A Biblical Description of Angels

 

For the next several weeks we will look at some things unseen…the spirit world around us.  There is much confusion on this subject and we will lay to rest some myths, and more importantly, learn some incredible truths that will change the way we view the world around us, and how we live.

 

We should never underestimate the ministry of angels.  They have a job to do in our lives, and in this world.

 

Ill.—my testimony of being saved from a certain motorcycle wreck.

 

It’s hard to argue w/ a person’s experience.  If it doesn’t disagree w/ Scripture, then it’s possible.

 

Ill.—a few years ago we lived near a lake where a dad and his young son were fishing one night.  Somehow they capsized and weren’t known to be missing for several hours.  Both were presumed to have drowned, but as they were dragging that area of the lake they found the boy sitting on a large stump sticking up out of the water.  He told how he saw his dad go under and how he thought he would drown, too.  He couldn’t see where their boat was, and he couldn’t tread water long.  The water patrolman who found him asked him how he found and climbed upon the stump.  He said, “a man in another boat picked me up and set me on the stump, then left.”

 

The world may not want to hear much about Jesus, but angels interest them!

 

It’s a sensational topic.  But for Christians, it’s much more than a novelty.  It’s Bible truth that they exist and are active!

 

4 reasons why the world is enamored with angels:

• Spirit of hopelessness—people are looking for answers and for something to fill their empty spirit.
• Spirit of selfishness—Christians are called to be servants, but our society would rather be served than to serve.  Angels are ministering spirits / servants, and people want to know what the angels can do for them.
• Spirit of the New Age—our society is being conditioned for the end times.  The world will accept the supernatural during the tribulation.  The antichrist gains power on a platform of signs and wonders.
• Spirit of curiosity—we’re all curious about the unknown.

 

Questions people have about angels:

What do angels look like?  Are they female?  Do we have guardian angels?  How many angels are there?  What is an archangel?  Is it possible to see an angel?  Do I pray to angels?  What about demons, are they real?  How are they different?  Will I someday be an angel?

 

This series will answer these questions and many more.

 

The world is interested in angels for all the wrong reasons, but we have good reason to be interested.  There’s way too much about this in Scripture to ignore it.

 

Jesus referred to them many times.  The apostle Paul did the same.

 

As far as I know for fact, I’ve never seen one, but the Bible indicates that I probably have and don’t know it. 

 

Hebrews 13:2

    Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

 

Ill.—‘vagrant’ in Savannah who came to the house that was offices for me and the youth pastor.  He asked for a “cup of cool water”…that’s all he wanted, which was strange.  Usually it’s money or a ride, etc.  I complied.  I waited for him to ask for money.  He didn’t.  He just smiled, strangely.  I asked if he had been saved.  He said he had not.  I asked if he was interested to know more about salvation.  He said he was!

 

I asked him to wait while I went into my office for my Bible and a tract I liked to use with people.  But when I returned I saw him as he walked out and I watched out the window as he headed down the very middle of the street.  It was a big wide area.  I turned to my buddy who was the youth pastor and told him to come look at the guy…he came over and I pointed but the guy was gone.  I don’t see how he could have gotten away so quickly.  My friend said, “Good thing you were dressed or I’d say you had entertained an angel in your underwear!”

[Who knows?  Perhaps he was an angel!  The Bible says in 1 Pet. 1:12 that angels long to look into matters of salvation and redemption, which they haven’t experienced.]

 

Angels are mentioned over 250 times in Scripture.

 

1. The word “angel” literally means messenger

 

2. Angels are created spirit beings.  God created them as spirits before the foundation of the world was ever laid, and before there was time. 

Psalm 148:1-5

    Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights. [2] Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. [3] Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. [4] Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. [5] Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created.

 

3.  Angels are not eternal beings.  They have not always existed.  They may always continue to exist, but they had a beginning which God did not.

 

Job 38:1-7

    Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, [2] Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? [3] Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. [4] Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. [5] Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? [6] Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; [7] When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

 

v. 7 has 2 ref. to angels.

 

Why were angels created?

Col. 1:16-18

    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: [17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

 

They were created for the same reason we were created…to bring glory to God!

 

4. Angels are NOT glorified human beings.  When someone dies there’s usually somebody who says, “God needed another angel in that heavenly choir!”  I don’t want to burst your bubble, but that’s simply not true.  Humans don’t become angels when they die…even if their name is “Clarence”  [It’s a Wonderful Life—he’s still trying to earn his wings after 200 years]

 

Inspirations southern gospel song:

“A golden street to walk upon, a bell I’m gonna ring,

A brand new angel in the choir, I’m gonna hear her sing”

 

It’s a sweet thought, and a cute song, but it’s not scriptural.

Psalm 8:4-5

    What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? [5] For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

 

The Bible also says that Christ, when He came to earth, was made lower than the angels.  He did this in order to redeem mankind and elevate him to a higher level than angels.  The Bible says that someday believers will judge angels!  [Likely fallen angels].

 

Hebrews 2:9

    But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

 

Hebrews 2:16

    For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

 

There are times in the OT when Jesus took on the form of “the angel of the Lord”, and here God clarifies that Jesus came differently in the NT.

 

One last verse, and this is a key verse for this series:

 

Ephes. 6:12

    For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 

These are fallen angels.  But this verse shows they are not flesh and blood.

 

5. Angels are invisible spirit beings

Hebrews 1:14

    Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

 

They are spirits.  They occasionally reveal themselves in a human-like form for a specific purpose, but this is not typical…and they certainly don’t need a body or host in order to exist.

 

A picture is worth 1,000 words, so here’s an OT picture for you:

2 Kings 6:8-12

    Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. [9] And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. [10] And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. [11] Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? [12] And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.

 

Did you get that?  They believe God is somehow letting Elisha know their battle plans.

 

2 Kings 6:13-16

    And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. [14] Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. [15] And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? [16] And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

 

They figure out that Elisha is in the city of Dothan [not Alabama!].  Elisha’s servant wakes up one morning, yawns and scratches, and heads to the front porch to get the paper.  He looks up and “aaaaaahh!”  There in front of him is the Syrian army!  He runs to Elisha:  “boss, we’re in trouble!” 

Joke:  Lone Ranger said to Tonto, “the Indians are coming, they’re getting closer, they’re gonna kill us…WE’RE in trouble.”  Tonto replies, “WE, white man?”

 

And Elisha looks out and says, no problem, there’s more of us than of them!  The servant has got to be wondering, “is this that ‘new math’…let’s see, 1, 2 of us, and look at them!

 

2 Kings 6:17

    And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

2 Kings 6:18

    And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

 

These were angels…the army of God!

 

Ill.—missionary JT Lyons, Liberia, Africa, was a bush pilot who told me of being warned by the local witch doctor that he and his family would be killed that night if they didn’t leave.  They heard the beating of drums coming toward them, which suddenly stopped.  They heard a commotion, then fleeting silence.  The next day a village leader explained that the mob left because of “the men in white standing guard around the hut.”

 

Though we cannot see them, angels are here among us.  There may not be as many empty seats in here as you think. 

 

Don’t miss the rest of this series…the best is yet to come!