Results 21 - 23 of 23
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Results from: Answers On or After: Thu 12/31/70 Author: ra_Jesus_is_Savior Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
21 | please tell me about angels . | Heb 1:14 | ra_Jesus_is_Savior | 172823 | ||
Angels are personal spiritual beings, having aspects of intelligence, emotions, and will. This is true of both the good and evil angels. Angels possess intelligence (Matthew 8:29; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Peter 1:12), show emotions (Luke 2:13; James 2:19; Revelation 12:17), and demonstrate that they have wills (Luke 8:28-31: 2 Timothy 2:26; Jude 6). Angels are spirit beings (Hebrews 1:14), with no true physical body. The fact that they do not have bodies does not affect their being personalities (any more than it does with God). The knowledge angels possess is limited by their being created beings. This means they do not know all things as God does (Matthew 24:36). They do seem to have greater knowledge than humans, however. This may be due to three causes. (1) Angles were created as a higher order of creatures in the universe than humans are. Therefore, innately they possess greater knowledge. (2) Angels study the Bible and the world more thoroughly than humans do and gain knowledge from it (James 2:19; Revelation 12:12). (3) Angels gain knowledge through long observation of human activities. Unlike humans, angels do not have to study the past; they have experienced it. Therefore, they know how others have acted and reacted in situations and can predict with a greater degree of accuracy how we may act in similar circumstances. Though they have wills, the angels are, like all creatures, subject to the will of God. Good angels are sent by God to help believers (Hebrews 1:14). Here are some activities the Bible ascribes to angels: A. They praise God (Psalm 148:1,2; Isaiah 6:3). B. They worship God (Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 5:8-13). C. They rejoice in what God does (Job 38:6-7). D. They serve God (Psalm 103:20; Revelation 22:9). E. They appear before God (Job 1:6; 2:1). F. They are instruments of God's judgments (Revelation 7:1; 8:2). G. They bring answers to prayer (Acts 12:5-10). H. They aid in winning people to Christ (Acts 8:26; 10:3). I. They observe Christian order, work, and suffering (1 Corinthians 4:9; 11:10; Ephesians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:12). J. They encourage in times of danger (Acts 27:23,24). K. They care for the righteous at the time of death (Luke 16:22). Angels are entirely a different order of being than humans. Human beings do not become angels after they die. Angels will never become, and never were, human beings. God created the angels, just as He created humanity. The Bible nowhere states that angels are created in the image and likeness of God, as humans are (Genesis 1:26). Angels are spiritual beings that can, to a certain degree, take on physical form. Humans are primarily physical beings, but with a spiritual aspect. The greatest thing we can learn from the angels is their instant, unquestioning obedience to God’s commands. © Copyright 2002-2006 Got Questions Ministries. |
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22 | Can Satan read our minds? | Ps 94:11 | ra_Jesus_is_Savior | 172822 | ||
First, it is important for us to remember that Satan is not omnipresent – he cannot be in more than one place at a time. Only God is everywhere, only God knows everything. Satan must rely on his army of demons to do his bidding. Can Satan and/or his demons read our minds? Scripture does not say specifically whether or not Satan can read our minds. The Bible does teach us that Satan indeed is very powerful. Likely he was the highest of all the angels. He was persuasive enough to convince one third of the angels to join him in his rebellion (Revelation 12:4). Even after his fall from heaven, not even Michael the archangel dared to confront him without the Lord’s help (Jude 9). Satan is the “the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient” (Ephesians 2:2b). Believers are exhorted “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7b). The Bible gives us no reason to believe Satan and his demons can read our minds. To me, that would take a measure of omnipresence and omniscience, which they do not have. However, Satan and his demons have been observing and tempting human beings for thousands of years. Surely they have learned a few things about us over the years. Even without the ability to know our thoughts, they can probably make a well-educated guess as to what we are thinking – and then attempt to use it to their advantage. That is why we are commanded to “Submit yourselves, then, to God” (James 4:7a), before we are told to “Resist the devil” (James 4:7b). Source: © Copyright 2002-2006 Got Questions Ministries. |
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23 | Significance of tearing his clothes? | Gen 37:34 | ra_Jesus_is_Savior | 172818 | ||
Genesis 44:13 - Rending or ripping clothes was an expression of deep sorrow, a customary manner of showing grief. Joshua 7:6 - Joshua and the elders tore their clothing and put dust upon their heads as signs of deep mourning before God. They were confused by their defeat at the small city of Ai after the spectacular Jericho victory, so they went before God in deep humility and sorrow to receive his instructions. When our lives fall apart, we also should turn to God for direction and help. Like Joshua and the elders, we should humble ourselves so that we will be able to hear his word. |
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