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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | prevent | Gen 2:16 | DocTrinsograce | 149810 | ||
Terrib, is God incapable of using double entendre (Ez 28)? Here is a Scriptural and orthodox definition of angels. In Him, Doc Angel - a word signifying, both in the Hebrew and Greek, a "messenger," and hence employed to denote any agent God sends forth to execute his purposes. It is used of an ordinary messenger (Job 1:14: 1 Sam 11:3; Luke 7:24; 9:52), of prophets (Is 42:19; Hag 1:13), of priests (Mal 2:7), and ministers of the New Testament (Rev 1:20). It is also applied to such impersonal agents as the pestilence (2 Sam 24:16,17; 2King 19:35), the wind (Ps 104:4). But its distinctive application is to certain heavenly intelligences whom God employs in carrying on his government of the world. The name does not denote their nature but their office as messengers. The appearances to Abraham at Mamre (Gen 18:2,22. Comp 19:1), to Jacob at Peniel (Gen 32:24,30), to Joshua at Gilgal (Josh 5:13,15), of the Angel of the Lord, were doubtless manifestations of the Divine presence, "foreshadowings of the incarnation," revelations before the "fulness of the time" of the Son of God. The existence and orders of angelic beings can only be discovered from the Scriptures. Although the Bible does not treat of this subject specially, yet there are numerous incidental details that furnish us with ample information. Their personal existence is plainly implied in such passages as Gen 16:7,10,11; Jud 13:1-21; Mat 28:2-5; Heb 1:4, etc. These superior beings are very numerous. "Thousand thousands," etc. (Dan 7:10; Mat 26:53; Luke 2:13; Heb 12:22,23). They are also spoken of as of different ranks in dignity and power (Zec 1:9,11; Dan 10:13; 12:1; 1Thes 4:16; Jude 1:9; Eph 1:21; Col 1:16). As to their nature, they are spirits (Heb 1:14), like the soul of man, but not incorporeal. Such expressions as "like the angels" (Luke 20:36), and the fact that whenever angels appeared to man it was always in a human form (Gen 18:2; 19:1,10; Luke 24:4; Acts 1:10), and the titles that are applied to them ("sons of God," Job 1:6; 38:7; Daniel 3:25; Compare 28) and to men (Luke 3:38), seem all to indicate some resemblance between them and the human race. Imperfection is ascribed to them as creatures (Job 4:18; Mat 24:36; 1Pet 1:12). As finite creatures they may fall under temptation; and accordingly we read of "fallen angels." Of the cause and manner of their "fall" we are wholly ignorant. We know only that "they left their first estate" (Mat 25:41; Rev 12:7,9), and that they are "reserved unto judgement" (2Pet 2:4). When the manna is called "angels' food," this is merely to denote its excellence (Ps 78:25). Angels never die (Luke 20:36). They are possessed of superhuman intelligence and power (Mk 13:32; 2th 1:7; Ps 103:20). They are called "holy" (Luke 9:26), "elect" (1 Tim 5:21). The redeemed in glory are "like unto the angels" (Luke 20:36). They are not to be worshipped (Col 2:18; Rev 19:10). Their functions are manifold. (a) In the widest sense they are agents of God's providence (Ex 12:23; Ps 104:4; Heb 11:28; 1Cor 10:10; 2Sam 24:16; 1Chron 21:16; 2Kings 19:35; Acts 12:23). (b) They are specially God's agents in carrying on his great work of redemption. There is no notice of angelic appearances to man till after the call of Abraham. From that time onward there are frequent references to their ministry on earth (Gen 18; 19; 24:7,40; 28:12; 32:1). They appear to rebuke idolatry (Jud 2:1-4), to call Gideon (Jud 6:11,12), and to consecrate Samson (13:3). In the days of the prophets, from Samuel downward, the angels appear only in their behalf (1Kings 19:5; 2Kings 6:17; Zech 1-6; Dan 4:13,23; 10:10,13,20,21). The Incarnation introduces a new era in the ministrations of angels. They come with their Lord to earth to do him service while here. They predict his advent (Mat 1:20; Luke 1:26-38), minister to him after his temptation and agony (Mat 4:11; Luke 22:43), and declare his resurrection and ascension (Mat 28:2-8; John 20:12,13; Acts 1:10,11). They are now ministering spirits to the people of God (Heb 1:14; Ps 34:7; 91:11; Mat 18:10; Acts 5:19; 8:26; 10:3; 12:7; 27:23). They rejoice over a penitent sinner (Luke 15:10). They bear the souls of the redeemed to paradise (Luke 16:22); and they will be the ministers of judgement hereafter on the great day (Mat 13:39,41,49; 16:27; 24:31). The passages (Ps 34:7, Mat 18:10) usually referred to in support of the idea that every individual has a particular guardian angel have no such meaning. They merely indicate that God employs the ministry of angels to deliver his people from affliction and danger, and that the angels do not think it below their dignity to minister even to children and to the least among Christ's disciples. The "angel of his presence" (Is 63:9. Compare Ex 23:20,21; 32:34; 33:2; Num 20:16) is probably rightly interpreted of the Messiah as the guide of his people. Others have supposed the expression to refer to Gabriel (Luke 1:19). |
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2 | prevent | Gen 2:16 | terrib | 149814 | ||
Hi Doc, Yes, those are of angels. But Cherubims have wings. Where in Scripture does it say angels have wings? Where in Scripture does it say Cherubims are angels? So my questions still stand. terrib |
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3 | prevent | Gen 2:16 | DocTrinsograce | 149823 | ||
Dear Terrib, You asked, "Where in Scripture does it say angels have wings?" "And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. And the cherubim shall stretch out their WINGS above, covering the mercy seat with their WINGS, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat." (Exodus 25:18-20) He rode upon a cherub, and flew; And He was seen upon the wings of the wind. (2 Samuel 22:11) Inside the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high. One wing of the cherub was five cubits, and the other wing of the cherub five cubits: ten cubits from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other. (1 Kings 6:23-24) Ezekiel 10:2 identifies the "four living creatures" in chapter 1 as Cherubims. Ezekiel 1:6, 8, 9, 10:5, 16, 19, 21, and 11:22, mentions their wings. The Seraphim of Isaiah 6 may or may not be the same kind of being as the Cherubim. Of this, I am not certain. Their description differs, yet they seem to be associated with the "four living creatures" and live to perform the same service. If they are the same beings, then their wings are mentioned in Revelation 4:8, You asked, "Where in Scripture does it say Cherubims are angels?" I do not find an explicit connection. (However, if Cherubim and Seraphim are angels, then at least that kind of angel has wings.) It wouldn't surprise me to discover that there are different "species" of angels. There appear to be some distinction in Revelation. It wouldn't even surprise me to find out that each and every angel was completely unique, suited to a specific task. In Him, Doc |
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4 | prevent | Gen 2:16 | terrib | 149825 | ||
Hi Doc, That is the point. Cherubims have wings Angels do not. They are different types of creatures. Scripture has always seperated them to their specific duty. I hope you're not getting an association from the word "angelic". terrib |
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5 | prevent | Gen 2:16 | DocTrinsograce | 149826 | ||
Dear Terrib, It is hard to discern the roots of our associations, or to root them out when they are incorrect. Some of our impressions about angels is rooted in Medieval angelology. They rank them from seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominations or dominions, virtues, powers, principalities, archangels, and angels. But I'm not certain that their thinking was always rooted in Scripture. Modern ideas of angels are probably even less well grounded! I rather think of a distinction between material creatures (natural) and spiritual creatures (supernatural). There's a wide variety of material (though not sentient) creatures. Again, it wouldn't surprise me to find variety in the spirit world as well. That would be, however, at least partially based on speculation. In Him, Doc PS I can't find any Scripture reference for angels singing, either -- can you? They also all seem to be masculine in gender, but that might be an artifact of the language. (Certainly we could demonstrate from the words of Christ that they are without gender.) |
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6 | prevent | Gen 2:16 | Hank | 149863 | ||
Doc: All this learned talk about angels on this thread and no one yet has tackled the question of how many angels will fit on the head of a pin. .... Sigh. .... Inquiring minds want to know. :-) --Hank | ||||||
7 | prevent | Gen 2:16 | terrib | 149866 | ||
Hank: That would depend on how the chairs are arranged. :-) - terrib | ||||||