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Angels. They’ve been
called God’s “secret agents” or even His “secret service,” yet when they have
appeared they have often been anything but secret! They’ve been called God’s
“mighty messengers,” though they seem to be focused also on worshiping and
glorifying God. They’ve been pictured as chubby babies floating in the sky and
playing harps, yet Scripture never describes them that way. When a person dies you
may hear, “Heaven needed another angel,” but Jesus clearly taught that people
do not become angels.
I like to preach
about the spirit world and how it intersects with our own. Why?
1. We
must remember that there IS such a world. We often think and act only in terms
of what we see, touch, taste, and feel for ourselves.
2. We
often warn about Satan and his demons. Without intending it, we might leave the
idea that God is understaffed or that we are outnumbered!
3. The
Bible speaks frequently about angels. Angels are mentioned at least 108 times
in the Old Testament and 165 times in the New Testament (Chafer, Systematic
Theology, II, 3).
4. There’s
a mystery about creatures that are different from human beings. Even those in
the world imagine what else might be out there.
5. It’s
a good conversation starter. “What do you think about angels and demons, and
why?”
6. We
are curious. What does the Bible tell us about angels? How are they involved in
our lives today?
There is so much in
the Bible about angels that it’s hard to choose one text! And it’s impossible
to cover the subject in one sermon!
One of the big
surprises perhaps – angels, though in one sense of a higher order than we are,
serve us.
Another surprise –
Jesus, far above all angels, became for a while lower than the angels. To save
us.
Another – the devil
has angels.
Another – some
angels have chosen to rebel and sin. Yet Jesus did not become an angel, to save
angels. He became a man, to save us. Heb 2
Another – Satan may
have been an angel who rebelled and became the prince of wicked angels, called
demons.
Your Question
Mt 18:10 “See that you do
not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in
heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.”
You asked me, “Does
each child have an assigned guardian angel?”
Context of 18:1-14:
God’s desire to uphold, save, protect and retrieve children, “these little ones
who believe in Me,” and weak, erring sheep.
“Their angels” may
have a role in all these areas, without be assigned one-to-one. Maybe a zone
defense, not “man-to-man!” Cf. Ps 91, esp. 11-12.
Terms
Heb.מַלְאָךְ malawk from root “to
dispatch as a deputy.” Messenger, ambassador, angel. Used 213 times. Note:
“Malachi” = “My messenger.”*
Cherubim – like
winged sphinxes. Gen 3:24; 1 Kgs 6:23-28; Eze 1:4-14; 10:1-22; Rev 4:6-9.
Seraphim = “fiery,
burning ones.” Only Isa 6:1-7. Each with six wings. “Holy, holy, holy …”
Grk. ἄγγελος angelos from verb “to deliver a
message.” Note: “evangelize” = “tell good news.”*
*Term can also refer
to a human messenger.
Origin and Nature
Created beings: Neh
9:6; Ps 148:1-6; Col 1:16-17
Ministering spirits,
not inherently physical: He 1:14
Heavenly army or
host: Lk 2:13 only.
Innumerable: He
12:22 (myriads); Mt 26:53 (12 legions = 72,000); Re 5:11 (myriads of myriads =
ten thousands of ten thousands).
Taking on the form,
shape, and appearance suited to each particular task.
Origin and Nature
Described only in
masculine terms, though …
No marriage,
reproduction: Mt 22:30; Lk 20:34-36
Free to disobey: 2
Pe 2:4; Jud 6.
Never to die. 2 Pe
2:4; Jud 6.
Not eligible for
salvation: Heb 2:14-18
Intrigued by our
salvation: 1 Pe 1:12
Michael and Gabriel
The only two angels
named. What about Satan?
Michael: Dan 10:13, 21;
12:1; Jud 9; Re 12:7
“Who is like God.”
Question or statement.
“Archangel” = angel
of the highest rank.
Special steward to
care for Israel.
Gabriel: Dan 8:16; 9:21; Lk
1:19, 26
“Warrior of God,
mighty man of God.”
Special messenger to
God’s servants.
Function and Purpose
To serve, worship,
and glorify God. Isa 6; Re 4-5
To announce God’s
message. Lk 1
To accomplish God’s
assignments. Re 7-10
To protect God’s
people. Ps 91:11-13; Mt 18:10
To minister to God’s
people. He 1:14
Function and Purpose
To frustrate the
devil’s wiles. Jude 6
To punish wicked
men. Gen 19:1-26; 2 Kgs 19:35; Acts 12:23
To preside over
governments and councils. Dan 10:20, 21; 11:1; 12:1
To aid in bringing
men to repentance. Acts 10
To care for living
saints. Heb 1:14; 2 Kings 6:15-23; Ps 34:7; 91:11; Dan 3:25-28; 6:22; Matt
18:10; Acts 5:19; 12:7
To bear the dying
home to glory. Luke 16:22
Was the “Angel of
the Lord” Jesus? No, Because ...
Heb 1 emphatically
insists Jesus is not an angel.
Angels are
creatures. Jesus is (as God) Creator.
“Jehovah’s
Witnesses” say that Jesus is an angel.
The OT looks forward
to the Lord coming, as if He has not yet come to earth among men.
The arrival of Jesus
via Mary loses its uniqueness if He previously came to earth by other means.
Jesus never claimed
to be that angel.
No NT reference
identifies Jesus with that angel.
We are to worship
Jesus but not angels.
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