Billy Graham relayed an incident at New Hebrides, an island group in the South Pacific: One night, the headquarters of missionary John Paton was surrounded by a hostile indigenous tribe intent on violence. Paton and his wife prayed for deliverance. When daylight came, the would-be attackers were gone. A year later, their tribal chief came to faith in Christ, and he asked Paton, “Who were all those armed men you had with you that night?” All Paton could figure was that God had sent angels to protect the mission.
Most of us don’t think much about angels. They’re in Scripture, but we pay them little attention. They’ve been called “Angels we ignore on high.” With all the books, TV shows and movies featuring angels, and how they’re depicted in art, you’d think we knew a lot about them. Actually, we have a lot to unlearn from popular culture.
Our reading from Psalm 103 declares: “Praise the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding, who obey His word!” Angels are spoken of in the Bible over 250 times. So who are they?
Definition: Angels are powerful, immortal spirit-messengers, supernatural celestial beings created by God and under His authority. They comfort believers, protect the helpless, proclaim God’s messages, and carry out God’s purposes.
•Angels are not deceased people. I often hear at funerals, “God has a new angel.” That’s sweet, but it just isn’t so. We don’t become angels when we die. The Bible says that God made us “a little lower than the angels,” Psalm 8:5. They are unlike us. Angels do not marry or procreate, Matthew 22:30. They are, however, able to eat and drink. They shared a meal with Abraham, and later provided food to Israel in the wilderness. Manna has been called the “bread of angels.”
•Angels are messengers. The Greek word ??????? means “messenger.” They spoke to God’s people with important messages. The angel Gabriel spoke to Mary, Joseph, and Zechariah, telling of the coming of Jesus, Luke 1. An angel sent Philip to bring the gospel to an Ethiopian seeker, Acts 8. There are times in Scripture when angels brought words of comfort, direction, or warning. However, God does not use them to proclaim the Gospel message. That’s our job.
•Angels take different forms. The Bible doesn’t give us a uniform description of angels. The three who came to Abraham appeared to be human, so human that the author of Hebrews encourages us to show hospitality to strangers, because “some people have entertained angels without knowing it,” 13:2. At other times, their appearance was entirely foreign, which is why their first words were often “fear not.” John describes angels in Rev 10:1, “I saw another mighty angel coming down from Heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars.” It’s clear why people were terrified! Angels can take the form of wind and fire, Psalm 104:4; they’re part of the living “chariot of fire” spoken of in the OT. Angels frightened people by their appearance, in part because they reflect God’s glory. Fleming Rutledge points out, “Angels are not pretty or cute. Angels are powerful, and there is nothing more frightening than power when you don’t know if it is against you or for you.”
•Angels are warriors. The term “Lord of hosts” refers to angelic armies. This military force engages in spiritual warfare and opposes the efforts of demonic forces. An angelic army destroyed the Assyrian army in II Kings 19. Daniel 10 describes a battle between the angel Michael and a demon of Persia. The Cherubim were posted as armed guards at the entrance of Eden. Jesus said at His arrest that Heaven could provide Him 12 legions of angels, Mt 26. We counter spiritual attacks by taking on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6), all the while encouraged, knowing we are not alone in our struggles.
•Angels carry out God’s justice. The angel of death slew the Egyptian firstborn as the final plague. God warned the Israelites in Exodus 23 that the same angel who led them out of Egypt could also discipline them if they rebelled against Him. The NT says in several places that angels “put into effect” the Law of God on Mount Sinai (Heb 2:2, Gal 3:19, Acts 7:53). An angel smote King Agrippa, Acts 12. Angels will bind Satan, that fallen angel, and cast him into the pit, Revelation 20.
•Angels are protectors. Hebrews 1:4 says that angels are “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.” I kayak on calm rivers, but I know people who go white-water kayaking. Their guardian angels probably have ulcers! Psalm 34:7 explains, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him.” And Psalm 91, a favorite of soldiers, says that angels “will guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” While God may dispatch angelic help in time of need, we’re not to intentionally place ourselves in danger. Angels assisted Jesus after His temptation and in the Garden of Gethsemane, and they rolled away the stone from His tomb. They provided food and water for the prophet Elijah (I Kings 19). An angel opened the prison door for Peter and loosened his chains (Acts 5, 12). It’s OK to ask God to send angels to guard and defend us, but we’re not to pray to them.
•Angels offer praise to God. They celebrate His holiness and might before the throne of God (Isaiah 6, Rev 7). They make it clear that they are not to be worshipped. When people in the Bible bowed before them, they were told to get up and worship God alone. Some singers are described as having the “voice of an angel.” Do angels sing praise? There may be angel choirs, but the Bible doesn’t specifically say so. They declare praise, which may include singing. Jesus says that “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God when one sinner repents,” Luke 15:10.
•There are angelic orders. While we don’t know much about the organization of angels, there are references in Scripture to seraphim, cherubim, and archangels. Some have positions of leadership, such as Gabriel, the chief messenger who appears in both the Old Testament and New (Daniel & Luke), always bearing good news. By the way, the Bible does not say he will blow a trumpet! And there’s the Archangel Michael, prince and commander of the angelic army. He will shout as he accompanies Jesus at His return.
•There are counterfeit angels. We are opposed by invisible foes who hate God and His people. Demons appear as angels to deceive those not grounded in God’s word. In II Corinthians 12 we’re told that “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” We need spiritual discernment; we’re engaged in warfare against spiritual powers. We need to know good from evil, angels from demons. I Corinthians 6:3 says that one day God’s people will judge fallen angels. Perhaps this means we will somehow participate in God’s judgment on the evil spirits. Their destiny is eternal fire, Matthew 25.
•Angels will be at the Second Coming. Matthew 25:31 states, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory.” The angels who were present at the incarnation, temptation, resurrection and ascension of Jesus will accompany Him to gather His people. Jesus says in Matthew 13:41 that “angels will weed out of God’s Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.” Angels figure prominently in the Book of Revelation. They will proclaim and pour out God’s judgments.
•There are angels in our future. At our final journey, angels will come for us. In Luke 16, Jesus spoke of poor Lazarus, saying that “the angels carried him to Abraham’s side;” in other words, to Heaven. And Jesus says in Luke 12, “Whoever acknowledges Me before people, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.” Have you trusted Jesus as your Savior and Lord? When you pass from this life to the next, angels will gather you in their arms to take you to Heaven. There are angels in our future…
•And there are angels in our present. They’re likely nearer than we realize!
Prayer: Lord of Hosts, send Your angels to look out for us in our time of need. Thank you that when we are in danger, we are not alone. We trust in You, Lord God, our refuge and strength. Grant us spiritual discernment as we make our way in this fallen world. Arm us with Your word, and may Your messengers protect us on our way. This we ask, in Your thrice-holy Name, Amen.
