God’s Messengers – Numbers 16 Angels

Outline plan What are they? What do they look like? What do they do? In the past In the present In the future Where do they come from? Was Jesus an angel? The anointed Cherub + Lucifer Conclusions

What are angels? – Heavenly / earthly Greek – Angelos = Messenger Hebrew – Malak = Messenger Both words can refer to either a Heavenly or an Earthly being The religious leaders Numbers 16 are described as angels in 2 Peter 2:4 We need to take care when reading passages to understand which is spoken of Angels are Gods messengers

What are angels? – What do they look like? 2 Kings 6: 17 – usually hidden Genesis 18:1-2 – look like men Exodus 3:2 – fire Exodus 14:19 - cloud

What are angels? – Ministers (teachers) Psalm 91:1 – under the shadow of the Almighty Matt. 4:11 – Ministered to Jesus Lk. 22:43 – Strengthening Hebrews 1:14 – To us also

What are angels? – SINLesS They can enter into Gods Holy Presence, so they must be sinless beings Two problem passages Psalm 78:49 – evil = aweful 2 Peter 2:4 – refers to Num 16

What do angels look like? Gen 1:26 “Let us make man in our image” Psa 104: 4-5 Gen 18:2,22; Heb 13:2; Lk 20:35-36

What do angels do – pasT Create – Gen 1:26; Psa 104: 4-5 Give messages – Jud 6:11-24; Gen 18:1-2; Gen 19:1-5; Gen 22:11-15; Ex 3:2 Guide – Gen 24:7; Ex 14:19; Ex 23:20,21 Protect & Deliver – Dan 3:28; 6:22; Acts 5:19; 12:6-7 Destroy – 2 Kings 19:35; Acts 12:23

What do angels do - present Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

What do angels do - future Matt 22:30 – we will be made angels 2 Thess 1:7-8 (This is the saints) Luke 20:36 – we will not die

Where do Angels come from? The Bible does not say Two hypothesis posed by Christadelphians They are a pre-adamic race They are the saints from our future travelling back in time Its not recorded because knowledge of their origin is not essential for salvation

Was jesus an angel? Angels cannot die – Lk. 20:36 – Jesus died Jesus was made lower than an angel – Hebrews 2:16 Jesus was made better than an angel when raised – Hebrews 1:3,4 Only Jesus sat at Gods right hand – Hebrews 1:3; 1:7; 1:14

The anointed cherub & lucifer Ezekiel 28:14, 2 Lucifer Isaiah 14:12-14, 4

conclusions Angels can be heavenly or earthly Angels look like men Angels do Gods bidding We are not told the origin of Angels in the Bible Jesus was not an angel There is no fallen angel