Can Angels Take or Appear in Various Forms?

Theories
1. Simulation. The angels take form and when doing so reproduce the exact form and characteristics of the species or kind or personality in which they appear. (Pagan view explicit in mythology of gods assuming animal and human form.)
2. Restriction. The angels assume different forms but are untouched by the natures and characteristics of these forms. (Still doesn't answer why such forms are to be taken then, unless meant for some kind of deceptive or clandestine purposes.)
3. Negation. Angels do not assume other forms (but appear as they are in different dimensions of glory).

(a) Essence defines identity; therefore, essence (essential nature) cannot change without affecting identity. That means that the angel who simulates no longer remains an angel (at least for the said amount of time) thus producing confusion in the order of creation. God's creation follows a set order. Why don't angels appear as females?
(b) Since angels are God's servants and God doesn't employ deceptive means; neither is He short of instruments; therefore, angels cannot assume forms other than their own. For instance, when God needed a fish, He used a fish and didn't transform an angel into a fish.
(c) There isn't any biblical warrant for the view that angels take form. The angels are always seen as appearing in form of a male (but glorious being), except in visions.
(d) Any present supernatural occurrences involving mysterious men, voices etc are simply miraculous and so unexplainable. However, one must note that God can appear in various forms (fire¹, pillar, cloud, man). But in cases where simulation of existent or deceased persons is involved, they should not be attributed to God. Either they are simply miraculous or in some specific instances (such as appearance of Samuel or Moses) they may be appearances of the spirit, however, never without the permission and direction of God. However, since Scripture doesn't give proofs of such occurrences as common to the children of God and is definitely against divination, such occurrences must no longer be expected. (Even Lazarus was not sent back in answer to the rich man). Therefore, they must be considered as simply miraculous visions if bearing divine affirmation of the Holy Spirit as in the case of the Macedonian Call and they are always recognized as so later on.

P.S. Demons are deceptive and "assume" forms by means of mental manipulations to deceive humans away from the true worship of God. Therefore, the only source of our knowledge of supernatural reality is the Word of God. If the Bible is silent on any topic, that topic is dispensable.
P.S.2. All appearances of deceased spirits at present are to be considered as demonic.

NOTE
¹ Not as fire but in fire... Like a dove, gentle. Fire (Acts 2).. power.

From notes jotted down sometime between 2007-2009

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Unchanging God

One another day passes by...
Can't invalidate my eyes:
Gods of wind, wealth, and vanity
Rule the feelings of humanity
Ever demanding all
Never returning one.

Man's sweat now mingles in their goblets of desires
They evoke so much love; they revoke so much love.
What enslavement to the destroyer?
What fear? What distaste?

But the One by Whom all things exist,
Suffered for the sake of others;
He embraced the shame of the cross
To destroy the enmity by sin;
He suffered for our faithlessness
And calls us now to Him.
What god is there who gives His life for His sheep,
The value of truth is measured by the teacher's commitment to it.


(c) Copyright, Domenic Marbaniang, 2009

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Hillsong - Dwell (Hindi Translation)

Hillsong – Dwell You set me apart Gave me a new heart Filled with compassion To share Your great love Show me Your ways I want to know You Guide me in truth My hope is in You That I may dwell in Your house forever Lifting up Your name Dwell in Your house forever more That I may dwell in Your house forever Lifting up Your name Dwell in Your house forever more I'll hold on to You, My strength and my refuge. Whom shall I fear? I know You are near All of my days I live for You, Lord Establish my path There's one thing I ask That I may dwell in Your house forever Lifting up Your name Dwell in Your house forever more That I may dwell in Your house forever Lifting up Your name Dwell in Your house forever more Holy Spirit, have Your way Sweet anointing teach our hearts Our lives, we pray That I may dwell in Your house forever Lifting up Your name Dwell in Your house forever more That I may dwell in Your house forever Lifting up Your name Dwell in Your house forever more That I may dwell in Your house forever Lifting up Your name Dwell in Your house forever more

हिलसांग – रहूं तेरे संग पवित्र किया, दे दिया दिल नया तरस और प्रेम से भर दिया मार्ग दिखा कि जानूं मै तुझे तुझसे है दुआ कि रहूं तेरे घर में सदा हमेशा उठाते हुए तेरा नाम रहूं तेर घर में मैं सदा कि रहूं तेरे घर में सदा हमेशा उठाते हुए तेरा नाम रहूं तेर घर में मैं सदा तुझे पकडे रहूँ, मेरा बल और मेरा शरण किस से डरूं, जब तू ही है साथ हर दिन हर रात, जिंयूं तेरे लिए तू मुझे चला, यही है दुआ कि रहूं तेरे घर में सदा हमेशा उठाते हुए तेरा नाम रहूं तेर घर में मैं सदा कि रहूं तेरे घर में सदा हमेशा उठाते हुए तेरा नाम रहूं तेर घर में मैं सदा पवित्र आत्‍मा, कार्य कर मधुर आत्‍मा, दिलों को सिखा यही है प्रार्थना कि रहूं तेरे घर में सदा हमेशा उठाते हुए तेरा नाम रहूं तेर घर में मैं सदा कि रहूं तेरे घर में सदा हमेशा उठाते हुए तेरा नाम रहूं तेर घर में मैं सदा

Translation by D. Marbaniang

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Matt Redman - Amazing (Hindi Translation)

Matt Redman - Amazing

A love so undeserved, a gift that's free
You lavish me
A peace I could not earn
And mercy for the freedom of my soul

That's what's so amazing about Your grace
That's what's so amazing about Your grace

Forgiveness runs so deep
Within Your heart of loving kindness
And should a soul forget
The cross of Christ reminds us every day

That's what's so amazing about Your grace
That's what's so amazing about Your grace
Lord, every day You pour on me
Your blessings of eternity
And that's what's so amazing about Your grace

Freely I've received, now freely to give
Freely I've received, now freely to give
Freely I've received, now freely to give
Give my life to You...

Hindi

मेट रेडमैन – यही तो बात है तेरा अनुग्रह का

क्‍या प्‍यार अयोग्‍य क्‍या ये तौफा तूने मुफत में दे दी
अमूल्‍य शांति और दया मेरे छुटकारा के लिए ही
यही तो बात है तेरा अनुग्रह का
यही तो बात है तेरा अनुग्रह का
दया के दिल में तेरे गहराईयों से माफी बहती है।
कि भूले कोई न इसे सो क्रूस चिताता हर दिन ये
यही तो बात है तेरा अनुग्रह का
यही तो बात है तेरा अनुग्रह का
प्रभू मुझपर तू उंडेलता
हर दिन अनंत आशीषें
यही तो बात है तेरा अनुग्रह का
मुफत में पाया, कि दिल से दूं
मुफत में पाया, कि दिल से दूं अब
मुफत में पाया, कि दिल से दूं
जिंदगी तुझे दूं।
Trans. D. Marbaniang

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Studies in Ezekiel: Call and Commission (Chs 2-3)

Chapter 1 ends with "the likeness of the appearance of a man" in fire, rainbow, and great brightness, and Ezekiel recounts "This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face..." (1:28). This was the manifestation of the God of Israel in the vision of Jesus Christ, 500 years before His birth in Bethlehem.

The ministry of a certainty belongs to Christ who is the Son over His own house (Heb.3:5). It was He whom Moses obeyed when he forsook Pharaoh's palace (Heb.11:26), and He who was the Pillar of Cloud and Pillar of Fire, the Angel of the LORD to lead the Israelites in the wilderness (1Cor.10:1-4). The Messiah was before Abraham (Jn.8:58). Christ now calls Ezekiel and commissions him to the prophetical ministry that would reveal the transition from the old into the new, the fading of the Old Covenant into the New Covenant. It doesn't mean a cessation of Israel as a people of God, but a revelation of God's purposes for them in a glorious Temple of which Christ Himself is the High Priest. It marks the plan for the tearing of the veil and the revelation of God's Holy Presence through the covenant of Jesus Christ. Ezekiel, perhaps, had been contemplating on his 30th year that he should have been in the temple at Jerusalem, but God now reveals that he is appointed to be a prophet of renewal. God's glory now comes from the north (not from the east) directly to Babylon where Ezekiel, the heavens open up on earth to a man called to be a priest. He is now called to be a prophet of the Most High, to reveal mysteries that are too hard for words, that would need symbols, imageries, and parables. Ezekiel the priest is called and commissioned by God in exile.

Thought: Do you think you are in an exile like situation where ministry is an impossibility? You do not need to worry about place, time, or situations. God is not limited by them. His Glory fills the universe. Do you think that you have not been qualified enough? God doesn't call people after they have qualified themselves. In fact, He only uses people whom He first calls and qualifies. We only need to believe and obey. Do you believe in Christ? Are you willing to do whatever He says? The only way to be God's servant is by giving up all rights, absolutely all of them, in perfect submission to His Lordship. It is then that His fire and His light envelops your heart and passion to be a watchman of Israel.

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Studies in Ezekiel: Wings and Wheels (Chap. 1)

God speaks in Ezekiel through four different ways:

1. Visions - They reveal God's glory in relation to His people (the 4 living creatures, the Temple). They usually answer the question, "What is the truth of God?"
2. Symbols - Ezekiel is to signify certain happenings through his very life (e.g. the mimic siege, the razor, the death of his wife). They usually answer the question, "How is it going to happen?"
3. Parables and Allegories - They illustrate the story of God's relation with His people and demonstrate the reason why He chastises them (the boiling pot, the vine). They usually answer the question, "Why is it going to happen?"
4. Plain speech - They are explanations, commands, and promises that God gives to Ezekiel and to His people.

Promises - Ezekiel contains a number of divine promises including the promise of a new covenant and the future regathering of Israel.

Chapter 1 demonstrates how God's servants, the cherubim, are connected to God's will in perfect unison that they only go where the Spirit wants to go. The wheels demonstrate God's sovereign ruling over creation and the winged cherubim symbolize the perfection of His executed will.

Ezekiel is accosted by God by the river Chebar in Babylon by direct visions of God. He sees the heavens open and sees the Might of God's Glory amidst the holy cherubim in chapter 1. The scene displays the fact that God's glory is not limited to the Temple. The Tabernacle of old and the Temple of Jerusalem were only shadows of the real, which is Christ. The faces of the cherubim, viz. man, lion, ox, and eagle were on the standards of each of the four companies of Israel that encamped around the Tabernacle in the wilderness (Num. 2:2). Each face prophetically symbolized the 4-fold nature of Christ and the living creatures or cherubim as well as those ensigns, thus carried the mark of God's glory as revealed in Jesus Christ:

• Man (north) - Humanity of Jesus Christ
• Lion (right, east of Tabernacle) - Royalty of Jesus Christ
• Ox (left, west of Tabernacle) - Servanthood of Jesus Christ
• Eagle (south) - Divinity of Jesus Christ

The revelation of God in Ezekiel 1 is, therefore, the revelation of Christ (Eze.1:26).

Key: The history of Israel and the history of the world consummates in Jesus Christ (Rom.10:4; Eph.1:10;2:16; Col.2:10).

"The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Rev.19:10).

Important notes about chapter 1:

"out of the north" (v 4) - The north symbolically designates the dwelling place of God (Job 37:22; Ps. 48:2; Isa.14:13; 41:25).

"a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself" (v 4) - This is how the Lord appeared in His glory to the Israelites in the wilderness. It demonstrates His presence, purity, and power (Exo. 24:16,17).

"they went wherever the Spirit wanted to go"  (v 12) - This reflects the experience of the Israelites in the wilderness. Whenever the Shekinah glory of God (Pillar of cloud or Pillar of fire) lifted up from the Tabernacle and moved the priests had to dismantle the Tabernacle, according to the guidelines, and follow the Lord (Exo. 40:36-38). As the cherubim were bound to the ark of the covenant in the Temple, so are they bound to God's will and action in reality. 

"a wheel in the middle of a wheel" (v 16) - The contrast between the ark of the covenant and this vision is clear. The ark had to be born on the shoulders of the priests, but the heavenly reality of which the earthly is only a copy moved on intersecting wheels according to the direction of the Spirit of God. There was no need of dismantling the Tabernacle when the cloud lifted. This is the divine chariot of God that surpasses the glory and might of all the kings of the earth. God's movement on the earth are marked by omnipresence (He fills the earth, "so high"), omniscience (He sees all things "full of eyes"), and omnipotence (v 18).

Mark this: God's call to His servants comes only after a self-revelation of Himself (Exo.3; Isa.6; Lk.5:1-11). Have you known God yet?

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Studies in Ezekiel: Introduction

The book of Ezekiel was written by a priest-prophet named Ezekiel (meaning "God will strengthen") in around 593-571 B.C., when those messages were given. The book has 48 chapters and contains a number of visions and prophecies regarding the then and future Israel.

About the Author

Ezekiel was born in 623 B.C. in a priestly family of Jerusalem. His father's name was Buzi (1:2). When he was 25 years old, he was taken away into the exile in Babylon by the army of king Nebuchadnezzar who invaded Jerusalem in 597 B.C. Five years later, in 593 B.C., Ezekiel got his first vision of God when he was 30 years old, the age when a priest was supposed to enter temple ministry (1:1-3). Beginning from then, he prophesied for the next 30 years, his last message dates as on April 28, 573 B.C. (Zondervan Archaelogical Bible). Ezekiel typifies the style of prophetical life in which the prophesy is symbolized by a lifestyle of the prophet which acts as object lessons to the audience.

Date

The book was written between 593-573 B.C.

Place

The messages were given to the exiles in Babylon.

Message

The book contains series of messages that deal with God's judgment of and later, restoration of Israel.

Plan

The messages can be divided into three periods:

1. Pre-siege Messages (593-586 B.C.) - Chapters 1-24

2. Messages during the Siege (586 B.C.) - Chapters 25-32

3. Post-siege Messages (586-573 B.C.) - Chapters 33-48

The first part deals with prophecies related to God's judgment of Israel and the transition into the "times of the gentiles" when the three great world empires, according to Daniel's prophecy, would arise and rule over Israel.

The second part is a set of prophecies of condemnation on those nations that oppressed Israel.

The third part speaks of the glorious plan of God regarding the restoration of Israel.

Ezekiel and Revelation in Comparison

• The first vision of Ezekiel is similar to that of John in Revelation 4. Both have a vision of the glory of the Lord and of 4 living creatures. However, John's vision is of things in heaven, while Ezekiel's is of things on earth.
• John's vision has mainly to do with events related to the Church under Roman rule (the 4th kingdom prophesied by Daniel - a kingdom which is revived in the last days) while Ezekiel is speaking of Israel, especially before and after the destruction of Jerusalem.
• Both Ezekiel and John have a vision of God's future and glorious temple (Eze.40-46; Rev.21,22).

Understanding Ezekiel

It is understood that Jewish Rabbis prohibited a person from reading the book of Ezekiel until he was 30 years old. Perhaps, it has to do something with the fact that Ezekiel himself was 30 when the visions came to him; but, more because the book is filled with so much of abstruse imagery (Jerome). However, since "all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in all righteousness" we understand that the prophetical message of Ezekiel is meant for our edification to make us wise unto salvation.

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Outline of Theology - Folder Edition

DESCRIPTION 

This folder edition of "Outline of Theology" gives detailed overview of the major doctrines of the Bible. The folder comes in 6 pages that can be printed on 3 sheets of paper (front and back) and folded into 3 folds through the column spaces.

Keep it in your Bible, purse, or case as a ready and handy guide to Bible doctrines.

 6 Pages  View/Download

Study Theology Online Here

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Bible ki Sacchayiyan - Hindi PDF Booklet

हिन्‍दी पुस्तिका 'बाईबल की सच्‍चाईयां' यहां से डाउनलोड करें। परमेश्‍वर आपको आशीष दें।

डाउनलोड >करें

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Bible Truths in Hindi - E-Sword Module

This little booklet gives an introduction to the basic teachings of the Bible. You may need to install language support for East Asian scripts in order to read the material. For more information look at Hindi Wikipedia Help. The material can also be found online at bibletruths-hi.yolasite.com.

Specifications:
Name: Bible Truths-Hindi
Author: Domenic Marbaniang
Format: E-Sword 8x Topic
Files Required: E-Sword Bible Version 8x, Hindi font support (Mangal.ttf).

Download Bible Truths (Hindi E-Sword Topic).
DOWNLOAD E-SWORD HINDI BIBLE HERE

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