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The Creation of Angels


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Author's Bias | Interpretation: conservative | Inclination: dispensational | Seminary: none

1. Are angels created? Or are angels departed spirits of deceased human beings? Examine Psalms 148:1-14 and Colossians 1:15-16 for these answers.

Psalm 148 is an invocation of all things created to praise the Lord, and angels were included in this list.

In Colossians 1:15-16, Jesus Christ created the visible and invisible world including angels and powerful establishments in both visible and invisible worlds as "thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities."

Angels were created because He commanded.

2. The time when angels were created is derived from three passages in the Bible: Exodus 20:11, Job 38:4-7, and Genesis 1:1-5. What do you see?

In Exodus 20, Moses confirms that all of Creation took place within 6 days; thus, angels were created within the first 6 days.

In Job 38, when God responds to Job's challenge, He begins lay the evidence for Job's inability to contend because of his ignorance. God's proof begins with Creation, and in His questions, presented as Hebrew poetry, angels ("sons of God") shouted for joy with the creation of earth. This means angels existed before the creation of earth and the material universe including man.

In Genesis 1, on the first day of Creation, God first created the heavens and then the earth. On the basis of Exodus 20 and Job 38, angels were created on the first day of Creation, and the angels observed and rejoiced as God brought earth into existence. And at their time of creation, the spiritual state of angels was good; they were all initially holy angels.

3. How many angels were created? Study Daniel 7:10, Psalm 68:17, Hebrews 12:22, and Revelation 5:11.

Millions and millions of angels were created.

The answers to these questions have several implications:

Every angel was individually created and simultaneously at one time; no further additions were made after earth was created. There were a finite number of angels.

Angels, created by Jesus Christ, are not departed spirits of deceased human beings.

In contrast to man, angels do not propagate and have families; there are no ancestors, no descendants, or baby angels.

Bible study is best approached when studying a continuous body of Scripture. Critical interpretation, exegesis, can be more accurate when the context of the passage is fully understood. In the study of theological issues, like angels, pertinent scriptural passages can only be fully understood within the context of the whole Bible. Yet the presentation of a theological position invites the appearance of cherry picking verses that supports the theological interpretation. Thus the risk for any topical Bible study is eisegesis, which is the personal interpretation of Scripture using your own ideas.



Return to Systematic Study: Angelology

Are Angels Born or Created? or What are Unfallen Angels?

Return to Systematic Study: Pneumatology

Distinctions

Related subject:

Topical Index: Angels>General Aspects of Angels

Topical Index: God>Works of God>His Creation


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