If your life is not in jeopardy for what you
believe, you’re probably on the wrong side!
“Indeed, all who want
to live a godly life united with the Messiah Yeshua will be persecuted.” (2Tim 3:12)
It is what you actually believe that determines how you walk out your faith,
“but avoid stupid controversies, genealogies,
quarrels and fights about the Torah; because they are worthless and
futile.” (Titus 3:9)
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Please Note: Nothing on this website should be taken as anti-Church. I am not anti-anything or anyone. I am only pro-Torah, pro-Truth, and pro-Grace. Sometimes the Truth upsets our long-held beliefs. Why isn’t my theology consistent throughout this website?
[Explanations of rabbinic citations are HERE]
Developing a
Systematic Messianic Theology
“The purpose of careful theological formulations is not to put barriers in the way of people who are seeking salvation, but to define clearly the truths upon which genuine [Biblical] faith rests, so that people will not be misled by false doctrines.” [Bowman]
What the Torah Says About
Spirit Beings
The Scriptures teach that angels are created beings (Psalm 148:4-5), not deity, and are not to be worshipped (Exodus 34:14, Deut. 6:13, Luke 4:8); that they were created by HaShem to serve and worship Him (Psalm 148:4-5); that they are organized into different ranks and orders; and that there are now both holy and fallen angels.
Holy angels are “ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation“ (Heb. 1:14). They ministered extensively to Yeshua during His earthly life and ministry, and are involved in a general ministry to believers. Toward unbelievers, angels announce impending judgments, and will be actively involved in the judgments of the time of Ya'akov’s Trouble (the “Great Tribulation”).
HaSatan is also an
angel, a cherub of the highest rank of all angelic creatures, that he
sinned through the pride of self-will, and thereby became the author of
sin and the cause of the fall of man. He is the open and declared enemy of
both
Names for spirit beings
There are at least three classes of spirit beings described in Scripture: cherubim, seraphim, and angels. Other primary names for spirit beings include principalities and powers. Spirit beings are referred to in Scripture by many names, among which the following are included:
• powers / powers of heaven (Matt. 24:29; Mark 13:25; Luke 21:26; Rom. 8:38; Eph. 6:12; 1Pet. 3:22)
• principalities (Rom. 8:38)
• authorities (1Pet. 3:22)
• spiritual forces of wickedness (Eph. 6:12)
• ministering spirits (Heb. 1:14)
• angels — The Hebrew and Greek words translated as “angels” occur a total 389 times in Scripture (all word counts in this article are from the New American Standard Bible), but not always referring to spirit beings.
The Hebrew word מֲלְאָךְ (mal'ak) means a messenger or representative, and appears 213 times. It is translated as angel (101 times), angels (9), messengers (76), messenger (24), ambassadors (2), and envoys (1).
The Greek word ἄγγελος (angelos) means a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, or a messenger from HaShem. It appears 176 times, and is translated as angel (86 times), angels (80), angel’s (2), angelic (1), messenger (4), and messengers (3).
• cherubim —
The Hebrew word כְּרוּב kherub
(pl. כְּרֻבִ֗ים (kə·ru·ḇîm) appears 20 times in the NASB as cherub (pl.
cherubim), and is used to denote (a) the guardians of Eden; (b) beings who
are flanking HaShem’s throne; (c) the forms hovering over the Ark of the
Covenant; and (d) figuratively, as the chariot of HaShem (Psalm
18:10). [Please note that the Hebrew “ch” is pronounced as a very
breathy “kh” (like “kh” as in Yochan Sabastian Bach), not like “cherry.” The singular form of the word
is kherub and the Hebrew plural form is kherubim.
You sound really ignorant when you refer to “cherubims.”]
The prophet Yechezk'el (Ezekiel) provides us with a
detailed description of the kherubim (Ezek.
10:4-14):
“The cherubim appeared to have the form of a man's hand under their wings. Then I looked, and behold, four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like the gleam of a Tarshish stone. As for their appearance, all four of them had the same likeness, as if one wheel were within another wheel. When they moved, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went; but they followed in the direction which they faced, without turning as they went. Their whole body, their backs, their hands, their wings and the wheels were full of eyes all around, the wheels belonging to all four of them. The wheels were called in my hearing, the whirling wheels. And each one had four faces. The first face was the face of a cherub, the second face was the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.”
• seraphim — The Hebrew word שָׂרָף saraph (pl. שְׂרָפִ֨ים (śə·rā·p̄îm) appears only in the writings of the prophet Yesha'yahu (Isaiah 6:2, 6), and is closely related to the word used to describe the “fiery serpent” that Moshe had made in the wilderness (Num. 21:6-8). He provides us with the following description (Isa. 6:1-5)
“In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.’ And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.”
•
demons — The Hebrew word שֵׁד shade
appears only twice in the Tanakh (Deut 32:17; Ps 106:37), whereas the Greek word
δαιμόνιον daimonion (evil
spirits, or the messengers and ministers of HaSatan) appears in the
Apostolic Writings 63 times, plus variations daimon daimon (demon
1); daimonizomai
daimonizomai (demon-possessed 11,
demoniacs 2); daimoniode?
daimoniodes (demonic 1). All of the false gods of all of the religions of the world (Islam,
Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Jainism, Shintoism, Taoism, and
Zoroastrianism, to name but a few) are actually demons pretending to be
gods.
The Tanakh also uses the word לַשְּׂעִירִ֕ם (laś·śə·‘î·rim) in Lev 17:7 to refer to the
“goat demons” (literally “hairy”) that come to us in mythology as a satyr.
•
devils — As used in the King James Version, this is an incorrect
translation of the Hebrew word שֵׁד shed
or the Greek word δαιμόνιον daimonion. There is only
one devil (Greek διάβολος, diabolos),
HaSatan. A better translation for διάβολος would be “false accuser” or
“slanderer,” as it is derived from the word διαβάλλω diaballó, to
slander, accuse, defame, to bring charges (usually with hostile intent).
Names of Spirit Beings
In the Scriptures
Other than HaShem, there are only three spirit beings who are specifically named in the Scriptures: Mikha'el (Michael), Gavri'el (Gabriel), and (perhaps) Heylel (Lucifer) whose title (not name) is HaSatan (the accuser).
Mikha'el, מִיכָאֵל (“Who is Like God” — Michael) is an “Archangel,” the Sar Ri'shown (chief prince) of HaShem's heavenly army, the great prince who stands guard over the people of Israel. (See Dan. 10:13; 10:21; 12:1; Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:7)
Gavri'el, גַּבְרִיאֵל (“Warrior of God” — Gabriel), is also an archangel, the angel HaShem uses to send messages of great importance to man. He was sent to Daniel, to Zacharias, and to Mariam, the mother of Yeshua. (See Daniel 8:16; 9:21; Luke 1:19,26) It is assumed by most that it was Gavrie'l who also appeared to Yosef in Matt 1:20 and 2:13-19, but the text does not say so.
Heylel, הֵילֵל (literally,
“Shining One,” also as Light Bringer
or Light Bearer) is also know as Morning Star and Lucifer
(in KJV). He is also called Beelzebul (Βεελζεβούλ) (Lord of the House, Beelzebub (בַּעַל זְבוּב, Ba'al
(lord) of flies, a Philistine “god” in KJV)
seven times in the Apostolic Writings (Matt. 10:25; 12:24; 12:27;
Mark 3:22;
Luke 11:15,18-19.). He is
called Satan (adversary, one who withstands) 47 times in the NASB.
In Extra-Biblical Sources
From the Jewish Encyclopedia, entry “Angelology.”
• Raphael (translation: God Heals), God's healing force
• Uriel (translation: God is my light), leads us to destiny
• Samael (translation: the severity of God), angel of death—see also Malach HaMavet (translation: the angel of death)
• Sandalphon (translation: bringing together), battles Samael and brings mankind together
• Jophiel (translation: Beauty of God), expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden holding a flaming sword and punishes those who transgress against God
• Sataniel/Satan (translation: the adversary), tempts humans, serves as an adversary, and brings people's sins before them in the heavenly court
• Metatron (translation is disputed, may mean "keeper of the watch", "guardian", or "he who sits behind the throne of Heaven"), God's heavenly scribe recording the deeds of all that is done in Earth and Heaven and all of Creation.
Angelic Hierarchy in Jewish Theology
Maimonides, in his Yad ha-Chazakah: Yesodei ha-Torah (Mishneh Torah), counts ten ranks of angels in the Jewish angelic hierarchy, beginning from the highest:
| Rank | Angel Class | Notes |
| 1 | Chayot Ha Kodesh | See Ezekiel chs. 1 and 10 |
| 2 | Ophanim | See Ezekiel chs. 1 and 10 |
| 3 | Erelim | See Isaiah 33:7 |
| 4 | Hashmallim | See Ezekiel 1:4 |
| 5 | Seraphim | See Isaiah 6 |
| 6 | Malakim | Messengers, angels |
| 7 | Elohim | "Godly beings" |
| 8 | Bene Elohim | "Sons of Godly beings" |
| 9 | Cherubim | See Talmud Hagigah 13b |
| 10 | Ishim | "manlike beings", see Genesis 18:2, Daniel 10:5 |
Bibliography
C. Arnold, Powers of Darkness
W.
Carr, Angels and Principalities (1981)
C. F. Dickason,
Angels: Elect and Evil
_____, Demon Possession and the Christian
Billy Graham,
Angels: God’s Secret Agents (1975)
J. W. Montgomery, ed: Demon Possession
H. Schier,
Principalities and Powers in the New Testament (1961)
M. Unger, Biblical
Demonology;
_____, What Demons Can Do to Saints
M. Wink,
Naming the Powers
_____, Unmasking the Powers
_____, Engaging the Power
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ANXIOUSLY WATCHING FOR MASHIACH’S RETURN,
SPEEDILY AND IN OUR DAY. MARANA, TA!
