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph 3:2) as seen in his latter seven epistles; Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.

Angels were sent as messengers to men in the time period before “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph 3:2), that is before Acts 28. People then lacked the revelation of the mystery of “Spirit of Christ” dwelling within them as their indwelling life and guide; “Christ in you the hope of glory” ( Col 1:27).

Why are there no angelic messengers of God active from Acts 28 to this very today? It is because angels were messengers acting as intermediaries between God and men before Christ’s Spirit came to indwell believers. Paul says we today have no mediators (angels or dead saints) between God and man – Christ is our “one mediator.” “For THERE IS ONE GOD, AND ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS;” (1 Timothy 2:5)