"These were more noble than
those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of
mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Therefore many of them believed;..."(Acts 17:11-12) This is what we shall do
on the following pages....Search the Scriptures.... This material is being
reprinted with permission from Bensalem Baptist
Church.
The scripture verses listed,
taken from the King James Version of the Bible,
pertain to the various bible doctrines we will be looking at. They are by no
means the only ones. You are encouraged to look up on your own perhaps as part
of your private devotions and through a good concordance the many other verses
of scripture pertaining to a particular doctrine.
THE DOCTRINE OF ANGELS "ANGELOLOGY"
A. Characteristics
1. They are created beings (Nehemiah 9:6);(Colossians 1:16)
2. Existed at the time of the earth's creation (Job 38:4-7)
3. They are spirit beings (Psalms 104:4);(Hebrew 1:7, 14)
4. They sometimes assume the form of man (Genesis 19:1, 5);(Hebrews 13:2)
5. They neither die(they are not subject to the corruption of the flesh)
Nor marry (Matthew 22:30); (Luke 20: 35, 36)
6. They are innumerable (Matthew 26:53); (Hebrews 12:22);(Revelation 5:11)
B. Organization
1. There are different ranks and orders of angels (Ephesians 3:10);
(Colossians 1:16)
2. There are angels of God and they have specific titles and responsibilites.
There are Cherubim, Seraphim, and archangels.
**a. Archangels do battle for God (Revelation 12:7-9)
3. They do service for God
**a. They worship God (Revelation 5:11-12; 8:3-4)
**b. They assisted at the giving of the law (Acts 7:38, 53);(Galations 3:19)
**c. They reveal God's will to man (Genesis 19:12-13);(Luke 1:13)
**d. They exercise His judgement (II Kings 19:35);(Matthew 13:41-42);
(Acts 12:20-23)
**e. They will accompany Christ at His return (Matthew 25:31);(II Thessalonians 1:7)
4. They do service on behalf of man
**a. They guard individuals (Psalms 34:7 & 91:11);(Matthew 18:10);(Hebrews 1:14)
**b. They assist mankind (Daniel 6:22);(Acts 12:5-11)
**c. They receive believers at death (Luke 16:19-24)
**d. They work in nature (Matthew 28:2)
C. Fallen Angels (Demons)
1. Created sinless (Ezekiel 28:14-15);(II Peter 2:4)
2. They inflict man (Matthew 17:15, 18);(Luke 13:11-16);(II Corinthians 12:7)
3. They will one day be judged (Matthew 25:41);(Jude 6)
D. Satan
1. Characteristic Titles:
**a. Adversary (I Peter 5:8)
**b. Accuser (Revelation 12:10
**c. Angel of light (II Corinthians 11:14)
**d. The enemy (Matthew 13:39
**e. The evil one (John 17:15)
**f. The father of lies (John 8:44)
**g. The tempter (Matthew 4:3)
**h. The wicked one (Matthew 13:19, 38)
2. Satan possesses limitations
**a. God limits him (Job 1:12; 2:6)
**b. Believers may resist him (Ephesians 6:11);(James 4:7);(Revelation 12:11)
3. His work
**a. The head of a host of evil spirits he is the prince
(Matthew 9:34);(Ephesians 2:2)
**b. They all belong to his kingdom (Matthew 12:26)
**c. He can control and possess unbelievers (Luke 22:3);(John 13:27)
**d. Cannot possess believers (I John 4:4)
**e. Turns men from the Gospel (II Corinthians 4:4)
**f. Tempts believers (I Chronicles 21:1);(Zechariah 3:1)
**g. Corrupts the church (Matthew 13:25, 36-43)
E. Angels not to be worshipped or prayed to.
1. Any instance of creature or angel worship in the Bible was immediately
repudiated. (Acts 10:25-26; 14:8-15); (Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9)
2. We are warned against false mysticism (Colossians 2:18)
3. All scripture restricts the matter of guidance, worship, invocation,
praise, honor and thanks in the religious sense, to the Blessed Trinity,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.(Exodus 15:11; 34:6-7);(Psalms 65:2; 90:2);
(Isaiah 42:8);(John 15:16; 16:13)
4. True Christians never feel the need to pray to any Saint, angel or
martyr. We have a good God whose ear is always open to our one and only
mediator. (I Timothy 2:5);(John 14:6);(Hebrew 12:24)(I John 2:1-2)
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