Angels

Angels — Just what or who are they?  Are they just people who have gone to heaven as we were told when we were kids – or are they something very different?  Last week I wrote on demons.  I thought it only fair to discuss the other team this week.

In both the Old and New Testaments, “Angel” simply means messenger, someone who has been sent.   In the case of angels, they are sent to announce something, comfort and direct a believer, and to fight battles for God.  They are members of God’s army.  Angels were manifest both at Jesus’ birth and His resurrection.

The first appearance of the word “angel” in the Bible is in Genesis 16:7 when Hagar was fleeing Sarai.  The Angel of the Lord came to her to tell her to return to Sarai and submit to her and that He would make a great nation of her son, Ishmael.

The term, “The angel of the Lord” has special meaning, and we’ll look at that later. 

We believe just three angels are named in Scripture: Gabriel, Michael, and Lucifer.  Gabriel gave the vision to Daniel in Daniel chapter 8.  He came to Zechariah in Luke chapter 1 telling him his aged wife would bear a son, John the Baptist.  When Zechariah doubted, Gabriel also told him he wouldn’t be able to speak again until John was born.  Gabriel , in Luke 1:26-33, announced to Mary that she would conceive and bear a Son Who would be the Messiah.

Gabriel isn’t the only superstar.  Michael is pretty important, too.  He fought with the demon prince of Persia in Daniel 10.  In Jude 1:9 we find Michael argued with the devil about the body of Moses, and in Revelation 12:7 we see him in command of an army of angels fighting against the dragon.

We looked at Lucifer last week, but suffice it to say he was and still is powerful but fell from heaven along with a third of the angels as they rebelled against God.

Now for “The Angel of the Lord.”  Remember this is “The” Angel of the Lord and not “An” angel of the Lord.  The difference is “The.” It seems to imply one of a kind.  Most theologians believe this to be Jesus Himself in the Old Testament.  In Exodus 3:2, the person in the burning bush is called “The Angel of the Lord” but is identified as God Himself in the following verses.

In Genesis 22:11-12, The Angel of the Lord stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac and said he now knew Abraham would not hold his son from Him.  Sacrifices are made to God not to angels.

In Judges 2:1-4, The Angel of the Lord says He is the one who made a covenant with Israel.  Only God has made covenants of this sort.  So, there is pretty good evidence Jesus, God the Son, is in fact The Angel of the Lord.

What about guardian angels?  Are they real?  Some of us can’t believe we’ve done all the things we’ve done and survived without a guardian angel (or more) helping out.   In Daniel 10:21, Michael is called Daniel’s angel.  In Acts 8:26, Philip seemed to have an angel sent to direct him.  There are lots of other places in Scripture where angels seem to be watching out for the believer.  Hebrews 13:2 says we’ve entertained angels unawares. 

We certainly have angels watching us and what we do.  1 Cor. 4:9 says we’re a spectacle to the angels, and 1 Cor. 6:9 says we’ll be judging the angels.  Even though they are these fierce powerful beings, we will be the ones holding them accountable.

1 Peter 1:12 says angels are fascinated by our salvation through the work of the Holy Spirit. 

Why is this important?

Angels are instrumental and important in the life of the Christian.  They watch us and accompany us in our battles.  I think the most fascinating and impressive thing about angels is they are not just on our side but were created to minister to us:

Hebrews 1:14 (ESV)
¹⁴  Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

The God who created you and me sees our need for protection and guidance, and He has sent angels to serve Him for our sake.  Pretty cool if you ask me.  God is Good!

In case you were still wondering, yes, angels were created by God the Son, Himself:

Colossians 1:15-16 (ESV)
¹⁵  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.