The Doctrine of Angels (Angelology)

The doctrine of angels follows logically after the doctrine of creation but before the doctrine of anthropology, because angels were created before man in the creation week. We teach that angels are the ministers and caretakers of God’s providence (cf. Job 38:7; Hebrews 1:14). 

We teach that God created all angelic majesties and beings. We teach that all angels are created spirit beings and therefore man is forbidden to worship them (cf. Exodus 20:2-6; Colossians 2:18). We teach that all angels cannot be compared to God concerning the incomparable and incommunicable attributes of God (cf. Exodus 8:10; 15:11; Deuteronomy 3:24; 4:34-35, 39; 6:4; 1 Samuel 2:2; 1 Kings 8:23; Jeremiah 10:7; Micah 7:18). We teach all angelic beings are created beings and therefore they are distinct from God (cf. Colossians 1:16). 

We teach that angels are incorporeal (that means spirit beings that are currently invisible to the natural eye) and have preternatural capabilities (cf. Hebrews 13:2). We teach that all angels were originally created good and created to serve God and to worship God (cf. Matthew 1:20-21; Luke 2:9-14; Hebrews 1:6-7, 14; 2:6-7; Revelation 1:1; 20; 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14; 5:11-14; 19:10; 22:8-9). We teach that elect angels continue to serve and worship God and help those who are destined to inherit salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Hebrews 1:14). We teach that fallen angels are permanently under divine judgment and are the cosmic enemies of God (cf. Psalm 110:1; Matthew 25:41; John 16:11; Revelation 20:1-3, 7-10). We teach the biblical position on angelology, that is, the biblical doctrine that God has revealed to man the existence and presence of elect and fallen angelic beings.

The Hebrews term מֲלְאָךְ Mal’ak has the sense to mean messenger. Likewise, the Greek term ἄγγελος (angel) has the sense to mean messenger. We teach that these biblical terms for messenger in the context of angelic beings have the sense to describe both function and nature. However, not every occurrence of מֲלְאָךְ Mal’ak in the OT is in reference to an angelic being (e.g. 1 Kings 22:13). 

There is various terminology and themes for angels in Scripture, as well as angelic orders and classifications with command companies and distinct entities (cf. Psalms 91:11–12; Matt.13:41; Rev.7:2) that can include the following:  Sons of God (cf. Genesis 6, Job 1-2); Watchers (cf. Daniel 4:13, 17, 23; Seraphim - Isaiah 6:2 - 6 wings); Cherubim (cf. Genesis 3:24, Exodus 25:18-22; Ezekiel 10:1-20; 28:14-16); Living creatures (cf. Ezekiel 1; Revelation 4:6); Archangels (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Jude 9; cp. Dan 10:17); Thrones, dominions, powers, principalities, authorities that subrule the world (cf. Colossians 1:16; Ephesians 6:11-12; Psalm 97:7; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6a; 1 Corinthians 10:19-20; Deuteronomy 32:8); Spirit Beings (cf. Hebrews 1:14); Participants in councils and courts (cf. 1 Kings 22:19-23; Psalm 82:1; 89:6-9; Job 15:8; Jeremiah 23:18); Numerous, Heavenly Hosts and Armies that all participate in the angelic combat between elect angels against evil angels (cf. Deuteronomy 33:2; Daniel 7:10; Hebrews 11:22;  Psalm 46:7; Genesis 32:1–2; Job 19:12; Revelation 12:7-9). 

We teach that all angelic majesties and beings were created by God during the creation week that is recorded in Genesis 1 – that is, sometime after what is described in Genesis 1:1 (i.e. the beginning of the first day of the creation week) and before Genesis 1:19 (i.e. before the end of the fourth day of the creation week cf. Job 38:7; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 148:2, 5). We teach that angelic beings are heavenly hosts that are associated with the luminaries and stars of interstellar space (cf. Job 38:7; Revelation 8:10-11; 9:1; 12:14). We teach that all angelic beings when they were originally created were all created very good (i.e. without sin when originally created cf. Ezekiel 28:15). 

We teach that the reason that all angelic beings are not more powerful than the Word of God is due to the fact that God created them by divine fiat, namely, God spoke them into existence during the creation week (cf. Colossians 1:16-14; Ephesians 3:10-11; Psalm 103:20; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 148:2, 5). The power of the Word of God over all angelic beings, whether or not they are elect or fallen, is an inexorable spiritual law regardless of the creature’s volitionary disobedience (cf. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Ephesians 6:10-18). In the case of fallen angelic beings, they were once like the holy angels, but they fell due to an act of volitionary disobedience (cf. Genesis 6:2; Job 1-2; Isaiah 14:12; Ezekiel 28:11-16; Jude 6 – see Section 6.2.2 The Origin of Sin in the Angelic Realm).     

Scripture does not give the exact number of angels that were created, Scripture does teach that the number of angels is extremely numerous and described as innumerable (cf. Daniel 7:10; Matthew 26:53; Hebrews 12:22). 

We teach that angelic beings are created spirit beings (i.e. incorporeal cf. Psalm 104:4; Hebrews 1:7, 14; Ephesians 3:10; 6:12). We teach that angels can interact with the material world in both supernatural and preternatural means. We teach that God supports and uses elect angels to supernaturally carry out those features that concerns the positive aspects of the duties of a sentry, whereas, fallen angels interact with the material world preternaturally, that is using angelic abilities to wickedly manipulate the laws and physics of nature. Nevertheless, God is sovereign over all the affairs of angelic activity and uses both elect and fallen angels to carry out His purposes, yet God holds fallen angelic beings responsible when sin is involved, because God cannot sin (cf. 1 Kings 22:19-23; Job 1:6-22; 2:1-13). 

We teach that although angelic beings can have superhuman strength (cf. Psalm 103:20; Acts 5:19; 12:7, 23; 2 Peter 2:11), they are not omnipotent and omniscient but are localized and limited (cf. Matthew 24:36; 1 Peter 1:12). Angelic beings are described in Scripture as winged beings and it is implied that they can move as fast as the speed of lightning (cf. Daniel 9:21; Luke 10:18; Revelation 14:6).

We teach that although angelic beings are incorporeal, they can somehow reveal themselves in bodily form (cf. Genesis 18, 19; Judges 2:1; 6:11-24; Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:26; John 20:12; Acts 1:10-11; Hebrews 13:2).

 We teach that each individual angelic being is a volitional personal agent and extremely intelligent, having access to vast amounts of information for millenniums, yet there is a limit to their knowledge and intelligence, being greater than man but not equal to or greater than God (cf. 2 Samuel 14:20; Matthew 24:36; Luke 4:34; 1 Timothy 5:21). We teach that angelic beings are not omniscient (cf. Ephesians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:12).

We teach that elect angelic beings are holy angels and are personal agents that cannot fall from their holy position or nature (cf. Ps 89:5-7; 1 Timothy 5:21). 

We teach that holy angels are unwaveringly committed in holy excellence to the Holy Triune God (cf. Daniel 7:10; Revelation 5:11) and ministered faithfully to the needs and cause of the Lord Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry (cf. Matthew 4:11; 28:2; Luke 22:43). Elect archangels announced the virgin birth of the Messiah (cf. Luke 1:26-38). The virgin Mary was informed by the archangel Gabriel that she would become the human mother of the Messiah (f. Luke 1:26-38). An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream that the child conceived in Mary’s womb was of God the Holy Spirit (cf. Matthew 1:20). 

We teach that elect Angels are sentinels in the sense of the stewardship from God to make arrests and to release personal agents from incarceration. They have the power and authority from God to incarcerate fallen angelic beings (cf. Revelation 20:1-3), as well as release fallen angelic beings from incarceration in order to execute the purposes of God in the eschaton to judge the rebellious inhabitants of the earth (cf. Revelation 9). The elect angels also have the authority and power to release the elect from mankind who have been wrongfully imprisoned by other men for preaching the Gospel (cf. Acts 5:19; 12:7, 23). 

We teach that elect angels behold the face of God the Father who is in heaven and are assigned to those who will inherit salvation (cf. Matthew 18:10). 

4.5.1 The Ministry of Elect Angels

We teach that elect angels serve God with distinct positions and ministries (e.g. Cherubim guarded the entrance to the garden of God and the way to the tree of life cf. Genesis 3:24). What is more, the image of two cherubim were placed on top of the ark in the tabernacle and temple as well as in the textile of the inner curtain of the tabernacle and the veil (cf. Exodus 25:18; 26:1; 36:8). The “the four living creatures” that very likely are cherubim surround the throne of God (cf. Revelation 4:6) as cherubim are referenced to minister to the throne of God as well accompany God during the theophanies that involve celestial transportation in the OT (cf. Psalm 18:9-10; 80:1; 99:1).

We teach that the classification of elect angels called seraphim in Isaiah 6:2, 6 are distinct from cherubim but likewise minister around the throne of God. The Scriptures teach that God is seated above the cherubim (cf. 1 Samuel 4:4; Psalm 80:1; 99:1) and when God is seated on His throne He has the seraphim standing and flying above Him (cf. Isaiah 6:1-2). Elect angelic beings that are classified as seraphim minister concerning the holiness of God by preparing those in the presence of God for reverence and reminding those in the presence of God of the holiness of God (cf. Isaiah 6:4-7; the angel of the LORD in Zechariah 3:3-7 could be a seraphim but is not mentioned explicitly as such). 

We teach that the classification of elect angels called archangels protect the saints of God, and specifically protect Israel (cf. Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1). Archangels are heralds with trumpets that announce the return of Jesus Christ (e.g. when Jesus returns to rapture His saints during the dawn of the eschaton cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). Archangels are angelic soldiers who defeat Satan and his angels (cf. Revelation 12:7-12). One notable archangel in Scripture is Michael (cf. Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9; Revelation 12:7). It is very likely that the angel Gabriel is also an archangel (cf. Daniel 8:16; 9:21; Luke 1:19, 26). 

We teach that good angels minister to the elect from mankind. Holy angels from God are messengers to help the saints (cf. Acts 10:3-7; Hebrews 1:14).

We teach that elect angels rejoice every time a sinner repents unto salvation (cf. Luke 15:10). 

We teach that the seven angels of the seven churches in Asia Minor that are mentioned in the book of Revelation are angelic beings (cf. Revelation 1:1; 20; 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14).

We DO NOT teach that the seven angels delegated to the seven churches in Asia Minor mentioned in the book of Revelation 2-3 are human beings, that is, seven elders, seven bishops, or seven senior pastors of the seven churches in Asia Minor. 

We teach that the elect angels will continue in their service to God throughout all eternity (cf. Revelation 21:12). 

For a thorough biblical explanation of the origin of sin in the angelic realm, the time of their fall, the cause of their fall and the permanent results of their fall see section 6 – The Doctrine of Sin (Hamartiology), specifically, section 6.2.2 “The Origin of Sin in the Angelic Realm.”

We teach that the fall of Satan and demons was definite and permanent due to their deliberate, self-determined rebellion against God (cf. Genesis 3:1-7; 6:2, 4; Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Luke 10:18; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 12:3-4). 

We teach that the arch enemy of God and of the souls of mankind is the devil, also referred to as Satan. The devil is a created being who was originally created by God in perfection in holiness and goodness when he was originally created (cf. Genesis 1:31; Ezekiel 28:15). However, Satan sinned against God by abandoning his original principality and position (cf. Luke 10:18; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). Satan was the leader of the apostasy of all fallen angelic beings (cf. Ezekiel 28:16, 18; Revelation 12:3-4). The devil is the spiritual serpent and a red dragon (cf. Genesis 3:15; Revelation 12:9). Satan is a liar and the father of lies (cf. John 8:44; 1 John 2:22). In the current age before the end of the great tribulation, the devil has created a world system that currently controls the nations of men with satanic philosophies of human government and he manages this world system as the prince of the power of the air who is at work in the sons of disobedience (cf.  Daniel 10:13; Ephesians 2:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19). Satan is the great tempter who practices damage control to maintain his wicked kingdom by tempting the nations and individual men with the philosophies of human government as well as tempting mankind with the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the boastful pride of life (cf. Gensis 3:1-7; 1 Chronicles 21:1; 1 John 2:15-17).  The devil tries to deceive believers and lead them astray (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:3). Satan deceptively disguises himself to appear as an angel of light (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:14), surreptitiously, for the purpose to pervert that which is good by tempting to use it for evil (cf. Genesis 2:25; Genesis 3:1, 7). The devil tries to present evil as good by persuasion in temptation (cf. Isaiah 5:20). The devil is an ambush predator who surreptitiously spies out believers and seeks to devour them (cf. Galatians 2:4; 1 Peter 5:8-9).

We teach that God tests men with the test of human government as a stewardship (cf. Genesis 9:1-7; Romans 13; Revelation 3:10). On the other hand, the devil tempts and deceives men with the philosophies of human government (cf. Revelation 12:9; 20:3, 8). 

We teach that God tests the Church and will evaluate the Church with biblical ministry as a stewardship (cf. Ephesians 3:2, 9; 1 Timothy 3:14-15; 1 Peter 4:10, 12-17; James 1:2-18; Revelation 1:20; 2-3 emphasis 2:23). On the other hand, the devil tempts the Church with philosophies of ministry in the wisdom from below that includes military, medical and business pragmatism (cf. James 3:14-16). 

We teach that Satan and all other fallen angelic beings cannot tempt, afflict or harm anyone unless they ask permission and God allows them (cf. Job 1-2; Luke 22:31-34), yet so that God is not the author of evil and sin. God tests men and cannot tempt. The devil tempts men but does not have the nature or authorial ability to test (cf. James 1:13-15; 4:7).  

We teach that fallen angelic beings are demons and are in the position of damned without hope of salvation because they are a company and not a race. When these angelic beings originally sinned they each did so individually and not in the sense of originally in the head of a race, as is the case with Adam and his race (cf. Hebrews 2:16). Concerning human beings, the elect from the human race have a Savior from the wrath of God because in the incarnation, the Second Person of the Eternal Triune God took to Himself human flesh permanently forever as the last Adam and therefore the salvific representative of the redeemed from the human race, because the Lord Jesus Christ joined Himself to humanity by taking human nature without sin. However, concerning fallen angelic beings, the Scriptures teach that God has not made any provision of salvation for demons. 

We teach that to the same intensity that good angels minister to man, evil angels are in opposition to mankind and use men they deceive to destroy other men (cf. Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6; John 8:37-38, 40-45; 13:2, 27; 1 Timothy 4:1-2). 

We teach that the historical physical serpent mentioned in Genesis 3, the historical king of Babylon mentioned in Isaiah 14, the historical king of Tyre mentioned in Ezekiel 28 and all antichrist (cf. 1 John 2:18-19, 22-23) indicate the fact that Satan and demons can possess creatures and human beings to carry out demonic doctrine and practice, namely jealous and selfish ambition that takes pride in great prosperity, the ambition and desire to ignore and surpass God, and manifestations of apathy and coldness from selfishness and discontentment with what one has, resulting in the craving and practice to acquire by any means necessary all that others possess (cf. James 3:14-16).   

We teach that the nature and practice of demons is to hinder the progress of the Gospel (cf. Acts 16:16-21; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4), to try and destroy apostolic doctrine (cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:18; John 7-8) and to attack the grace of God in believer’s hearts and minds (cf. Ephesians 6:2 Corinthians 10:3-6; 12:7-10).  

We teach that the sin of idolatry and its connection to the world system is a form of demon worship (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:20-21; Revelation 9:20-21; 13:1-18).  

We teach that demons, fallen angels, evil angels, evil spirits and unclean spirits are all classifications that are synonymous because they refer to one and the same thing and they can possess unregenerated human beings (cf. Matthew 8:16; 10:1, 8; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 10:17, 20; Acts 16:16-18). 

We teach that Satan and demons cannot possess human beings that have been regenerated by God (cf. Romans 8:37-39; 1 Corinthians 6:17; 1 John 2:14; 4:4; 5:18). The devil and demons can however, in some incorporeal and preternatural way, tempt believers in the mind with thoughts (cf. Ephesians 6:10-17). 

We teach that the locust army that is released in the future as described in Revelation 9:1-11 is a demon horde that takes the horrific bodily form as described in the text and is lead by Apollyon, the angel of the abyss.  

4.6.1 The Legal Troubles of the Devil and the Fate of Fallen Angelic Beings 

The devil is the accuser of the brethren and accuses them before God, day and night in the heavenly places in the courts of God (cf. Job 1-2; Zechariah 3:1-2; Ephesians 6:10-12; Revelation 12:10). However, even though the devil acts as the prosecution he is all the while under the permanent sentence of condemnation by the Judge of all the heavens and the earth (cf. John 16:11 – the term “judged” from the phrase “the ruler of this world has been judged” in Greek is in the perfect tense which has the kind of action that is completed with ongoing results). 

The Judge’s verdict on the devil has been sentenced, the devil’s position in which he stands permanently is under the judgment of God, but the sentence has not yet been carried out. We teach that after this age, the devil will lose his access to the heavenly places and therefore will not be allowed to participate in the courts of God. This will come to pass when the great angelic war in heaven occurs during the tribulation period, that is, when the archangel Michael and his angels wage war with the red dragon and his angels (cf. Revelation 12:7-9). The devil will lose this heavenly angelic war which will result in the devil and his angels no longer having access to heaven. 

After the great tribulation and the war of Armageddon, the devil will be incarcerated in the abyss during the Millennial Kingdom for a literal 1,000 years (cf. Revelation 20:1-3). We teach at the end of the Millennial Kingdom the devil will be released from incarceration and will once again deceive the nations to war against the saints and Jerusalem (cf. Revelation 20:7-8). However, the devil will lose once again and for the final time, and the devil who deceived the nations will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone and will be tormented day and night in the eternal state (cf. Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:9-10). Then the Judge’s sentence will be fully carried out for all eternity. We teach that the lake of fire is the fate of all fallen angelic beings (cf. Matthew 25:41).  

4.6.1.1 Against Heresies

We DO NOT teach the amillennial heresy that the devil is currently incarcerated at present in the abyss during the church age.       

4.6.2 The Sons of God in Genesis 6:2, 4. 

No less than five times are angels referred to in the OT as “sons of God” (Genesis 6:2, 4; Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7). 

We teach that the ‘sons of God’ who took wives to themselves of ‘the daughters of men’ (cf. Genesis 6), were evil angels, who somehow entered upon a forbidden an unholy intercourse with human women that produced a preternatural progeny, that of which are referred to as the Nephilim which means ‘fallen ones,’ a mighty horror in the antediluvian world and after those days (cf. Genesis 6:4).  

We DO NOT teach that the sons of God in Genesis 6:2, 4 is a reference to human beings, namely, the line of Seth. 

We DO NOT teach that the reference in Genesis 6:2, 4 intends to protest against the intermarriage of the godly line of Seth with the ungodly line of Cain. Instead we teach that the reference in Genesis 6:2, 4 intends to protest against the procreation of angelic beings with the daughters of men (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:10). 

4.6.3 The Nephilim 

We teach that there were Nephilim before the flood (cf. Genesis 6:4) that were destroyed by the flood as well as Nephilim after the flood (cf. Numbers 13:33; Genesis 6:4 emphasis on “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them”). We teach that somehow there was a recurrence of this unholy intercourse after the flood in the postdiluvian age. 

We teach that the Nephilim are giants that grew to be between 9.5-15 feet tall in the post-diluvian age (cf. 1 Samuel 17:4) but were significantly larger during the antediluvian age (i.e. the age between the fall of man and the great global flood). 

4.7 Believers will Replace the Sons of God in Genesis 6:2, 4 Administratively (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:3; Ephesians 2:6,19; Matthew 20:21; Romans 8:16-19) 

When it comes to stewardship or management of the nations in human government, God divided the nations and appointed angels over each of the nations (cf. Daniel 10:13, 20; 11:1; 12:1). This is the sense of a principality (cf. Ephesians 3:10; 6:12). Fallen angelic beings are unfaithful in their stewardship or administration, in the performance of their duties to their assigned principality. 

In Luke 20:36, the Lord Jesus Christ taught that the sons of the resurrection will be like the angels and are sons of God, but the Lord Jesus Christ did not say that the sons of the resurrection will be angels. Angels are not glorified human beings, and although glorified human beings in the resurrection will be like the angels, they will not literally become angels. 

We teach that in the coming age (i.e. in the literal 1,000 year Millennial Kingdom cf. Revelation 20:1-10) when believers are resurrected in the literal 1,000 year Millennial Kingdom, one of the implications of “judging angels” (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:3) includes the fact that the sons of the resurrection will replace the “sons of God” from Genesis 6:2, 4 (cf. Jude 6-7). 

The fact that Satan is incarcerated during this coming age is telling of this replacement of administration or management (cf. Job 20:5; Daniel 10:13; Luke 22:53; John 14:30; John 16:11; Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19; Revelation 20:1-3, 7).  The identity of the “sons of God” in Genesis 6:2, 4 is that they are angelic beings, but now fallen angelic beings because they sinned against God concerning their management of the antediluvian age. 

The antediluvian age before the geophysical properties of earth changed due to the global flood, was an age of extremely long life (cf. Genesis 5:3-32). This serves as a historical chiasm to the literal 1,000 year Millennial Kingdom in the sense that there will be a regeneration of the earth in the Millennial Kingdom (cf. Matthew 19:28), and life expectancy, perhaps because of the salubrious environment of the Millennial Kingdom, will be extremely longer than the postdiluvian age before the regeneration of the earth (cf. Isaiah 4:5-6; 65:20).  

The sons of the resurrection (cf. Matthew 22:29-30) are identified by the Lord Jesus Christ as “υἱοί εἰσιν Θεοῦ” (i.e. sons they are of God cf. Luke 20:36). In fact, the entire phrase is literally, “οὐδὲ γὰρ ἀποθανεῖν ἔτι δύνανται, ἰσάγγελοι γάρ εἰσιν, καὶ υἱοί εἰσιν θεοῦ τῆς ἀναστάσεως υἱοὶ ὄντες” (i.e. “for neither are they able to die any more, for they are like angels and sons they are of God, of the resurrection sons being” Luke 20:36). The question from the Sadducees about the resurrection concerning being given in marriage (cf. Luke 20:27-33) occasioned Jesus’ response to them, namely “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage” Luke 20:34-35. The fact that the sons of God as angelic beings in Genesis 6:2, 4 “took wives for themselves” clearly reveals that there is an allusion in Luke 20:34-36 to Genesis 6:2, 4. Even though there will be procreation in the Millennial Kingdom (cf. Isaiah 65:20, 23) it will only be among those human beings who physically survive the great tribulation and are allowed to enter the Millennial Kingdom (cf. Matthew 25:31-40) or who are naturally born in the Millennial Kingdom. The resurrected saints in the Millennial Kingdom will not commit the sin that the sons of God committed in Genesis 6:2, 4. The sons of God in Genesis 6:2, 4 violated the natural order of things and impregnated human women, who in turn gave birth to the Nephilim (i.e. giants cf. Genesis 6:4). Therefore, God has throughout the ages taken the humble (e.g. King David) and placed them in combat against corporeal giants as well as incorporeal giants (cf. Joshua 11:21-23; 1 Samuel 17:1-58; 1 Chronicles 20:4-8; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Ephesians 6:10-18; Revelation 12:17). This is in harmony with the Davidic Covenant because when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to establish His literal 1,000 year Millennial reign He will fulfill the Davidic Covenant and will reign with those resurrected in the Millennial Kingdom (cf. Matthew 19:28; Revelation 1:6; 3:21; 20:4-6), when God places all His enemies as a footstool for His feet, enemies both corporeal and incorporeal (cf. Genesis 3:15; 17:6; 49:10; Numbers 24:17; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Psalm 110:1; Luke 1:78; Acts 2:29-36; 1 Cor 15:24-28; Hebrews 10:12-13; 2 Peter 1:19; Revelation 1:6; 2:26-28; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-5). All of this contributes to the sense that believers will replace fallen angelic beings as sons of God. Glorified human beings in the resurrection will be like the angels, but they will not literally become angelic beings.