Re: Angels (4)

At this point at least I am only taking information that is in the Bible and not information from either the Apocrypha or the Pseudepigrapha. As far as I am concerned while it will be fun to see what's in those books too, the information from them isn't reliable like the information in God's Word is. So I will always let you know if the info isn't from the Bible so we can tell the difference from what's certain and what's just conjecture and myth.

The Bible teaches that there are three groups of angels:
1. those that have not fallen, the "good angels"
2. the fallen angels that are free
3. the fallen angels that are bound or captive

We know that God's angels, those that never fell from His Grace, are well organized and all have specific jobs. It would seem from verses such as the one in Ephesians that Satan has organized his fallen angels in much the same way.

I have numerous books in my library that discuss angels and it seems that there is some difference of opinion on just which ranks are higher etc. and also whether or not Cherubim and Seraphim are angels or not. Most seem to think that they are at least a type of angel.

Now Let me quote a bit from this book about their organization for us:

Organized Structure in the Angelic Realm (Col. 1:16). There is an organized structure in the angelic realm. Profoundly influential in humanity’s history, angels are involved according to their designated ranks. Though opinion differs as to the placement of angelic offices, it is clear that the angelic host are part of a highly organized world of angel beings.

For example, Daniel 10:13 shows that warring angels have a chief prince, Michael, who is also called an archangel, that is, one who rules over others. Seraphim and cherubim seem to be of a slightly lower rank, just ahead of ministering spirits (Heb. 1:14). However, it may also be that the seraphim and cherubim fill a leadership role in worship while Michael leads the warring angels.

As to the dark angels, Ephesians 6:12 offers insight into the ranks of the evil angelic realm: principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places.

From the information the Bible gives, we can see that the angelic realm is a distinctly structured society with different levels of authority or power endowed to each according to God’s creative order.
Hayford's Bible handbook.

Let's look at some of the things angels do or are in charge of:

Some seem to be in charge of specific nations, in particularly Israel:

Daniel 10:12-13 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.

Daniel 10:20-21 So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.

Daniel 12:1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.

So we can see from this that Gabriel and Michael have been assigned authority over angels who administer God's affairs for Israel and Michael is the head of all of them.

Satan imitates everything God does as we know and he has therefore set up his own high ranking demons (fallen angels that are free) to positions of authority over the nations. (the prince of Persia was a high ranking demon assigned to Persia)

These verses show us too that there is a lot going on in the heavenlies that we're totally unaware of! This battle went on for 3 weeks before Michael came to help Gabriel!

So we know from this that there are angels in charge of nations and and governmental policies etc, both good and evil.

The bible calls Michael and archangel and he is the ONLY archangel that the bible names as one. (That doesn't mean that there aren't other archangels, that only means that we can only verify for sure that Michael is an archangel and we cannot verify any others) His mission or job is to protect Israel. We know there are "chief princes" among the good and fallen angels and that Michael is also one of those as they are the highest ranking angels as far as we can see. "Ruling angels" are also mentioned but nothing else is said of them. They may be the same as what we've just been discussing. Here's the verse that mentions them:

Ephesians 3:10-11 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Since we've mostly talked about Michael here lets see what else the Bible says about him:

Here we see that apparently Satan had designs on Moses's body but Michael intervened, which would be in keeping with his position as defender of Israel.

Jude 9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

In the next passages we see Michael will wage war against Satan and his demons during the Tribulation on Israel's behalf.

Revelation 12:7-9 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

I think I'll end this here for today as I don't want to get things all confused.

Join us for the Angels Study here!