Why are angels so popular in America
today?
Time's 1993 cover story on
Angels, entitled "Angels Among Us," explains: "For those who choke too
easily on God and His rules, theologians observe, angels are the handy compromise, all
fluff and meringue, kind, non-judgmental. And they are available to everyone, like
aspirin." Eileen Freeman, publisher of the bi-monthly newsletter,
"Angelwatch," calls angels "non-threatening, wise, and loving beings."
Yet, do these "popular" descriptions of angels stand up to the descriptions God
has given us in His Word? Do they take into account that there are also "fallen"
angels who may not be so "non-threatening and loving"? In many cases, the answer
is no. Let's examine what the Bible teaches us about these angelic creatures.
1. Angels Generally Operate
Undercover
They are "God's Secret
Agents," not seeking to draw attention to themselves, but to do God's bidding. One of
the reasons we may not be personally aware of angels in our life is because they are doing
their job properly. The Bible cites a limited number of instances when God has given
people a glimpse of these beings at work.
2. Angels Have a Special Work &
Ministry in the Life of the Christian
Angels are all around us taking care
of us and ministering to us even when we are not aware of their presence. Hebrews l: l 4
states, "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will
inherit salvation?" And we are also told, "The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear Him, and He delivers them" (Psalm 34:7).
3. Angels Are Intelligent, Powerful,
and Invisible Spirit Beings
Angels are invisible, with the
exception of those occasions when God sends them on a special mission or
"clothes" them in human form (see Hebrews l 3:2). The description of angels in
Scripture is certainly awe-inspiring. If we could remove the veil that separates our
vision from the unseen, spiritual world, we would see that there are angels all around us.
That happened to the servant of Elisha the prophet in the Old Testament. Seeing his
servant's fearfulness of the vast enemy army surrounding their city, Elisha prayed that
God would open his servant's eyes so that he could see the invisible hosts protecting
them. The Lord opened his eyes, "and he looked and saw the hills full of horses
and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (2 Kings 6:1 7).
4. Angels Do Not Seek Our Worship
If an angel were to appear to us
right now, we might be tempted to worship it. This happened to the Apostle John.
"When I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who
had been showing them to me. But he said to me, 'Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with
you . . . and all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!" (Revelation
22:8-9). The angel did not draw attention to himself.
As noted, there are not only holy angels, but also unholy ones (fallen angels or demons).
If an awe-inspiring angel were to appear to us right now, we would be inclined to believe
just about anything he said-even if it were a different gospel! That is why Scripture
tells us to test any so-called angel's message with what we find in God's Word. Paul
writes, "If we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what
we have preached to you, let him be accursed " (Galatians 1 :8).
5. Angels Are Numerous
The world of angels is mysterious
and, to a large degree, unknown. The Bible does not precisely say how many angels exist.
It was a "great company" of the heavenly host that told the shepherds of Jesus'
birth (Luke 2:13). Daniel 7:10 tells us, "Thousands upon thousands [of angels]
attended Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him." That would be
100 million- a number almost too vast to imagine. Perhaps that is why Job asks, "Can
His forces be numbered?" (Job 25:3).
6. Angels Are Well-Organized
In Colossians 1 :1 6 we read, "For
Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether
thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for
Him." In 1 Peter 3: 22, we find something of a "breakdown" of the
angelic rankings: "Jesus Christ . . . has gone into heaven and is at God's right
hand with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him."
Let's consider some of these distinctions in the angelic realm. Among other things in the
Bible, we are given the names of two angels in particular-Michael the Archangel and
Gabriel. (There are three names if you want to count Lucifer, who once was a high-ranking
angel in God's service, but is now in rebellion against God). The Bible also mentions the
Cherubim and the Seraphim.
|
|
The Archangel (Michael)
The term "Archangel" occurs
just twice in the New Testament. In both instances, it is used in the singular and is
preceded by the definite article "the." This would indicate that there is only
one "Archangel." It would appear that Michael is the top-ranking angel in God's
heavenly host. He will play a special role in the "rapture" of the Church: "For
the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the
archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After
that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the
clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever" (1
Thessalonians 4:16-1 7).
As powerful as Michael is, he does have his limitations- as well as a healthy respect for
his adversary, Lucifer: "But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing
with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation
against him, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you!"(Jude l: 9). Ultimately, however,
Scripture says that he will prevail over Satan (see Revelation 12: 79).
The Cherubim
The Bible depicts these beings as
powerful and majestic angelic creatures who surround God's throne (see Ezekiel l :5- l 4;
28: l 2). Interestingly, God sent them to guard Eden after the expulsion of Adam and Eve:
"After He drove the man out, He placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden
cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of
life" (Genesis 3:24).
The Seraphim
These angelic beings seem to hold a
special position of worshipping and praising God. The prophet Isaiah vividly describes
them in his vision of God: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord
sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.
Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he
covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: 'Holy, holy,
holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!" (Isaiah 6:1-3).
Gabriel
This high ranking angel brought
special messages to God's people.
- He appeared to Daniel and revealed the future to him
(Daniel 8:16; 9:21).
- He appeared to Zacharias regarding the birth of John
the Baptist (Luke 1 :19).
- He appeared to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus
(Luke l :30).
Angels in Action
Angels in the Lions' Den
One of the most dramatic and
well-known stories about angels in Scripture is the story of Daniel in the lions' den (see
Daniel 6: 16-22). The aged prophet found himself in this dilemma because God had raised
him up to a position of honor in the kingdom of Darius. His enemies scrutinized his every
move, but they could find no inconsistency in his life. So they baited a trap. They had
the king unwittingly sign a decree that no one could pray to any God but him. As his
enemies expected, Daniel prayed, and his punishment was to be thrown into a den of hungry
lions. Just when it appeared that all was lost, God dispatched one or more of his
"secret agents" to deliver him by shutting the mouths of the lions (v. 22).
Angelic Activity in Daniel's Prayer
Daniel chapter ten gives us a rare
glimpse into what happens 'behind the scenes" when we pray. In that story, Daniel's
prayer is heard in heaven, and an angel is dispatched with a special message for Daniel.
The angel encountered opposing forces, and he became engaged in supernatural combat,
delaying the message for 21 days! Michael, the Archangel, was finally dispatched to help
the other angel, and he then gave the message to Daniel. This incident makes it clear that
delays in God's answering of our prayers are not necessarily denials.
The Angel and the Donkey
In Numbers chapter 22, we read the
story of Balaam, who was asked by the king of Moab to place a curse on the Israelites.
When Balaam began his journey to the king, his donkey saw an angel standing in their path
and refused to go on. After several beatings from Balaam, God enabled the donkey to talk
and protest Balaam's beatings. At that point, the Lord opened Balaam's eyes to see the
angel. The angel then explained that he had come to stop Balaam because he was headed for
destruction (v. 32). |
