21
votes
Accepted
To what extent does mainstream Christian doctrine teach that knowing a spirit's name gives you power over it?
Actually, this is more Kabbalah than Christianity and has further roots in the occult and other non-Christian mysticism and folklore (Rumpelstiltskin comes to mind, which is a decidedly non-Christian ...
- 12.8k
14
votes
Why doesn't 1 Timothy 5:21 indicate that angels are part of the Godhead?
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19, NIV)
I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus ...
- 18.3k
14
votes
Accepted
Why would angels climb a stairway if they have wings?
There are definitely two types of angels mentioned in the Bible that have wings - cherubim and seraphim:
“The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their ...
- 24.4k
11
votes
Why is archangel Michael portrayed with a sword in art?
Michael the Archangel is depicted in the Bible as a warrior and leader of angel armies:
Daniel 12:1 (ESV)
At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there ...
- 41.6k
10
votes
What is the source of the belief that the deceased become angels?
In Heaven: A History (1995: Yale University Press) the authors, Drs. Colleen McDannell and Bernhard Lang, state that Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) had a pivotal role in bringing about a changed view ...
- 7,775
9
votes
Accepted
According to Mormonism, what are angels?
The Bible Dictionary distributed with LDS editions of the Bible contains a fairly complete doctrinal explanation of the LDS view of angels. A few key points:
Angels are of the same race of creation ...
- 30.7k
9
votes
Origin of the idea that "demons" and "fallen angels" are the same thing?
As close as I can understand these Scriptures they apply to the fallen Angels:
Revelation 12:7 through 9 NKJV And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the ...
- 13.2k
9
votes
Accepted
What are common explanations for the angel being delayed for 21 days in Daniel 10:13?
The two most common explanations for the delay are:
To make an accommodation to the kingdom or guardian of Persia
To resist an evil intended by or suggested to the rulers of Persia
Accommodation to ...
- 41.6k
8
votes
To what extent does mainstream Christian doctrine teach that knowing a spirit's name gives you power over it?
I’ll try to answer the question from a Catholic perspective and, additionally, provide some supplementary information about what has been mentioned in the comments.
The general answer to the question ...
- 462
8
votes
Accepted
What is the biblical basis for humans becoming angels after they die?
This answer is from the perspective of the theology of Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772), and of the various denominations that accept his theology, commonly called "New Church" or "Swedenborgian" ...
- 7,775
8
votes
Do heterodox have a guardian angel as well? (Eastern Orthodox perspective)
Of course. God does not have one oekonomia for Orthodox Christians and another for non-Orthodox.
The Orthodox doctrine of guardian angels is witnessed in the Old Testament as well as in the ...
- 5,402
7
votes
Do angels possess 1) a body, soul and spirit, 2) a soul and spirit or 3) just a spirit?
Within the writings of defenders of the trichotomic nature of man there is significant variation on the question of the nature of angels. The trichotomy of man is a much more popular doctrine within ...
- 41.6k
7
votes
Accepted
Where in the Bible does it mention that every person has a guardian angel?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that there is a guardian angel for each person. It is well to recall that while the Catholic Church does not confine its teaching to sola scriptura, there ...
- 6,645
6
votes
According to Catholic doctrine, how can an angel be a saint?
Simplest answer is probably grammatical: One Greek word hagios becomes two in English, "holy" (adjective) and "saint" (noun, title). So what could have been translated "Holy Michael the Archangel" ...
- 4,324
6
votes
What are the differences between cherubim and seraphim?
Strictly Biblically speaking, the Seraphim are only described once in the Bible:
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe ...
- 12.8k
6
votes
Accepted
What is the purpose of angels?
Per John McArthur in "The Glory of Heaven":
Whenever angels do appear to people in Scripture, it is in the role of a messenger. In fact, “messenger” is the primary meaning of the Greek word angelos....
- 63.5k
6
votes
What is the purpose of angels?
Angels have several duties:
Protection for His children:
Psalm 91:11 - 12: For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest ...
- 1,684
6
votes
We will judge angels? But we are lower than the angels
The simplest way to reconcile these passages is to dispute the KJV's translation of βραχύ as "a little." This is, in fact, what most other translations have done, including those that have no interest ...
- 371
6
votes
Was Satan created to accuse, or has he assumed that role in rebellion?
It is important to look at the context of Revelation 9:11. The Destroyer is released from the abyss by the star that fell from heaven.
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven ...
- 666
6
votes
What is the meaning of the phrase "Entertaining Angels"?
It's a phrase from Hebrews 13:2:
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (ESV)
Most commentators do think that it refers to the Abraham ...
- 18.3k
6
votes
Accepted
What is the origin of the story of the angel Raphael and the boy Tobias?
This is a quote from the Book of Tobit, which is recognized as part of the deuterocanon by the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox churches. The book tells of a father, Tobit, and his ...
- 18.3k
6
votes
How is it possible that the angels were on hand to witness the earth being created?
You've really answered your own question. God's work of creation in no way had to begin with the physical, material universe. Since angels, like God, are spiritual beings, they were not part of God's ...
- 8,998
6
votes
Accepted
Can demons manifest in bodily form in the physical, just like angels do in the Bible?
Can demons manifest in bodily form in the physical(?), just like angels do in the Bible?
Catholicism accepts the possibility that Satan and the Demons may appear to men, just like the Holy Angels.
...
- 54.2k
5
votes
What are all the different species of intelligent beings that God has created?
The Four Living Creatures in Revelation are also described in Ezekiel 10, when he has a vision of the Cherubim - which are either heavenly beings and/or angels depending on who you ask:
And every ...
- 2,156
5
votes
What is the origin of the idea that Michael is Jesus?
The commentators that Calvin refers to include Philip Melanchthon (1497–1560). He writes in his commentary on Daniel 10:
The prince, Michael, whom here and below is called the prince of the people ...
- 41.6k
5
votes
To what extent does mainstream Christian doctrine teach that knowing a spirit's name gives you power over it?
Taking a slightly different tack (and not wanting to detract at all from fredsbend's excellent and informative answer), the short answer is a definite No.
Any authority over evil spirits that a ...
- 12.4k
5
votes
In reference to humans becoming Angels?
People don't become angels. No one* ever said they did.
Angelos (Messenger) is a job, not a species. Angels are God's messengers, differentiated from prophets, in that they have spoken with God face ...
- 63.5k
5
votes
What are the differences between cherubim and seraphim?
The best biblical description of cherubim (sing cherub) is to be found in the story of the Ark of the Covenant, and it appears that they were sphinx-like creatures with human heads, the bodies of ...
- 14.3k
5
votes
Origin of the idea that "demons" and "fallen angels" are the same thing?
A bit late here, but just wanted to add that the concept that fallen angels are demons (leaving beside the evidence in the New testament, which is not altogether satisfactory), is far older than ...
- 51
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