Angels & Demons

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Angels & Demons - Part 3

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Related Issues:

1. There are a number of peripheral issues related to the study of Angels and Demons that have been passionately debated in the recent past.

2. These issues are not absolutes i.e. they do not affect your standing before God: -

(a) Therefore, it is important to maintain a high level of decorum when discussing these issues so as to not allow them to become a hindrance to our fellowship with each another.

(b) "In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity." - St Augustine.

3. General guidelines for debating non-absolute issues:

(a) All points of reference should start from the Bible i.e. we should not try to fit any view or philosophy into the Bible but rather we should use the Bible to evaluate these.

(b) We must ensure that absolute issues (e.g. the existence of God) are not compromised. This assumes that we are already familiar with the absolute issues!

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A.  Issue # 1 - The phrase "The Angel of the Lord?"

1. There are numerous references to "the angel of the Lord" or to "the angel of God." (Genesis 16:7-13; Genesis 22:11-12; Exodus 3:2, 6; Acts 27, 23).

2. Problem: The phrase is clearly used in reference to God some of the time (Genesis 16:13) but at other times it is clearly not a reference to God (2 Samuel 24:16, Zechariah 1:12-13).

3. There are three major views for this phrase i.e. "the angel of the Lord" is :-

(a) Merely an angel of God.

(b) A theophany i.e. the temporary appearance of God in humanlike form.

(c) A reference to a pre-incarnate visit of Christ.

4. Note that given the absolute teaching of the doctrine of the Trinity the second and third views are similar in essence.

5. The issue is of somewhat importance for answering cultic teaching that Jesus (the Logos) was merely an archangel.

6. Possible solution: The phrase need not be seen as a generic phrase. As such all three views may be acceptable. The question of who is "the angel of the Lord" or "the angel of God" may simply depend on the context of the individual verse.

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B.  Issue # 2 - The phrase "sons of God" of Genesis 6

1. The phrase is clearly a reference to angels in the Book of Job (1:6; 2:1; 38:7).

2. It is not used in the plural anywhere else in the Old Testament. However, the phrase is written in the singular in Daniel 3:25.

3. It is used in the New Testament in reference to Adam (Luke 3:38); Christ (Luke 1:35); and to the saints (John 1:12; Romans 8:14).

4. There are a number of views as to who or what are the sons of God in Genesis 6 including:

(a) They were angels who abandon their position in heaven.

(b) They were the godly male descendents of Seth.

(c) They were the sons of powerful human rulers.

(d) They were the sons of the pagan god El.

(e) They were neither angelic, nor human, but an all-together separate kind of created being.

5. The two most accepted views are the Angelic and the Sethite views.

6. Points that must be taken into consideration:

  • The offspring i.e. the Nephilim - a word derived from the Hebrew word (naphal) which means "to fall" and translated in the LXX as γίγαντες (gigantes) meaning "giants."
  • The nephilim were there at that time "and also after that." (Genesis 6:4)
  • This incident led to gross wickedness on the earth (Genesis 6:5).
  • The "spirits in prison" from the time of Noah mentioned in I Peter 3:19-20.
  • The angels in heaven "neither marry nor are given in marriage." (Mark 12:25)

7. Please refer to the supplemental handout on "Popular Theories" (available in the Downloads section of this website).

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C. Issue # 3 - When did the fall of Lucifer occur?

1. The Bible does not say when the fall of Lucifer took place.

2. In speculating about the time of this fall a number of views regarding creation have been put forward including the Gap Theory and the Day-Age theory.

3. Points to be taken into consideration:

  • Sin and death entered the world through Adam. (Romans 5:12)
  • God saw that everything he had made was good. (Genesis 1:31)

4.  Please refer to the supplemental handout on "Popular Theories" (available in the Downloads section of this website).

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