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Angels: What the Scriptures Teach

Angels serve God in bringing to pass His purposes

Introduction

1. Text: Rev. 7:11,12.

2. Many people are interested in "angels," almost to the point of fascination.

3. The subject is certainly a biblical one, and one we ought to study.

4. "Angels" are spiritual beings created by God who:

   1. Live in His presence - Mt. 18:10.

   2. Worship Him - Psa. 148:2.

   3. Help carry out His work - Hb. 1:7.

   4. Help care for His people - Hb. 1:14.

5. What information can we gather from the Scriptures?

6. With respect to angels, this lesson will deal with the "what," and the next lesson the "so what."

I. ANGELS ARE REAL

1. Angels are not imaginary "storybook" figures, nor beings who "used to exist." They are real . . . today.

   1. From beginning to end, the Bible assumes the reality of angels - Gen. 19:1; Rev. 22:16.

   2. In the debate over angels, the Pharisees were right and the Sadducees wrong - Ac. 23:7,8.

2. We must not dismiss the reality of angels simply because who do not understand all about them!

II. WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF INFORMATION
ABOUT ANGELS IN THE SCRIPTURES

1. Angels and God.

   1. The "angel of God" and the "angel of the Lord" are sometimes references to God Himself - Gen.
      22:15-18; Exo. 3:1-6 (Ac. 7:35). Cf. Gen. 18:1-3,20-22,33; 19:1,24.

   2. Angels are a part of the heavenly host that worships and glorifies God.

      1. Praise to God - Psa. 148:2; Lk. 2:13,14.

      2. The great throne scenes in Revelation - Rev. 5:11,12; 7:9-12.

   3. Under God's authority - Col. 1:15,16.

   4. God's servants - Psa. 103:20-22; 104:4; Hb. 1:7.

   5. God's messengers - Lk. 1:19,26,27. Indeed, the basic meaning of the word "angel" is "messenger."

      1. Giving of Law of Moses - Ac. 7:38,53; Gal. 3:19; Hb. 2:2.

      2. Revelation was conveyed to John by an angel - Rev. 1:1; 22:16.

      3. Angels do not know all of God's mind - Mt. 24:36; 1 Pt. 1:12.

   6. Archangels - 1 Thess. 4:16.

   7. Only two angels are named: Gabriel (Lk. 1:19), Michael (Jd. 9).

   8. The angels constitute a great "host" - Hb. 12:22; Rev. 5:11.

2. Angels and men.

   1. Compared to us:

      1. Greater in the hierarchy of God's creation - Psa. 8:3-5; 2 Pt. 2:11.

      2. Not gendered beings - Mt. 22:30.

      3. Language other than ours - 1 Cor. 13:1.

      4. Immortal - Lk. 20:36.

   2. Some activities attributed to angels in the Scriptures:

      1. Bring God's messages to people - Lk. 1:26-33.

      2. Protect God's people - Psa. 34:7; Dan. 6:22.

         1. Children and angels? Cf. Mt. 18:10.

         2. Guardian angels?

      3. Offer encouragement - Gen. 16:7-12.

      4. Give guidance - Exo. 23:20.

      5. Carry out punishment - 2 Sam. 24:15-17.

      6. Fight the forces of evil - 2 Kgs. 6:16-18; Rev. 20:1,2.

   3. Involved in our salvation, serve God for our benefit - Lk. 15:10; 16:22; Hb. 1:14; Rev. 8:3,4.

   4. Involved in events at judgment - Mt. 13:41,49; 16:27; 25:31; Lk. 12:8,9; 2 Thess. 1:7,8; Rev. 3:5.

3. Fallen angels: Satan and his angels - Mt. 25:41; 2 Pt. 2:4; Jd. 6; Rev. 9:11; 12:7,9.

4. Satan disguises himself as an "angel of light" (2 Cor. 11:14).

III. GOD'S ANGELS SERVE HIS PURPOSES

1. Angels serve God in helping bring to pass His will.

2. Angels played an important role in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ - Mt. 4:11; 26:53; 28:2; Lk. 22:43;
   Hb. 1:4-14; 2:5-9; 1 Pt. 3:22. Just as angels are subject to God's authority, they ministered to the Son when He subordinated Himself by taking upon Himself human form.

3. The word "angel" appears more often in Revelation than in any other book of the Bible. Clearly, angels are important agents in the triumphant victory that God is accomplishing through Jesus Christ.

IV. ANGELS' PERSONAL INTERACTION WITH US TODAY IS LIMITED

1. In the biblical period, angels sometimes communicated directly with human beings, appearing visibly and speaking audibly:

   1. Visions - Ac. 10:3.

   2. Dreams - Mt. 1:20,21.

   3. Personal appearances - Ac. 12:8-10.

   4. Miracles - Jn. 5:4.

2. No such interactions are to be expected now.

   1. Apart from His written word, no more "messages" will come from God until the end of all things.

   2. No activities that would fall into the realm of the miraculous are to be expected since the apostolic period - Mk. 16:20; Hb. 2:4.

   3. We should not be surprised that there are limitations on the activity of angels today since there are also limitations on the activity of God Himself, Satan, demons, etc.

V. ANGELS SHOULD NOT BE THE OBJECT OF EXCESSIVE CURIOSITY

1. There is much about angels that is not revealed to us, and some of what is revealed is hard to understand. Among the difficult passages:

   1. Jesus was "manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels" (1 Tim. 3:16).

   2. Children: "in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven" (Mt. 18:10).

   3. The woman praying or prophesying "ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels" (1 Cor. 11:10).

   4. The "angels of the seven churches" (Rev. 1:20).

   5. Christians will "judge angels" (1 Cor. 6:3).

2. We need to be content with what God has revealed and not "pry" into things unrevealed - Deut. 29:29.

3. We need to be careful not to grant angels higher honor than they are due - Col. 2:18. Cf. Rev. 22:8,9.

4. One thing is for sure: angels are not the "cute" figures imagined by many. In the Scriptures, as often as not their appearance produced fear - Lk. 1:30; 2:9,10; etc.

5. In view of the fascination that many today have with such things as angels, we need to cultivate a
   balanced attitude.

Conclusion

1. Any beings who were created by God and who live with Him in the heavenly realm ought to have our respect.

2. When God tells us that these beings are a part of His work to save us from sin, we ought to be filled with awe and appreciation.

3. Most of all, however, what we are told about angels ought to deepen our worship of God Himself. This will be the emphasis of our next lesson.