Introduction:
I
have been asked to discuss the subject of angels. The subject of angels is very
popular these days. Angels even
have their own television program (Touched
by an Angel). Numerous books have been written about them in recent years.
Some bookstores even have sections devoted to angels. Surveys of Americans
indicate widespread belief in angels with significant numbers of people
believing they have had a personal encounter with an angel.
I
believe that the only trustworthy information we have about angels comes from
the Bible. It is from the Bible, therefore, that I want to discover answers to
the following three questions:
1)
What are
angels?
2)
What are
angels like (what are their characteristics)?
3)
What do
angels do?
I.
What Are Angels?
A.
The word angel comes from the Greek word “angelos” which is from “angello,”
meaning “to deliver a message.” It
is related to the word “evangelizo” (evangelize) and “euangelion”
(gospel, good news). God has utilized angels as messengers in His dealings with
man.
B.
Angels are created beings.
·
Ps.
148: 1-5
·
Job 38:
4-7
·
Neh. 9: 6
·
Col. 1:
16
·
They are
not the spirits of deceased humans.
C.
Angels are spirit beings.
·
Heb. 1:
14
·
They are
individual persons.
D.
There are a great many of them.
·
Daniel 7:
9-10 (10,000 X 10,000 = 100 million)
·
Matt. 26:
53 (120,000)
·
Heb 12:22
(“innumerable”)
·
Rev 5:11
(10,000 X 10,000 = 100 million)
·
Angels
were created, not born. They don’t reproduce and don’t die (more on this
later). So, their number was fixed at creation.
II.
What Are Angels Like?
A.
They have
intellect and free will.
·
2 Pet. 2:
4
·
Jude 6
·
Angels
were created good (as was all creation – Gen. 1:31); some chose to sin.
·
Matt. 24:
36
·
1 Pet. 1:
12
·
Dan. 9:
21-23
·
Heb. 1:
14
·
Luke 20:
34-36
·
Luke
20:36
·
Heb. 2:7
·
2 Pet. 2:
11
·
Col. 1:
16
·
2 Kings
6: 15-16
1. Archangels. The prefix “arch” means “highest” or “master” (e.g. architect means master builder).
·
The Bible
speaks of “the seven angels who
stand before God” (Rev. 8:2). These seven angels are thought by some to be
archangels because (in part) of the use of the definite article—not just any
seven angels, but “the seven angels who stand before God.”
·
These
angels were named in the pseudepigraphal Enoch (20) as Gabriel (who says in Luke
1:19, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God…”), Michael,
Raphael, Uriel, Raguel, Saraqael, and Remiel. Only Michael and Gabriel are named
in the Bible (only Michael as an archangel). Raphael is one of the principle
characters in the apocryphal book of Tobit in which he is said to say “I am
Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, whom…go in before the glory of the Holy
One’ (12:15)."
2.
Cherubim
(plural of cherub)
·
After
Adam and Eve had been driven out of Eden, God placed cherubim as guards with
“flaming sword” over the tree of life (Genesis 3:24).
·
Two gold
figures of cherubim were placed at the two ends of the mercy-seat above the ark
of the covenant in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle (Exod. 25:18-22; Heb.
9:5).
·
In
Ezekiel’s vision (Ezek. ch.1), “four living creatures” are said to have an
appearance of “burning coals of fire,” and their goings back and forth had
the appearance of the “flash of lightning.” These creatures are identified
in Ezek. ch.10 as cherubim.
·
There are
several references to cherubim in the Bible. They seem to be one of the higher
ranks of angels.
3.
Seraphim
(plural of Seraph)
·
Mentioned
in only one text: Isaiah 6: 1-7.
·
There
they are described as awesome, six-winged creatures. The word seraphim literally
means “fiery ones.”
4. Although the archangels, cherubim, and seraphim mentioned in Scripture are only a small portion of the total number of angels, it seem fair to say that the common portrayal of angels as fat babies with wings is completely without merit. It is also probably safe to say that Gabriel is not a trumpet player.
A.
Angels
were active as God’s servants and messengers in the O. T.
B.
Angels
were active in the life of Jesus.. They were present at:
·
His birth
(Lk. 2:15)
·
His
temptations (Mt. 4: 11)
·
His
resurrection (Jn. 20:12)
·
His
ascension (Acts 1: 10-11)
C.
Angels
have a part in the transition of the spirit at the death of a saint (Lk. 16:
22).
D.
Angels
were active among early Christians
·
An angel
released the apostles from prison (Acts 5:19).
·
An angel
sent Philip to evangelize the Ethiopian (Acts 8: 26).
·
An angel
instructed Cornelius to summon Peter (Acts 10: 3ff).
·
An angel
released Peter (Acts 12:6-11).
·
An angel
comforted and protected Paul from the sea (Acts 27:18-26).
E.
Angels
will be present and active at Christ’s Second Coming.
·
The
Lord’s return will be announced by the shout of an archangel (1Thess. 4: 16).
·
Mt. 25:
31
·
2 Thess.
1: 7-8
F.
Angels
and Providence
1.
Some
Christians are hesitant to think of angels as having a current role in our
lives. For some, to believe in the participation of angels in the lives of
Christians today means giving in to the belief in modern miracles.
2.
I believe
that God provided miraculous gifts to the church for it’s infancy. Miraculous
gifts were a temporary phenomenon provided for a specific purpose, now
superseded by the written word of God.
3.
However,
we are not forced to accept that God is either helpless – or He resorts to
miracles. He has the power to act providentially in our lives using
non-miraculous means. I believe that angels are agents of His providence. Why?
·
Because
we are told that they are “ministering spirits sent forth to minister for
those who will inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14). Not “were” or “will
be,” but “are.” Why must we believe that angels were active among
Christians in the past, and will be in the future, but not now?
·
Because
we are told to “entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly
entertained angels” (Heb. 13: 2. I know of no Scriptural reason why this could
not be a present reality. I have no grounds to deny that someone currently
living may have “unwittingly entertained angels.”
·
Because
angels have a real interest in God’s people. Angels were anxious to understand
the O.T. prophecies regarding God’s plan to save mankind (1Pet. 1:12). Angels
in heaven erupt in rejoicing when a sinner repents (Luke 15: 10). This indicates
an ongoing awareness of, and great interest in, human affairs.
·
Because
at least some people have “their angels” (Mt. 18: 10). In this context, it
is evident that the “little ones” to whom Christ refers are not just
children, but any faithful believer. In some sense, believers have angels. I
don’t believe this establishes that each individual has his own angel, but
I’m not sure how that could be disproved.
4.
Although
I believe that angels act as God’s “ministering spirits sent forth to
minister for those who will inherit salvation,” I am convinced that the
popular concept of guardian angels sitting on one’s bedside or pillow give
daily advice is not taught in the Bible. God’s message for us today is in His
Word. Read it!
CoConclusion:
Angels are magnificent creatures assigned by God to minister to us. What a
blessing!