In this three-week Advent study, we will be exploring Angels. We will look at how angels are described to us in the Scriptures and down through Christian history. As background for our study, I am using Lifted by Angels: The Presence and Power of Our Heavenly Guides and Guardians by Joel Miller, Angels of God: The Bible, the Church, and the Heavenly Hosts by Mike Aquilina, The Angels: The Catholic Teaching on the Angels by Fr. Pascal Parente, Angels by Rev. Billy Graham, Institutes of the Christian Religion (Bk 1, Ch.14) by John Calvin, and The Celestial Hierarchy by Pseudo-Dionysius. This Advent study is for three weeks.
(Advent, 2013)
Angels – An Introduction
Scripture is full of angels: the guarding Cherub at the Garden of Eden, the helper who saves Hagar and Ismael in the desert, the burning Seraphim in Isaiah’s vision, the announcer of births from Isaac to Sampson to Jesus, and the great army that fights in Revelation.
Angels – Who Are They?, pt.1
In the City of God, Augustine says that there is a great fellowship between men and angels and that they are our fellow citizens in heaven. This week we will explore the nature of our fellow citizens – what they are, when they were created, and their function at worship.
Angels – Who Are They?, pt.2
This week will explore the general nature of angels and the similarities that we share with them. We’ll also look at the angelic worship of God within scripture and how that worship provides the template for our own worship of the Divine.
Angels – Who Are They? (Readings)
Attached are the Readings from Week 1.
Angels – The Celestial Hierarchy, pt.1
This week we are going to look at the nine choirs of angels in the Celestial Heirarchy – Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Archangels, and Angels.
Angels – The Celestial Hierarchy, pt.2
Our discussion this evening on the different orders of angels will be guided by Chapter 7-9 of the work “Celestial Hierarchy” by the sixth-century Syrian theologian Pseudo-Dionysius.
Angels – Their Ministry and Our Experience
Tonight we will look at the ministry of angels in the Scriptures and allow time for us to share our personal experiences with angels
Angels – Their Ministry and Our Experience (Readings)
Attached are the Readings from Week 3.