Who are angels?
Definition of Angels
The Merriam-Webster defines an angel as a spiritual being superior to humans in power and intelligence; especially : one in the lowest rank in the celestial hierarchy.
Angels are spiritual beings created by God to serve Him, though created higher than man. Some, the good angels, have remained obedient to Him and carry out His will, while others, fallen angels, disobeyed, fell from their holy position, and now stand in active opposition to the work and plan of God. The Bible acknowledges angels as God messengers. There are many categories of angels and there are good angels and “bad” angels, the fallen angels that people worship as their gods because they serve their purposes.
Appearance of Angels: In the 21st century, our fantasy conceptions of angels are sweet cherubic baby beings with tiny little wings flying around merrily. C. S. Lewis laments of how insipid our concept of angels has become over the years. He writes, Fra Angelico’s angels carry in their face and gesture the peace and authority of Heaven. Later came the chubby and infantile nudes of Raphael; finally the soft, slim, girlish, and consolatory angels of nineteenth century art.”
In the Bible, angels have appeared as youthful or mature men (Mark 16:5), but never as old men, perhaps because they neither age nor die (Luke 20:36). They can come with wings or without wings.
Some of the commonly held conceptions are not supported by the scriptural witness. There are no indications of angels appearing in female form . Daniel 9:21 and Revelation 14:6 speak of them as flying. The cherubim and seraphim are represented as winged (Exod. 25:20; Isa. 6:2), Ezekiel 1:6 (cf. Rev. 4:8).
Since they are spirit beings, they are usually not seen, unless God gives the ability to see them or unless they manifest themselves. Balaam could not see the angel standing in his way until the Lord opened his eyes (Num. 22:31) and Elisha’s servant could not see the host of angels surrounding him until Elisha prayed for his eyes to be opened (2 Kings 6:17). When angels have been seen as recorded in Scripture, they were often mistaken as men because they were manifested in a man-like appearance (Gen. 18:2, 16, 22; 19:1, 5, 10, 12, 15, 16; Judg. 13:6; Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4). Sometimes, they appear in a way that either manifests God’s glory (Luke 2:9; 9:26) or in some form of brilliant apparel (cf. Matt. 28:3; John 20:12; Acts 1:10 with Ezek. 1:13; Dan. 10:6). Consistently, they have appeared as real men.
While angels generally appear as men in Scripture, Zechariah 5:9 may suggest this is not always the case. The two women mentioned in this passage are not specifically called angels, but they are clearly agents of God or forces of Satan, like angels, good or evil.
Nature of Angels
People who have encountered angels have felt Love flowing out of them.
Angels are eternal and see eternity and deliver mysteries to us, sometimes even appearing as messengers especially in times of great spiritual warfare: Daniel 8:15-16 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one who looked like a man. And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “Gabriel, give this man an understanding of the vision.”Angels are unlike us, because they are able to see far beyond a mortal timeline. These are the angels who are closest to God. They encircle His throne and emit an intense fiery light representing His love.
God’s angels are Holy. They emanate praise and worship and the glory of God. The manifest presence of angels brings God’s glory down on earth as a reflection of heavenly glories as they worship Him in Heaven.
They are fiercely protective and warrior angels that fight for us. Psalm 34:7. ”The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.”
Angels watch over us, guardians and guide us: Exodus 23:20: “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.”
There are several qualities common to personality all of which angels possess—personal existence, intellect, emotion, and will. As personalities we see them interacted with over and over again through the Bible. Ryrie writes: Angels then qualify as personalities because they have these aspects of intelligence, emotions, and will. This is true of both the good and evil angels. Good angels, Satan, and demons possess intelligence (Matt. 8:29; 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Peter 1:12). Good angels, Satan, and demons show emotions (Luke 2:13; James 2:19; Rev. 12:17). Good angels, Satan, and demons demonstrate that they have wills (Luke 8:28-31; 2 Tim. 2:26; Jude 6). Therefore, they can be said to be persons. The fact that they do not have human bodies does not affect their being personalities (any more than it does with God). The fallen angels are even described by actions of personality like lying and sinning (John 8:44; 1 John 3:8-10).
The Different Kinds of Angels
Cherubim are the highest ranking angels, know for their indescribable powers and beauty … Their main purpose and activity might be summarized in this way: they are proclaimers and protectors of God’s glorious presence, His sovereignty, and His holiness.” They stood guard at the gate of the Garden of Eden, preventing sinful man from entering (Gen. 3:24); were the golden figures covering the mercy seat above the ark in the Holy of Holies (Exod. 25:17–22); and attended the glory of God in Ezekiel’s vision (Ezek. 1). Cherubim had an extraordinary appearance with four faces—that of a man, lion, ox, and eagle. They had four wings and feet like a calf, gleaming like burnished bronze. In Ezekiel 1 they attended the glory of God preparatory for judgment.
Cherubim constitute another order of angels, evidently of high rank since Satan was a cherub (Ezek. 28:14, 16). They seem to function as guardians of the holiness of God, having guarded the way to the tree of life in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:24). The use of cherubim in the decoration of the tabernacle and temple may also indicate their guarding function (Ex. 26:1ff.; 36:8ff.; 1 Kings 6:23-29). They also bore the throne-chariot which Ezekiel saw (Ezek. 1:4-5; 10:15-20). Some also identify the four living ones of Revelation 4:6 as cherubim, though others feel these represent the attributes of God. Representations of the cherubim will also be a part of the millennial temple (Ezek. 41:18-20).
(2) Seraphim, meaning “burning ones,” are pictured surrounding the throne of God in Isaiah 6:2. They are described as each having six wings. In their threefold proclamation, “holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3), it means “to recognize God as extremely, perfectly holy. Therefore, they praise and proclaim the perfect holiness of God. The seraphim also express the holiness of God in that they proclaim that man must be cleansed of sin’s moral defilement before he can stand before God and serve Him.”26
All we know about this rank of angelic beings is found in Isaiah 6:2, 6. Apparently the seraphim were an order similar to the cherubim. They acted as attendants at the throne of God and agents of cleansing. Their duty also was to praise God. Their description suggests a six-winged human-like creature. The word may be derived from a root meaning “to burn” or possibly from a root which means “to be noble.”28
(3). Elect Angels: In 1 Timothy 5:21, Paul speaks of “the elect angels.” These are the holy angels who are somehow included in the elect purposes of God. These are angels who did not follow after Satan in his rebellion. There is little revealed about their election, but apparently there was a probationary period for the angelic world and these, being the elect of God, remained faithful and are confirmed in their holy state in the service of the Lord. As Chafer writes, “The fall of some angels is no more unanticipated by God than the fall of man. It may be implied, also that angels have passed a period of probation.”29
(4). The Living Creatures: These are angelic creatures who seem to be involved with revealing the glory of the God of Israel in His omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence (Ezek. 1:5f; Rev. 4:6; 6:1). Ezekiel 10:15, 20 reveal them as cherubim. Through the four faces, they may also anticipate what God would do to bring salvation to man through His Son: (a) The face of the man suggests wisdom, compassion, intelligence and pictures Christ’s humanity as the Son of man, the special focus found in the gospel of Luke; (b) the face of a lion speaks of kingly appearance and pictures Christ as King which is Matthew’s emphasis; (c) the face of a bull or ox portrays a servant, the emphasis seen in Mark; and (d) the face of an eagle speaks of heavenly action and portrays the deity Christ, which is John’s emphasis.
(5). Watchers: “Watchers” is an Aramaic word which means, “vigilant, waking, watchful.” Verse 17 may infer this is a special type of angel (if a special class is intended). It seems to describe holy angels who are constantly vigilant to serve the Lord and who watch over the rulers of the world and the affairs of men (Dan. 4:13, 17, 23). The added description, “a holy one” in verse 13 may imply there are unholy watchers, i.e., demonic forces who are watching the affairs of men and seeking to influence and destroy.
(6). Angels: The “angels” or malakhim, i.e. the “plain” angels, angelos, i.e. messenger or envoy), are the lowest order of the angels, and the most recognized. They are the ones most concerned with the affairs of living things and with us. Within the category of the angels, there are many different kinds, with different functions. The angels are sent as messengers to humanity. Personal guardian angels come from this class.
Only these two angels are mentioned by name in the Hebrew Bible; the rest are from extra-biblical tradition.) Jophiel (translation: Beauty of God), expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden holding a flaming sword and punishes those who transgress against God.
Warrior angels are angels that are released from Heaven by God to fight battles for humans, known as warrior angels.
(7). Angels Our Messengers and Protectors: We are never to pray to angels, but they come to us on bid of our prayers to God to send them to help us, and God sends them to us, besides they watch over the matters of humankind preventing evil from ruling with a free hand without control. This would happen when people in nations become prayerlessness, which is why there is rise in evil with no angelic intervention to slow down the process of evil!
Angels are the true intermediaries between God and individual people and safeguard households and individuals who believe in God and keep them safe from demons.
One story of angelic intervention is shared by John G. Paton and his wife and young child who were missionaries a century ago. They were encamped on the beach of an island that was populated by cannibals who had already killed visitors to their island. They prayed and went to sleep. In their amazing story, the Paton’s were not bothered by the cannibals that night. Some time later, as many of the tribesmen came to faith in Christ, the Paton’s found out that on that first night, the cannibals had indeed come to the beach to kill and eat them. But, when they advanced upon the tiny camp, suddenly many large warriors appeared and surrounded the tent of the missionaries, each of them holding a drawn sword. There is also the story of some missionaries who did die.
However, an amazing testimony came to light concerning this story in just the last few years. The missionaries were Jim Elliott, Nate Saint, and three other men who attempted to reach the Auca Indians of Ecuador with the gospel. They had decided not to use their weapons, even if it meant they would die at the Indian’s hands, and indeed, they were speared to death by the Indians along a river bank. Many years later, as these Indians came to faith in Christ, some of the older ones who had taken part in the killings, began to open up to Steve Saint, the now grown son of Nate Saint. They talked about the fact that after all of the men were speared to death, the Indians began to hear music. They looked above the tree line to see a multitude of “cowodi,” their word for “missionary”. They did not recognize the music until some time later when missionaries played recordings of gospel choirs singing hymns of the faith. Without a doubt, there at that river bank, the angels had come with singing, to welcome the martyrs to their eternal home.
Governmental Rulers in the Angelic World:
Rulers or principalities. These words, used seven times by Paul, indicate an order of angels both good and evil involved in governing the universe (Rom. 8:38; Eph. 1:21; 3:10; 6:12; Col. 1:16; 2:10, 15).
Authorities or powers. This likely emphasizes the superhuman authority of angels and demons exercised in relation to the affairs of the world (Eph. 1:21; 2:2; 3:10; 6:12; Col. 1:16; 2:10, 15; 1 Peter 3:22).
Powers. This word underscores the fact that angels and demons have greater power than humans (2 Peter 2:11). See Ephesians 1:21 and 1 Peter 3:22.
Place of rule. In one place demons are designated as world rulers of this darkness (Eph. 6:12).
Thrones or dominions. This designation emphasizes the dignity and authority of angelic rulers in God’s use of them in His government (Eph. 1:21; Col. 1:16; 2 Peter 2:10; Jude 8).27
Though other words are used for these spiritual beings, the primary word used in the Bible is angel. Three other terms undoubtedly referring to angels are seraphim (Isa. 6:2), cherubim (Ezek. 10:1-3), and ministering spirits, which is perhaps more of a description than a name (Heb. 1:13). More will be said on this later when dealing with the classification of angels.
The Hebrew word for angel is mal`ach, and the Greek word is angelos. Both words mean “messenger” and describe one who executes the purpose and will of the one whom they serve. The context must determine if a human messenger is in view, or one of the celestial beings called “angels,” or if it is being used of the second Person of the Trinity as will be discussed below. The holy angels are messengers of God, serving Him and doing His bidding. The fallen angels serve Satan, the god of this world (aiwn, “age”) (2 Cor. 4:4).
We need to remember that God’s angels are not teachers. God’s word says they are messengers–that’s what “angel” means–and they minister to us. God has revealed to us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), so any hidden knowledge that spirit beings try to impart is by nature occultic and demonic.
(1) For human messengers from one human to another (Luke 7:24; Jam. 2:25).
(2) For human messengers bearing a divine message (Hag. 1:13; Gal. 4:14).
(3) For an impersonal agent, Paul’s thorn in the flesh described as “a messenger of Satan” (2 Cor. 12:7).
(4) For the messengers of the seven churches (Rev. 2-3). It is also used in connection with the seven churches of Asia, “To the angel of the church in …” Some take this to mean a special messenger or delegation to the church as a teaching elder, others take it to refer to a guardian angel.
Thus, the term angelos is not only a generic term, pertaining to a special order of beings (i.e., angels), but it is also descriptive and expressive of their office and service. So when we read the word “angel” we should think of it in this way.
Angels Associated with the Tribulation
In Revelation a number of angels are specifically associated with certain judgments that will be poured out on the earth like the seven trumpets and the seven last plagues (Rev. 8-9; 16). In addition, some angels are related to special functions given to them, at least in these last days. There is the angel who has power over fire (Rev. 14:18), the angel of the waters (9:11), the angel of the abyss who will bind Satan (20:1-2).
Angels Associated to the Church
In Revelation 2-3, each of the seven letters to the seven churches is addressed to “the angel of the church of …” In addition, they are each seen to be in the right hand of Christ in the vision of chapter one (Rev. 1:16, 20).
The Ministry of Angels
The most basic characteristic of the good angels is seen in the way they are described in Hebrews 1:14 as ministering spirits and in the accounts of their many and varied activities of ministry as described in Scripture. Essentially, they function as priestly messengers (leitourgika pneumatata) in the temple-universe of God.30 From the account of their activities in the Bible, their service can be summarized as that of (1) the worship of God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8), (2) as messengers of God (Dan. 9:22; Luke 1:11, 26; 2:9; Rev. 1:1), (3) as soldiers in spiritual combat (Dan. 10:13f; Rev. 12:7), and (4) as ministers to God’s people (Heb. 1:14). Regarding their activity as ministering spirits.
Host of Angels
“Host” is the Hebrew tsaba, “army, armies, hosts.” It is a military term and carries the idea of warfare. Angels are referred to as the “host,” which calls our attention to two ideas. First, it is used to describe God’s angels as the “armies of heaven” who serve in the army of God engaged in spiritual warfare (Ps. 89:6, 8; 1 Sam. 1:11; 17:45). Second, it calls our attention to angels as a multitude of heavenly beings who surround and serve God as seen in the phrase “Lord of hosts” (Isa. 31:4). In addition, tsaba sometimes includes the host of heavenly bodies, the stars of the universe.
The Angel of the Lord
The second difficulty concerns the identity of “the angel of the Lord” as it is used in the Old Testament. A careful study of the many passages using this term suggests that this is no ordinary angel, but a Theophany, or better, a Christophany, a preincarnate appearance of Christ. The angel is identified as God, speaks as God, and claims to exercise the prerogatives of God. Still, in some passages He distinguishes Himself from Yahweh (Gen. 16:7-14; 21:17-18; 22:11-18; 31:11-13, Ex. 3:2; Judg. 2:1-4; 5:23; 6:11-22; 13:3-22; 2 Sam. 24:16; Zech. 1:12; 3:1; 12:8). That the Angel of the Lord is a Christophany is suggested by the fact a clear reference to “the Angel of the Lord” ceases after the incarnation.
The Origin, Nature, and Number, Abode of Angels
The Time of Their Creation
Though the exact time of their creation is never stated, we know they were created before the creation of the world. From the book of Job we are told that they were present when the earth was created (Job 38:4-7) so their creation was prior to the creation of the earth as described in Genesis one.
Angels are Created Beings
That angels are created beings and not the spirits of departed or glorified human beings is brought out in Psalm 148. There the Psalmist calls on all in the celestial heavens, including the angels, to praise God. The reason given is, “For He commanded and they were created” (Ps. 148:1-5). The angels as well as the celestial heavens are declared to be created by God.
The Agent of Their Creation
Scripture specifically states that Christ, as the one who created all things, is the Creator of angels (cf. John 1:1-3 with Col. 1:16).
The Son’s Creation includes “all” things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. These indicate the entire universe, both material and immaterial. A highly organized hierarchy of angelic beings is referred to with the word “thrones” (qronoi), “powers” (kuriothtes), “rulers” (arcai), and “authorities” (exousiai). This not only indicates a highly organized dominion in the spirit world of angels, but shows that Paul was writing to refute an incipient form of Gnosticism that promoted the worship of angels in place of the worship of Christ (cf. Col. 2:18). In this, Paul demonstrates superiority and rightful place of worship as supreme (cf. Eph. 1:21; 3:10; 6:12; Phil. 2:9-10; Col. 2:10, 15).10
Their Abode
Statements like, “the angels which are in heaven” (Mark 13:32) and “an angel from heaven” suggest that angels have fixed abodes or centers for their activities. However, due to the ministry and abilities given to them in the service of God, they have access to the entire universe. They are described as serving in heaven and on earth (cf. Isa. 6:1f; Dan. 9:21; Rev. 7:2; 10:1).
Dangerous Deceptions and Rise of Angel Mania
With the rise of angel devotion, David in their understanding should have written in verse 1 of the twenty-third 3 Psalm, “The guardian angel is my shepherd, I shall not want.”
Belief in Satan, demons, and angels is more and more common place today and used as a substitute for a relationship with God through Christ. This predisposition is not because people are believing the Bible, but because of the rise of occult phenomena and the futility of life without God (see Eph. 2:12 and 4:17-19).
For the last few decades, angel mania had dominated the world system. Some self-styled “angel experts” instruct their followers to love their angels and call upon them for health, healing, prosperity, and guidance. But angels are God’s servants, and all this attention and emphasis and glory should go to God, not His servants. God says, “I will not share my glory with another” (Isaiah 42:8). Scripture never tells us to pray to angels, only to the Lord Himself.
The unsuspecting person who is intrigued by angels is often pulled into a web of fantasy, occultism, and speculation, in which the Bible is set aside in favor of new wisdom; a new gospel; a new path. There is this new promise of additional assistance from angels.
Praying to angels for assistance became so rampant within the church during the fourth century that the Council of Laodicea passed a resolution forbidding anyone to pray to angels. Today, angels are credited with all sorts of miraculous interventions and even emotions.
They are teaching that angels provide instruction, knowledge, or insight and give names of angels, giving them their names. Angel teachers tell us that angels are trying very hard to contact us, so they can give us deeper knowledge of the spiritual{8}. Invariably, this “angel knowledge” is a mixture of truth and lies, and never stands up to the absolute truth of Scripture.
In Job, believe the term refers to fallen angels who mated with the daughters of men to produce an extremely wicked and powerful progeny that led to the extreme wickedness of Noah’s day. Most who hold to this latter view find further support in 2 Peter 2:4-6 and Jude 6-7.7 Still others believe they refer to despots, powerful rulers. Ross writes: The incident is one of hubris, the proud overstepping of bounds. Here it applies to “the sons of God,” a lusty, powerful lot striving for fame and fertility. They were probably powerful rulers who were controlled (indwelt) by fallen angels. It may be that fallen angels left their habitation and inhabited bodies of human despots and warriors, the mighty ones of the earth.8
These bad angels that come in the form of goodness have deceived many people in a culture that has embraced “angel mania.
Outside the church, thousands of books are currently in print on the subject of angels and the afterlife. One book that has topped the charts for many months, is a how-to guide instructing people on methods of contacting angels, communicating with them, and even receiving guidance from them. A well known publisher lists these titles in its catalogue: • Angel Letters, • Angel Power, • Angel’s Bidding, • Angels and Aliens, • The Angels Weep, • Angels Over Their Shoulder, • The Angels Within Us, • Ask Your Angel, • An Angel to Watch Over Me. This list only includes the listings under the letter “A”. Television specials like, Touched by an Angel, Angels: the Mysterious Messengers, and Angels: Beyond the Light have communicated fiction about angels that has become, more or less, gospel truth.
Books, seminars, cassette tapes, and pamphlets, which are now considered mainstream, promise the following: • Through the easy techniques presented in this book, you can learn to access and attune to beings such as guardian angels, nature spirits, and archangels. • They teach that everyone has a Spirit Guide or guardian angel who assists him or her in keeping on a chosen path. They teach how to open our hearts to these joyful and comforting protectors, so we can raise our consciousness to a new dimension. • You can learn, through the use of a combination of your birth sign and a specific colored candle, how to obtain the magic and wisdom you want in life by calling upon the angels. These books contains many spiritual secrets that will guide the reader to success and power as they claim.
Several of the more recent popes have encouraged prayer to guardian angels. Pope John addressed one group and said, “We particularly ask our guardian angel to help us in our daily ministry.” Former monks and scholars such as Francis Borgia and Bernard of Clairvaux encouraged devotion and prayer to angels.
These teaching and practices eventually lead us away from our spiritual inheritance and destiny, away from The Way, The Truth and the Life..and away from the Kingdom of Heaven where God dwells with His Holy Angels Christ, and all the believers.
If all we do is listen to the latest stories and get caught up in the latest fads, we will get lost in that jungle and maze.
The scripture gives two very strong warnings to believers that are specifically related to angels and demons. Paul writes these warnings: • First, in Galatians, chapter 1, verses 6 through 8, I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! • Secondly, in II Corinthians, chapter 11, verse 14. . . . even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Of course Satan does. He is darkness, not light, so he disguises himself as spiritual enlightenment. He is not truth, he is the father of lies, so he disguises his lies with kernels of truth.
Paul warned Timothy in I Timothy, chapter 4, verse 1, But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, If there was ever a need for biblical investigation, it is today. The believer needs to know the truth about the spirit world, as well as have a biblical perspective about that unseen world.
It may come in the form of the angel Moroni appearing to Joseph Smith which led to the birth of the Mormon movement with supposedly new revelation about God or it may come from first century mystics, called Gnostics, believing they had special “gnosis,” or knowledge from God. The Gnostics even produced secret books that gave initiates the names of demons and the names of angels who could combat those demons. Rituals, magic, and taboo were the keys to the door of enlightenment and angels appeared to be the guides, teachers, and friends. The apostle Paul would call this myths and doctrines of demons.
In the best seller, Ask Your Angels, earth itself is considered empowered by an angel named Gaia. She is referred to as “Earth Angel,” which is not to be confused with that golden oldie, “Earth Angel”. This version of Earth Angel teaches us about nature spirits and the noble intelligence of trees. The angels will give wisdom to mankind in order to put the earth in order. The truth is, none of this is new wisdom, it is old mythology. You can, for example, go back centuries to the time when “The Books of Enoch” were bestsellers. Mystics, over the course of the third and fourth centuries compiled their belief that Enoch, of the Old Testament, had a special relationship with the angels. When Enoch was taken up to heaven, he passed through ten heavens. He saw various angels going about their duties. He saw the two hundred angels who govern the stars, as well those who kept the treasuries of snow and ice. He also saw the 150,000 who accompany the sun in its trek across the sky and the weird flying spirits that dwell in the path of the sun. Eventually Enoch reached the tenth heaven where he was taken into the presence of God. Then the angel Vrevoil came and taught Enoch in all things and did not stop teaching for thirty days and thirty nights. Enoch was capable of not only listening, but writing it all down to produce 366 books. These books are sources of new wisdom in addition to scripture.
We can find all fulfillments in a deeper walk with God. The Holy Spirit instructs us, guides us and shows us things, and He dwells in our spirits, yet Angel Mania is a distraction tool Satan to turn our focus on externals where deceiving angels of light can distort truth and take us through corridors of deception and gray lights, they have the power to fill us with good feelings and emotions and the feel good is really a trap to take us down the road to an endless eternity without God..hell!
A Brief Summary:
The many references to God’s holy angels in the Bible are chiefly records of their many activities, but two things quickly standout. They are constantly seen in the activities of worshipful adoration of God and in humble service, totally submissive to the will of God. If these celestial beings, with all their strength, holiness, and knowledge of God are so committed, should they not be a motivation and an example to us?
It was after Isaiah saw the holy seraphim in worship and humility (suggested by the covering of their feet) exalting the Lord, that he then saw and confessed his own sinfulness and became a willing servant. It was then, in answer to the Lord’s question, “Whom shall I send?” that the prophet said, “Here am I, send me” (see Isa. 6:1-8). Following the joyous news of Messiah’s birth, the experience of seeing Jesus in Bethlehem, and hearing the heavenly hosts of angels praising God, it was the shepherds who, following the example of the angels, went back “glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them” (Luke 2:20).
A consciousness of the reality of the vast hosts of angelic being—the benefit derived from the good, and the opposition of the bad—can be gained only through meditation upon the Scriptures that record these truths, and through prayer and the Holy Spirit who reveals all things to us.
Some important points to remember:
The ministry of holy angels will never contradict the Bible.
The actions of holy angels will always be consistent with the character of Christ.
A genuine encounter with a holy angel will glorify God, not the angel. Holy angels never draw attention to themselves. They typically do their work and disappear.
We must never worship angels and make no attempt to have a relationship with them for we are to have a relationship with God and nothing must take that place. Even Satan was an angel of light..an angel can come in the form of goodness too, to deceive us!
It’s very true that many have “entertained angels unaware” (Hebrews 13:2). But we need to make sure we’re entertaining the right kind of angels!
References:
Charles C. Ryrie.
Lewis Sperry Chafer: Related Topics: Angelology
Matthew Henry Commentary
Strong’s concordance
Wikipedia
Rita F. Kurian
Comments