{"id":18267,"date":"2019-07-14T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-14T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sugar-land-bible-church.local\/sermon\/angelology-004\/"},"modified":"2019-07-14T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2019-07-14T05:00:00","slug":"angelology-004","status":"publish","type":"sermon","link":"https:\/\/slbc.org\/es\/sermon\/angelology-004\/","title":{"rendered":"Angelology 004"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","book":[59],"series_event":[499],"sermon_service_type":[473],"speaker":[6],"class_list":["post-18267","sermon","type-sermon","status-publish","hentry","book-2-chronicles","series_event-angelology","sermon_service_type-sunday-school","speaker-dr-andy-woods","no-post-thumbnail"],"acf":{"sermon_title":"Angelology 004","sermon_date":"20190714","sermon_month":"7","sermon_year":"2019","sermon_notes":6872,"sermon_slides":6873,"sermon_mp3":6888,"sermon_id":"71419133065033","series_or_event":499,"service_type":[473],"speaker":6,"books_of_the_bible":59,"chapter_and_verse":"18:18","sermon_transcript":"Dr. Andy Woods\n\nAngelology Part 4\n\nJude 1:9\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7-14-2019\n\n \n\nLet\u2019s open with a word of prayer if we could.\u00a0 Let us pray.\u00a0 Father, we\u2019re grateful for this morning and for Your people, grateful for Your Word and grateful for the opportunities You give us to gather in Your name, to fellowship, the study of Your Word with the church today and all of its [can't understand word].\u00a0 Be with Sunday School and Sunday School\u2019s that are meeting right now and I just pray You\u2019ll be with the worship service that follows.\u00a0 I do ask, Father, that You would do something in our lives today.\u00a0 [can\u2019t hear]\n\n \n\nLet\u2019s\u00a0 open our Bibles to 2 Chronicles chapter 18 and verse 18.\u00a0 We are continuing in Sunday School our study through the doctrine of the angels. What does the Bible reveal about the angels?\u00a0 It\u2019s an area called angelology, the study of the angels, what does the Bible reveal about the angels?\u00a0 As we\u2019ve talked about there is not an angel book in the Bible, you can\u2019t just say let\u2019s see, let\u2019s look up the angel book and read that.\u00a0 The doctrine of angels is sort of scattered all over the Bible so it becomes necessary to go through really the whole Bible on angels and try to arrange the data in a meaningful way.\u00a0 We\u2019ll be getting into Satanology, the doctrine of Satan, Satan has to be covered here because he was once an angel.\u00a0 And then Satan deceived a third of the angels into rebelling with him against God and those are the demons so we have to study those, demonology.\u00a0 And then the study sort of wraps up looking at the sons of God, daughters of men controversy in Genesis 6:1-4.\n\n \n\nWe\u2019ve actually covered letters A through E already. We just have to cover F and G.\u00a0 [A. Existence, B. Origin, C. Nature, D. Appearance, E. Names and classifications, F. Abode] So we\u2019ve seen that angels clearly exist.\u00a0 As far as their origin is concerned we looked at all the different issues related to the origin of the angels, the fact that they are creations of God.\u00a0 We got into the discussion of when they were created and then we also got into the whole issue of the fact that the angels were created as angels.\u00a0 They\u2019re not humans and they\u2019re not deity.\u00a0 We talked about the fact that they\u2019re creatures and as such they have the limitations of a creature; they\u2019re not omnipotent, omnipresent, or omniscient as we\u2019ve talked about.\n\n \n\nThen we got into the nature of the angels and we saw that they were actually personages or personal\u00adities; they\u2019re not sort of invisible spirits, like the Force in Star Wars.\u00a0 And we looked at their power, compared to us they\u2019re very strong but obviously they\u2019re not as strong as God.\u00a0 Their primary material is spiritual although they can appear as humans.\u00a0 We talked a little bit about the gender of the angels.\u00a0 And then we got into their appearance, when they appear on the earth they look like men actually; when the Bible records their appearance on earth but in heaven they\u2019re often described as strange creatures; they are strange looking creatures to us because there\u2019s no parallel with a creature on the earth that we know of.\n\n \n\nAnd last week we got into the names and the classifications of angels.\u00a0 Those are some of the names of angels that we talked about.\u00a0 \u00a0[General:\u00a0 Angels, Ministering spirits, Heavenly hosts, Watchers, Sons of God, Stars] Those are some of the general names of angels that we talked about.\u00a0 Some of the special classifications of angels are Cherubim, Seraphim, Michael and Gabriel, all of them fulfilling different roles.\u00a0 And we spent a bit of time last time on Michael because we wanted to communicate the point that contrary to what a lot of people are teaching today Michael should not be confused with Jesus.\n\n \n\nSo really the only thing left to cover is the abode of the angels and the activities of the angels.\u00a0 So, let\u2019s take a look at their abode, and you might want to open your Bible to 2 Chronicles 18:18.\u00a0 When is the last time you studied the Book of 2 Chronicles?\u00a0 Is anybody having their devotions this week in 2 Chronicles\u2026probably not, Yours Truly included, but there\u2019s some wonderful things in those Old Testament books.\n\n \n\nBut what do we do with the abode of the angels?\u00a0 Where exactly do they live?\u00a0 Where is home for them?\u00a0 And we saw very clearly, I\u2019m not going to re-read the verses because we\u2019ve gone through them but clearly, they can make earthly visitations.\u00a0 You see that in Genesis 18 and 19.\u00a0 And Abram, then Abraham received some visitors, did he not, and what we discover is two of those visitors were angels, when you track the story all the way up to Genesis 19:1.\n\n \n\nAnd we have that verse in the Book of Hebrews, chapter 13 and verse 2, that some of you have entertained\u201d what?\u00a0 \u201cangels unaware.\u201d\u00a0 [Hebrews 13:2, \u201cBe not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.\u201d KJV] Now how can you entertain an angel unaware unless an angel has the ability to take the appearance of a human.\u00a0 So there\u2019s no doubt that biblically angels can make earthly visitations.\u00a0 However, the earth, I don\u2019t think, is their primary home or their habitation.\u00a0 Their primary home or habitation is in heaven and that\u2019s why I had you open up to 2 Chronicles 18:18, and notice what it says there.\u00a0 It says, \u201cMicaiah said, \u201cTherefore, hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right and on His left.\u201d\u00a0 So you notice there that angels are called \u201cthe host of heaven.\u201d\n\n \n\nAnd over in the Book of Luke, chapter 1, verse 19, it talks there about Gabriel and it talks about how Gabriel stands in the presence of the Lord.\u00a0 So that\u2019s sort of another hint that angels, their primary abode is in heaven.\u00a0 Luke 1:19, it says, \u201c\u2026 \u2018I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, [and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.\u2019\u201d]\n\n \n\nAnd you might recall Luke 15:10, remember what the angels do when a sinner repents?\u00a0 They rejoice and that\u2019s a wonderful verse there telling us that angels have an emotional makeup because rejoicing is an emotion. But in the process of that description it says, \u201cIn the same way,\u201d Jesus speaking, Luke 15:10, \u201cI tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.\u201d\u00a0 So there they are in heaven, (the way it looks to me) in heaven rejoicing.\n\n \n\nAnd then over in John 1:51 the Jacob\u2019s ladder passage.\u00a0\u00a0 Notice what it says over in John 1:51\u2026.\u00a0 I did warn you when we started we\u2019d look up a lot of verses in this class.\u00a0 Theology is only as good as the text it\u2019s found in\u2026 Amen!\u00a0 So that\u2019s why I want to show you that there\u2019s actually textual reasons for these ideas that we have about angels.\u00a0 John 1:51, \u201cAnd He said to him, \u2018Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.\u201d\u2019\u00a0 The heavens opened!\u00a0 So you kind of take all these verses and you put them together and\u00a0 you sort of learn that yeah, angels certainly can make some earthly visitations but their primary home, their primary abode is in heaven.\n\n \n\nWhich leads us just to one more category to look at under the good angels is the activities of the angels.\u00a0 What do the angels do?\u00a0 And here we talk about their past activities, their present activities and their future activities and let me put your mind at rest.\u00a0 [Cherub(im) \u2013 Genesis 3:24; Exodus 25:17-22.\u00a0 Seraph(im) \u2013 Isaiah 6:2, 6 Michael \u2013 Daniel 12:1; Jude 9; Revelation 12:7. \u00a0Gabriel \u2013 Daniel 8:16; 9:21; Luke 1:18-19, 26-38.]\u00a0\u00a0 This is a highly abbreviated list.\u00a0 If we were to look up everything an angel did in the Bible this series may never end before the rapture.\u00a0 So this is very abbreviated.\u00a0 I\u2019ve recommended a couple of times Billy Graham\u2019s book, Angels, God\u2019s Secret Agents<\/em>.\u00a0 That was sort of one of my first exposures to the doctrine of angels because he just talks\u2026 it\u2019s sort of astounding to read it and to see how frequent angels are portrayed in the Bible. So if you want to go deeper with it I recommend that book.\n\n \n\nBut let\u2019s look at an abbreviated list.\u00a0 What had angels done in the past. According to the Book of Job, this is a passage we\u2019ve covered, chapter 38 and verse 7, the sons of God were the ones praising God as he brought forth creation.\u00a0 And so, angels were there to witness creation, either angels existed long before creation and witnessed the whole thing or I tried to also communicate there\u2019s another view is that angels were created during the creation week and therefore witnessed much of creation.\u00a0 But whichever view you take clearly angels understand the creative power of God because Job 38:7 describes them as praising the Lord as the Lord brought forth the heavens and the earth.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [Job 38:7, \u201cWhen the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?\u201d]\n\n \n\nIt\u2019s kind of sad today, we live in a time period where God doesn\u2019t get any credit for creation because what they teach in the public-school system is everything came about randomly and accidentally through the theory of evolution which is \u201cfrom the goo to the zoo to you\u201d over billions of years.\u00a0 And so if you believe that then why give God credit for creation.\u00a0 We know from Revelation 4:11 that God deserves glory on account of creation.\u00a0 [Revelation 4:11, \u201cWorthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.\u201d]\n\nBut even angels have enough sense to give God glory for what He has done because Job 38:7 says, \u201cWhen the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted out for joy.\u00a0 And the prior verses God says to Job, [Job 38:4] \u201cWhere were you when I laid the foundation of the earth.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cWhere were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?\u00a0 Tell Me,<\/em> if you have understanding.\u201d\u00a0 [5] Who set its measurements? Since you know.\u00a0 Or who stretched the line on it?\u00a0 [6] On what were its bases sunk?\u00a0 Or who laid its cornerstone,\u201d creation in other words.\u00a0 And then it says, \u201cWhen the morning stars\u201d it\u2019s got to be angels because stars don\u2019t sing, \u201cmorning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?\u201d\u00a0 So when God was creating the angels just couldn\u2019t contain it anymore and they just began to praise the Lord.\n\nSo, God deserves glory on account of what He has made and when you understand this you start to understand God\u2019s anger with the human race, Romans 1, who takes what God has created and suppresses it. Romans 1:18 and following says the wrath of God is revealed because of this.\u00a0 [Romans 1:18, \u201cFor the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness [19] because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. [20] For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. [21] For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing to be wise, they became fools, [23]and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.\u201d]\n\nSo when you look at a Picasso painting or a Michelangelo or you read a Shakespearian masterpiece, you want to give glory to the Lord who created those things.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 Shakespeare, what a mind he had we say, or what a wonderful talent in Picasso or Michelangelo.\u00a0 I mean, that\u2019s natural, right?\u00a0 And yet what has the human race done?\u00a0 They\u2019ve taken creation and explained it without God and that\u2019s why God\u2019s anger is kindled against humanity, Romans 1.\u00a0 But the angels at the beginning have enough sense to praise the Lord for His handiwork in creation.\n\nSomething else that angels frequently did in the past is they were instruments that God used to bring judgment.\u00a0 Remember the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, right?\u00a0 It\u2019s interesting how God delegates the assignment of judgment over to angels; God empowers angels to bring judgments.\u00a0 And so in Genesis 19:15, concerning the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, it says, \u201cWhen morning dawned, the angels urged Lot,\u201d the only believer that we know of in Sodom, and his family, \u201csaying, \"Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.\u201d\u00a0 So, the angels came to destroy the city and they came to warn Lot to get out of the city before destruction came. And when you go to Genesis 19:22 the angel that was given the task of destroying Sodom and Gomorrah said, \u201cHurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.\u201d\u00a0 Therefore, the name of the town was called Zoar.\u201d\u00a0 So the angels said I can\u2019t even destroy this city until you\u2019re out of this city and so that very clearly communicates that God assigned the task of destroying the city to angels.\n\nNotice the Book of Acts, chapter 12, for a minute, verses 22 and 23, concerning the wicked ruler named Herod Agrippa.\u00a0 Notice what it says there, Acts 12:22-23, \u201cThe people kept crying out, \u201cThe voice of a god and not of a man!\u201d\u00a0 Everybody liked in the Greco-Roman world how this guy, Herod Agrippa, spoke.\u00a0 They gravitated towards their favorite politician based on how they talked. I\u2019m glad we don\u2019t do stuff like that today.\u00a0 [Laughter] And they began to say of Herod Agrippa,\u201d The voice of a god and not of a man.\u201d\u00a0 They began to call him a god.\u00a0 Now we know that when people do that God doesn\u2019t share His glory with another\u2026 Amen!\u00a0 So anybody that claims to be God is, as my dad used to tell me when I acted up, \u201cyou\u2019re cruising\u2019 for a bruising.\u2019\u201d [Laughter]\n\nAnd notice what it says there in Acts 19:23, \u201cAnd immediately\u201d God didn\u2019t waste a lot of time on this one, \u201can angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.\u201d\u00a0 So, end of problem!\u00a0 But you\u2019ll notice that it was not God that did this directly but the task was given for judgment, just like Sodom and Gomorrah, to an angel of the Lord.\n\nNumber three, the angels were involved in mediating the Law of Moses as the Law of Moses was given at the Sinai revelation. We learn that the angels were instrumental in [can't understand word]\u00a0 that law through Moses to the chosen people, the people of Israel.\u00a0 And if you slip over to the Book of Galatians, chapter 3 and verse 19 it says, \u201cWhat then the Law? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained\u201d now some translations say mediated, \u201chaving been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.\u201d\u00a0 So it\u2019s an interesting passage here about the Law and there\u2019s a lot of things to talk about but the only thing I would draw your attention to is it was mediated via angels.\u00a0 So, the angels were somehow involved in that Sinai revelation.\n\nAngels, of course, announced the births of John the Baptist and Jesus.\u00a0 Anybody remember the specific angel that was involved in that?\u00a0 Gabriel.\u00a0 So when you look over at Luke chapter 1, verses 11-13, we sort of talked about the fact that Gabriel seems to have a role in disclosing new truth. \u00a0And it says in Luke 1:11-13, it says, \u201cAnd an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. [12] Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel,<\/em> and fear gripped him. [13] But the angel said to him, \u201cDo not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.\u201d So, who was this man, John the Baptist in Elizabeth\u2019s womb, Zacharias\u2019s soon son, an angel, Gabriel was dispatched from heaven to explain that reality.\n\nAnd then when you go down to Luke 1:26-27, Gabriel does the same thing relative to the birth of Jesus Christ.\u00a0 It says, \u201cNow in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth [27] to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.\u201d\u00a0 So, notice also that it\u2019s Gabriel that discloses what\u2019s happening in Mary\u2019s womb.\u00a0 And that\u2019s in Luke 1:26-27.\u00a0 So angels in the past were involved in announcing the births of John and Jesus Christ.\n\nHere\u2019s something interesting; angels were involved in strengthening Christ during His ordeals.\u00a0 He was pushed to a degree a human being has never been pushed in the area of personal temptation.\u00a0 And that story, historical account, is given in Matthew 4:1-11.\n\n[Matthew 4:1-11, \u201cThen Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. [2] And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. [3] And the tempter came and said to Him, \u201cIf You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.\u201d [4] But He answered and said, \u201cIt is written, \u2018MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.\u2019\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 [5] Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple,\u00a0 [6] and said to Him, \u201cIf You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, \u2018HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU\u2019; \u00a0and \u2018ON their<\/em> HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP,\u00a0 SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.\u2019\u201d\u00a0 [7] Jesus said to him, \u201cOn the other hand, it is written, \u2018YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.\u2019\u201d\u00a0 [8] Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; [9] and he said to Him, \u201cAll these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.\u201d [10] Then Jesus said to him, \u201cGo, Satan! For it is written, \u2018YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.\u2019\u201d [11] Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began<\/em> to minister to Him.\u201d]\n\nWhat are the three areas in which temptation comes?\u00a0 John tells us \u201clust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0Eve, Genesis 3:6, was tested in all three; \u201cWhen the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate also.\u201d\u00a0 When it says \u201cdesirable to the eyes\u201d \u201cgood for food,\u201d \u201cdesirable to make one wise,\u201d that\u2019s the\u201d lust of the flesh, lust of the eye and the pride of life.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus came into the world to be tested in those three areas also but because He was the God-man He could hold up under that temptation.\u00a0 You recall the temptation, command the stones to become bread, that\u2019s lust of the flesh.\u00a0 Use your body in a way that\u2019s displeasing to God, that\u2019s an appeal to the body.\u00a0 And then Satan in an instant showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and said you can have them just bow down and worship me and they\u2019ll all be yours, so that would be lust of the eye.\u00a0 It was an appeal to the eye.\u00a0 And then the final temptation is throw yourself from the temple and the angels will catch you.\u00a0 And there I think it\u2019s an appeal to you can have an immediate following by performing a miracle outside of the will of God the Father.\u00a0 And I think that\u2019s an appeal to the pride of life.\n\nSo this is why Jesus is called the \u201clast Adam.\u201d\u00a0 He succeeded in every area where our forbearers failed in the three avenues in which temptation comes, lust of the flesh, lust of the eye and the pride of life.\u00a0 You know, one of those temptations basically what Satan is saying is I know You\u2019ve come into the world, Jesus, to redeem the world through the cross and guess what?\u00a0 You don\u2019t have to go to the cross to have the world, you can have the whole thing right now, just give me a moment of worship Satan says to Jesus.\u00a0 And can you imagine how fast any of us would fold under that kind of temptation?\u00a0 And yet Jesus, after fasting for forty days, who was physically fatigued obviously, said no to that temptation.\n\nBy the way, that\u2019s why Jesus is called a high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses.\u00a0 [Hebrews 4:15, \u201cFor we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.\u201d]\u00a0\u00a0 Jesus was pushed the furthest degree a person has ever been pushed in those three areas, lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, and the pride of life.\u00a0 And so, when you and I experience our minor temptations in those same three areas He knows exactly what we\u2019re going through.\n\nAll of that to describe the ordeal of what He went through and it says in Matthew 4:11, I think Luke\u2019s account says \u201cthe devil left Him for a more opportune time.\u201d\u00a0 [Luke 4:13, \u201cWhen the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.\u201d]\u00a0 It actually says it here in Matthew 4:11 as well, it says, \u201cThen the devil left Him;\u201d and then it says this, \u201cand behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 So, they were used by God to minister to Christ at probably, I would guess His weakest point.\n\nAngels also, if you go to Matthew 28, are involved in announcing the resurrection of Jesus.\u00a0 Let\u2019s take a look at Matthew 28:5-7, It says, \u201cThe angel said to the women,\u201d who came to visit the empty tomb, \u201cDo not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. [6] \u201cHe is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. [7] \u201cGo quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.\u201d\u00a0 So, you notice there\u2019s an angel here announcing the resurrection of Jesus Christ.\n\nAnd then Jesus, in between His resurrection and ascension has a forty-day ministry in the Book of Acts where He\u2019s teaching the disciples on a lot of subjects concerning the Kingdom of God.\u00a0 And then Jesus disappears.\u00a0 And that\u2019s what we call the ascension and who was there observing the ascension of Jesus Christ?\u00a0 Take a look at Acts 1:9 it says, \u201cAnd after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.\u201d [10] \u201cAnd as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.\u201d\u00a0 Now it doesn\u2019t say they are angels but I would hazard to guess that these two are probably angels.\u00a0 And then they start to give a theology lesson on the second coming.\u00a0 They also said, \u201cMen, Galileans, why do you stand looking into the sky?\u201d\u00a0 Now why would they say that?\u00a0 Because He told them in chapter 1 verse 8, a few verses earlier, you\u2019re going to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and into the remote parts of the earth.\u00a0 [Acts 1:8, \u201cbut you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.\u201d]\n\nIn other words, you\u2019ve got a job to do.\u00a0 Now He told them to wait until they received empowerment from on high, the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 But it\u2019s kind of funny, they\u2019re kind of staring at Jesus going into heaven and these angels are saying what are you doing that for, your job is earthly; don\u2019t worry too much about heavenly things or angelic things that you don\u2019t understand, worry about the job that God has given you that you do understand.\u00a0 Do you think we need to hear that at all?\u00a0 I mean, I spend so much time trying to figure out things that God hasn\u2019t spoken on when I ought to be spending my time doing what I know I\u2019m supposed to be doing.\u00a0 Amen!\u00a0 So, there\u2019s a good lesson here for all of us.\n\nBut you\u2019ll notice that these angels are basically watching Jesus ascend back into heaven along with the disciples.\u00a0 And as we said earlier angels were very active in bringing messages from God to people.\u00a0 Luke 1:13.\u00a0 [Luke 1:13, \u201cBut the angel said to him, \u2018Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.\u201d]\u00a0 It\u2019s Gabriel that brings to the parents of Jesus and John the Baptist information about what\u2019s happening in the respective wombs of the respective mothers.\u00a0 In fact, the name \u201cangel,\u201d you might remember from the first lesson we did on this, the name angel is derived from the word to evangelize.\u00a0 Old Testament and New Testament, the concept of the word angel, molech<\/em> in Hebrew or angelos<\/em> in Greek, you can see how those words are connected to messenger or message or evangelization because that\u2019s one of the main tasks of angels.\u00a0 Angels exist to bring messages.\n\nAnd that\u2019s why the author of Hebrews spends two chapters explaining to his audience that Jesus is higher than the angels.\u00a0 Hebrews 1 and 2.\u00a0 I think we covered a little bit of that last time.\u00a0 Why does the author of Hebrews try to demonstrate that Jesus is higher than the angels in two chapters of the book?\u00a0 Why did he you spend the first two chapters dealing with that?\u00a0 Well, he\u2019s trying to get his Hebrew Christian audience not to lapse backward into Judaism because of persecution from unbelieving Jews by explaining to them that the full revelation they have in Jesus Christ is better or higher than anything they had in Old Testament Judaism.\u00a0 And if you can demonstrate to that audience that Jesus is higher than the angels and the Jews well understood that angels are messengers, then you could understand or you could communicate that the message of Jesus is higher than the message of the Old Testament.\u00a0 Do you see the point?\u00a0 That\u2019s why he spends so much time explaining that Jesus is higher than angels, because he\u2019s trying to explain that Jesus is a higher message than that contained in the Old Testament.\u00a0 And he\u2019s doing that by demonstrating that Jesus is higher than the very messengers of the Old Testament angels, including the ones that mediated or brought forth God\u2019s Law.\n\nSo anyway, that\u2019s just a very terse concise list.\u00a0 I probably left out quite a bit but it\u2019s astounding, isn\u2019t it, to discover all of the things that angels have done in the past.\u00a0 Well, probably what you\u2019re more interested in is what are they doing right now.\u00a0 So what are some present activities of angels.\u00a0 One of the things that they do is they protect Christians and believers.\u00a0 Are you happy about that?\u00a0 I\u2019m happy about that!\u00a0 You might remember the story that we referenced concerning Elisha.\u00a0 The servant of Elisha was very worried that the enemy was coming and Elisha tells the servant don\u2019t worry, those that are with us are more than those that are with them.\u00a0 And the servant was puzzled by that statement, what is that supposed to mean?\u00a0 And so 2 Kings 6:17 says, \u201cThen Elisha prayed and said, \u2018O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.\u2019 And the LORD opened the servant's eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.\u201d\u00a0 So obviously angels play some sort of role in protecting believers.\n\nIn the Billy Graham book that I mentioned, \u201cAngels, God\u2019s Secret Agents<\/em>,\u201d it mentions some folks that were trying to kill some missionaries and basically what happened is these missionaries end up reaching this people group, this remote people group that was originally trying to kill them, and when the two groups started talking back and forth after salvations occurred the people in this particular people group said who are those men, those shining men that were standing around your tent that night?\u00a0 And the missionary said we don\u2019t know of any such army or any such men and those that were evangelized said yeah, we were going to kill you but there was an army around your tent.\u00a0 And so the missionary, it sort of dawned on him that God had sent protective angels to protect him from this particular tribe until they were evangelized.\u00a0 So, I think when we die and get to heaven it\u2019s going to be astounding to discover all the ways God dispatched angels to help us in time of need.\n\nPsalm 34:7, notice what that says.\u00a0 There\u2019s a lot here in the Bible about the protective care of angels.\u00a0 Psalm 34, and notice, if you will, verse 7, it says, \u201cThe angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.\u201d\u00a0 Another good verse on this is Psalm 91:11-12 and as I read this see if you can remember where this is referenced elsewhere in Scripture.\u00a0 It says, \u201cFor he will give his angels charge concerning you, To guard you in your ways.\u00a0\u00a0 [12] They will bear you up in their hands that you do not strike your foot against a stone.\u201d\u00a0 Anybody recall where this is quoted else\u00adwhere in the Bible? This is Satan quoting the Bible.\u00a0 You say you mean Satan quotes the Bible?\u00a0 Yes, he does!\u00a0 He knows the Bible better than most pastors know it.\u00a0 The problem is when Satan, the father of lies, John 8:44, quotes the Bible he always twists it.\u00a0 [John 8:44, \u201cYou are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.]\n\nSo, in the three temptations in one of the temptations where he told Jesus to throw Himself from the temple and the angels will catch you, he was twisting it to make it sound like you need to intentionally put yourself in harm\u2019s way.\u00a0 I mean, just go ahead out here on the freeway and lay out there and after all, God said He\u2019s going to protect you through His angels, right?\u00a0 So that\u2019s why Jesus responded, \u201cDo not put the Lord thy God to the\u201d what? \u201cto the test.\u201d\u00a0 So, Satan took the truth and twisted it, which is what Satan always does.\u00a0 But the truth of the matter is God, Psalm 91:11-12, uses angels all of the time to protect His people from all sorts of things.\u00a0 [Psalm 91:11-12, \u201cFor He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. \u00a0[12] They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone.\u201d]\n\nSo, I think it was one of our famous missionaries, I can\u2019t remember which one, he basically said the servant of God\u2019s life is virtually indestructible until it\u2019s God\u2019s determination that it\u2019s time for that person to go home, because God is always using angels, constantly, to protect us in ways we\u2019re not even aware of.\n\nNow one of the questions that comes up is do we have guardian angels; I mean, is there a specific angel assigned to Andy Woods?\u00a0 And given the fact that I get myself into trouble quite frequently I think I might need more than one.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know of a specific verse that teaches that but there\u2019s a couple of inferences that maybe that\u2019s true.\u00a0 Matthew 18:10, it says, \u201cSee that you do not despise one of these little ones\u201d children in other words, \u201cfor I say to you that their angels,\u201d that\u2019s interesting, the possessive there is \u201ctheir angels in heaven continually see the face of my Father who is in heaven.\u201d\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t mention mere angels.\u00a0 And so if I was going to build a case that we each have guardian angels that\u2019s probably the only verse I would have that would in any way communicate that.\n\nThere is this very strange reference over in Acts 12:15 to Peter; you remember Peter in Acts 12 was in prison and the church was praying that Peter would get out of prison.\u00a0 Remember that?\u00a0 And guess what?\u00a0 The Lord answered the prayer but the church didn\u2019t believe the Lord answered the prayer so they kept praying and while the church kept praying what was Peter doing?\u00a0 He\u2019s outside the door knocking, you guys don\u2019t have to pray anymore, the prayer has been answered.\u00a0 And Rhoda comes to the door and basically, she\u2019s the one that says Peter\u2019s out there you guys, stop praying, the prayer\u2019s been answered.\u00a0 And the church didn\u2019t really believe that the Lord had answered the prayer and so they made this very strange statement to Rhoda in Acts 12:15. Notice what it says, \u201cThey said to her, \u2018You are out of your mind!\u201d\u00a0 See, that\u2019s how unbelief works, right?\u00a0 \u201cBut she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, \u2018It is his angel.\u2019\u201d\u00a0 So they\u2019re using sarcasm there that it\u2019s really not Peter, it\u2019s his angel.\n\nNow I don\u2019t think a piece of sarcasm like that would exist unless there\u2019s some truth behind it.\u00a0 There must have been some sort of common Jewish understanding in the reality of guardian angels for you can\u2019t be sarcastic about something that\u2019s not true.\u00a0 Do you see my point?\u00a0 And so Matthew 18:10 is not very strong evidence, and Acts 12:15 also not very strong evidence either because its sarcasm, may be as close as you can come in the Bible to building a case of specific guardian angels.\u00a0 But whether there are specific angels assigned to me or not, or are assigned to you or not I do not know.\u00a0 I do know this much, that angels exist to minister to \u201cthose who will inherit salvation.\u201d\u00a0 That would include us, amen!\u00a0 Their salvation is our future glorification and until we arrive at glory what does it say in Hebrews 1:14, \u201cAre they not all ministering spirits sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation.\u201d So that\u2019s one of the main purposes of angels is to protect believers.\n\nSomething else angels do presently is they deliver answers to prayer. Gabriel, Daniel 9:23, was dispatched from heaven to give to Daniel an answer to prayer, a tremendous prayer there in Daniel 9, the prayer of the seventy weeks.\u00a0 [Daniel 9:23, \u201cAt the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so, give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.\u201d]\n\nAnd then over in Daniel 10:12 it talks about how an angel was dispatched from heaven to answer Daniel\u2019s prayer request as Daniel was seeking the future of the nation of Israel.\u00a0 [Daniel 10:12, \u201cThen he said to me, \u201cDo not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understand\u00ading this<\/em> and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.\u201d]\u00a0 But that angel was held up for 21 days.\u00a0 Why was that angel held up for 21 days?\u00a0 Because that angel is being resisted by a demon called \u201cthe Prince of Persia.\u201d\u00a0 The prince over Persia.\u00a0 And the two of them duke it out for 21 days.\u00a0 That\u2019d be quite a boxing match, wouldn\u2019t it, to watch.\u00a0 And then finally Michael had to be dispatched from heaven to help the first angel and the two of them sort of tag-teamed, if you will, on the demon over Persia and then finally that angel got through to answer Daniel\u2019s prayer request.\n\nYou\u2019ll see that whole story recorded in Daniel 10.\u00a0 And there\u2019s a lot of interesting things we could learn from that story but one of those things is angels are clearly involved in answering prayer.\u00a0 Somehow God uses angels in His providence to answer prayer requests. \u00a0And by the way, when you die and if we\u2019re not the rapture generation, we\u2019re all going to die\u2026 Amen?\u00a0 The mortality rate is still 100% the last time I checked; every time I look in the mirror I don\u2019t seem to be getting any younger.\u00a0 The grim reaper is coming for all of us.\u00a0 So, when you die and your physical body separates from your soul, when the material and the immaterial separate and it\u2019s time for your soul in Jesus Christ to go to heaven, who comes and gets your soul?\u00a0 A lot of people think Jesus comes and gets us and I don\u2019t think that\u2019s true; I think He\u2019s coming for the rapture generation but I don\u2019t think He comes and gets every single soul and takes it to heaven.\u00a0 Apparently, that\u2019s a task that He has assigned to angels.\u00a0 You say well where are you getting that from?\u00a0 It\u2019s in Luke 16:22. It says, \u201cNow the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom;\u201d so apparently the angels are involved in getting the souls of the deceased and taking them to their appointed destinations.\n\nAngels are also involved in government.\u00a0 I say AMEN to that because some of those folks up there need some angels to look out concerning some of the decisions they make.\u00a0 But Daniel 10:21, remember it was Michael that had to kind of tag team with the first angel to defeat the Prince of Persia so the first angel could get through to answer Daniel\u2019s prayer request?\u00a0 That shows you right there that angels are involved in human government.\u00a0 [Daniel 10:21, \u201cHowever, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince.\u201d]\n\nDaniel 12:1 talks about how Michael exists to protect which nation?\u00a0 The nation of Israel.\u00a0 \u00a0[Daniel 12:1, \u201cNow at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.\u201d] \u00a0\u00a0So very clearly Michael has an assignment relative to politics.\n\nAnd here\u2019s something that I find very interesting over in the Book of Daniel, chapter 11 and verse 1.\u00a0 There was a good king in Persia. Remember how he was sort of tricked into putting Daniel in the lion\u2019s den because they got him to sign a law against prayer? And then, according to the tradition of the Medes and the Persians, once a law is passed you can\u2019t revoke it.\u00a0 And so, this particular king agonized all night long if he had been tricked into putting Daniel in the lion\u2019s den.\u00a0 And it says that that particular king, Darius the Mede, it\u2019s very interesting, Daniel 11:1, is says, \u201cIn the first year of Darius the Mede, I\u201d now that\u2019s the angel that had been sent to answer Daniel\u2019s prayer request in chapter 10 that was held up for three weeks or twenty-one days.\u00a0 \u201cIn the first year of Darius the Mede I arose to be\u201d what? \u201can encouragement and a\u201d what? \u201cprotection for him.\u201d\n\nSo again, it\u2019s just sort of a little hint that angels are involved in encouraging and protecting Godly leaders in government.\u00a0 I mean don\u2019t you think that Godly leaders in government need protection?\u00a0 Don\u2019t you think they might need an encouragement?\u00a0 I think sometimes we should encourage those people, when you get a godly leader in government.\u00a0 (It does happen from time to time!)\u00a0 And we ought to be\u2026 we spend so much time complaining about things, maybe we ought to send an e-mail of encouragement to somebody but apparently this particular angel protected Darius the Mede and also acted as sort of an encouragement to him as well.\u00a0 So, angels are involved, it looks like, in government.\u00a0 So those are some of the things angels do presently.\n\nNow what about the future of the angels? Have you ever thought about angels this way?\u00a0 The eschatology of the angels, what is the eschatology of angels?\u00a0 Eschatology is the study of what?\u00a0 Study of the end!\u00a0 The angels are dramatically in God\u2019s future program.\u00a0 For one thing, and the angel of the Lord who I don\u2019t think is Jesus, seems to be involved in the rapture.\u00a0 Notice the rapture passage, the most famous, clearest rapture passage that we have, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, it talks about the rapture and then it says, \u201cFor the Lord Himself will descend from heaven\u201d and then it says \u201cwith a shout,\u201d comma in the NASB, \u201cwith the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.\u201d\u00a0 [17] Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.\u201d\u00a0 That\u2019s the rapture.\n\nThere\u2019s a lot of people that hate the doctrine of the pre-trib rapture and you know you\u2019re dealing with a pre-trib rapture hater when they call the rapture the secret rapture.\u00a0 They keep referring to our position as the secret rapture and every time I read that I get a chuckle, I\u2019m wondering why do they think we teach a secret rapture?\u00a0 First of all, you\u2019re going to have millions of people missing from planet earth, that doesn\u2019t look like a secret to me.\u00a0 And even beyond that it describes \u201cfor the Lord Himself will descend with a\u201d what? \u201ca shout\u201d that doesn\u2019t sound very secretive to me, \u201cwith the voice of an archangel,\u201d that doesn\u2019t sound very secretive to me either, and then it says \u201cwith the trump of God.\u201d\u00a0 Isn\u2019t a trumpet loud. So I have no idea why they keep using this phrase, the secret rapture.\n\nBut at any rate what I think is happening here, and I tried to refer to this last week, I don\u2019t think that Jesus here should be confused with the archangel because we went through many, many passages last time indicating that Jesus is not Michael, the archangel.\u00a0 What I think what is happening is Jesus is descending and angels are with Him.\u00a0 I don\u2019t have too much of a problem with that because I know that many angels are going to be involved with the second advent of Jesus, when His feet touch the earth at the end of the tribulation period.\u00a0 So if that\u2019s true of the second advent I don\u2019t have any problem with Jesus being accompanied by angels at the rapture and I would assume that one of those angels is going to be Michael, and Michael is actually the one, it doesn\u2019t say it as clean as I\u2019d want it to say it, who is lending his voice and that\u2019s why this event of the rapture is so noisy for the participants in the rapture.\n\nSo I came up with that solution, or I hold solution, I didn\u2019t come up with it, I read it from some other commentators because I\u2019ve got to have a way to harmonize this verse with a plethora of other verses that indicate Jesus is NOT Michael the archangel.\u00a0 And people that believe Jesus is Michael the archangel, this is the main verse they quote, and I think it\u2019s worth noting here that Jesus is not actually the one who\u2019s doing the shouting.\u00a0 I think it could be an accompanying angel with Jesus that does the shouting.\u00a0 But at any rate angels clearly are involved, at least at some point, at some level, with the rapture.\n\nAnd then you have this very strange reference, and please don\u2019t ask me what it means because I really don\u2019t know, but we know that angels are going to be judged by humans.\u00a0 That\u2019s over in\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1 Corinthians chapter 6 and verse 3.\u00a0 Paul there is talking about our future millennial authority as believers.\u00a0 And that\u2019s something to understand; if you\u2019re a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ you may not have any authority in this world but you\u2019re destined for authority.\u00a0 And the Corinthians had gotten their eyes off of that and they started to get into these dumb little disputes with each other and it got so bad that they were taking their disputes before pagan magistrates, discrediting the gospel in the presence of pagan judges or pagan magistrates since Jesus had told us in the Upper Room \u201cBy this all men will know that you are My disciples,\u201d if you have abilities to win arguments with each other\u2026 it doesn\u2019t say that, does it, \u201call men will know you are My disciples if you have love for one another.\u201d\u00a0 John 13:35.\n\nSo if you\u2019ve got dueling Christians and it gets so bad that they have to go before an unbeliever to get their squabble resolved then Paul says you\u2019re defeated already.\u00a0 And then you\u2019ve destroyed your witness.\u00a0 And in the process of that whole rebuke Paul says to them in 1 Corinthians 6:3, \u201cDo you not know we will judge the angels?\u00a0 How much more the matters of this life.\u201d\u00a0 Don\u2019t you understand who you are in Christ?\u00a0 Don\u2019t you understand the authority that you\u2019re destined for?\u00a0 Don\u2019t you under\u00adstand that you in the millennial kingdom are going to sit in judgment on the angels, whatever that means.\u00a0 And you\u2019re so outside of your identity that you can\u2019t even resolve a little matter between yourselves, to the point where you\u2019re discrediting the gospel.\u00a0 But in the process of that rebuke Paul communicates that we will sit in judgment on the angels; the angels will be judged by humans.\u00a0 Is that the good angels or the bad angels? I don\u2019t know if I know, it\u2019s just kind of an obscure reference.\n\nAnd angels are also involved in the tribulation judgments. Do you guys know anything about the Book of Revelation?\u00a0 I hope so because we\u2019ve been studying that, I think this morning we were on Lesson 45 and we\u2019re already through chapter 1, verse 1.\u00a0 [Laughter] I\u2019m just kidding, we\u2019re in chapter 14 so we are moving.\u00a0 But we\u2019re reading about the seal judgments and the trumpet judgments and the bowl judgments and who does God use to bring those judgments to the earth?\u00a0 He uses angels, doesn\u2019t He, just like He used angels to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.\u00a0 The future destruction of the earth he delegates that task to angels.\n\nNotice Revelation 8:2, concerning the trumpet judgments. Revelation 8:2, what does it say there? \u201cAnd I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.\u201d\u00a0 So, every time an angel sounds a trumpet another judgment comes to the earth.\u00a0 And slip over to Revelation 16, and notice, if you will, verse 1.\u00a0 \u201cThen I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, \u201cGo and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.\u201d\u00a0 So every time an angel flies out and does this, dumps out a bowl, a judgment comes to the earth.\u00a0 So it\u2019s interesting how God has assigned this task to the angels.\n\nNo longer talking about the rapture but the second advent and you probably should understand that we at Sugar Land Bible Church take the return of Christ and divide it into two phases.\u00a0 He comes first for the church to rescue us from the wrath to come, that\u2019s the rapture, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.\n\n[1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, \u201cBut we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. [15] For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. [16] For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the<\/em> archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. [17] Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. [18] Therefore comfort one another with these words.\u201d\n\nAnd then the events of the tribulation period unfold while we have the best seats in the house, from heaven.\u00a0 And then Israel is converted and Jesus Christ returns, this time very differently, at the end of the seven-year tribulation period; His feet, unlike the rapture, actually touch the earth.\u00a0 The Mount of Olives splits, Zechariah 14:4, and this time He\u2019s not coming back to rescue the church, He\u2019s coming back to rescue the nation of Israel from the beast who\u2019s trying to kill them; two-thirds of them die, a third of them remain and Jesus Christ comes back and does a rescue operation for them.\u00a0 He comes back with violent judgment and He sets up His thousand-year kingdom.\u00a0 [Zechariah 14:4, \u201cIn that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south.\u201d]\n\nSo when He returns in His second advent clearly He\u2019s coming back with the angels, is He not?\u00a0 \u00a0Notice Matthew 24:31. By the way, who else is He coming back with?\u00a0 He\u2019s coming back with you and He\u2019s coming back with me who were raptured more than seven years earlier and they\u2019re in glorified bodies, and that may mean don\u2019t you know you\u2019re going to judge the angels because we, under his delegated authority, are helping Him, (not that He needs our help but he gives us the privilege of assisting under His delegated authority, we are cleansing the earth which would include banishing Satan and his demons, and we are under His delegated authority, He\u2019s setting up the kingdom of God on the earth and ruling and reigning with Him in that kingdom.\n\nBut notice Matthew 24:31, it says, \u201cHe\u201d this is not the rapture, this is the second advent, \u201cHe will send forth His\u201d what? \u201cangels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect,\u201d now who are \u201cHis elect\u201d?\u00a0 The elect is always Israel.\u00a0 Certainly, the church is called the elect sometimes but that\u2019s not the context here.\u00a0 This is a Jewish context.\u00a0 \u201cHe will send forth His angels\u2026 they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.\u201d\u00a0 So notice that angels are involved in His second advent.\n\nNotice Matthew 25:31, \u201cBut when the Son of Man comes in His glory,\u201d that couldn\u2019t be the rapture, the rapture is only for the church, this is an earthly glorification, \u201cand all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.\u201d\u00a0 What throne would that be?\u00a0 It\u2019s the throne of David in fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant, 2 Samuel 7:12-16.\u00a0 [2 Samuel 7:12, \u201cWhen your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom.\u00a0 [13] \"He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.\u00a0 [14] I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, [15] but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.\u00a0 [16] Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.\u201d]\u00a0 When He comes and sits on His glorious throne in Jerusalem, notice that the angels are with Him.\n\nNotice 2 Thessalonians 1:7, isn\u2019t this interesting, a whole eschatology we can develop just about the angels.\u00a0 2 Thessalonians 1:7, of the second advent of Christ, not the rapture here but the second advent, it says, \u201cand to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty\u201d what? \u201cangels in flaming fire,\u201d\u00a0 So angels are clearly involved with the second advent.\n\nAnd one other thing, angels do in the end times is they bind Satan.\u00a0 Notice Revelation 20:1-2, because when Jesus Christ comes back at the end of the seven-year tribulation period and establishes His kingdom on the earth Satan won\u2019t have any influence during that thousand-year period until he is let out of the abyss.\u00a0 So the first order of business is the binding of Satan, and who binds Satan exactly.\u00a0 It\u2019s very interesting, Revelation 20:1-2, it says, \u201cThen I saw\u201d what? \u201can angel\u201d I mean who better to bind a fallen angel, Satan, than a good angel?\u00a0 \u201cThen I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. [2] And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;\u201d So an angel actually seems to be involved in the binding of Satan.\u00a0 So, it\u2019s kind of amazing, isn\u2019t it, to look at all the things angels do past, present and future.\n\nSo today we finished up our material on the good angels, looked at their abode and their activities.\u00a0 And next week we\u2019re looking at a bad angel, I mean a really bad angel, Satan who was once an angel. So, we\u2019ll be getting into our teaching on Satanology starting next week.\n\nNow I do want to warn you about this; every time I\u2019ve taught Satanology all kinds of havoc gets played in my life, I don\u2019t know why that is, the car won\u2019t start, I mean, I could just go on, the phone won\u2019t work, technology doesn\u2019t work, it\u2019s almost like Satan hates it every time we look into the Scriptures that reveal who he is and his doom. So just do a little extra praying this week as you think about that subject and maybe you might want to do a little research on your own, prayerfully, because the Bible reveals a great deal about your adversary, the devil.\u00a0 So, who is Satan?\u00a0 Where did he come from?\u00a0 When did he fall?\u00a0 Why did he fall?\u00a0 And how strong is he?\u00a0 And how in the world do we stand up against him?\u00a0 That\u2019s all covered under Satanology.\n\nLet\u2019s pray.\u00a0 Father, we\u2019re grateful for Your word and Your truth on the subject of angels.\u00a0 Make us good stewards in this area of theology we pray, and help it not just to be information but help us to change the way we think and live. We\u2019ll be careful to give you all the praise and the glory.\u00a0 We ask these things in Jesus\u2019 name, and God\u2019s people said, Amen!","series_sermon_number":""},"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t