What Angels Long To See Series

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 —