Angels

Who are angels?

Hebrews 1:14, NIV. "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?"

How many angels are there?

Revelation 5:11, NIV. "Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand."

Are angels a higher order of beings than humans?

Psalm 8:4-5, NIV. "What is man that you are mindful of him, … You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor."

Angels can appear in the form of ordinary people.

Herews 13:2, NIV. "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it."

Who is the leader in charge of the angels?

I Peter 3:22, TLB. "And now Christ is in heaven, sitting in the place of honor next to God the Father, with all the angels and powers of heaven bowing before Him and obeying Him."

Angels are special guardians.

Matthew 18:10, TLB. "Beware that you don't look down upon a single one of these little children. For I tell you that in heaven their angels have constant access to My Father."

Angels provide protection.

Psalm 91:10-11, NIV. "For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."

Angels rescue from danger.

Psalm 34:7, TLB. "For the angel of the Lord guards and rescues all who reverence Him."

Angels carry out God's orders.

Psalm 103:20-21, TLB. "Bless the Lord, you mighty angels of His who carry out His orders, listening for each of His commands. Yes, bless the Lord, you armies of His angels who serve Him constantly."

Angels carry God's messages.

Luke 2:9-10, NIV. "An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

What part will the angels play when Jesus comes the second time?

Matthew 16:27 and 24:31, NIV. "For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with His angels." "And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."

Where did evil angels come from?

They were good angels who chose to rebel. It's in the Bible,

Revelation 12:9, NIV. "The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him."

What influence do evil angels have?

They struggle against those who are good.

...in the Bible, Ephesians 6:12, NIV. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

What will be the final destiny of Satan and his evil angels?

Matthew 25:41, NIV. "Then He will say to those on his left, 'Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.' "

Thanksgiving and Praise

Let us move our minds toward an attitude of gratitude.

1. WHEN did the psalmist say he would bless the Lord?
"I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth." "Every day will I bless Thee; and I will praise Thy name forever and ever." Ps. 34:1; 145:2.

2. What do those do who offer praise?
"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me." Ps. 50:23.

3. Where does David say he will praise God?
"My praise shall be of Thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear Him." Ps. 22:25.

4. What does he exhort all to do?
"O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." Ps. 34:3.

5. What personal experience does he say he will declare in the hearing of all who fear God?
"Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul." Ps. 66:16.

6. What effect do such testimonies have upon the humble?
"My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad." Ps. 34:2.

7. Into what condition did those lapse anciently who failed to glorify God and to be thankful?
"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." Rom. 1:21.

8. What element should enter into all our worship?
"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Phil. 4:6. See Col. 4:2.

9. In how many things should we give thanks?
"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thess. 5:18.

10. How often, and for how much, should we render thanks?
"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Eph. 5:20.

11. With what exhortation does the psalmist close his songs of praise?
"Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary: praise Him in the firmament of His power. Praise Him for His mighty acts: praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise Him upon the loud cymbals: praise Him upon the high-sounding cymbals. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord." Psalm 150.



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