WHAT ANGELS LONG TO SEE
Why Heaven Is Astonished by Our Salvation
(1 Peter 1:12)
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PROLOGUE — A MISCONCEPTION THAT DIMINISHES GLORY
We have all heard the phrase at a funeral:
“Heaven gained another angel.”
It sounds gentle.
Comforting.
Poetic.
But it is not true,
and worse —
it unintentionally lowers
what God has done for the redeemed!
The Bible never says that the saints become angels.
Not once.
Instead, It says we are destined to judge them:
Scripture says:
“Know ye not that we shall judge angels?”
— 1 Corinthians 6:3
You cannot become what you are destined to judge.
The redeemed are not merely safe —
they are crowned!
Angels are servants in God’s courtroom.
The redeemed are sons and daughters in His household.
The dead in Christ do not enter heaven as servants —
they enter as heirs!
“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
— Hebrews 1:14
Heaven did not gain an angel.
Psalm 116:15 (KJV) Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Heaven welcomed royalty.
Heaven welcomes an heir of glory.
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I. ANGELS WATCH WHAT THEY CANNOT EXPERIENCE
ANGELS DO NOT EXPERIENCE WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN
Peter, when trying to make us understand
just how special an opportunity
we have been given
tells us something breathtaking:
1 Peter 1:10-12 (KJV) Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
“…which things the angels desire to look into!!!!”
— 1 Peter 1:12
The Greek phrase means:
to stoop down, to lean forward, to strain to see with longing.
The holy angels lean over redemption with wonder.
They marvel not because salvation is confusing —
but because it is unattainable to them.
Christ did not die for angels.
There is no Calvary in the angelic world.
“For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but the seed of Abraham.”
— Hebrews 2:16
At this point in church history,
the early Christians understood this contrast with awe.
John Chrysostom was an important Church Father (3rd century)who served as Archbishop of Constantinople. He is known for his preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders
Chrysostom preached:
“The saints shall be exalted above the angels, for the angels are ministers, but the saints are sons.”
Reflection:
Angels stand in the courts of God;
the redeemed stand in the family of God.
Even in heaven —
angels bend over redemption in holy fascination.
Why?
Because they have never felt what you will one day wear.
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II. WHY ANGELS ARE FASCINATED
1. They know what “judgment without mercy” looks like
(James 2:13)
Angels cannot be redeemed
Peter again,
Describing the eternal fate of false prophets
Provides as proof
A list of God’s previous judgements
2 Peter 2:1 (KJV) But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
When angels fell, judgment was immediate.
“God spared not the angels that sinned…”
— 2 Peter 2:4
Later, Jude, warning about the dangers of falling away from the faith
Uses angels as an example
Jude 6 (KJV) And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
“…He hath reserved them in everlasting chains under darkness…”
— Jude 6
There was no Calvary for angels.
No mediator.
No cross
No invitation to repent
No “whosoever will.”
No second chance.
They sinned — and the door closed.
2. But when man fell… when humans sinned?
God did not run from us —
He ran toward us.
Heaven RAN TOWARD HIM
Before Adam could speak,
God spoke.
Before Adam sought atonement,
God provided it.
He clothed them in mercy. (Genesis 3:21)
He promised a Redeemer. (Genesis 3:15)
The angels saw justice without mercy —
and now they stand astonished
to see mercy triumph over judgment.
Augustine of Hippo (early church father, bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, North Africa 354-407 AD)
His writings deeply influenced the development of western philosophy
wrote:
“The angels are servants in the household; the redeemed are the family itself.”
Reflection:
Angels observe salvation…
but the redeemed inherit it.
III. WHAT ANGELS SEE BUT NEVER EXPERIENCE
WHAT ANGELS ENVY — NOT IN JEALOUSY, BUT IN WONDER
They behold realities they will never taste
GIFT ANGELS REDEEMED
Grace Witness it Receive it
Mercy Understand it Are covered by it
Forgiveness Observe it Live in it
Sonship Never called sons Adopted as sons
Incarnation God never became angel God became a man
“For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but the seed of Abraham.”
— Hebrews 2:16
God became a man —not an angel.
Philippians 2:5-7 (KJV) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
He put on your nature,
not theirs…. Hebrews 2:16
The incarnation is not merely a doctrine —
it is the dividing line of all creation.
Gregory of Nyssa (335-394; Bishop of Nyssa
said:
“Man is a creature who surpasses the angels, for to none of them did He say, ‘My image and likeness.’”
Reflection:
Angels reflect God’s holiness —
but the redeemed reflect His image.
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IV. ANGELS ARE WITNESSES — BUT YOU ARE HEIRS
“To which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art My Son?”
— Hebrews 1:5
Not Gabriel.
Not Michael.
Not the archangels.
Not the seraphim who stand before the throne.
But to you —
through Christ —
He says son, daughter, heir, beloved, redeemed, crowned.
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V. THE FUTURE REVERSAL OF RANK
Right now angels may appear “greater” in strength and splendor —
They are radiant.
Powerful.
Holy.
But in eternity the order reverses.
Angels circle the throne —
but the redeemed sit with Christ upon it.
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne…”
— Revelation 3:21
“We shall judge angels.”
— 1 Corinthians 6:3
Not before the throne,
not around the throne —
with Him in His throne.
They stand in awe
because they know what is coming.
They saw rebellion punished in heaven,
but now they are watching grace enthrone dust.
Irenaeus — discipled by Polycarp, who was discipled by John — taught:
“The glory of God is a living man; and the life of man is the vision of God.”
Reflection:
Redemption is something so glorious
that angels — sinless angels —
long to study it.
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VI. WHAT THIS MEANS ABOUT DEATH
When a believer dies…
Heaven does not gain another angel —
Heaven welcomes another son.
Another daughter.
Another co-heir of Christ.
Another voice redeemed by blood.
Another stone in the temple of God.
Another ruler destined to share the throne.
Not wings —
a crown.
Not lower —
higher.
Not servant —
bride.
Tertullian 155 AD-220 wrote:
“We shall judge angels — not because we are greater now, but because we shall be.”
Reflection:
Your destiny is not to become heavenly servants —
but heavenly royalty.
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VII. THE ASTONISHMENT OF HEAVEN
WHY HEAVEN LOOKS ON IN AWE
Heaven marvels because grace is a mystery even angels cannot fathom.
The angels know something we forget:
Fallen angels received justice
Fallen man received mercy
They saw wrath —
we will taste glory.
They know what God could have done to us
because He did it to them.
That is why they stoop to look
when a sinner is saved.
Heaven marvels every time grace triumphs.
They see a God who:
• stooped lower than angels
• to raise humans higher than angels
• at the cost of His own blood
The host of heaven stands stunned —
that the King shed blood for rebels…
and then crowned them sons.
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VIII. THE FINAL WORD
When a child of God dies…
The angels stand in reverent awe —
because they know what this moment cost.
You will not become like angels.
Angels marvel that you will become like Christ.
“We shall be like Him…”
— 1 John 3:2
Heaven didn’t gain another angel.
Heaven watched grace complete its work —
and glory welcome royalty.
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EPILOGUE (holy hush)
Imagine this:
The day you enter glory,
angels — mighty, radiant, ancient —
will stand aside…
and watch a redeemed child of dust
walk past them
into a place they will never stand:
the presence of God as family.
No wonder they long to look into it.
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CLOSING SCRIPTURE
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…”
— 1 John 3:1
INVITATION
