CHAPTER FOUR –

REALM OF THE ANGELS

CHAPTER FOUR –

REALM OF THE ANGELS

Lesson One - Angels

READ PARAGRAPH 1-4

ANGELS: The word angels means “messenger”.

Angels are creatures that are spiritual in nature. They do not have bodies. They were created even before man was created.

Angels are creatures. God created them from nothing.

Angels are intelligent, they are much smarter than man. They work, move and do all things with their minds. They are very powerful because they are not limited by matter.

THE NINE CHOIRS OF ANGELS

SERAPHIMThe choir of angels closest to God’s throne. They have the greatest intellect, love and will and perceive God in the richest way possible for a created being. Their only task is to worship and adore God.

CHERUBIMThis choir is noted for its perfect vision of God and the beauty of creation, as well as it willingness to share that vision with others.

THRONESThe Thrones ar the choir through which God accomplishes his judgements.

DOMINIONSThis choir directs the Virtues and Powers in their duty of governing and ordering the laws of creation.

VIRTUESVirtues give the power to accomplish the ordering of nature.

POWERSPowers are responsible for directing the remaining choirs to carry out what has been commanded

PRINCIPALITIES These angels lead the last two orders in the direct implementation of God’s will.

ARCHANGELSAngels that carry out what needs to be done.

ANGELSGod’s messengers and guardian to mankind.

HOW DO I BECOME AN ANGEL??? When man dies they do not become an

angel. An angel is a creature different than a man. An angel is spiritual. A man is both physical and spiritual.

When man dies, his soul awaits the resurrection of his body. Angels and men are different kinds of creatures.

ANGELS APPEARANCE.. Angels are often portrayed wearing

white robes because they are pure spirits. White is a symbol of purity. They are often portrayed with wings because they can move with the speed of thought. They often portrayed in the air because they are in heaven. Angels, however, may appear like man.

CHAPTER FOUR –

REALM OF THE ANGELS

Lesson Two – The Test

READ PARAGRAPH 5

REVELATION 12: 7-17 7 Then war broke out in heaven.

Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

REVELATION 12: 7-17 “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. 12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”

REVELATION 12: 7-17 13 When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to

the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.

FALL OF ANGELS Neither wanted to serve God Both wanted to be like God Both were disobedient Both chose to sin

HIERARCHY OF CREATION: Spiritual

Divine LifeAngelic LifeHuman Life

MaterialHuman LifeAnimal LifePlant LifeNon-life (inanimate objects)

Man shares in both the spiritual and material life because he is composed of both body and soul.

FACTS ABOUT ANGELS: Angels were judged after their fall. They could not change their minds and

change from being demons to being good angels.

We are judged by our choices during the time that we have here on earth. When we die we are judged on our thoughts, words, actions and omissions.

We cannot live a bad life on earth and then decide after we die that we really do love God and want to go to heaven. (Living a bad life would tell God that we do not love him and do not want to be with him in heaven.)

JESUS TESTED IN THE WILDERNESSLUKE 4: 1-13 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was

led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted[a] by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’[b]”

5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

JESUS TESTED IN THE WILDERNESSLUKE 4: 1-13 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord

your God and serve him only.’[c]” 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand

on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here.10 For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you    to guard you carefully;11 they will lift you up in their hands,    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[d]”

12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[e]”

13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

JESUS RESTORES A DEMON POSSESSED MANLUKE 8: 26-39 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,[a

] which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

JESUS RESTORES A DEMON POSSESSED MANLUKE 8: 26-39 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many

demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.

32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

JESUS RESTORES A DEMON POSSESSED MANLUKE 8: 26-39 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened,

they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

ROLE OF ST. MICHAEL He cast Satan into hell. He is our special protector He is an archangel and is a powerful

protector and intercessor. He is also the guardian of the Holy

Eucharist. He stands guard by the Blessed

Sacrament in the tabernacle and during Adoration.

CHAPTER FOUR –

REALM OF THE ANGELS

Lesson Three – Messengers

ANGEL OR DEMON…LUKE 1: 26-38

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

ANGEL OR DEMON…LUKE 1: 26-38

Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”

21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.

25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.

ANGEL OR DEMON…LUKE 1: 26-38

It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

READ PARAGRAPH 6-7

DISCUSSION… Look on page 26 of the textbook…

1. How can you tell which is the angel?2. Do angels have wings?3. Why is the angel glowing?4. What is the angel doing?5. How did the angel get into Peter’s cell?6. Does the angel have a body?7. How was the angel able to free Peter?8. Who sent the angel to free Peter?9. How do we know that this angel is not a

demon?

CHAPTER FOUR –

REALM OF THE ANGELS

Lesson Four - Our Guardians

FINISH THE CHAPTER

GUARDIAN ANGELS They are with us always and protect us from harm.

They inspire us to do good and show us what God wants us to do. We can ask for their help as well. We should pray to our angels everyday.

Our angel is our very good friend. We must never offend him with our actions.

Our guardian angel is much more offended when we sin and wants to help us to go to confession and restore God’s grace.

Our guardian angel are assigned to us by God. God created an angel for each of us, the best to meet our needs.

They are much more intelligent and powerful than we are and they deserve our reverence and respect.

We should be grateful for their help.

CLASS ASSIGNMENT Draw your depiction of Angels and

Demons fighting. I want you to show the spiritual battle between angels and demons.

The can be fighting over a business person, a student, an athlete etc. (You can draw it like cartoons where the angel is on one side and the demon is on the other side).

THE END