TITLE: Even the angels have
bosses.
• TOPIC: The Hierarchy of Angels
• TEXT: Jude 9, Daniel 10:13
• THEME: The believer should see order
as inherent to Gods creation.
When we are in the presence
of great men we tend to have
a sense of awe and
sometimes even worship.
Ken Boa and Robert Bowman
“The Bible exhibits considerable restraint in its
statement about angels. Scripture is similarly
reserved in its comments about the Devil and
his demons; in fact, absolutely no
description of the Devil’s appearance is ever
given in the Bible…Scripture never presents
angels as of any interest or significance in an
of themselves, they are merely messengers
or servants of God carrying out their orders.”
If Angels are so great why do
should we only worship God?
I. The angels are organized by
God to serve Him
A. The Classification of Angels
– 1. Cherubim: Seem to be the highest order
or class, created with indescribable powers
and beauty.
II. The angels are organized
by God to serve Him
A. The Classification of Angels
– 1. Cherubim: Seem to be the highest order
or class, created with indescribable powers
and beauty.
– Seem to be the highest position since they
are consistently presented as the highest
class, associated as they are with God’s
glory and presence. Among the cherubim
Satan (Ezekiel 28:12,14) held the highest
rank along with Michael (Jude 9).
I. The angels are organized by
God to serve Him
A. The Classification of Angels
– Seraphim: The term means “burning ones”
probably speaking of their burning
devotion to God. They too are spoken of
in human form (hands, faces and feet) and
are said to have six wings.
Gustave Oehler
“The symbolism of their appearance is
very simple. With two wings they cover
their faces,-- to indicate that even the
most exalted spirits cannot bear the
full vision of the Divine glory; with two
they cover their feet,-- to symbolize
their reverence, --with two they fly to
express the quickness with which they
execute the divine command.”
Seraphim
The seraphim serve a priestly function
for God by showing God’s ethical
transcendence and holiness. Their
name suggests their fiery devotion to
God and are generally seen crying,
“Holy, holy, holy” speaking of God’s
perfect holiness (e.g., Isaiah 6)
B. Special Designations of
Angels.
1. The Seven Angels of Revelation:
B. Special Designations of
Angels.
1. The Seven Angels of Revelation:
2. The Groups of Angels in Revelation:
B. Special Designations of
Angels.
1. The Seven Angels of Revelation:
2. The Groups of Angels in Revelation:
3. Angels with Special Responsibilities:
B. Special Designations of
Angels.
1. The Seven Angels of Revelation:
2. The Groups of Angels in Revelation:
3. Angels with Special Responsibilities:
– Seven angels who blew trumpets to call for
judgment on the earth.
B. Special Designations of
Angels.
1. The Seven Angels of Revelation:
2. The Groups of Angels in Revelation:
3. Angels with Special Responsibilities:
– Seven angels who blew trumpets to call for
judgment on the earth.
– Seven angels who administrate the seven
last plagues by pouring out seven bowls.
B. Special Designations of
Angels.
1. The Seven Angels of Revelation:
2. The Groups of Angels in Revelation:
3. Angels with Special Responsibilities:
– Seven angels who blew trumpets to call for
judgment on the earth.
– Seven angels who administrate the seven
last plagues by pouring out seven bowls.
– There are others designations as well.
C. The Names of Key Angels
Michael: Archangel-The Defender of
Israel. His name means, “Who is like
God?” calling our attention to the
incomparableness of God.
C. The Names of Key Angels
Gabriel: The Revealer of Truth about
the Messiah and His Kingdom. The
name means, “Mighty one of God”
speaking of his great strength endowed
of God.
C. The Names of Key Angels
Lucifer: The Fallen Worship Director.
His name means morning star and is
noted for his beauty and his power. Yet
he is not the greatest of the angels if
we consider the Angel of the Lord.
D. The Greatest Angel- The
Angel of the Lord
D. The Greatest Angel- The
Angel of the Lord
• Promise protection to Hagar: Gen. 16:7-13
D. The Greatest Angel- The
Angel of the Lord
• Promise protection to Hagar: Gen. 16:7-13
• Saves Isaac: Genesis 22:11-17
D. The Greatest Angel- The
Angel of the Lord
• Promise protection to Hagar: Gen. 16:7-13
• Saves Isaac: Genesis 22:11-17
• Wrestles Jacob: Genesis 32:24
D. The Greatest Angel- The
Angel of the Lord
• Promise protection to Hagar: Gen. 16:7-13
• Saves Isaac: Genesis 22:11-17
• Wrestles Jacob: Genesis 32:24
• Calls Moses from a bush: Exodus 3:1-16
D. The Greatest Angel- The
Angel of the Lord
• Promise protection to Hagar: Gen. 16:7-13
• Saves Isaac: Genesis 22:11-17
• Wrestles Jacob: Genesis 32:24
• Calls Moses from a bush: Exodus 3:1-16
• See also: Judges 13:6-22, Daniel 3:25
D. The Greatest Angel- The
Angel of the Lord
• Promise protection to Hagar: Gen. 16:7-13
• Saves Isaac: Genesis 22:11-17
• Wrestles Jacob: Genesis 32:24
• Calls Moses from a bush: Exodus 3:1-16
• See also: Judges 13:6-22, Daniel 3:25
Is this angel or God?
Appears to Zechariah
Luke 1:“11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared
to him, standing at the right side of the altar
of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he
was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But
the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid,
Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your
wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you
are to call him John.
Appears to Mary
Luke 1:“28 The angel went to her and said,
“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The
Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly
troubled at his words and wondered what
kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the
angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary;
you have found favor with God. 31 You will
conceive and give birth to a son, and you are
to call him Jesus.”
Appears to the Shepherds
Luke 1:“8 And there were shepherds living out
in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their
flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord
appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord
shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be
afraid. I bring you good news that will cause
great joy for all the people.
Appears to John the Apostle
Revelation 8:“ 9 Then the angel said to me,
“Write this: Blessed are those who are
invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”
And he added, “These are the true words of
God.” 10 At this I fell at his feet to worship
him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a
fellow servant with you and with your
brothers and sisters who hold to the
testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is
the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony
to Jesus.”
Colossians 2:17-18
“17 These are a shadow of the things that
were to come; the reality, however, is
found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone
who delights in false humility and the
worship of angels disqualify you. Such
a person also goes into great detail
about what they have seen; they are
puffed up with idle notions by their
unspiritual mind.”
If Angels are so great why do
should we only worship God?
II. God has assigned angels the
role of service to man
A. Creation: Only man is said to be
created in God’s image (Gen. 1:26).
II. God has assigned angels the
role of service to man
A. Creation: Only man is said to be
created in God’s image (Gen. 1:26).
• The Greek Gnostics believed that the
physical is corrupt and evil which the
spirit is good and holy.
II. God has assigned angels the
role of service to man
A. Creation: Only man is said to be
created in God’s image (Gen. 1:26).
B. Status: Man is the apex of God’s
Creation (Psalm 8):
C.S. Lewis
“If you were to encounter an angel you
would find something different about
him.”
• Eldil: Science Fiction Trilogy
II. God has assigned angels the
role of service to man
A. Creation: Only man is said to be
created in God’s image (Gen. 1:26).
B. Status: Man is the apex of God’s
Creation (Psalm 8):
C. Angels are assigned the role of
ministering spirits (Hebrews 1:14) “Are
not all angels ministering spirits sent to
serve those who will inherit salvation?”
David Jeremiah
“Who are these people destined to ‘inherit
salvation’? The Bible makes it clear that
these refer only to those who have come to
know Jesus Christ as Savior. It’s to serve
only them that angels are sent. If someone
claims to have seen an angel yet that person
professes no allegiance to Jesus Christ, it is
likely that any angel he saw (if he truly saw
one at all) was a fallen one…Not every angel
is from God.”
John Calvin
God created angels with our interest in
mind as a “help for our weakness” and
to “elevate our hopes or strengthen our
confidence.” In other words, “Angels
are here for us.”
If Angels are so great why do
should we only worship God?
III. Only God is to be
worshiped.
A. True angel of God rejects worship.
III. Only God is to be
worshiped.
“There is only one God and you are
not Him.” The same could be said
of the angels.
III. Only God is to be
worshiped.
A. True angel of God rejects worship.
B. Christ is superior to angels (Hebrews
1-2) and is worthy of worship.
Hebrews 1
4
So he (Christ) became as much superior
to the angels as the name he has
inherited is superior to theirs. 5 For to
which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son; today I have become
your Father”? Or again, “I will be his
Father, and he will be my Son”?
Hebrews 1
6
And again, when God brings his
firstborn into the world, he says, “Let
all God’s angels worship him.”
7
In speaking of the angels he says, He
makes his angels spirits, and his
servants flames of fire.”
Hebrews 1
8
But about the Son he says, “Your
throne, O God, will last for ever and
ever; a scepter of justice will be the
scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have
loved righteousness and hated
wickedness; therefore God, your God,
has set you above your companions by
anointing you with the oil of joy.”
Worship Misdirected
It was the summer of 1945, and World
War II had ended. Former soldiers,
including famous baseball stars,
streamed back into America and
American life. Yankee slugger Joe
DiMaggio was trying to be "Yankee fan
Joe DiMaggio," sneaking into a
mezzanine seat with his four-year-old
son, Joe, Jr., before rejoining his team.
Worship Misdirected
A fan noticed him, then another. Soon
throughout the stadium people were
chanting, "Joe, Joe, Joe DiMaggio!"
DiMaggio, moved, gazed down to see if
his son had noticed the tribute. He had.
"See, Daddy," said the little DiMaggio,
"everybody knows me!"
APPLICATION
• God created different classifications of
angels but they all serve the same
purpose. The first purpose is to
worship God and serve Him. We don’t
worship the servant or the creation.
APPLICATION
• The second purpose is to minister to
God’s people to protect and direct their
focus on the greatness and glory of
God. Find strength in the advocates in
the spiritual realm God has given us.
APPLICATION
• In the spiritual battle that looms around
all the time angels exist for us. To
protect, to encourage and to direct our
thoughts toward our great and
awesome king Jesus Christ whom we
are all called to worship. Don’t let
demons or even angels distract you
from giving God the glory He deserves.
Michael Reagan
“Knowing where he is this very moment, this
very day, that he is in heaven, I can only
promise my father this: Dad, when I go, I will
go to heaven, too. And you and I and my
sister, Maureen, who went before us, we will
dance with the heavenly host of angels
before the presence of God. We will do it
melanoma-and Alzheimer's-free. Thank you
for letting me share my father, Ronald Wilson
Reagan.”