Angels in the Church Age

Colossians 1:24-27

 

Rev. 2 & 3 talk about the ‘angels’ of the 7 churches, and the 7 candlesticks.  The angels in that context are the pastors…the messengers, the leaders, not literal angels.  Angels are present in the church age, and still very important, but on a very different level than every other dispensation.

 

1. The apostle Paul was the apostle of the Gentiles.

(Romans 11:13). He wrote directly to church-age saints (Colossians 1:24-27).

Romans 11:13

    For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

Col. 1:24-27

    Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: [25] Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; [26] Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: [27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

 

Paul is the apostle of doctrine for the church age saints.  God used him to share w/ US in this dispensation the major doctrines we now hold to. 

 

2. Paul wrote 13 books to church-age saints (Romans-Philemon).

                 a. There are only about 15 references to angels in all of Paul’s epistles.  [epistles are not the wives of the apostles!]

                 b. In the Old Testament there are well over 100 references to angels.

                 c. In Matthew-Acts, there are at least 73 references to angels.

                 d. In Hebrews-Revelation, there are at least 87 references to angels.  [mostly in Revelation]

 

So, the ministry of angels is not emphasized as much during the church age as at other periods of time. 

 

3.     Not only this, but in Paul’s references to angels, they are never said to

be ministering unto us. Why is this? In the other sections it’s angels, angels everywhere, but not during the church age.  Let’s look into God’s Word and see some of the various ministries that angels have performed and then compare that to the church-age we are presently living in.

 

Let’s take a bird’s eye tour of the ministry of angels thru the ages, and look for some clues to what’s different today during the church age.

 

I.           Angels are seen giving instruction and understanding.  Especially in the OT.

            A.       An angel instructed Hagar to return to Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 16:7-9. This is the first reference to an angel in the Bible.  [law of 1^st mention]

 

2.       The book of Zechariah is a perfect example of an angel giving instruction and understanding (Zec 1:8-11, 1:14, 1:18-19, 4:1-7, 6:1-5)

 

C.       In Daniel 10, Daniel sought for understanding and an angel appears three weeks later to give Daniel answers to his questions.(Dan 10:12-14)

 

D.                Joseph was mystified when Mary said she was pregnant of the Holy Ghost, and then an angel gave him understanding.

 

Do angels give us instruction and understanding in this present church-age?

 

We need these things, but angels are not our source today.  Let’s see what the apostle of doctrine to the church says:

        A.    Rom. 8:26 confirms our weakness and need for understanding.

Romans 8:26

    Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

 

We have another resource…God the Holy Spirit, who teaches and instructs us, and helps guide us to a place of understanding.

 

I Cor. 2:9-14 [turn]

 

The Spirit is much better than an angel.  The OT saints didn’t have the indwelling Spirit of God, nor will those in the tribulation!

 

The Holy Spirit is the best teacher of the Word of God…after all, He wrote it!

 

        B.    Paul teaches that the believer is in Christ, and Christ is in the believer.  And in Christ are hid the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  That’s how we can have understanding.

Col. 1:2

    To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Col. 1:27

    To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Col. 2:2

    That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

 

We are complete in Christ, and so we need no instruction of an angel.  We have the completed Word of God which Paul says is for our instruction, and the Spirit helps us understand it!

 

We said all that to say this:  Some church movements these days emphasize prophecies and revelations they claim God has given them, outside of the Word of God.  They often say ‘an angel’ gave them their vision or revelation.  They see it happening in scripture, though not in the church age, and say it has happened to them, too.

 

Some claim that they have found missing books of the Bible, or other books God intended for us.

 

Cults [Joseph Smith and the angel Moroni] / Apocrypha / Gospel of Judas / 3^rd Corinthians?

 

I believe we HAVE the full and final revelation of God, and the canon is closed!  God in His providence has kept His promise to preserve His Word.

 

The New Age movement and many occultic groups talk of spirits and channeling and there are angels involved…demonic ones!

 

7^th Day Adventists were started thru the ‘visions’ of Ellen G. White.

 

1 Cor. 13:10

    But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

 

Well, we have something much better than a vision or an angel, we have the final Word of God, and the Spirit of God to guide us!  Hagar didn’t have it, nor Daniel, or even the disciples…but we have God’s final gift, and we need to unwrap it regularly!

 

Angels also have a ministry of comfort in the OT, such as Hagar, Daniel in the den of Lions, 3 Hebrew children [fiery furnace], and then in the NT they comforted Jesus, after he was tempted by Satan.

 

But we have something far better to comfort us…the Comforter Himself!

John 14:16-18  [turn]

    And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. [18] I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

John 14:26

    But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 15:26

    But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:7

    Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

 

What a privilege to live in the church age.  God doesn’t dispatch an angel, He comes personally, Himself!  Our comfort is no longer outward, but inward…the Holy Spirit!

 

Acts 9:31

    Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

 

That’s the early church, very early in the church age!

 

2 Cor. 1:3-4

    Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation.

 

Don’t you hate talking to a computer voice on the phone, or a bunch of flunkies trying to get put thru to the real manager?  God doesn’t give us a created being to comfort us, but He does it Himself!

 

Comfort also comes thru the scriptures!

Romans 15:4

    For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

 

II.    Angels are seen giving strength to man.

 

Elijah, after beating Ba’al, but facing Jezebel!

 

Jesus, in the garden.

 

But again, we have the greatest power on earth…the Holy Spirit!

 

Acts 1:8

    But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

Ephes. 3:16

    That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

 

 

Ephes. 3:20

    Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

 

Most of us do not realize the untapped power source we have in Christ.

 

III.   Angels are seen delivering promises [babies on the way!  Samson / Jesus, etc.]

 

But today, we have God’s promises in the Word of God.

 

2 Peter 1:4

    Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

 

2 Cor. 1:20-22

    For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. [21] Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; [22] Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

 

Again, let’s not live beneath our resources.  How many untapped promises are there that you need to apply to your life?! 

 

Ill.—In the early days of the railroad, they wanted to build across a stretch of Indian land.  Chief Crowfoot did not want to allow it.  But they won him over when they offered him a free railroad pass, which would allow him to ride anywhere for free for life.  He loved that pass so much, he put it in a leather pouch and it hung by a strap around his neck…he proudly displayed it all the time, but do you know what he never did?  He never once rode the train!

I wonder how many Christians know the promises of God, but don’t live in them?  They frame His promises, but don’t ever really claim His promises!

 

Let’s name some of our favorite promises God has made to us:

[Jer. 33:3 / I will never leave thee… / Whosoever shall call… / Sealed to day of redemption / If we confess our sins… / Rom 8:28 / Phil. 4:13, 19]

 

Let’s stand on these promises!

 

Now, we’re not saying that angels have no importance today, for they do, and here it is:

 

2 Cor. 11:14

    And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Jude 1:6

    And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

 

That’s right…during the church age, the most active angels are those who rebelled and now are the gods of this world / present age!

 

We’ve already seen in this series that angels attend church and desire to ‘look into’ things of this age.  This next verse speaks volumes, too:

 

Hebrews 13:2

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

 

There are angels among us.  We cannot be dogmatic about their different role during this church age, but it makes you wonder.  Perhaps you’ve shook the hand of an angel, maybe you’ve helped one in need, or turned one away!