A
– ANGELS FOR REAL – 1
What a blessing to know
that angels are for real! Today angels
have become an idol to be placed on the dash or hung from the mirror in a
vehicle. This is supposedly to insure safety. These little angel idols are usually female; however,
Scripture never speaks of angels in any gender but male. We want to look in God’s Word to study the
truth about these angels that bless our lives.
We, as human beings, will never understand many things about angels
until we get to heaven; but there are many things of which we can rest our
assurance.
The beginning point is
the question, “What is an angel?” As we
answer this question through the Scriptures, we will also see their
purpose. Angels are heavenly beings
created by God. They carry out tasks and
bring messages from God. They are found
worshipping God in large numbers in heaven.
In the Bible their appearance reveals the supernatural world to the
earthly world. Some of the phrases or
names referring to angels are: hosts of
heaven, sons of God, saints, ministers of God, holy ones, watcher, and ministering
spirits. Often they are simply called
angels. We will find classification of
them and two angels are given names, Michael and Gabriel.
As Daniel was having a
vision, an angel descended from heaven.
This angel was not already here.
He was called “angelic watcher and holy one.” Dan.4:13 This angel revealed a message from God
beginning in vs. 23. Here we find two
names of an angel as well as a purpose.
In the N.T. those in
Christ are called “saints.” In Deut.33:2 Moses is giving a blessing to
the Israelites. In the King James Version
the angels are called “saints.” This
verse also indicates that they came from above and the number of ten thousand
is used. Other versions use myriads. Many times the number of angels makes a
tremendously-sized group. Heb.12:22 again mentions myriads of
angels. An extremely large number of
angels worship God in Rev.5:11.
In the N.T. those who
belong to God are called “sons of God.” Rom.8:14
Through faith in Jesus we
become “sons of God.” Gal.3:26
In the O.T. angels are called “sons of God.” Job
38:7 This was part of the many questions God asked
Job, “Where were you?” “Sons of God” as
angels are in the scene in heaven as Satan approaches God. Job
2:1
We derive descriptions
of angels by investigating Scriptural passages.
Angels are wise and discerning. 2 Sam.14:17,20 The maidservant is speaking to the king
but in the process comes a description of angels—wise and able to discern good
and evil.
Angels are
powerful. Ps.103:20 This verse gives
another important description in that an angel is obedient to God. If even the angels of heaven obey God at His
every Word, shouldn’t we? Heb.5:9
The word spoken by angels cannot be changed for it comes from God;
therefore, we need to pay close attention and not neglect what we have learned
in Truth. Heb.2:1-3
Timothy is giving many
instructions to elders and the church.
The importance of angels comes to light in 1 Tim.5:21. Timothy not only
gives his charge or instructions in the presence of God and Christ Jesus. This is impressing upon them the importance
of what he is saying. Notice the he also
includes His chosen angels.
Angels, for the most
part, are invisible. One of the
well-known events of an invisible angel is the story of Balaam. The angel was visible to a donkey but not to
Balaam for some time. Then his eyes were
opened and he saw. Num.22:31
While we think of
angels as being invisible to us, there have been times when they took on a
human form. Gen.18:2 Three men appeared
to Abraham. They even ate with him. Their purpose was to bring a message from
God—Sarah was to have a son in her old age.
It appears to be a short time after when two angels appeared to Lot in
Sodom. Gen.19:1 These angels also
ate food. They brought a message from
the Lord but they also saved Lot by blinding those who were trying to assault
him. Miracles were performed by these
angels. Gen.19:11
Angels are concerned
about beings on earth, but they have not been given knowledge of all things and
do not understand but wish to understand.
1 Pet.1:12 They do know when another soul has been
added to the kingdom and they rejoice with emotion. Lk.15:10
The magnificent praise
in worship before God that is conducted by the angels should be a reminder to
us of the importance of heartfelt worship in praise and thankfulness before God
that should also be exemplified by us before the world. Ps.148:2;
Ps.103:20,21 Just as the angels, we
are to continually offer up praise to God
Heb.13:15
Angels give revelations
in messages from God. An example of this
is found in Zech.1:9. The angel had been patrolling the earth
in Zech.1:11. Then the angel asked a question of the
Lord in wonderment of how long would the Lord have no compassion of Jerusalem
and Judah for they had been in Babylon for 70 years. The answer came in Zech.1:16. It is indicated
that the angel was speaking with Zechariah in Zech.1:13.
Not only does this
discussion help us understand who angels are and some of the tasks they perform
for God, we can be overcome with thankfulness and praise that these heavenly
creatures are also ministering spirits which watch over those who have received
salvation of whom we should make sure that we belong. Heb.1:14
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