TITLE: Even the angels have bosses

TITLE: Even the angels have bosses.

• TOPIC: The Hierarchy of Angels

• TEXT: Jude 9, Daniel 10:13

• THEME: The believer should see order as inherent to Gods creation.

When we are in the presence of great men we tend to have

a sense of awe and sometimes even worship.

Ken Boa and Robert Bowman

“The Bible exhibits considerable restraint in its statement about angels. Scripture is similarly reserved in its comments about the Devil and his demons; in fact, absolutely no description of the Devil’s appearance is ever given in the Bible…Scripture never presents angels as of any interest or significance in an of themselves, they are merely messengers or servants of God carrying out their orders.”

If Angels are so great why do should we only worship God?

I. The angels are organized by God to serve Him

A. The Classification of Angels

– 1. Cherubim: Seem to be the highest order or class, created with indescribable powers and beauty.

II. The angels are organized by God to serve Him


– 1. Cherubim: Seem to be the highest order or class, created with indescribable powers and beauty.

– Seem to be the highest position since they are consistently presented as the highest class, associated as they are with God’s glory and presence. Among the cherubim Satan (Ezekiel 28:12,14) held the highest rank along with Michael (Jude 9).

I. The angels are organized by God to serve Him


– Seraphim: The term means “burning ones” probably speaking of their burning devotion to God. They too are spoken of in human form (hands, faces and feet) and are said to have six wings.

Gustave Oehler

“The symbolism of their appearance is very simple. With two wings they cover their faces,-- to indicate that even the most exalted spirits cannot bear the full vision of the Divine glory; with two they cover their feet,-- to symbolize their reverence, --with two they fly to express the quickness with which they execute the divine command.”

Seraphim

The seraphim serve a priestly function for God by showing God’s ethical transcendence and holiness. Their name suggests their fiery devotion to God and are generally seen crying, “Holy, holy, holy” speaking of God’s perfect holiness (e.g., Isaiah 6)

B. Special Designations of Angels.

1. The Seven Angels of Revelation:



2. The Groups of Angels in Revelation:




3. Angels with Special Responsibilities:





– Seven angels who blew trumpets to call for judgment on the earth.






– Seven angels who administrate the seven last plagues by pouring out seven bowls.






– Seven angels who administrate the seven last plagues by pouring out seven bowls.

– There are others designations as well.

C. The Names of Key Angels

Michael: Archangel-The Defender of Israel. His name means, “Who is like God?” calling our attention to the incomparableness of God.


Gabriel: The Revealer of Truth about the Messiah and His Kingdom. The name means, “Mighty one of God” speaking of his great strength endowed of God.


Lucifer: The Fallen Worship Director. His name means morning star and is noted for his beauty and his power. Yet he is not the greatest of the angels if we consider the Angel of the Lord.

D. The Greatest Angel- The Angel of the Lord


• Promise protection to Hagar: Gen. 16:7-13



• Saves Isaac: Genesis 22:11-17




• Wrestles Jacob: Genesis 32:24





• Calls Moses from a bush: Exodus 3:1-16






• See also: Judges 13:6-22, Daniel 3:25






• See also: Judges 13:6-22, Daniel 3:25

Is this angel or God?

Appears to Zechariah

Luke 1:“11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.

Appears to Mary

Luke 1:“28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.”

Appears to the Shepherds

Luke 1:“8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

Appears to John the Apostle

Revelation 8:“ 9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” 10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”

Colossians 2:17-18

“17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.”


II. God has assigned angels the role of service to man

A. Creation: Only man is said to be created in God’s image (Gen. 1:26).



• The Greek Gnostics believed that the physical is corrupt and evil which the spirit is good and holy.



B. Status: Man is the apex of God’s Creation (Psalm 8):

C.S. Lewis

“If you were to encounter an angel you would find something different about him.”

• Eldil: Science Fiction Trilogy



B. Status: Man is the apex of God’s Creation (Psalm 8):

C. Angels are assigned the role of ministering spirits (Hebrews 1:14) “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”

David Jeremiah

“Who are these people destined to ‘inherit salvation’? The Bible makes it clear that these refer only to those who have come to know Jesus Christ as Savior. It’s to serve only them that angels are sent. If someone claims to have seen an angel yet that person professes no allegiance to Jesus Christ, it is likely that any angel he saw (if he truly saw one at all) was a fallen one…Not every angel is from God.”

John Calvin

God created angels with our interest in mind as a “help for our weakness” and to “elevate our hopes or strengthen our confidence.” In other words, “Angels are here for us.”


III. Only God is to be worshiped.

A. True angel of God rejects worship.


“There is only one God and you are not Him.” The same could be said

of the angels.


A. True angel of God rejects worship.

B. Christ is superior to angels (Hebrews 1-2) and is worthy of worship.

Hebrews 1

4 So he (Christ) became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”?

Hebrews 1

6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

7 In speaking of the angels he says, He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.”

Hebrews 1

8 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”

Worship Misdirected

It was the summer of 1945, and World War II had ended. Former soldiers, including famous baseball stars, streamed back into America and American life. Yankee slugger Joe DiMaggio was trying to be "Yankee fan Joe DiMaggio," sneaking into a mezzanine seat with his four-year-old son, Joe, Jr., before rejoining his team.

Worship Misdirected

A fan noticed him, then another. Soon throughout the stadium people were chanting, "Joe, Joe, Joe DiMaggio!" DiMaggio, moved, gazed down to see if his son had noticed the tribute. He had. "See, Daddy," said the little DiMaggio, "everybody knows me!"

APPLICATION

• God created different classifications of angels but they all serve the same purpose. The first purpose is to worship God and serve Him. We don’t worship the servant or the creation.

APPLICATION

• The second purpose is to minister to God’s people to protect and direct their focus on the greatness and glory of God. Find strength in the advocates in the spiritual realm God has given us.

APPLICATION

• In the spiritual battle that looms around all the time angels exist for us. To protect, to encourage and to direct our thoughts toward our great and awesome king Jesus Christ whom we are all called to worship. Don’t let demons or even angels distract you from giving God the glory He deserves.

Michael Reagan

“Knowing where he is this very moment, this very day, that he is in heaven, I can only promise my father this: Dad, when I go, I will go to heaven, too. And you and I and my sister, Maureen, who went before us, we will dance with the heavenly host of angels before the presence of God. We will do it melanoma-and Alzheimer's-free. Thank you for letting me share my father, Ronald Wilson Reagan.”

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TITLE: Even the angels have bosses