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A Questioning Faith

Unravel the mystery of angels in religion: their origin, roles, and significance. Explore biblical insights and modern beliefs on these celestial beings.

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A Questioning Faith

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  1. A Questioning Faith What or who are angels and do they fit into religion today?

  2. Ground Rules • Series is a teaching lesson, not a sermon • Series explores questions rather than providing conclusive answers • Series encourages disagreement and discussion • I think I am usually right!

  3. Top Ten Questions About Angels

  4. 1. Who or what are angels? • Spiritual beings • Serve at God’s command • Deliver messages • Help God’s people • Punish God’s enemies

  5. 2. Does the bible speak of other spiritual beings? Seraphim • Isaiah 6:1-7 • Fiery beings • Attendants or guardians before the divine throne • Six wings • Serpentine in form

  6. Cherubs • Mentioned 92 times • Many different forms • Borrowed from Near Eastern traditions • Cherubs were hybrids- unnatural in form • Guardians (Genesis 3:24)

  7. 3. How many angels are there? • No specific number • Very great “Do you not think that I can appeal to my Father, and he will at once send twelve legions of angels?” Matthew 26:53

  8. 4. What do angels look like? • No clear description • Often look like humans • Often have the dramatic presence of the holy • No wings or halos- Wings began in 5th century art

  9. 5. How do angels compare to humans? • Created by God • Angels are heavenly beings • Participate in the holy council • Humans created a little lower than the angels

  10. 6. How did angels originate? • Created by God • Psalm 148 implies they were created at the beginning of all creation • Understanding of role has changed over time

  11. Changes in roles of angels • Older biblical texts- angels and God get mixed • Example- Jacob wrestles with ?

  12. Later as God is seen as transcendent angels become more developed • Inter-testimental period: hierarchy of angels is created with specific duties • Example: Earlier writings God controlled the heavens, by this time angels now have that responsibility

  13. New Testament • Dualistic worldview • Some allied with God and some with Satan

  14. 7. Have Some Angels Fallen? Much discussion centers around this issue General story of the fall of angels

  15. Story A Genesis 6:1-4 Example of angels corrupting the human race before the flood

  16. Alternative Interpretation Example of the breakdown in God’s created order, human sin even draws in the cosmos

  17. Story B Isaiah 14:12-15 • Speaks of the fall from heaven of a person called “Morning Star” • Title “Morning Star” is translated “Lucifer” in the Latin Vulgate

  18. Alternative Interpretation • “Morning Star” is a Canaanite divine title • This text clearly speaks of the King of Babylon (cf. Isaiah 14:4)

  19. Story C • From a non-canonical book- “Life of Adam and Eve” • God calls for Michael and Satan to bow down • Michael does, Satan does not • Satan rebels and takes some angels with him

  20. Conclusion • Best textual evidence of a fall is unclear • New Testament believes that Satan and his angels are against God • Battle is cosmic in scope and God and His angels will be triumphant

  21. 8. What is their job description? Praise God Messengers from God

  22. Watch Over People Give Guidance

  23. Give Protection Give Deliverance

  24. Give sustenance Instruments of Judgment

  25. 9. What are guardian angels? • Each person is assigned a guardian angel at birth “How great the dignity of the soul since each one has from its birth an angel commissioned to guard it.” St. Jerome

  26. Not an article of faith in the Roman Catholic Church, but it is in the mind of the Church

  27. 10. How do angels fit into religion today? • More popular than ever • 2002- 350 interviewed in UK • Experienced visions, auditory warnings and physical touch from angels

  28. 2008- 1,700 people polled • 55% believed they have been protected by a guardian angel during their life

  29. Angel groups • Angel shops • Certified Angel Therapy practitioners

  30. Conclusions • Belief in angels have a life of their own • Bible gives witness to their vital role in God’s work on earth and in heaven

  31. Conclusions • Reformed Tradition has down played the importance of angels • Calvin said the study of angels was a waste of time • Luther prayed that he would never meet an angel • Our belief needs to bring us back to God

  32. If it is all about God • Angels are transcendent beings “Angels in the bible never appear as cute chubby infants. They are always full-grown. When people in the bible see an angel, their typical response was to fall on their faces in fear and awe, not to reach out and tickle an adorable baby.” John Bechtle

  33. Angels are not our possession • Angels are beings created by God for God’s use • Angels illustrate God’s loving care for His creation (not just us)

  34. Angels in the end are filled with mystery, our understanding is limited • Angels are not about us, but about what God is doing in the world

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