ANGELS

What and Who are Angels?

Angels appear throughout the Bible and come in various forms and have names including cherubim, seraphim and living creatures. They appeared to have all been created by God a long time ago, they are created spiritual beings.

Scripture sometimes refers to angels as "men" though they appear to be sexless, we only have a few biblical records of their name, the names recorded always have "male" names, like Michael, which means "Who is like God", Gabriel, "warrior of God", and Lucifer, meaning "light bearer", who became Satan, or "The Adversary".

The name "angel" means messenger or one who is sent by God. Their main task in the Bible appears to be as God’s messengers, or to carry out a task set by God:-

• Hagar given a message. Genesis 16:7-12.
• The appearances to Abraham at Mamre Genesis 18:1-22.
• The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and salvation of Lot and family. Genesis 19:1-26.
• To Jacob at Peniel Genesis 32:24-30.
• David disobeyed God. 2 Sam. 24:10-17
• Joshua at Gilgal Joshua 5:13-15.
• Sampson’s birth arranged. Judges 13:1-25
• Sennacherib king of Assyria attacks Jerusalem. 2 Kings 19:35,36.
• Shadach, Meschech and Abednego Daniel 3:1-29.
• Zacharias and Elizabeth. Luke 1:5-15
• Mary told.Luke 1:26-38.
• Shepherds told. Luke 2:8-16.

Angels are created beings.
They were created by God at sometime in the past. They appeared to have also been given a "free will," they are able to make a personal choice, just like Mankind. This means that they must also have the choice to serve God or reject Him, hence we have Satan and his angelic following who rejected God.

The Bible refers to them as creatures:
(Job 4:18;
Matt 24:36;
1 Peter 1:12).
This means that they are not perfect because they can make an error in making a choice.
Because they have a "free will" then it is possible for them to fall under temptation and some had done this. We read of "fallen angels," we are not told what was meant by "fall," but we are told that they will be thrown out of heaven and that a place of punishment has been made for them.
Rev 12:7,9;
Matt 25:41;
2 Pet 2:4.

Angels have eternal life. When Jesus was talking about the future conditions for the Believer He mentioned that they will be like angels who never die, Luke 20:35,36.

Angels are powerful: We are told that they have been given superhuman power:
Mark 13:32;
2 Thess 1:7.

They were given the title of "elect" in 1 Tim. 5:21.

"I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality."

"For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels. "

The Bible tells us that the redeemed believer in glory will be "like the angels," Luke 20:36.

Angels are servants of God, therefore they must not be worshipped:
Col 2:18;
Rev. 19:10.

What do Angels do?
They were originally created by God to worship and serve God, but since the creation of Man God has often used them as messengers and used to carrying out the plans of God. There is little mention or appearance of Angels recorded in the Bible until after the call of Abraham, after that event they regularly appear as messengers or agents to carry out the orders of God.

Examples of this are found in following references.

23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. Exodus 12:23.

4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Psalm 104:4.

16 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing place of Araunah the Jebusite. 2 Samuel 24:16.

35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. 2 Kings 19:35

16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. 1 Chronicles 21:16.

23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. Acts 12:23

God’s promise to Abraham of a son. Genesis 18:1-15

Angels go to Sodom and warn Lot to leave. Genesis 19:1-11

Abraham chooses a wife for his son. Genesis 24:1-9

Jacob’s first meeting with God. Genesis 28:10-17.

Angels brought a message to Israel warning of possible idolatry by Israel, Judges 2:1-4.

Used by God to call Gideon to work, Judge 6:11,12.

Angels, the Birth and Ministry of Jesus.
With the Incarnation a new set of tasks and ministrations is given to the angels.
Angels were involved in telling Mankind of the coming event:
Matt 1:20;
Luke 1:26-38).

Angels were present to help after the events of the temptation of Jesus: Matt 4:11

To give assistance during the Garden of Gethsemane:
Luke 22:43.

They gave the message of His resurrection to the disciples:
Matt 28:2-8;
John 20:12,13.

Describe the future return of Jesus:
Acts 1:10,11)

Today angels have the task to minister to the people of God as instructed by God:
Heb 1:13,14;
Matt 18:10;
Acts 5:19,20;
Acts 8:26;
Acts 10:3;
Acts 12:7-9;
Acts 27:23,24.

Angels are filled with joy over each sinner turning to God’s salvation:
Luke 15:10.

When a Believer dies they are carried by angels into the presence of God:
Luke 16:22.

The angels will be involved in various tasks during the Day of Judgement:
Matt 13:39;
Matt 13:41;
Matt 13:49;
Matt 16:27;
Matt 24:31.