Grace Bible Church
Pastor Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Thursday June 21, 2018
Pastor Rick Bettez
Angels and humans are created beings both with free will and distinct personalities. Angels currently have greater abilities than mankind.
Angels have eternal life. Some Angels have closer similarities in appearance to humans than others.
The initial design of Angels falls under the following categories;
Guardians Servants
Heralds Musicians
Warriors Worship
Hebrews 1 has definitive descriptions of angelic presence and the purpose of Christ becoming the 2nd Adam (man) to resolve a conflict that split Angels into two categories; Fallen & Elect.
Heb 2:2 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable (permanent), and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,
The word spoken to OT saints through angelic messengers is the foundation of the Gospel of Christ. And those who rejected truth received due penalty.
Heb 2:3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard
The shadows of the OT rituals & commands had become a stumbling block for the Jews.
Heb 2:5 For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.
Angels are not ministering the Gospel in the current age (church) the indwelling power of the Trinity & word of God have authority now concerning the Gospel of Christ.
Elect Angels are now assigned as guardians for Bels in the invisible warfare against Fallen Angels. They continue to give guidance & protection but in the CA they are not presenting salvation messages. Nor will they do so in the Millennium.
Heb 2:7 “YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;
At the moment of salvation your position immediately rises above Angels.
Our free will is what will guarantee our eternal position, which is authority over Angels and it is a deciding factor for our blessings in time & eternity.
In the future sense when mankind (Bels), have that resurrection body there will be the obvious physical superiority over Angels, which we lack in our current CONDITION. (1Cor 15:42)
Heb 2:7 God crowned man with glory & honor and put him over authority of what He created. Reference to the 1st Adam but also that which we gain back through the 2nd Adam (Christ).
“WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM? OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM? (Heb 2:6, Psa 8:4-6)
The Lord became man to restore what had been taken from mankind.
Heb 2:9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus (humanity), because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
Age of Hypostatic Union our Lord allowed Himself to be in a condition lower than Angels.
The Church age is a time of intensified rebellion concerning Fallen Angels against mankind and the plan of God. Christ secured our position and the finale victory at Calvary. The current condition is still one of battle but with assured victory for Bels.
Heb 2:14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
The true power of Satan is keeping Unbels blind to the Gospel. Satan’s power of death is eternal (spiritual).
Death –THANATOS, the spiritual aspect of soul separating from body in the darkest sense of certain death & misery.
Man is born spiritually dead and it is Satan who holds great power in this realm.
Eph 2:2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air,
of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
1Tim 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,
2Cor 4:3-3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
The Unbel may not feel like a slave but they are under demonic influence because they have bought the lies. We are either in Satan’s system destined for the Lake of Fire or a child of God destined for eternal glory.
Heb 2:16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham (Bels).
This shouldn’t be interpreted as not assisting Angels.
Heb 2:16 give help- EPILAMBANOMAI (pres/mid/ind), take possession or attain.
Christ did not assume the nature of Angels but He did assume the seed of Abraham.
Jesus Christ has no relation to Angels but has taken the love relationship of a divine husband to the Bels of CA. We are embraced as part of the body, the bride and Royal Family member…we are unique!
Mankind was designed to assist in the resolution of a pre-historic Angelic rebellion which at some point the Angels made a choice for or against God. Those that continued in rebellion brought upon themselves a conflict that needed a resolution.