Preschool Lesson #OT1 Angelic Rebellion CONCEPT God is greater and more powerful than Satan. GOAL Children will learn that angels are both good and evil. Satan is an evil angel, but our good God is greater and more powerful than Satan. They can trust God and His truth to protect them from Satan. PASSAGE: EZEKIEL 28:12-19; ISAIAH 14:12-14 Key Verse: "God is greater than Satan." 1 John 4:4b PLANNING AHEAD Lesson Supplies Activity Station: Laminated, magnet-backed pictures of angels Laminated, magnet-backed pictures of Satan Lesson: Angel pictures from Activity Station Plastic sword Craft Supplies Learning Activity #2: 3" die-cut cardstock circles printed with Jesus on one side and Satan with a big X across him on the other side, 1/child Curling ribbon, 24"/child 3 hole punches Straw beads, 10/child Markers, crayons Teachers please note: For clarity, the shaded areas in the Planning Ahead section indicate supplies that are in and should be returned to your classroom SHARED SUPPLY bag. XENOS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 2000/01 rev '02, 05 Preschool Lesson #OT1 Page 1
Background Information /Teacher s Helps June 10, 2018 There is so much interest in angels and the angelic realm in our culture today that it is crucial for adults as well as children to determine how and where to find the truth. The Bible is the only source of absolute truth about angels and what they do. "A. The Nature of Angels According to Scripture, long before the creation of man God created an innumerable company of beings named angels. Like men, they have personality and are capable of great intelligence and moral responsibility. The word "angel" means messenger and, while referring to a special class of beings, the term is sometimes employed of others who are messengers... When not used in reference to men or God Himself, the term is used of a distinct order of beings who, like man, have moral responsibility and who are servants of God in the moral sphere. Like man, angels continue forever and are distinct from all other created beings. They form a prominent part of God's program for the ages and are mentioned over a hundred times in the Old Testament and even more frequently in the New Testament. Angels apparently were all created simultaneously and were innumerable in number (Heb. 2:22; Rev. 5:11). They have all the essential elements of personality including intelligence, moral will, and sensibility or emotion and, accordingly, are able to render intelligent worship of God (Ps. 148:2). They are also held responsible for the quality of their service and their moral choices. Their natures do not include bodies unless they are bodies of a spiritual order (1 Cor. 15:44), although they may be seen at times in bodies and appear as men (Matt. 28:3; Rev. 15:6; 18:1). They do not experience increase in number through birth nor do they experience physical death or cessation of existence. Thus, while they are similar to man in personality, they differ from man in many important particulars. "B. The Unfallen Angels Angels generally fall into two major classifications: (1) the unfallen angels, (2) the fallen angels. The first classification are those who have remained holy throughout their existence and thus accordingly are called 'holy angels' (Matt. 25:31). In Scripture, generally, when angels are referred to, the unfallen angels are in view. By contrast, fallen angels are those who have not maintained their holiness. Unfallen angels fall into special classes, and certain individuals are mentioned. 1. Michael the archangel is the head of all the holy angels and his name means 'who is like unto God' (Dan. 10:21; 12:1; 1 Thess. 4:16; Jude 9; Rev. 12:7-10). 2. Gabriel is one of the principal messengers of God, his name meaning 'hero of God.' He was entrusted with important messages such as those delivered to Daniel (Dan. 8:16; 9:21) the message to Zacharias (Luke 1:18-19), and the message to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-38). 3. Most angels are not given individual names but are described as elect angels (1 Tim. 5:21). This introduces the interesting thought that like saved men who are declared to be chosen or elected, the holy angels likewise were divinely appointed. 4. The expressions 'principalities' and 'powers' seem to be used of all angels whether fallen or unfallen (Luke 21:26; Rom. 8:38; Eph. 1:21; 3:10; Col. 1:16, 2:10,15; 1 Pet. 3:22). There is unceasing warfare between the holy angels and the fallen angels for control of men in history. 5. Some angels are designated 'cherubim,' living creatures who defend God's holiness from a defilement of sin (Gen. 3:24; Exod. 25:18; Ezek. 1:1-18). Satan, the head of fallen angels, was originally created holy for this purpose also XENOS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 2000/01 rev '02, 05 Preschool Lesson #OT1 Page 2
(Ezek. 28:14). Angelic figures in the form of cherubim were made of gold overlooking the mercy seat of the ark and the Holy of Holies in both the Tabernacle and the Temple. 6. Seraphim are mentioned only once in the Bible - in Isaiah 6:2-7. They are described as having three pairs of wings, apparently have the function of praising God and being God's messengers to earth, and are especially concerned with the holiness of God. 7. The term 'angel of Jehovah' is found frequently in the Old Testament to refer to appearances of Christ in the form of an angel. The title belongs only to God and is used in connection with the divine manifestations in the earth, and therefore it is in no way to be included in the angelic hosts (Gen. 18:1-19:29; 22:11, 12; 31:11-13; 32:24-32; 48:15, 16: Josh. 5:13-15; Judg. 13:19-22; 2 Kings 19:35; 1 Chron. 21:12-30; Ps. 34:7). The strongest contrast between Christ, who is the Angel of Jehovah, and the angelic beings is presented in Hebrews 1:4-14. "C. The Fallen Angels In contrast with the unfallen angels, an innumerable company of angels is described as fallen from their first estate. Led by Satan, who originally was a holy angel, an innumerable company of angels defected, rebelled against God, and became sinful in their nature and work. The fallen angels have been divided into two classes: (1) those who are free, and (2) those who are bound. Of the fallen angels, Satan alone is given particular mention in Scripture. It is probable that when Satan fell (John 8:44) he drew after him a multitude of lesser beings. Of these, some are reserved in chains unto judgment (1 Cor. 6:3; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6); the remainder are free and are the demons, or devils, to whom reference is constantly made throughout the New Testament (Mk. 5:9, 15; Luke 8:30; 1 Tim. 4:1). They are Satan's servants in all his undertakings and share his doom (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10) "D. The Ministry of Holy Angels Most of the references to angels in Scripture refer to their ministries, which cover a wide field of achievement. Primarily they are given to worshipping God and, according to Revelation 4:8, at least some of them 'rest not day and night, saying Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.' Frequent other allusions to this are found in Scripture (Ps. 102:20; Isa. 6:3). In general, the ministry of unfallen angels extended to many different forms of service for God. 1. They were present at creation (Job 38:7), at the giving of the law (Acts 7:53; Gal. 3:19; Heb. 2:2; Rev. 22:16), at the birth of Christ (Luke 2:13), at His temptation (Matt. 4:11), in the garden (Luke 22:43), at the Resurrection (Matt. 28:2), at the Ascension (Acts 1:10), and they will yet appear at the second coming of Christ (Matt. 24:31; 25:31; 2 Thess. 1:7). 2. The angels are ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation (Heb. 1:14; Ps. 34:7; 91:11). Though we have been given no communication or fellowship with the angels, yet we should recognize the fact of their ministry, which is constant and effective. 3. The angels are spectators and witnesses of the things of earth (Ps. 103:20; Luke 12:8,9; 15:10; 1 Cor. 11:10; 1 Tim. 3:16; 1 Pet. 1:12; Rev. 14:10). 4. Lazarus was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom (Luke 16:22). 5. In addition to their ministries in history, angels are seen as included in the company descending from heaven to earth at the second coming and are also seen in the eternal state in the New Jerusalem. (Heb. 12:22-24; Rev. 19:14; 21:12). Apparently the holy angels will be judged and rewarded at the end of the millennium and the introduction of the eternal estate at the same time that fallen angels are judged and cast into the lake of fire. 6. The ministry of angels throughout Scripture is an important doctrine and essential to understanding God's providential and sovereign direction of His creation throughout history. " 1 1 Lewis Chafer, Major Bible Themes, Zondervan Publishing, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1974, pp. 151-155. XENOS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 2000/01 rev '02, 05 Preschool Lesson #OT1 Page 3
LESSON PLAN SET UP/ INCORPORATION 15-20 MIN Angels Instructions: Display the pictures of angels and Satan on a table for the children to view. Discover what they know/believe about angels asking the following questions: Have any of you ever heard of angels? Do you wonder what they look like? Can you see them? Do you think they have wings? Do you think they have bodies like we have? We don't know what angels look like because none of us has ever seen one. But many people have painted pictures of what they think angels look like. All these are pictures of what people imagine that angels look like. Do you think all angels are good? (Point to the pictures of Satan.) Do you think he is an angel? These are pictures of an angel who chose to disobey God, but he doesn't look like this. Do you know what his name is? (His name is the devil/satan.) Today we are going to learn what the Bible says about why some angels are good and some are bad. Rhyme Game "Touch Your Nose" 2 Instructions: Repeat the rhyme and have children do what the rhyme says to do as you say it. Do it several times so they get the hang of it. INSTRUCTION/ INTRODUCTION -- 2 MIN LESSON LG GROUP 10 MIN Touch your nose, Touch your chin; That's the way this game begins. Touch your eyes, Touch your knees; Touch Your Nose Touch your nose, Touch your hair, Touch one ear; Touch two red lips right here. Touch your elbows Now pretend you're going to sneeze. Where they bend; (finger under nose) That's the way this touch game ends. Instructions: Take the pictures from the Activity Station to the area where you will teach the lesson. Put them on the white board so you can refer to them during the lesson. Hide the sword behind you. Everybody come over here. Did everyone get to see these pictures? Can you tell me what these are? (They are angels.) Today we re going to learn about angels. The Bible tells us about what happened before God made the world. Did you know God has always been alive? And before God made the world or people, God made angels. The Bible says that angels are very beautiful. They are bright like light (pretend to shield your eyes from the light and have the kids to it, too) and stronger than the strongest man (show your muscles and have the kids show their, too). Angels are spirits. That means that they don t have bodies so we can see them. Nobody but God knows what angels look like. All the pictures (point to pictures) of angels are what people think angels might look like, but no one really knows for sure. 2 Kathryn Kizer, 200+ Games and Fun Activities for Teaching Preschoolers, New Hope 1989, p. 52. XENOS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 2000/01 rev '02, 05 Preschool Lesson #OT1 Page 4
When God created the angels, they all loved Him very much and did what God wanted them to do. They spent all their time with God and thought he was the greatest. But one angel, the most beautiful and perfect angel, decided he wanted to be greater and more powerful than God. So he made a very bad choice. He lied and told the other angels that God wasn't good and powerful. He told them that he was greater and more powerful than God. This angel is called the devil, or Satan. Did Satan tell the other angels the truth? NO! He was lying to them, wasn't he? Many of the angels made a very bad choice to believe Satan rather than God. Even though the angels knew that God is greater and more powerful than Satan, many of the angels made a very bad choice to believe Satan rather than God. They quit loving God and started to follow Satan. They became God s enemies so God sent them out of heaven. Since that day, Satan and the bad angels have hated God. And since God created people, Satan and the bad angels have lied to us so that we won t believe that God is greater and more powerful than Satan. God is so much greater and powerful than Satan that He already had a plan to fight Satan (pull out toy sword). He sent His son, Jesus, to beat Satan (brandish the sword). Did Jesus really fight Satan with a sword? NO! He didn t need a sword because God is greater and stronger than all the swords in the world. God s Bible is the true story about how God beat Satan and how He will help us to beat Satan. We will learn in a couple of weeks that the first people in the world made a bad choice to believe Satan s lies. But when Jesus lived on earth He never, ever made any bad choices. Jesus loves us so much that He paid for all our bad choices when He died on the cross. Now we can be God s friends. If we ask Jesus to be our friend, we don t need a sword (throw sword down) and we don t need to be afraid of Satan. God s Bible tells us the truth that God is greater and more powerful than Satan. God s words are more powerful than any gun or sword or knife because Satan has to obey God s words. God and His truth protect us and give us everything we need to fight Satan. TRANSITION 2 MIN LEARNING ACTIVITY #1 TRANSITION 2 MIN LEARNING ACTIVITY #2 LG GROUP 10 MIN The Bible tells us that God is greater and more powerful than Satan. Can you say that? God is greater and more powerful than Satan. Let s try it again, even louder. God is greater and more powerful than Satan. Good job! Let s get into small groups now. When you re afraid at night in your bedroom, who wants to make you feel safe? How do you think you can ask God to help you feel safe? Does anyone ever read God s words to you out of His bible? Do you ever talk to God and ask Him to help you remember His words when you are frightened? What happens? Let's pray now and thank God that He is greater and more powerful than Satan. Let's ask Him to help us learn His words so we can fight Satan s lies. If you want to be Jesus' friend, you can ask Him to forgive you for your bad choices because He died for you. Let s make a craft that will help us remember that God is greater and more powerful than Satan. Craft God Always Wins medallion Instructions: Give each child a cardstock circle to color. Punch a hole in the top of the circle. Put the yarn through the hole, string straw beads on each side and tie the ends together. Put the medallion over their head. As the children color, review the lesson with them and remind them that God is greater and more powerful than Satan. God always wants what is good for us. So if we ask Him, He will protect us from Satan s lies. Make sure they know that the picture of Jesus represents God. XENOS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 2000/01 rev '02, 05 Preschool Lesson #OT1 Page 5
Angel & Devil pictures: June 10, 2018 XENOS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 2000/01 rev '02, 05 Preschool Lesson #OT1 Page 6