Thought for the Month - December 2003

Angels - By Barry Adair

Now here is a one topic in the Bible that everyone knows something about.

But do we really know what the Bible teaches about angels or it is a mixture of truth and legend?

Well, let’s have a quick look at what the Bible says.

I’ll also let you know what my favourite Bible passage is involving these intriguing beings.

Who or what are angels?

The word "angel" comes from a Greek word which means "messenger”.  Angels are mentioned at least 108 times in the Old Testament and 165 times in the New Testament.

They are spirits, like the soul of man, but without a physical body.  Angels never die and they possess superhuman intelligence and power. These superior beings are very numerous and are made up of 2 camps, ‘Holy’ (or Elect) angels and ‘Fallen Angels’ (or Demons).  Angels perform 4 main roles, those of : Guardians, Messengers, Servants and Terminators!

How did angels originate?

Angels are created beings, created by God.

As Colossians 1:16-17 says:

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist"

The precise time of their creation is not given, but was before the earth was created, since "the sons of God shouted for joy" when the foundations of the earth were laid (Job 38).

How many angels are there?

While no definite figures are given, we are told in the Bible that the number of angels is very great (see Daniel 7:10, Matthew 26:53 and Hebrews 12:22).

It appears that all the angels were created at one time. No new angels are being added to the number. Dr. Paul Eymann believes that it is reasonable to conclude that there are at least as many spirit beings in existence as there will have been human beings in all their history on earth.  Now that’s quite a few angels!

Are all angels good?

I’m afraid not!  As stated earlier, there are good angels and bad angels (demons). All angels were originally holy, enjoying the presence of God (Matthew 18:10) and the environment of heaven (Mark 13:32).

The  demons oppose God under the leadership of Satan (Ephesians 6:12). There is actually a great unseen conflict raging that goes beyond anything we can imagine. It is not, however, a fight between two equal and eternal forces. God who created all beings is still in charge, and after the devil and his angels have done their worse, He will bring them to a final defeat.

As for my favourite Bible passage involving Angels?  It has to be the role of angels in caring for believers at the moment of death.  It is the story of Lazarus from Luke 16:20-23:

"And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom"

My former next door neighbour and good friend, Tom, died the week before last after a short but fearsome illness. It is a comfort to me (and to his wife and friends) that we know that he is now in Heaven. I like to think of the angels escorting his spirit into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Tom had been saved many years ago.

It is this salvation, where a holy God accepts the likes of us through the atoning death of His Son, that even the angels desire to look into! (1 Peter 1:12).

Praise God that when He saves us, He will let absolutely nothing separate us from the love of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

And with the words of Romans 8:38-39, I’ll finish for another month...

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

This Thought is dedicated to Tom Sloan, a true gentleman, a humble Christian and new citizen of Heaven.

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!