The Role of Angels
Introduction:
Angels fascinate us. What are angels?
·
Are they eternal?
·
What powers do they have?
·
Does each of us have a personal guardian angel?
The questions go on and on. Some questions we can answer but some we
cannot. We won’t focus on speculation but rather on what the Bible reveals.
Body:
I.
The Origin and Names of Angels
·
Both the Hebrew word and the Greek word translated “angel” to mean a
messenger. Sometimes these are human messengers, but usually are heavenly
beings.
·
Other terms for angels include:
o
Sons of God (Job
1:6)
“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before
the Lord, and Satan also came among them.”
NKJV
o
Dignities or glorious ones (Jude
8-9)
“Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak
evil of dignitaries. Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the
devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him
a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’ ”
o
Thrones, Dominions,
Principalities, Powers (Colossians
1:16)
“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on
earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities
or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”
NKJV
o
Seraphim (Isaiah
6:2-3)
“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!’ ”
NKJV
o
Cherubim (Genesis
3:24)
“So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden
of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the
tree of life.”
NKJV
o
Many other possibilities
·
Since everything was created by
God, then angels must have been created also. (John
1:3)
“All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was
made.”
NKJV
(Nehemiah
9:6)
“You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven, The heaven of heavens, with
all their host, The earth and everything on it, The seas and all that is in
them, And You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You.”
NKJV
When were they
created? Indications in Scripture suggest before man was created on Day
Six. (Job
38:4-7)
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you
have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or
who stretched the line upon it? 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?”
NKJV
II.
The Nature of Angels
·
They have greater mobility than man. (Daniel
9:21-23)
“yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in
the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about
the time of the evening offering. And he informed me, and talked with me,
and said, ‘O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand.
At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come
to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and
understand the vision:’ ”
NKJV
·
They have more knowledge than man. (Daniel
8:13)
“Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain
one who was speaking, ‘How long will the vision be, concerning the daily
sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the
sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?’ ”
NKJV
They are not
all knowing. (Matthew
24:36)
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but
My Father only.”
NKJV
·
They are more powerful than man. (II
Peter 2:11)
“whereas angels,
who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation
against them before the Lord.”
NKJV
·
They are spirit beings – not
flesh and blood. (Job
4:18-19)
“If He puts no trust in His servants, If He charges His angels with error,
How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the
dust, Who are crushed before a moth?”
NKJV
They do not
marry. (Matthew
22:30)
“For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but
are like angels of God in heaven.”
NKJV
They do not
die. (Luke
20:36)
“nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of
God, being sons of the resurrection.”
NKJV
They have the
ability of choice; they can choose to obey God or not. (Jude
6) “And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own
abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment
of the great day;”
NKJV
·
They can appear to people in different ways. (Hebrews
13:2)
“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly
entertained angels.”
NKJV
III.
The Work of Angels
·
They praise God around His throne. (Revelation
5:11)
“Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the
living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand
times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,”
NKJV
·
They rejoice when a sinner repents. (Luke
15:10)
“Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God
over one sinner who repents.”
NKJV
·
They execute God’s will. (Psalm
103:20-22)
“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. Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His
dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!”
NKJV
·
This has included being involved in the affairs of nations and individuals.
(Exodus
23:23)
“For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the
Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the
Jebusites; and I will cut them off.”
NKJV
o
Carrying messages to people (Genesis
22:10-13)
“And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But
the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham,
Abraham!’ So he said, “Here I am.’ And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on
the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you
have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’ Then Abraham lifted
his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by
its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt
offering instead of his son.”
NKJV
o
Angels transmitted the Law of
Moses on Sinai. (Acts
7:53)
“who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”
NKJV
o
They carried out judgments from
God.
·
They were involved in Christ’s life in many ways.
o
An angel announced His birth.
(Luke
2:9-14)
“And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the
Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said
to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great
joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the
city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign
to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a
manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth
peace, goodwill toward men!’ ”
NKJV
o
Angels ministered to Him after
His temptations. (Matthew
4:11)
“Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”
NKJV
o
An angel rolled away the stone
in front of Jesus’ tomb. (Matthew
28:2)
“And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord
descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and
sat on it.”
NKJV
o
Angels announced His return
when He ascended. (Acts
1:10-11)
“And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two
men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do
you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you
into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’ ”
NKJV
·
Angels minister [serve] God’s
people. (Hebrews
1:14)
“Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who
will inherit salvation? “
NKJV
(Luke 16:22) “So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels
to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.”
NKJV
The Father
used angels to help His disciples.
·
(Matthew
18:10)
“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to
you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in
heaven.”
NKJV
Conclusion:
There is much we do not know about angels.
We do know they carry out God’s plans as well as helping God’s people.
Finally we learn they will accompany Jesus when He returns. (II
Thessalonians 1:7-8)
“and
to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed
from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on
those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our
Lord Jesus Christ.”
NKJV
Bobby Stafford
November 26, 2017
