Midweek Bible study during the month of March 2012 was held at the McShaffrey home on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. on the topic of Angelology.
Study guides are available below:
Study One – Introduction
1. Angels were created by God to worship him and serve him (Colossians 1:16, Psalm 103:20, Revelation 5:11-14).
2. It appears that the Angels existed before God created the physical universe (Job 38:4-7).
3. Since the creation, much of the Angels’ work has centered around man’s salvation (Hebrews 1:14, 1 Peter 1:12).
4. Angels are non-corporeal spirit beings, but sometimes appear as human males (Genesis 18-19).
5. At other times, Angels reveal something of the glory of their being (Isaiah 6:1-2, Matthew 28:2-5).
Study Two – Classifications
1. Archangel – Angel(s) of the highest rank. Michael may be the only one (Jude 9, Daniel 10:13, 12:1, Rev. 12:7).
2. Cherubim – Angels of indescribable power and beauty (Genesis 3:24, Exodus 25:17-22, Ezekiel 1, 10).
3. Seraphim – The “burning ones” who surround the throne of God to proclaim his holiness (Isaiah 6:2-3).
4. Governmental – Angels with earthly jurisdictions of governmental authority (Ephesians 6:12, Daniel 10:21).
5. Ecclesiastical – Angels appointed to oversee local and/or regional churches (Revelation 2-3).
Study Three – Guardians
1. One of the chief duties of Angels is protecting God’s people from harm (Psalm 34:7, 91:9-12).
2. Many have concluded that every person has a “Guardian Angel” (e.g., Jews, Muslims, Greeks, some Church Fathers).
3. Jesus’ warning in Matthew 18:10 seems to confirm the tradition of individual “Guardian Angels”.
4. However, scripture says that one single Angel can protect over a million people (Exodus 14:10,19).
5. Likewise, scripture also says that an entire army of Angels can be assigned to protect one man (2 Kings 6:8-17).
Study Four – Destroyers
1. An often-overlooked ministry of Angels is to assist God in executing his judgments.
2. As an answer to Hezekiah’s prayer 185,000 Assyrian soldiers were killed by an Angel (2 Kings 19:35-37).
3. After refusing to give God the glory, King Herod Agrippa was killed by an Angel (Acts 12:20-24).
4. Because of its decadence/violence, the fall of Babylon (i.e., Rome) was effected by an Angel (Revelation 18:1-2, 21).
5. In the millennium, Satan’s power to deceive the nations is destroyed by an Angel (Revelation 20:1-3).
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