God And His Word - A Question And Answer Approach To Understanding The Bible

LESSON 5: THE HEAVENLY HOSTS, A STUDY OF ANGELS 1. WHAT DOES THE WORD "ANGEL" MEAN?

The word "angel" simply means "messenger." In the Bible this term refers to any of three categories: [1] A spiritual, heavenly creature that is part of the heavenly hosts; [2] Sometimes the term applies to God Himself (Genesis 22:11-15); [3] And it is a term that can apply to men with ministries (as church pastors, Revelation 1:20; 2:1). 2. WHAT IS A HEAVENLY ANGEL? An angel is a heavenly messenger that can provide us with actual physical help to accomplish God's will. An angel can appear with physical form or voice or be invisible. Hebrews 1: 14 calls them "ministering spirits." 3. THE BIBLE CLASSIFIES THREE TYPES OF HEAVENLY BEINGS, ALL OF WHICH ARE USUALLY CALLED ANGELS. The seraphim are mentioned only once in the Bible, Isaiah 6. The meaning of the root word is "to consume with fire." Little is said about them in explanation. We know there are more than one; that they are the only creatures in Scripture possessing six wings; that they are very close to God and are deeply associated with His holiness; they are very powerful; and they do have a ministry to men on earth. 5. HERE IS ONE INTERPRETATION OF WHO THE SERAPHIM ARE! It is our conviction that the "living creatures" mentioned in Revelation 4:8 are one and the same as the Seraphim mentioned in Isaiah 6. We feel that these four are men who have conquered death itself and stand before God, angels and mankind with the irrefutable argument that death has been conquered FOUR times in past history: [1] ENOCH, translated during the Patriarchal Age. [2] MOSES, resurrected during the Law Period. [3] ELIJAH, translated during the time of the Prophets. [4] JESUS, resurrected at the opening of the New Covenant. Note that [1] Seraph or Seraphim. [2] Cherub or Cherubim. [3] Angel or Angels. 4. WHAT ARE THE SERAPHIM?

54