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ANGELS

(Originally published in Newsletter # 10 in1995)

Today there seems to be a tremendous interest in the subject of “angels”. We see television programs about them, newspaper and magazine articles, and even entire books on the subject. But some of the information we have seen is not Biblical.
What is an “Angel”?
The word translated to read “angel” means “a messenger”, from “angello”, to deliver a message. The angels of God are those created beings who do His will and bidding. The Bible speaks of two types of angels- cherubim, which have two wings (1Kings 6:24; Satan is a fallen cherubim- Eze. 28:14) and seraphim, which have six wings (Isa. 6:2). Both classifications are referred to as “ministering spirits”, and “flames of fire” (Heb. 1:7, 14). PSA 103:20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. 4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: We are told that the righteous have angels of God all around them to protect them and help them overcome evil: PSA 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. We are told that children have angels: MAT 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Sons of God- Angels?
The angels “…neither marry, nor are given in marriage” (Matt. 22:30) which clarifies the common misconception raised in regards to “the sons of God” in Gen. 6:4. (Read also Matt.19:5, 6, 1Cor: 6:16, and 1Cor.15:39) Some people believe that the “sons of God” were angels who married women and bore children. But 1John 3:2 plainly tells us who the Sons of God are: “Now are we the sons of God…” This next verse shows that God has never called an angel His “son”- HEB 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son,… ?

The “sons of God” spoken of in Gen. 6:4: …when the SONS OF GOD came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them,… were the descendants of Adam’s son, Seth, for it was only through this line that men began to worship the Lord: GEN 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name SETH:… 26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: THEN BEGAN MEN TO CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD. (Margin: Or, “to call themselves by the name of the Lord.”) It becomes apparent that the Sethites, who followed the Lord, were influenced by the provocative dress and behavior of the female descendants of Cain (daughters of men), and married them. 2CO 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my SONS and DAUGHTERS, saith the Lord Almighty. These texts clear up exactly who “the sons of God” mentioned in Gen. 6:4 were. Again, when talking about those who are resurrected at His second coming, Christ said: MAT 22:30 For in the resurrection THEY NEITHER MARRY, NOR ARE GIVEN IN MARRIAGE, BUT ARE AS THE ANGELS OF GOD IN HEAVEN. See also Mark 12:25. The very idea that Satan and other fallen angels could reproduce themselves is terrifying!
Satan- an Angel
At some point in time, before man was created, one of the angels, named Lucifer, no longer content with his position of highest among the created angels, wanted more, as is written in this parable about the king of Tyrus: EZE 28:2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:… While this passage is speaking to this “king”, we soon recognize the absolute proof that it refers to Lucifer: EZE 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God;…. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth;… 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will BRING THEE TO ASHES UPON THE EARTH IN THE SIGHT OF ALL THEM THAT BEHOLD THEE. 19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and NEVER SHALT THOU BE ANY MORE.

We learn in Revelation that when Lucifer, or Satan, fell, he took 1/3 of the angels with him: REV 12:4 And his tail drew the THIRD PART OF THE STARS OF HEAVEN, and did cast them to the earth:…7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, THAT OLD SERPENT, CALLED THE DEVIL, AND SATAN, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

It is also here that we learn that the angels are also sometimes symbolicly called “stars”, as the serpent is said to have cast 1/3 of the “stars of heaven” to the earth. This sheds light on a few other passages where “stars” are mentioned- when speaking about “filthy dreamers” who “defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities”, Jude says they are like: JUD 1:13 …wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. Their fate is here expressed through symbolism. But in this next text, Christ plainly tells the fate of the wicked, as well as the fate of Satan and his fallen angels: MAT 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: It is interesting to note that the “fire” is here said to be “prepared” for “the devil and his angels”, not men. This is because Christ died for ALL men, and had they all only accepted His free gift, none would suffer this fate.

But the “fire” is here described as “everlasting”- does it burn forever? Of course not- the word translated “everlasting”, “aionios” means “an undescribed duration”. Vine, in his “Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words” explains: “The use of `aionios’ here shows that the punishment referred to… is not temporary, but final, and accordingly, the phraseology shows that its purpose is not remedial but retributive.” The fires don’t burn “forever”- they burn until absolutely nothing is left to burn. Remember Sodom & Gomorrah? JUD 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha,… are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Sodom & Gomorrah aren’t still burning, yet they are an “example” of the result of the “eternal fire”. It is ultimately cleared up in Revelation: REV 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: WHICH IS THE SECOND DEATH. The wicked people have “their part” in this “lake” which we learned from Christ, Himself, was originally designated only for the fallen angels and Satan.

Evil Angels- Devils
The angels who rebelled, including Satan, are referred to as devils: J

AM 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

These “fallen angels”, like the faithful ones, have supernatural powers beyond our compre-hension. Just as the good angels are ever working to protect us from evil, the fallen ones are ever working to seduce us with lies and seek to keep us from a knowledge of the truth. They also work constantly to destroy us physically, with illness and other physical harm:

HEB 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy HIM THAT HAD THE POWER OF DEATH, that is, THE DEVIL;

It is Satan and his angels that trouble man, seeking not only to destroy him with physical death, but with eternal death. However, as powerful as all the angels are, they are all limited by God as to what they can do. He allows the fallen ones to do all they can to try to destroy man, but we can pray and in His time, His angels come to our aid. And we are assured the victory. In this next passage, we are told to put on the whole “armour of God”- yet the only “action” we are called on to do is in the last verse:

EPH 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 PRAYING ALWAYS with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

The angels, as God’s messengers, are always ready to come to the aid of the righteous. And they will always victor over Satan:

JAM 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Christ Sometimes Called an “Angel”
Christ is referred to as “the angel of His presence”:

ISA 63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the ANGEL OF HIS PRESENCE saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old;

the “messenger of His covenant”:

MAL 3:1 Behold, I will send MY MESSENGER, and he shall prepare the way before me: and THE LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even THE MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts,

and “the Angel of the Lord”:

EXO 3:2 And THE ANGEL OF THE LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

We know that this is referring to Christ when we continue to read the entire passage:

EXO 3: 4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, GOD called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 6 Moreover he said, I AM THE GOD OF THY FATHER, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

This passage shows that not only was the entity in the burning bush called the “angel of the Lord’, it was called “God”, and “I am”. The identity of “I AM” is firmly established by the words of Christ, Himself:

JOH 8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.

Many serious Bible scholars believe Michael, the archangel, to be another of Christ’s titles. The name Michael, in both Hebrew and Greek means “(One) Who is like God”. He is referred to in Dan. 10:13 as “One of the Highest Rulers” (a member of the Trinity). Jude 9, Matt 17:2 and Mark 9:2 indicated that Michael resurrected Moses. There is no Biblical record of a cherubim or seraphim being used for raising the dead. Daniel 10:21 calls Michael “your (Daniel’s) prince”, or “One who has dominion”:

PSA 145:13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy DOMINION endureth throughout all generations. DAN 4:3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his DOMINION is from generation to generation.

1 Thes 4:16, 17 and John 5:25- 29 tell us that at the sound of His voice “all that are in the graves will come forth… some to everlasting life… the evil to damnation”. These passages show that at times, Christ is referred to as an angel, which is simply indicative of one of His Divine offices. He not only IS GOD, the SINBEARER, our HIGH PRIEST, etc.,- He is the Messenger, in many cases, Who actually comes in Person to deliver certain messages. He is also the Leader of the angels, which is indicative of His office of Archangel, or “One Who is Leader of the angels”.
Which Bible?
2TI 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

MAT 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

LUK 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD of God.

THIS IS TRUE ONLY OF THE ORIGINAL KING JAMES VERSION OF SCRIPTURE. Comparing some of the verses we have thus far discussed makes it evident that we need to be wary of other “versions”. Satan and his followers place their opinion above the Word of God and have brought about the publication of “Bibles” designed to subvert the virgin birth of Christ and other foundation teachings of Divinely- inspired Scripture. Satan fell because:

EZE 28:17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness:…

Eve fell because she allowed Satan to convince her that by eating the fruit of the forbidden tree she would become wiser:

GEN 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

You and I will fall if we allow Satan to get us on an “intellectual” ego trip. Many so-called “authorities” would have us believe that unless we quote from other “versions” of the Bible we are NOT SOPHISTICATED. Do we believe that being sophisticated will exempt us from the final judgement?

Man- No Match for Satan
Satan deceived one third of the angels:

REV 12:7 And there was war in heaven;… 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan,… and his angels were cast out with him. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth,…

Satan also deceived Adam who was created a little lower than the angels:

PSA 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him?… 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels,…

Man was created Lower” than the angels, and through the years, we have degenerated to such a degree that science has demonstrated we now use less than 10% of our brain! We are INCAPABLE of withstanding Satan’s deceptions by our own strength. We do NOT stand a chance against him and his devils unless we ask for help from the Lord. We are instructed:

1JO 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. MAT 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

ISA 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

If we allow Satanic people to deprive us of the accurately translated Word of God, we have lost the battle with evil. Many such “translators” may be “honest and sincere”. BUT, the designers of buildings, bridges and freeways in Kobe, Japan “honestly and sincerely” thought their design would stand against earthquakes of 10 on the Richter scale. When put to the test of a 7.2 quake, they failed. When we are deceived and destroyed, does it help that those who helped in our deception were “honest and sincere”? Our true condition is stated here:

JER 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

JER 10:23 O LORD, I know that THE WAY OF MAN IS NOT IN HIMSELF: IT IS NOT IN MAN that walketh TO DIRECT HIS STEPS. 24 O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.
Devil Possession
The Bible is filled with many references of “devil possession”:

MAT 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

MAT 9:32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

M AT 12:22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

M AR 5:15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

If we obey Satan and his angels, they take control of our minds and bodies:

ROM 6:16 Know ye not, that TO WHOM YE YIELD YOURSELVES SERVANTS TO OBEY, HIS SERVANTS YE ARE to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

ACT 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

If we act upon the impressions placed in our minds by demons, they will shortly take possession of our minds. If we act upon the Godly impressions placed in our minds by the Holy Spirit and good angels, God will deliver us from our sinful natures and “write” His” law upon the fleshy tables of” our ” hearts”:

JOH 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

JO 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

There are now thousands of “Christians” who claim to be “spirit filled” and so they are. But, we must take care to discern (understand) by which “spirit” they are filled. The quickest way to determine one’s loyalty is WHETHER THEY LIFT UP GOD AND HIS SON; or do they TRY TO MAKE US THINK THAT THEY, THEMSELVES, ARE SOMETHING SPECIAL? Do they SUBMIT to the UNQUESTIONABLE AUTHORITY of SCRIPTURE, or BELITTLE SCRIPTURE by THEIR OPINION or by TELLING some “EXPERIENCE” that CASTS DOUBT on the VERACITY of SCRIPTURE?

God will not allow Satan to gain control of the universe, but He did allow Satan to become the “Prince of this world”:

JOH 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. And he will fight to gain control over us.

Can you and I expect to see Satan for what he really is? YES! If, as most of us believe, Christ’s coming is near, we can expect to see some of the most fantastic deceptions the world has yet to see:

2CO 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. The “Christian” world has long pondered the identity of the ANTICHRIST.

SATAN was, is and until his end (EZE.28:18,19) will continue to be the ULTIMATE ANTICHRIST. Is it likely that this most powerful of all the angels (Eze. 28:12-15) would go down to destruction in the fires “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41) without playing his strongest deception?! NEVER! God did not direct Paul to warn us that Satan would appear on earth as an “angel of light” without reason. He also had good reason to warn us about:

GAL 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

These things will happen! Are there people among us who are following the religious teachings of someone who claimed to have received the doctrines directly from “an angel from heaven”? YES. All Moslems and Mormons make this claim for their doctrines. Are their doctrines different than those taught by Christ and His disciples? YES. Will demons actively participate in the last great deception? YES- and not only that, we are told that many will “depart from the faith” because of these very deceptions! Read this carefully!

REV 16:14 For they are the SPIRITS OF DEVILS, WORKING MIRACLES, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

1TI 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, GIVING HEED TO SEDUCING SPIRITS, AND DOCTRINES OF DEVILS;

REV 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that HE MAKETH FIRE COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN ON THE EARTH IN THE SIGHT OF MEN.

Don’t forget- Satan brought fire down from heaven before! Job 1:12,16. And he will do it again.

MAT 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

We must EXPECT Satan to appear as an “angel of light”, and as the ultimate “antichrist”, He will appear as Christ. Just imagine if you will- this magnificent being appears on the earth, speaking tenderly as we imagine our Savior spoke. He appears to heal the sick, although he is actually having his devils remove the illnesses which they originally caused. He speaks of peace and love, but something is amiss. He doesn’t quite speak exactly what the Bible says, and tells the world that the Bible has been corrupted over the years- and he’s here to correct that. He claims he is Christ. He looks like we expect Him to look; he speaks like we expect Him to sound, and EVERYONE seems to agree- HE’S FINALLY ARRIVED! Is it really Him? Wait, doesn’t the Bible say He comes in the air, and the righteous MEET HIM IN THE AIR?:

1TH 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Shortly after most of the people are deceived into believing Satan is Christ, the righteous, seeing the real Christ coming in the clouds, shout:

ISA 25:9 Lo, THIS is OUR God; we have waited for HIM, and HE will save us: THIS is the LORD; WE have waited for HIM, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Historically, it has been shown that those who claim to be serving the Lord, but are not, blame the true followers of God when Divine judgments fall. Remember the words of Ahab when he met with Elijah:

1KI 18:17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.

Today, disasters are beginning to intensify. This shows that the true followers of God are becoming fewer, while those who give “lip service to the true God”, are becoming more numerous. God would have withheld His judgments at Sodom if there had been as few as 10 “righteous” there. Lot’s family and servants would have been well over 10, yet of these, only 4 left Sodom and only 3 survived.

A “belief” in the true God isn’t enough:

2KI 17:33 They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.

A “profession” of faith isn’t enough:

ISA 29:13 …the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: 14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people,… for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

Why do we brings these things to your attention?

EZE 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live:…

EZE 33:6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but HIS BLOOD WILL I REQUIRE AT THE WATCHMAN’S HAND.

2 comments

  1. Very helpful,well put together. I have saved this article in my desk top folder. Thank you!

  2. Clearly we are are being alerted to the pitfalls before everyone, it’s not good enough to profess you are a Christian,
    We must repent in our hearts and acknowledge that Jesus died on the cross for us, what he endured was unspeakable
    but he did and gave us the option of a second life, read your Bible, cross reference those matters you don’t understand
    and behold a new world awaits you.
    Once you are at this point it is not enough to say tick, done, you have to disciple others in a humble way, never accept
    anyone disparage The Bible and never hold back when asked are you a Christian, the answer is a huge YES!
    Don’t forget to pray in a simple short way, as The Bible says God already knows what’s in your heart.

    Thank you Ron Wyatt a gentle,humble man, who even after his death gave me strength to change my ways and to follow
    Jesus Christ our Saviour

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