The Strand Study Bible

EZEKIEL EZEKIEL The fact that angels visited this planet before humans did gives credibility to the idea that Earth is older than 6,000 years ( Gen1:2c ). How long the angels were here before man arrived is uncertain. Dr. Thomas F. Harrison in Angels and Man notes: The precise moment of angelic creation is not recorded. 10 For all we know, it could have been millions, if not billions, of years ago, during which time the dinosaurs as well as other extinct creatures could have roamed the earth along with the angels ( Job 40:15 & 41:1 ). David D. Riegle in Creation or Evolution? notes: If we wish to give them ( the dinosaurs – my emphasis ) the great age calculated by scientists, they must have been part of the original Creation which existed before Lucifer’s fall. The upheaval which occurred at that time would have destroyed all forms of life which existed. It is also possible that this was the event which submerged the entire earth under water and led to the formation of many of the fossils which are found even today. 11 What we do know, according to this passage, is that earth is the place where Satan rebelled ( Isa 6:2 ), used his free will to sin against God, and where he will be judged one day in the near future (vs 15-18 and Rev 20:7-10). NOTE – The following questions sum up the chronology of events concerning angels and mankind: 1289 1. Did the earth exist before man? Answer: Yes (Gen 1:24-28) 2. Did the earth exist before angels? Answer: No (Job 38:3-7) Thus angels were created first, long before the earth was created. 3. How l ong ago was the earth created? Answer: Long before man arrived ( Gen 1:1b ) 4. Did the angels sin before man did? Answer: Yes. Evil was here before man ever did evil ( Gen 2:9 ) 5. Where did the angel’s sin? Answer: Here on earth (Ezk 28:11-16) 6. How many of the angels sinned? Answer: One-third of an innumerable host (Rev 12:3-4) 7. Did Lucifer’s sin on earth (long before man arrived) create chaos ? Answer: Yes ( Gen 1: 1- 2a ) 8. Does the angel’s sin still create chaos in the world? Answer: Yes (II Pet 2:4/Rev 12:7-9) 9. Where did man sin? Answer: Here on earth 6000 years ago when he followed Lucifer’s lie (Gen 3:1-5) 10. Did man’s sin on earth also create chaos ? Answer: Yes (Gen 3:14-19/Rom 5:12) 11. Does God care about returning the angel’s world to its former glory ? Answer: Yes ( Rev 12:12 ) 12. Does God care about returning man’s world to its former glory ? Answer: Yes (Rev 21:1-5) 13. Whose world was God trying to restore to its former glory first? Answer: Angels ( Gen 2:17a ) 14. When man failed, what did God decide to do to restore both worlds? Answer: Come through man via Christ (Rom 5:15-19) 15. If obedience is the key to restoring order (and it is – Rom 5:15-19), then what was God’s initial purpose in creating Adam? Answer – According to Scripture, God’s initial purpose in creating man was to assist Him in His endeavor to salvage the universe that another free-willed creatures (Lucifer) before him had disrupted through sin ( Gen 2 :15- 17b ). 28:13a This portion of scripture cannot be referring to the prince of Tyre (Ithbaal II), for he was never in Eden . 28:13b According to R.I. Humberd in his book called Satan , Lucifer was a “born musician.” He cites verse 13 ( the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created ) as evidence that Lucifer may have been Heaven’s choir director for untold millions and/or billions of years before his fall. 12 28:14 Power is conferred upon the creatures of God ( the anointed cherub that covereth ) for the sole purpose of making them capable of serving Him. When it is diverted to some other course or object, it becomes a curse to its possessor and inevitably destroys him (vs 18-19). Of all the instincts that sway free-willed creatures (such as, men and angels), and of all the glittering rewards that attract them, none is more alluring than power. Self-willed creatures get drunk on power quicker and more often than they do on wine. Rare indeed in the history of government is the person who could become possessed of unlimited power and remain normal, rational and composed in its use. Always the possessor of power abuses it and diverts it from its natural end ( Isa 14:12 ). NOTE - There are three angels, called archangels, which were created greater than all the other angels: 1. Lucifer (Isa 14:12-15), renamed Satan (adversary) and Devil (slanderer) after his fall ( Job 1:6 ) 2. Michael , the prince and protector of Israel (Dan 10:13,21 & 12:1, Jude 9 and Rev 12:7) 3. Gabriel (Dan 8:16 & 9:21 and Lk 1:19,26) Of the three, Lucifer was anointed the leader – “ Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth ; and I have set thee so .” 1 Richards, Lawrence O. Bible Reader’s Companion , Colorado Springs, CO, Cook Communications, 1991,2004. Print. 2 Falwell, Jerry. Liberty Bible Commentary , Nashville, TN, Thomas Nelson Pub. 1983. Print. 3 De Haan II, M.R. What In The World Is Satan Doing? , Grand Rapids, MI, RBC Ministries, 1988, 2000. Print. 4 Rimmer, Harry. Modern Science and the Genesis Record , Grand Rapids, MI, Eerdmans Pub. Co. 1937. Print. 5 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible , Chicago, IL, Moody Press. 1978. Print. 6 Scofield, C. I. “Scofield Reference Notes on Ezekiel 28”. “Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition)”. . 1917. 7 Smith, William M. Bible History of World Government , Westfield, IN, Union Bible Seminary, Inc. 1940-1955. Print. 8 Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry’s Commentary Vol 4, Old Tappan, NJ, Fleming H. Revell Co. 1983. Print. 9 Gaebelein, A.C. The Annotated Bible , Vol. 4, Wheaton, IL, Van Kampen Press. 1921. Print. 10 Harrison, Thomas F. Angels and Man , Springfield, MO, 1986. Print. 11 Riegle, David D. Creation or Evolution? , Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, 1962. Print. 12 R.I. Humberd. Satan , Flora, IND, 1945. Print.