This information is copyrighted. You may use it, or reproduce
it entirely. You may not alter the information out of its
context. Attribution is required on all published copies.
John L. Lipscomb, P.O. Box 11884, Memphis, TN 38111
=============================================================

FOUNDATIONAL SURVEY OF THEOLOGY

Section Eight: ANGELOLOGY

Lesson Three: THE MINISTRY OF ANGELS
___________________________________________________________

“And (the) four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night saying:

Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” Revelation 4.8

“… the angel said o them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be
to all people.

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, Who is Christ the Lord.

And this (will be) the sign to you: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in manger.’

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!” Luke 2.11-14

Angels comprise God’s “spirit company” of individuals. They serve His glory and good pleasure.

Their presence at great occurrances of Divine dealings indicate their unique responsibility as God’s ministers and messengers.

In order to gain futher insight intothe nature of angels, a detailed examination of their various ministries, as declared in the Word of God, is both realistically feasible and valuable to the encouragement and edification of the saints.

I. The PRESENCE of Angels in Time-History

A. Angels were at the Creation

They shouted for joy at the “laying of the foundation of the earth…” (Job 38.7)

B. Angels were at the Fall

When Adam plunged the human race into sin and death (Genesis 3) angels were there.

1. Adam – Enticed by the cherub

Satan, “the serpent,” (Gen. 3.1 cf. Rev. 12.9) by deceit and deception encouraged Adam’s sin.

2. Adam – Encounter with cheribim

Set by God with flaming sword to maintain the way to the Tree of life (Gen. 3.24).

C. Angels were at the giving of the Law

God’s gift to Moses (Acts 7.53; Gal. 3.19) was through the mediation of angels.

D. Angels were involved in the earthly life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ

1. Announcing His birth (Luke 1.26-38, 2.8-13; Matt. 1.20)

2. After His temptation in the wilderness (Matt. 4.11)

3. In the garden before His arrest (Luke 22.42-44)

4. At the resurrection (Matt. 28.2; Mark 16.5-7; Luke 24.4-7)

5. At His ascension (Acts 1.10)

6. They will accompany the Lord Jesus at His Second advent (Matt. 24.3), 25.31)

II. The PROGRAM of Angels in Time-History

A. The Ministry of the Holy Angels

1. To God as Declared in His Word

They are engaged in the direct worship of God. Consider the following verses (Psa. 89.6-8, 99.1-2, 148.1-2; Isa. 6.1-3; Dan. 7.10; Matt. 18.10; Rev. 4.6-8)

They rejoice in God’s working. How do they respond to “creation” (Job 38.4-7), and “salvation” (Luke 15.10)?

How are angels involved in the execution of God’s will in Psa. 103.20, 104.4 and Heb. 1.14?

2. To Man as Directed by God

How are they involved in the direction of the affairs of nations (Dan. 10.10-14, 20, 21, 12.1)?

How are they seen guiding and directing believers (Psa 91.11; Acts 5.19, 8.26; Dan. 6.22)?

Note how they minister to God’s people (Heb. 1.14; 1 Kings 19.5-8).

How are they used to deliver and defend God’s servants (2 Kings 6.17; Acts 12.7-11, 27.23-24)?

How might God use them to deliver the redeemed to the Redeemer (Luke 16.22)?

3. To the World as Determined by God

Examine their returning with the Lord Jesus at His Second Advent:

– To separate the wicked from the just (Matt. 25.31, 13.49)

– To discipline the disobedient (2 Thess. 1.7-8; Jude 15)

B. The Menace of the Unholy Angels

1. They oppose God’s PURPOSE (Zech. 3.1, Dan. 10.10- 14, Isa. 14.13-15)

They constantly seek to hinder God’s PLAN

2. They oppose God’s PEOPLE (Luke 13.16, 2 Cor. 12.7, Eph. 6.11-12, 1 Thess. 2.18)

They constantly seek to hinder God’s PERSONALITIES

3. They oppose God’s PERSON- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 4.1-10, 2 Cor. 11.10-15, 4.3-4)

They constantly seek to hinder God’s sole PROVISION for sinners.

III. The POSITION of Angels in Time-History

Angels, today, are actively involved in various ministries to the human race.

Those known as the “holy” angels serve God in their ministry of righteousness, glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ. Those described as “unholy” or “fallen” seek to discredit the Lord Jesus with all their power and action. The human race currently serves as the battle ground for the ministry of angels. To, or against, the Lord Jesus Christ. Even now, this battle is intensively active in our midst.

The “holy” angels, ministering spirits, are constantly directed to serve the Saviour, by serving the saved (cf. Jude 9), while the “unholy Angels” seek at every hand to interrupt that service.

A. As a member of the human race, you are very much involved in this battle.

B. You are either the object of angelic service to the glory of the Saviour, or you are “blinded by the god of
this world (Satan)”, who seeks to keep you from the “light of the glorious gospel of Christ” (2 Cor 4.3-4)

C. God’s only provision for Divine deliverance from Satan’s power and dominion is the shed blood of the
Lord Jesus Christ.

Trust Him today for moment by moment salvation from all the “wiles of the Wicked One.”

Memory verse:

“But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour, that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” Hebrews 2.9

Bibliography for additional study on the ministry of Angels

DeHaan, Richard, *The Angels of God* and *The Spirit World,* study booklets, Radio Bible Class, Grand Rapids, Mich. 49501

Larkin, C. *The Spirit World*, C. Larkin Estate, Philadelphia, Pa.

Lockyer, H. *All the Doctrines of the Bible*, “Angels” Zondervan Publishers, Grand Rapids, Mich.