The ministry of angels
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“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” Heb:14
Do angels exist?
Angels have not always existed, God created them (Neh 9:6)
Just because science hasn't proved the existence of angels yet, it doesn't mean they don't exist. Western culture has a mindset of unbelief in anything that can't be seen. Dermadet mites are microscopic, they live on the eye lashes and eye brows. Twenty years ago they couldn't be seen, but they did exist. Neither can radio waves, gases, germs, radiation be seen but we don't doubt they exist.
Human limitations
Our ability to see what is real is limited to our humanity. This dates back to the Fall. We don't have the ability to smell like dogs can, we can't be guided like Canada geese or homing pigeons or see the complexities of the atom, why therefore do we find it so hard to believe in the spiritual world? Perhaps we rely too much on our eyes and other senses for the information we receive even though we can be deceived by optical illusions, mirages etc. We think we see something that exists, but it is not in fact real.
How can we know about angels?
Psalm 34:7 "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him"
The Bible Is quite clear that they exist and contains over 300 references to them. (If you want to see bugs you look through a microscope, if you want to see angels you look into the Bible)
What does the bible say about angels?
Angels are created beings (Col 1:16)
They are dependant beings (2 Peter 2:4)
They are spiritual and not physical beings (Heb 1:14)
They are constant in number and cannot reproduce (Mark 12:25)
There is a vast number of angels (Heb 12:22, Rev 5:11)
Angels have free will (Jude v6)
They are created beings like us but not inheritors like us; we relate to God as Father
Angels are superhuman in power and knowledge but are not omnipotent nor omniscient
Angels worship God and obey Him
Angels are messengers of God (Genesis 18,19), protect the people of God (Psalm 91:11) and implement the judgment of God (2 Kings 19:35, 2 Sam 24:15,16)
What do angels do?
In Heaven they worship, honour and serve the Lord God (Rev 5:11-12, 8:3,4)
On earth their purpose is to run errands for the Lord:
To fight for us (2 Chron 32:21)
To protect (Psalm 37, Psalm 91:11, Daniel 6:22)
To guide (Exodus 14:19, Acts 8:26, 12:7)
To minister and strengthen (Jesus in the wilderness, Matthew 4:11, Jesus in the garden, Luke 22:43, Hebrews 1:14)
To explain visions (Acts 10:4)
To proclaim Jesus' birth (Luke 2:10)
To proclaim Jesus' resurrection (Matthew 28:5)
To accompany Jesus on his return (2 Thess 1:7, Matthew 25:31)
To offer encouragement (Genesis 16:7)
Final comments
Mt 18:10 infers that angels are assigned to children, “that in Heaven [these little ones’] angels do always behold the face of my Father”
Although spirit beings, angels can sometimes take on human form (as appeared to Zechariah Luke 1:11,12) and speak audible words. The writer to the Hebrews encourages hospitality on the basis that we may sometimes be entertaining angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2).
Angels are created beings and are inferior to God and shouldn't be worshipped (Col 2:18, Rev 19:10). There is nothing wrong in asking God to send his angels to protect us, but it is wrong to address the angels. This switches the focus of our attention off the Creator and on to the created.
And finally: There is the story of the missionary who was forced to sleep outside one night and robbers were planning to steal from him but were frightened away by the presence of 16 soldiers with swords. The missionary laughed at such a story, but later on home leave learnt that a group of 16 people prayed especially for him on that particular night. Praise the Lord for the ministry of angels.
Stephen Walker
July 2004
See also
The Bible is full of inaccuracies and inconsistencies
