Angelology

Angelology- The study of angels.

Their Nature- Angels are created beings (Colossians 1:16) and were created before the foundations of the earth (Job 38:4-7) and are not eternal like God is. (Nehemiah 9:6) They are spirit beings (Hebrews 1:14) and are invisible and cannot be seen by regular men unless ordained by God (Luke 24:39). They are personal beings as evidenced by their self-awareness (Luke 1:19), and their emotions (Revelation 12:12). They are referred to in the Bible in several different ways. They are called Sons of God (Job 1:6), thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities (Colossians 1:16), spirits (Hebrews 1:14), and stars (Revelation 12:4). They cannot be redeemed if they have fallen (Matthew 25:41), they are superior to man in some way (Psalm 8:4-5), they are powerful (2 Peter 2:11), and they study the Bible (Revelation 12:12).

Types of Angels – There are elect (1 Timothy 5:21) and fallen angels (Revelation 12:4). The elect angels are the Cherubim (Exodus 25:22), the Seraphim (Isaiah 6:2-7), Archangels (Jude 9), The Angel of the Lord (Genesis 22:11) and the living Creatures (Ezekiel 1:5-14; Revelation 4:6-8). The known elect angels are Michael (Jude 9), Gabriel (Luke 1:19), and Jesus (Genesis 22:15-16) - although Jesus is not an angel. The fallen angels fell with Satan when he fell (Revelation 12:9), they are currently opposed to God (Job 1:7-12), they are subject to God (Job 1:12) and they will be cast into the lake of fire on the Day of Judgment (Revelation 20:10). The fallen angels known by name are Satan (Revelation 12:9) or Lucifer/Day Star (Isaiah 14:12) or god of this world (Corinthians 4:4) or Abaddon/ Apollyon (Revelation 9:11).

Ministries of Angels- The angels glorify God (Revelation 4:8), they obey God (Psalm 103:20), they are God’s messengers (Luke 1:11-19), they minister to Jesus (Matthew 4:11), they carry out God’s judgments (2 Samuel 24:16-17), they wage war on earth and in heaven (Daniel 10:13; Revelation 12:7-8), and some of them seem to rule over set physical areas (Daniel 10:13).

Places of Residence – Angels currently reside in heaven (Isaiah 6:2-7) and on earth (Acts 10:38). Fallen angels currently reside on earth (2 Cor 4:14), in humans through possession (Mark 5:2), and in the bottomless pit (2 Peter 2:4).

Demons and Humans– Demons can possess humans and animals (Mark 5:2), they can deceive people (1 Thessalonians 3:5) and they can inflict physical ailments on/in humans (Mark 9:20).