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What about angels?

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by Winman, Mar 19, 2011.

  1. Winman

    Winman Active Member

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    This is a purely speculative question, but how are angels different than man?
    We know from scripture that man was created in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27), but I know of no scripture that says angels were created in the image of God.
    Assuming that angels were not created in the image of God, how would this make man and angels different?
    Again, this is a purely speculative question, something to break the constant debate here.
     
  2. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    one thing is we procreate. They do not.
     
  3. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    Here's another question:
    Are angels bound by time and space?
    Can angels really fly?

    Ooops, that two questions?
     
  4. jbh28

    jbh28 Active Member

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    Actually, I would say that's the biggest difference. We are made in the image of God, angels are not.
     
  5. Winman

    Winman Active Member

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    Yes, but that's the question, how would they be different? If they do not bear the image of God, it would seem they would lack some qualities that we have. What would those be?
     
  6. jbh28

    jbh28 Active Member

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    Let me find my notes on Angels and I'll get back with you. It's not that fresh on my memory. :)
     
  7. Amy.G

    Amy.G New Member

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    What a refreshing thread! :thumbs:

    There are Seraphim and Cherubim.

    Isaiah 6:2 Above it stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he did fly.
    Isaiah 6:3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.



    Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way of the tree of life.

    Exodus 25:20 And the cherubim shall stretch forth their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall face one another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be.


    It appears the Seraphim are worshipers and glorify God all the time.

    The Cherubim seem to be guardians.


    Angels also seem to take the form of humans.

    Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
     
  8. Winman

    Winman Active Member

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    Thanks Amy, yes it's nice not to debate for once.
    Do you think angels can love? Do they have faith?
     
  9. Amy.G

    Amy.G New Member

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    Whoah...what a question! I've never thought of it to tell you the truth.

    Off the top of my head I would say that no angels do not love. They are servants, messengers and warriors for God. I think for a being to love, he must be created in God's image for God IS love.


    I forgot 2 other angels. These are the only ones I'm aware of with names (other than Satan).

    Luke 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stands in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto you, and to show you these glad tidings.

    Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

    Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
     
  10. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    My take is that angels don't have faith because they don't need faith. They have been in the presence of God, have seen him at work. One doesn't need faith when he has sight.

    Now, can angels love? I'm thinking that the angels worship God, so they must also love him.
     
  11. Winman

    Winman Active Member

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    I thought of that too Tom, but they come across as rather emotionless in scripture.
    A fascinating account is Genesis 18 where it says the LORD appeared to Abraham.
    Gen 18:2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and lo, THREE MEN stood by him: and when he saw them he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, 3 And said, My LORD, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee from thy servant.
    Who were these three men? Were they angels, or the LORD himself? And in verse 9 it says;
    9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
    This is fascinating, Abraham addressed these three men as one man, and they spoke as one man. Is this God the trinity, or angels who appeared for God?
     
  12. Winman

    Winman Active Member

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    Yes Amy, perhaps angels cannot love if they are not made in the image of God. But they can worship as you and Tom pointed out which would seem to require love, but perhaps not.
    What other differences might they have from men?
     
  13. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
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    Has anyone mentioned that apparently having rebeled/sinned, they cannot be saved?

    HankD
     
  14. Zenas

    Zenas Active Member

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    To answer Tom Butler's questions, yes I think angels can move through time and space. We know they are both in Heaven and on earth, and we know of at least one angel who came down from Heaven to bring God's message to Zecharias and Mary. "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you." Clearly this angel has the abilityto move from Heaven to earth. I don't think angels can fly because they don't need to. They are spirit beings, who have the ability to take on visible form when it is appropriate to do so in the presence of persons or animals (Numbers 22:23).

    I don't know for sure if angels have the ability to love but they probably do because they have the emotion of joy. "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

    And . . . Jesus tells us that when we rise from the dead we will be like the angels in Heaven.
     
  15. Cypress

    Cypress New Member

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    While they usually are shown to be awe inspiring when seen in other than human form.....the unfallen angels are often noted in scripture as protectors of human.

    Psalm 34:7

    If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling. For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.

    Psalm 91:9-12

    The high priest and his friends, who were Sadducee s, reacted with violent jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the jail. But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out.

    Acts 5:17-19

    The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, chained between two soldiers, with others standing guard at the prison gate. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel tapped him on the side to awaken him and said, "Quick! Get up!" And the chains fell off his wrists. Then the angel told him, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." And he did. "Now put on your coat and follow me," the angel ordered.

    So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn't realize it was really happening. They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate to the street, and this opened to them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.

    Peter finally realized what had happened. "It's really true!" he said to himself. "The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jews were hoping to do to me!"

    Acts 12:6-11

    "Beware that you don't despise a single one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father."

    Matthew 18:10

    "I assure you of this: If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I, the Son of Man, will openly acknowledge that person in the presence of God's angels. But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before God's angels."

    Luke 12:8-9

    "There is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents."

    Luke 15:10

    Jesus and the apostle Paul promised that angels would play a key role in the Second Coming of the Lord. The angels are "reapers," gathering in the "harvest" of God's faithful people. They are also "heralds," announcing Jesus' glorious arrival on earth.

    "I, the Son of Man, will send my angels, and they will remove from my Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil, and they will throw them into the furnace and burn them. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the godly will shine like the sun in their Father's Kingdom. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!"

    Matthew 13:41-43

    "And then at last, the sign of the coming of the Son of Man will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the nations of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send forth his angels with the sound of a mighty trumpet blast, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven."

    Matthew 24:30-31

    The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever. So comfort and encourage each other with these words.

    1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

    The Luke 12:8,9 passage could suggest them as guardians of heaven as well......interesting!
     
  16. Amy.G

    Amy.G New Member

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    Scripture says they can fly.
    Isaiah 6:2 Above it stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he did fly.



    When I think of love, I think of the sacrificial love that God has for us. I'm not talking about an emotional love. Humans also have a sacrificial love for God. Many have given their lives for Him. If angels provided the love to God that He desires, I don't think He would have created man in His image. (IMO).
     
  17. Iconoclast

    Iconoclast Well-Known Member
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    Angels who sinned have no redemption,elect angels need no redemption.
    Elect angels minister to the elect heirs of salvation.


     
  18. Winman

    Winman Active Member

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    Sometimes it is a minor verse that gets my attention.
    1 Kings 22:20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
    I was a little amazed and amused at this verse, the angels had a discussion with each other and couldn't seem to come up with a satisfactory idea, at least that is the impression I got here. Funny, but angels seem very much like men here, and this shows their knowledge is limited. And just like here at BB, they don't always agree!
     
  19. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
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    Ironically, another area of agreement with you Winman.

    And what of the unexpected solution?

    1 Kings 22
    21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
    22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. ​

    Amazing. ​

    HankD
     
  20. Gabriel Elijah

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    Win—great question brother & one I personally love to discuss—but before I get to involved I’d just like to point out that C. Fred Dickason actual argues that angels are made in God’s image in his book “Angels: Elect & Evil.” I’ve got the book around here somewhere & if your interested I’ll look up his argument. God Bless!
     
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