We suggest that you try to do one each week. This will keep your interest in them active.
We are sending all lessons in plain text, unless you want them in Word or Wpwin 7 format.
We suggest that you print these out and put them in a binder for future use.
Here's all you do:
1.. Read the lesson carefully.
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We will grade your lesson and return it to you with you next lesson.
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May God richly bless you as you proceed.
Your Instructor
Harold Smith Phone 1-902-643-2199
We are deeply grateful to the author, Melvin Jones, for
permission to make this material available through Source of
Light Ministries. In light of the tremendous inroads being
made
by the occult in United States and around the world, this should
be a vital study.
In an effort to preserve the author's work in this material,
make note of more recent developments since the writing of this
study, especially Lesson 7, "Witchcraft and Occultism Today."
The first and most obvious update is to note that in all areas
discussed, the number of persons involved has greatly increased.
While it is difficult to determine accurate counts, every report
indicates that Satan is extending his influence in the areas of
the occult to millions.
The second observation is that while all of the forces discussed
in Lesson 7 are still active and influential, new developments,
movements and personalities are emerging. For example, in recent
years the use of heroin and cocaine has become more widespread.
Cocaine in crystalline form, "crack," is equally addictive and
destructive. Marijuana continues to be a popular reliever of
tension and inhibitions, as is alcohol. Drug use and trafficking
is an atmosphere in which the spirit world thrives. "Guru"
followers, eastern religions and "world unification" groups are
captivating the spirits of thousands as magnetic leaders seek
more converts. The lyrics of popular music, especially "rock,"
declare a new philosophy of life and society which denies a
personal salvation through Jesus Christ.
Thirdly, the New Age Movement, promoted by popular media
personalities, is perhaps the most pervasive modern movement to
make use of the powers of the spirit world. New Age shifts the
source of spiritual power from God to man and opens the minds of
individual spirit-world influence. Many people see a strong link
between the New Age Movement and the philosophy called "humanism"
which tries to infiltrate education and social thought with a
man-as-God centeredness. A personal God is denied and a world-
spirit which will guide to whatever is good for the individual is
promoted. The natural desire we all have for world peace, and for
harmony with nature and the environment, is exploited by these
movements. The authority of God-revealed truth through the Bible
is replaced by each person seeking his own kind of truth through
oneness with the spirit world.
How to Study the Course
You will need a Bible, a pen {or pencil and this lesson). Be sure
to study each lesson carefully. Each Lesson includes: (1) a Bible
Study assignment called "Self Check" (2) a Key Verse from the Bibl
te memorized.
Read each lesson several times. Underline important words
phrases, and be sure to look up all Bible references. Read the
passages as you are studying the lesson. This will help you to
see what God has to say on that particular point. This is very
important.
After you feel that you have learned the material, fill in the '
Check. But DO NOT send the answers to these questions to us.
Answers to these questions will be found at the bottom of the
test page. Be sure to memorize the Key Verses as you will be
tested for these on the test at the end of the lesson. To help in
memorizing, write out the memory verse on a blank card or paper.
When you have completed the Study of one lesson in this Course,
review the materials, then fill in the test questions.
It is impossible to understand the Bible without the aid of the
Holy Spirit. That is why prayer is so important. As you study and
complete the examinations, pray that the Holy Spirit will guide
and teach you these Bible truths. We want everyone to do as well
as possible, so do not rush through the lesson. if some part of
the study is not clear to you, write us. Read and follow the
instructions very carefully.
If you have questions as you study, please write. Your instructor
wants to be helpful to you.
CONTENTS
Lesson
1. The Origin and Character of Angels
2. The Ministry and Work of Angels
3. Satan's Origin and Names
4. Satan's Methods and Doom
5. Fallen Angels and Demons
6. Witchcraft and Occultism Today ..................
7. Satan and Present-Day Cults .....................
8. Defeating Satan ...................
THE ORIGIN AND CHARACTER OF ANGELS
In the scientific age in which we live, people have little
understanding of angels, and many people do not believe in them.
People speak of angels in a light manner and call certain humans
beings "angels," using the word in an endearing sort of way. But,
by large and far, people do not believe such spirit beings really
exist.
Generally speaking, people throughout the centuries believed in
spirit beings of some sort. People in all parts of world have
worshiped such beings, usually the bad spirits demons. It is said
that the great philosopher Socrates often spoke of a "good demon"
attending him, guiding him and directing wise thoughts. It is
also said that Plato taught that there were beings of a higher
kind, who were appointed as guardians to men. Unbelievers usually
think of these spirit beings as having been human beings who have
died and whose spirits have been released to come back and either
help or hinder people on earth.
GOD'S WORD, OUR SOURCE OF INFORMATION
God's Word gives us some definite and clear information about
spirit beings, among whom are those called " angels." We need not
take man's ideas about this matter; rather, we can believe God's
revelation, for God Himself is a Spirit (John 4:24) and is
Creator of angels (Ps. 148:2-5)
The existence of angels is clearly taught in the Bible (Heb.1:4-
7). Angels are mentioned nearly 300 times in the Scriptures.
While angels exist, we cannot see them, for they are spirit
beings. In this way they are unlike us, for we possess both
spirits and bodies. In their ordinary form, angels have no
physical appearance, being without flesh and blood (Ps. 104:4;
Heb.1:14) However, on certain occasions they have been given
power to appear in human bodies. The two angels who were sent to
deliver Lot from Sodom were in human form (Gen. 19:13,15-17).
The angel who appeared to Manoah and his wife, promising them a
child (Samson), appeared to be a human messenger of God (Jud. 13:
2,21). The angels who were at the empty tomb after the
resurrection of Christ appeared as men in shining garments (Luke
24:4)
THE ORIGIN OF ALL ANGELS
All angels, whether now good or bad, were created by God: "For by
Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth,
visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or ruler or
authorities--all things have been created by Him and for Him.
(Col. 1:16)
We do not know when God created the angels, but it must have been
a long time ago, before He created the earth (Job 38:6,7). The
angels were created as God's servants, or messengers. The Bible
mentions a number of instances when these messengers appeared to
men to bring them some word from God Himself. The word "angel"
means "messenger," and it seems that angels were meant to be
available to do God's bidding.
UNIQUENESS OF ANGELS
Angelic beings are not spoken of as "sons of angels," although
human beings are called "sons of men." This is because angels are
not like human beings, where succeeding generations produced by
their parents. Rather, each angel is a unique permanent being,
created individually by God at some time in distant past. Angels
have personalities and are intelligent able to think and act as
independent beings. They are not omniscient (Matt. 24:36; I Pet.
1:12), but they do have great intelligence They have greater
power than man has (Ps. 8:4,5; II Pet. 2:11. Angels are
interested in mankind (I Cor. 4:9; I Pet. 1:12). They rejoice
when people turn from their sin and personally trust Christ as
their Saviour. (Luke 15:10) Angelic beings often praise God (Psm
148:2; Rev. 5:11,12.)
GOOD AND BAD ANGELS
Some of the angels rebelled against God and chose to follow Satan
(or Lucifer, as he was then called). In doing this, they became
the messengers of Satan rather than the messengers of God. We do
not know just when this rebellion took place, but it was
apparently long before God created man and placed him on the
earth. We will speak of the angels who remained true to God as
holy, or good, angels and the ones who followed Satan as fallen,
or bad, angels. This matter will be taken up in more detail when
we study about Satan in later lessons, because he led the
rebellion against God. Some of these bad angels are what we now
speak of as "demons" and peak mainly of the good angels who
did
not rebel against God but are His messengers today.
THE NUMBER OF ANGELS
The Word of God does not tell us how many angels God created but
we know that He must have created millions upon millions of them-
- perhaps billions. In Hebrews 12:22 we read of myriads angels.
In Revelation 5:11, John wrote: "I heard the voice of many angels
round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the
number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands
of thousands" (KJV). These figures also would indicate something
over 100 million angels. Thus we can see that there must be a
great host of angels, certainly enough for God to assign a
guardian angel to each one who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ.
When we get to heaven, it will be wonderful to see these
beautiful creatures, millions upon millions of them, eager to do
God's bidding. What a sight it will be to see this great host
someday! Angels do not increase or decrease in number, because
God does not create more, and they do not marry or die. Because
angels do not have material bodies, they do not experience
growth, old age or death. Angels are immortal (not subject to
death) because God made them that way. They worship God and work
for Him forever. When the Lord Jesus Christ was discussing the
future life, He indicated that angels do not marry (Matt. 22:30).
Jesus also indicated that angels do not die (Luke 20:35,36). Man
dies because of the sinfulness of the human race, resulting from
Adam's fall. Of course, some angels also sinned, as we have
already mentioned. However, since they are spirit beings, they
were not judged by physical death, but they will be judged in a
special way sometime in the future. Some of the wicked angels are
now being held in chains and in darkness awaiting judgement (Jude
1:6) while others, called "demons," obey Satan's commands.
WHERE ANGELS DWELL
The Word of God indicates that angels inhabit the entire
universe. We know that they dwell in heavens (Mark 12:25; 13:32;
Luke 2:15; John 1:51) and many of them are in the very presence
of God. Others are found throughout the vast expanse of the
universe. No doubt angels have fixed places of abode and assigned
places, or areas of activity.
RANK AND CLASSIFICATIONS OF ANGELS
Angels are classified in different ranks, such as thrones,
dominions, principalities and powers (Col.1:16; Rom. 8:3)
Scripture specifically mentions two groups of angels. The
cherubims are guardians of God's holiness (see Gen. 3:24; Exod.
25:1) The other group--the seraphims -- are involved in cleansing
God's people (Isa. 6:6,7)
The Bible also mentions two specific angels by name. Michael
which means "who is like God," is referred to in Daniel 12:1, 1:9
and Revelation 12:7. The name Gabriel means "man of God."
He is
always connected with a special mission (see Dan. 8:16 Luke
1:19,26).
Another angel mentioned in the Old Testament is "the angel the
Lord." He appeared to Hagar (Gen 16:711), Abraham (2 Moses (Ex.
3:2) and David (I Chron 21:15,16). Most Bible scholars believe
that the term "the angel of the Lord" refers to God the Son
before He took on human form.
REDEMPTION NOT FOR ANGELS
Great and powerful as angels are, many of them sinned and
rebelled against God, as we mentioned earlier. We will study
about this in more detail in a later lesson. The amazing thing is
that God did not provide redemption for these fallen angels. The
only thing that awaits them is certain, terrible judgment.
God in His love and mercy provided salvation for us human beings,
who also sinned and rebelled against Him. It seems too good to be
true, but the Word of God declares that this is so. He loved us
enough that He gave His only Son, who is higher the angels, to
come and die on the cross to redeem us from our sins so that we
need not face God's judgment. When He died on cross, He took the
punishment that we deserve. If we have trusted Jesus Christ as
our personal Saviour, we can rejoice that our sins have been
forgiven.
We don't know why God has not provided redemption for angels, but
He has provided redemption for us, and we should never cease to
thank Him for this. He could have left us in our sins, facing
judgment, just as He did the angels, but: He chose otherwise.
Have you trusted Jesus as your Saviour? If not, do it now! Then
someday, when you see Christ, you will see these glorious angelic
beings who did not sin, the ones who remained true to God. You
will see them in heaven around His throne worshiping the Lord
Jesus Christ, who loved us and gave Himself for us them.
SELF-CHECK
1. What does the word "angel" mean?__________________________
2. How did angels originate?_________________________________
3. What did some angels do that made them "fallen," or "bad
angels? _____________________________________________________
4. Name two angels mentioned in the Bible.____________________
5. What has God provided for us but not for angels?___________
Memorize Luke 15:10.
Test 1 Lesson 1
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space below:
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Test 1 Lesson 1
Fill in the blanks:
1. The existence of angels is clearly taught in the________
2. The word "angel" means " ________________"
3. All angels, whether now good or bad, were _________ God.
4 Angels have personalities and are_________________and able to think and act as independent beings.
5. Some of the angels _________against God and chose to
follow_________.
True or False:
6. The Bible tells us, "God created possibly one billion angels"_____
7. Angels do not experience growth, old age or death_______
8. God created each angel individually._______
9. Angels are organized into various ranks.______
10. God has provided salvation for human beings, but no redemption was provided for fallen, sinful angels.__________
Write Luke 15:10 from memory on the lines below.
_________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
ANSWERS TO SELF-CHECK
LESSON 1
1. Messenger
2. God created them
3. They rebelled against God and followed Satan
4. Michael, Gabriel and the Angel of the Lord
5. Redemption, or salvation
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