ANGELS: Spirit Beings? Do you believe in them?

Ron Gurley said:

Post #15: "...nine orders of angels..."

As per usual, this false doctrine is NOT Biblical.
"Tradition"?..."Magisterium"?...of the RCC?

Angels

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So many people automatically assume Orthodox are RCC.

I concur with Anastasia. This Forum is not the forum to try to prove that traditional theology is are wrong or that Tradition is wrong. General Theology is the proper place for that type of thread.

Here is a snippet from the Statement of Purpose

This is a topic driven forum to bridge open discussion for those interested in all the ways traditional theology is expressed and lived around the world. Its not meant to exclude those who don't practice traditional theology but it is meant to be topic restrictive and non combative to traditional ideas and structure. If you need to prove traditional theology as unbiblical or incomplete, we respect your right to do this in the General Theology forum and not in this topical forum. This is a place to explore with in the defined topic not debate against it.

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For your convenience, I am posting the entire Statement of Purpose below:

Sojourner1 said:

Traditional Theology -- A forum dedicated to the respectful discussion of traditional, historic theology; liturgical practices, doctrines, dogmatics; Holy Scripture as found in the various canons of the Church; Church History; classic confessions of the faith, etc.

Definition of Traditional Christianity:

Traditional Christians hold to the traditional beliefs and customs of the early church that Jesus Christ established and believe they should be acknowledged and used in the development of the Church today. Traditional Christians believe that the Church and associated Tradition - especially from the Apostolic / early Church - guide us even today. These traditions include sources such as church councils and creeds, writings of the early Church Fathers, testimony of the Lives of the Saints, classic confessions of the faith, etc. Many traditional Christians believe that each Christian is involved in a movement toward God, commonly known as theosis or sanctification. Traditional Christians recognize a variety of sacraments and sacramental acts including, but not limited to; Baptism, Holy Communion (Eucharist), Confession and Absolution, Chrismation (confirmation) etc., and consider them to be additional means whereby God imparts His grace on those who have faith.


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• This is a topic driven forum to bridge open discussion for those interested in all the ways traditional theology is expressed and lived around the world. Its not meant to exclude those who don't practice traditional theology but it is meant to be topic restrictive and non combative to traditional ideas and structure. If you need to prove traditional theology as unbiblical or incomplete, we respect your right to do this in the General Theology forum and not in this topical forum. This is a place to explore with in the defined topic not debate against it.
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Updated: June 7, 2016

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Ron Gurley said:

ANGELS: Spirit Beings? Do you believe in them?

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I am a little uncertain about angels and find belief in some accounts of them a bit difficult sometimes, but its not an article of any creed, I don't believe in every contemporary account. I know a neighbour whose granddaughter was walking past a group of goths, when some of them went for her, two people came to help her, the girl believes these were angels.

I am very sceptical that an ordinary cameras would pick up an image of an angel. I don't say that if someone had equipment that can detect higher frequencies of electro-magnetic radiation that these would not pick something up? I don't know.

I think with the plethora of TV dramas about angels, younger people are more ready to believe in them nowadays, but not necessarily in any christian sense. Its also comes up in the new age movement, so discernment is needed.

Leanne Payne described a visitation she had by an angelic messenger, during her time as an assistant to Clyde Kilby, while she was in prayer seeking guidance. Its in her autobiography Heaven's Calling. I am closer to believing her account, than that of some others I have heard.

She also states she shared it with very few people at the time, only her closest prayer partners, and Dr Kilby, and that indiscriminate sharing of such a thing risks bringing one into spiritual battle.

Have you read any of CS Lewis's Ransom trilogy, or Frank Peretti's This Present Darkness?

I've had two separate occurrences that I think I saw or was in the presence of an angel(s). I'll try and be brief.

The first time, about 40 years ago, I was lying in bed in the afternoon in sort of a nap state, where one isn't sleeping, but also not awake. (I could hear the TV in the background etc) Suddenly there was a being standing at the foot of my bed. Not dressed as a person. I can't actually describe the appearance, but I believed I was seeing an angel. I was of course surprised. I heard a voice in my head and we conversed a bit but I don't have much, actually any memory, of the discussion other than it was important, revealing and the being confirmed to be an angel and that they did not speak as humans do, but in the mind, and whatever we spoke about was very enlightening. Later I wondered if that being was my guardian angel and the name Polarius came into my mind. I went through a very difficult time after that, where I nearly destroyed my marriage in a variety of sinful ways, questioned my beliefs, and after a time, because of the turmoil, and another experience not involving an angel (another story), became a born again Christian. I wonder now whether that conversation was about the trials I was to have and was given advice or direction or told to persist. I don't know for sure. I do know for sure that I had that experience.

The second involved both my wife and myself. It's a rather long story of being on a journey in a car where we got lost, got eventually turned around, had a long way to go while it was dark in another state and we were both tired after a long day. At some point while driving and very tired on a very dark, rural, 2 lane highway trying to get to a motel we had reserved in a small town, I noticed a car's lights coming up behind us. The vehicle stayed on my tail, so I slowed so he could pass. That vehicle while ahead of me matched my speed and between my headlights and his, I could see much better. We went through two small towns and that vehicle kept going in the same direction as we were, always just a bit ahead, matching my speed, making it easier to see, which after a time we both began to really wonder. I sped up and slowed down a few times, yet the car matched out speed. About an hour passed. We were still tired but fascinated by what was happening. We finally entered the small town where the motel was. As we approached the motel and began slowing down, so did the car in front of us. That car then turned into the parking lot of the small mom and pop motel and pulled up by the office and stopped. I pulled up next to it and I got out. I noticed the car had 3 people in the front seat and it sat there idling as I walked into the motel office. When I got up to the counter, the door opened and a young man walked in and looked directly at me and smiled, nodded his head, and then went back outside and got into the car. I walked over to the door and watched the car pull out of the driveway and turn back onto the highway and go back in the direction that we had come from.

Over the years my wife and I both have agreed that we were in rough shape on that drive, tired and in a potentially difficult time driving that way on a dark and strange highway. We both agree that car contained angels as there cannot be any logical explanation of that situation as it played out. (I also have always wondered about there being 3 in the car...representing Father, Son, Holy Spirit?) That entire hour or so made no sense other than we were being guided safely to where we were going. The bible tells us that we may at any time be in the presence of angels. I believe we were and it was for a reason.

Ron Gurley said:

ANGELS: Spirit Beings? Do you believe in them?

Angels are REAL and pure spirit beings who do the will of God...His "messengers"

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Depends on what you mean by "pure spirit" -- Ezekiel describes their form - and it includes wings.

I would edit your OP this way --

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ANGELS: Spirit Beings? Do you believe in them? -- I do

Angels are REAL spirit beings who do the will of God...His "messengers"- yep

Angels dwell in heaven and occasionally are revealed on earth and can appear in the form of angel or human ... NO halos! -- true

Angels are SPIRIT beings, created by God to serve Him, though created higher than Man. - yep
Angels have the spiritual gift of "free will". - yes

==== I agree with this part as edited =============

Some, the "good angels", have remained obedient to Him and carry out His will,
while others, "fallen angels", disobeyed, fell from their holy position, and now stand in active opposition to the work and plan of God, following Lucifer / devil / satan....wherever.

"Good" angels reside in heaven.

Classifications:
A. Cherubim (Genesis 3; 2 Kings 19:15)
B. Seraphim (Isaiah 6)

"Bad" angels will be cast into the "lake of fire" according to Rev 20

Most of the time, "Good" angels have manifested themselves on earth as "glowing men dressed in white".

They hover around the "throne of God" in the book of Ezekiel.

The Hebrew word for "angel" is "mal`ach",
and the Greek word is "angelos".
Both words mean “messenger”

Angelology: The Doctrine of Angels

1 Thessalonians 4 (NASB)
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven
with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and
with the trumpet of God, and
the dead in Christ will rise first.

Matthew 26
64 Jesus said to him, (trial by Caaphas)
“You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you,
hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” -- with Angels as we see in Matthew 24

and 2 Thess 1

6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and 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 angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.

Mark 8:38
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation,
the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him
when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

Matthew 28:2
And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred,
for an "angel of the Lord" descended from heaven and
came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.

John 20:12
and she (Mary M.) saw two angels in white sitting,
one at the head and one at the feet,
where the body of Jesus had been lying.

Matthew 28:5
The angel said to the women,
“Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.

Luke 1:30, 34
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”

Luke 2:9-10
And an "angel of the Lord" suddenly stood before them, (shepherds) and
the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
But the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;

Luke 22:42-43(NASB)
“Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.

1. Who is "the angel of the LORD" ?... God the Son!

SEE:
Genesis 16: 7-11; Genesis 22: 11-15; Exodus 3:2; Numbers 22:22-35; Judges 2:1-4;
Judges 6:11-22; Judges 13: 3-21;

"the angel of God":

2 Samuel 14: 17-20; 2 Samuel 24:16 1 Kings 19:7; 2 Kings 19:35; 1 Chronicles 21: 12-30
Psalm 34:7; Psalm 35:5-6; Isaiah 37:6; Zechariah 1:11-14; Matthew 1:20-24; Matthew 2:13-19;

2. What are "Guardian angels"?

Psalm 91...Security of the One Who Trusts in the Lord

Angels that guard and protect. Ps 34:7

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Matthew 4:6!
11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
To guard you in all your ways.
12 They will bear you up in their hands,

Matthew 18:1-11
10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their "angels in heaven" continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

3. Some angels have NAMES:
Gabriel: Luke 1:19 Dan 8:16 Luke 1:26

4. The Angel of the Lord has a name:
Michael:
Jude 1:9
But Michael the archangel,
when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

Revelation 12:7
And there was war in heaven,
Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon.(satan)
The dragon and his angels waged war,

5. And the book of Revelation is absolutely FULL of ANGELS!

Act 23:8
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.