Nature and characteristic of angels
1) If we want to understand angels we can investigate to key areas:
2) We will explore their “nature” as well as the “characteristics” ascribed to them in the Word of God.
a) If we look at the Bible we have a lot of information about the nature of angels.
b) For instance, angels do not have a physical nature; they are spiritual creatures.
c) This is what the Hebrew writer affirmed in Heb. 1:14.
d) In our opening study on angels it was argued that a spiritual nature is one argument against their having wings.
e) Wings are physical but angels are spiritual creatures.
f) By spiritual we mean angels are not like our material world.
g) In 1 Cor. 15:50 Paul said “flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.”
h) We are “corruptible” so we must become “incorruptible” in order to go to heaven (1 Cor. 15:53).
i) There is the “earthy” and then there is the “heavenly” (1 Cor. 15:48).
j) Angels are part of the heavenly, incorruptible creation that resides in heaven.
3) Since angels are spiritual they are different from us in their nature, but what about their power?
4) Do they have the same amount of power as man, more power, or less power?
5) Peter answered this in 2 Pet. 2:11; Peter said angels are more powerful than we are.
a) Here is how the apostle worded the thought – READ 2 Pet. 2:11.
b) However much strength angels have, they are mightier than man.
c) Angels are distinct from God and man; they are literally in a class of their own.
d) As members of this special class have abilities that are beyond ours.
e) In Mt. 28:2 Matthew says an angel “rolled away the stone” covering the Lord’s tomb.
f) One man, no matter how strong, could not have done that.
g) This was a very large stone.
h) Mark says (16:3) there were four women who were on the way to the tomb.
i) They were wondering who they could find to move this barrier away from the grave.
j) The strength of an angels is vastly superior to the strength of man.
k) This not the only demonstration of their power.
l) Angels helped Peter escape (Acts 12:7-10).
m) We are not specifically told whether the angel performed all the actions in this account or not.
n) Peter suggests (verse 11) that an angel was responsible for what took place.
o) I want to read verses 7-11 and bear in mind the individual events – READ.
p) Several things happened, and an angel may have been responsible for each supernatural act.
q) At least this was the understanding Peter and Luke had.
r) Earlier in Acts (5:19) we are told an angel came and “opened prison doors” and brought out the apostles.
6) These angel stories should not surprise us. Children from very early in life learn about Daniel.
7) God’s prophet was put into a den of lions, but the lions did not hurt him.
8) What did the prophet Daniel say had helped preserve him?
9) An angel had come and kept Daniel safe (Dan. 6:22).
10) This was a pretty impressive feat when we think about lions.
11) A full grown male lion weighs about 500 pounds; females average about 300 pounds.
12) They are fast creatures that can move 40-50 miles an hour.
13) Hungry lions have attacked and killed elephants.
14) What man can stand against this type of threat? There is not one.
15) Yet, in Dan. 6, an angel had “shut the mouths of lions.”
16) Many who have studied about lions know this little fact:
a) “Lions have killed more humans in Africa than have all other wild game combined” (p. 29).
b) Lions are fierce creatures.
c) Someone may think Daniel’s lions were not all that bad; maybe like the circus lions we have seen.
d) Hear what is recorded in Dan. 6:24 – READ.
e) There were multiple people who faced this same bunch of lions and they could not defend themselves.
17) Daniel 6 shows us that angels are very great, but they are not as great as God.
18) When we look at God, we find that He is all knowing, all powerful, and present in all places at all times.
19) Contrast the qualities of God with those associated with angels.
20) In Dan. 9:21 the angel Gabriel sent a message to Daniel.
21) Gabriel is said to have “flown swiftly.” This statement tells us this mighty angel is not omnipresent.
22) In many angels are superior to us but they are vastly inferior to God.
23) One might be inclined to believe that everyone would believe angels and men are distinct from each other.
24) Believe it or not, there are those who believe angels are actually people.
25) An old but false idea is that people die and after death become angels. This is not what the Bible says.
26) In Lk. 16:22-25 Jesus spoke about two men who both passed away.
27) One man (who happened to be very wealthy) was not in a right relationship with God.
28) A second man (who happened to be very poor) was in a right relationship with God.
29) Jesus said angels carried these men to their respective destinies.
30) Then the Lord also gave information about these men in their existence beyond this life.
31) He presented them as still being the men they were while upon the earth; they did not turn into angels.
32) Men stay men, and angels stay angels.
33) Another text that has sometimes been misused in this regard is Mt. 22:30.
a) Jesus spoke about the “resurrection” and in this discussion mentioned “angels.”
b) Some have concluded that in the resurrection all will be made angels.
c) Jesus said men will be “as” (like, similar to, resemble) angels.
d) At least two times Jesus affirmed that men do not become angels.
e) These creatures have their own distinctive nature and characteristics.
34) If angels are different some may want to know where they fit into the divine scheme of things.
35) Jesus answered this question in Lk. 20:36; He said after the resurrection we will be “equal to angels.”
a) This verse, by the way, also proves that people do not become angels.
b) Being made “equal” to an angel does not mean we become an angel; these are two different things.
c) At the end of time all who are saved will be on the same level as angels.
d) Since the end of time has not yet come, where do angels fit into God’s divine plan?
36) We know who is at the head of things (God). Beneath God is the heavenly host (angels included).
37) Beneath the heavenly host is man, and then we have the animal creation.
38) At the present time angels are above us but they are still “servants” according to Rev. 22:9.
39) Thought they are servants, they are immortal servants (they cannot die).
a) Jesus indicated this in a verse already referenced (Mt. 22:30).
b) He said angels do not have any involvement with marriage.
c) Marriage is a special activity in the Scriptures.
d) Among other things, it is God’s way to continue the human race (produce children).
e) The world has twisted things so children can come into the world without marriage.
f) Biblically speaking, children come through marriage and marriage keeps the human race going.
40) If this is part of marriage and angels do not marry, we may infer a conclusion.
41) Angels do not reproduce; there is no need for offspring because they do not and cannot die.
42) We know our conclusion is right because Lk. 20:36 says, “angels cannot die.”
43) Angels are not eternal (eternal means they have always existed and this is only true of God).
44) It is true that angels are immortal (they had a beginning point and they will never cease to exist).
RELATED
TO THE NATURE OF ANGELS ARE SOME SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS.
a) Earlier it was mentioned that angels have power greater than that possessed by us.
b) This statement is discussed more fully in other parts of the Bible.
c) Ps. 103:20 says they are “mighty in strength.”
d) In the New Testament this same type of description is found in 2 Thess. 1:7.
e) At the second coming of Christ, Jesus will return with “powerful” angels.
f) Angels have significant might and force, but they will never be as powerful as God.
2) In our introductory lesson it was noted that angels have the ability to speak.
3) Paul (1 Cor. 13) spoke about the “tongues of angels.”
4) In the Bible we find examples of angels speaking to men using human language.
a) Angels have communicated in the language that men were accustomed to using.
b) Maybe they can speak other languages too, but it seems they can speak the same language we speak.
c) Furthermore, angels have not been limited to verbal communication.
d) We have information in Mt. 1 that describes for us some type of telepathic ability.
5) Joseph was considering putting away Mary but an angel appeared to him in a dream.
6) This angel communicated with him – Mt. 1:18-20 – READ.
7) Joseph received this type of communication again in Mt. 2:13, 19-20.
8) Angels have been effective communicators when that type of thing was being done.
9) Angels have a very interesting nature, and some of their nature is quite similar to ours.
a) For instance, each human being has free will (we can choose to do whatever we want).
b) We may choose to serve God or reject God; we are free to make either choce.
c) Angels were also given free-will.
d) Angels and their ability to choose is a subject that has been discussed for a long, long time.
10) Most believe Job was one of the earliest Bible books ever written.
11) In Job 4:18 one of Job’s friends said angels were “charged with folly.”
12) This charge could only be made if angels had free will.
13) Then in Job 15:15 a similar statement is made: “the heavens are not clean.”
a) Like some other Bible topics, this information is amplified in the New Testament.
b) Peter said (2 Pet. 2:4) that in the past there were angels that “fell.”
c) We do not have a lot of detailed information about angels.
d) It seems there was a period when they were able to make a choice; some choose heaven.
e) Others selected a course that led to destruction.
f) Once the choice was finalized, all future choice ceased.
g) Such is also the case with us. We have a time to make a choice. A time comes when our choice is sealed.
14) Jude (verse 6) refers to angels that “left their own habitation.” Jude says angels made a choice.
15) Perhaps related to the element of choice is emotion.
a) When we look at angels we find that they are emotional beings.
b) Job 38:7 says they “shouted for joy” at the time of creation.
c) Jesus said (Lk. 15:10) that angels “rejoice” when a wayward Christian returns to the flock.
d) It appears they can feel some degree of frustration (Lk. 1:19-20).
e) We certainty see in them the ability to be kind (Lk. 1:12-13).
f) Angels are emotional, but they know their place (they are servants) and they keep it.
g) Rather than expressing hate and hostility to evil, spiritual powers, they defer things to God.
h) Jude (verse 9) says Michael had a dispute with the devil but he did not get angry.
i) Peter (2 Pet. 2:11) also spoke of angels and false teachers, but said angels do not revile these men.
16) The nature and character of angels show us that serving God can be and is a thrilling experience.
17) Angels have learned more and more about God with the passage of time.
18) For the saved, they can have this same type of expectation in eternity.
19) One day all who are saved can be equal to the angels. For that to happen, we must obey God.