PART ONE: A STUDY OF ANGELS
June 2005
by Marie Chapian
The word angel or angels occur some 300 times in the Bible. Did you know angels were there when God created the world? The Lord asked Job, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth ... to what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38:4-7)
The morning stars and the sons of God were the angelic host, God’s ministering spirits. The angels celebrated with ecstatic joy when God created the world! Think of it. Angels are older than the world. They live in God's presence and -- they are our friends.
When we learn about God and the heavenly realm, and we learn about whom Jesus is and what His Kingdom is like, we cannot help but learn about His multitudinous host of magnificent, mighty angels, His beautiful ministering spirits. Theology proper includes our study of angels. Hebrews 1:14: "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" Angels of the Lord minister to us, God's children, continually. (The fallen angels harass us.) We can't forget Jesus Himself was closely associated with angels throughout His earthly life and ministry.
Why study angels? l.) Because they minister to us. They are concerned with us. Their interest is humankind. Luke 15:7 says that angels rejoice over one person when she or he repents and comes to God. They rejoice over us! They are powerful, joyful spirit beings who love God and love us.
2.) Since angels minister to us we should know what they are like and what they are about. Hebrews 13:2 says we need to be a people who practice hospitality because some in doing so have entertained angels unawares. Angels care about us. Moreover, our faith soars as we realize we are surrounded by an angelic host who live in the presence of God and live to serve Him by helping us.
3). 2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." It is important to know the role of angels because angels are spoken of so many times in the Bible. They are called the "heavenly host" (Luke 2:13), and Isaiah uses the angelic term "host" more than 60 times.
WHO ARE ANGELS?
In the Old Testament the word malak occurs l08 times. Angellos is the Greek word translated angel, and occurs 186 times in the New Testament. Both words are translated "messenger."1
AN ANGEL IS THE NAME GIVEN IN THE BIBLE TO THOSE SUPER HUMAN BEINGS WHOSE HOME IS HEAVEN AND WHO FUNCTION AS THE UNSEEN AGENTS IN THE EXECUTION OF THE WILL OF GOD.2 (Herbert Lockyer) THEY ARE SUPERNATURAL, CELESTIAL BEINGS OF PURE SPIRIT, SUPERIOR TO HUMANS IN POWER, GOODNESS, BEAUTY, INTELLIGENCE AND ABILITIES WHO SERVE GOD IN COUNTLESS WAYS.2
Angels are messengers and attendant spirits, perfectly obedient to God. Those angels who disobeyed God lost their holy condition and are lost forever. The fallen angels (only one third of the heavenly host) are slaves of Satan and they oppose and hinder God's and humans' work. Like Satan, they hate human beings and hate anything to do with the Lord Jesus, the Savior of humankind. The angels of the Lord love God, love His creation and live to praise and serve Him. They love us!
Angels are called holy ones. In the book of Daniel we read that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a dream (Dan 4:13) and he said, "I saw vision of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven..." The holy one was an angel, a servant of God who controlled a nation's rise or fall. This is important to know. Angels often have roles administering God's judgment. (See Genesis 18 where the angels visit Sodom and Gomorrah.)
In Psalms 103:21 David sings, "Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, you ministers of His, who do His pleasure."
ANGELS IN THE LIFE OF JESUS:
An angel came to Mary and predicted Christ's birth.
(Luke 1:26-38 Matthew 1:18-24)
Angels celebrated His birth.
(Luke 2:8-13)
Angels protected Him in His infancy.
An angel tells Joseph to run to Egypt and then an angel instructs him when to return to Israel.
(Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13)
Angels ministered to Jesus after His temptation.
The devil left Him and angels came and ministered to Him.
Angels were with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane
(Luke 22:43 "An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.")
Angels announce His resurrection
(Mark 16:5)
Angels were there when He ascended into heaven
(Acts 1:10)
In Part 2 of this teaching on angels, we will look at how angels participate with us in every area of our lives. I’ll give you real-life testimonies of angelic visitations that directly reflect biblical accounts. Get acquainted with the Lord's angels and see the Heavenly Kingdom with new eyes, new adoring appreciation and awe.
1Luke 7:24 tells us a disciple can also be a messenger because John sent his messengers to ask Jesus if He was the Messiah.
2Herbert Lockyear
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