Great Themes of The Book I: Final Exam

Angels are superhuman messengers who assist God in caring for His world. The Bible mentions them many times from Genesis to Revelation and assumes their existence. In Jesus' day only the Sadducees did not believe in angels (Acts 23:8). Today many doubt the existence of angels. The rationalist, scientific mind-set that characterizes our age allows little room for the supernatural. On the other hand, some in the church have made excessive claims to angelic visitations. Such claims have distorted the biblical picture of angels. Let us examine what the Scriptures say about this important area of special revelation.

Angels are mysterious creatures. They appear and disappear at will. At critical junctures through biblical history, angels were present. They announced the Incarnation, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ. Scripture is more interested in their activity than in defining their nature. Yet the nature of angels can be discovered from many scriptural references. Angels are moral beings, either holy or unholy. The holy angels - God's and Christ's - are Scripture's main concern. Whenever the Bible refers to angels, it usually means the good angels. Some Bible scholars believe that fallen angels are demons, although Scripture is inconclusive on this point. That angels can be either good or evil shows they are moral beings.

Hebrews 1:14 calls angels "ministering spirits." Like God, they are incorporeal, having no body. They may take on human form and often appear in Scripture as men. As spirits, angels are free to move as they wish. Their home is in heaven. However, they move between heaven and earth, between the spiritual and material realms without restriction. Unlike the infinite God, angels are finite. At some unknown time, they were created. It was undoubtedly before man, since Satan was already present in Eden to tempt Adam and Eve. Angels do not have the perfections of God either. They are not all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present. Yet as spiritual beings, angels have abilities that are much greater than humans. Because angels are not divine, they never should be worshiped. Only God is to be worshiped.

Angels are personal beings, hence they have personality. Two angels have personal names - Gabriel and Michael. Angels are creatures of intelligence and wisdom. They converse with God's people repeatedly in Scripture. Although angels cannot experience salvation, they are keenly interested in the proclamation of the gospel. They're also creatures of joy. Jesus gave this joyous picture of angels in Luke 15:10: “There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Repeatedly in the book of Revelation we see angels magnifying and praising God. Their worship of God and Jesus is personal and immediate.

Although they are personal beings, angels are nonsexual. They are as humans will be in their resurrection bodies. As Jesus said, "When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven" (Mark 12:25). Angels do not propagate. Interpretations of Genesis 6:1-4 that suggest angels cohabited with women overlook this profound fact. Though angels appear as men, they do not have masculine gender. Their dazzling white attire always suggests their otherworldliness. Angels, though not omnipotent, are very powerful beings. In 1 Chronicles 21:14-15 one angel destroyed seventy thousand inhabitants of Jerusalem. They use their power to strengthen the needy. In the midst of Jesus' travail in the Garden of Gethsemane, "an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him" (Luke 22:43). Angels are immortal. Since they are created beings, they cannot be eternal. They will coexist with resurrected believers in heaven for all eternity. Because they are spirits, angels will never experience physical death.

Revelation 5:11 states that the number of angels is countless. The Bible also suggests various orders of angels. One unique designation in the Old Testament is the Angel of the LORD. This angel first appeared to Hagar in Genesis 16. Another notable example is the angel's appearance to Moses in Exodus 3. These were divine appearances - temporary incarnations of the second person of the Trinity. After Jesus' Incarnation, such angelic theophanies disappeared. The Angel of the LORD is in a distinct category, since he was God appearing in angelic form.

Among other angels, at least three orders are mentioned in Scripture. First, there are archangels or "chief angels." Scripture mentions two of these "chief angels." One possible archangel, named in both the Old and New Testaments, is Gabriel. Jude 9 positively identifies Michael as an archangel. Gabriel is an angel of communication and enlightenment; Michael is a mighty warrior, depicted in Daniel and Revelation as battling evil powers. Another class of angels is the cherubim. These majestic creatures serve God. First, they guard His holiness. Above the Ark of the Covenant, the cherubim extended their wings over the mercy seat (Ex. 25:18-22). Second, they function as throne-bearers of God. Many times the Old Testament depicts God as enthroned upon the cherubim. The cherubim protect God's holiness and dwell in His immediate presence. Isaiah 6 has the only scriptural references to seraphim. Here they appear before God's throne worshiping Him and declaring His holiness. They are also messengers of God's forgiveness to Isaiah.

If angels were active in biblical times, can we expect them to act today? The answer to this question will come as we examine the activities of angels. Angelic activity is always dependent on God; they never function independently. Their primary actions are to praise and worship God. The book of Revelation depicts many scenes of angelic praise. Such praise is constant and joyful. Praise by God's people on earth is simply an echo of the continuing angelic praise in the courts of heaven. Angels actively communicated God's message to His people. The New Testament affirms that through angelic mediation the Law was given to Moses. Gabriel interpreted divine visions for Daniel; an angel interpreted the Apocalypse (Revelation) for John. An angel announced the birth of Jesus to both Mary and Joseph. Two angels also announced Christ's resurrection to the women at the tomb. Philip, Paul, and the Gentile centurion are but a few individuals who received direction from an angel. Angels gave guidance in each instance. God thus uses angels as communicators of His will.

Angels also minister to the needs of God's people. Hebrews 1:14 declares that they are "ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation." When Hagar ran into the wilderness with Ishmael, an angel appeared to comfort and console her (Gen. 21:17-18). Following Jesus' temptation, "angels came and attended him" (Matt. 4:11). Both cases illustrate God's providential care. God sent angels to strengthen and console for specific purposes. Protection and deliverance are other examples of angelic ministry. An angel shut the mouths of the lions to save Daniel's life. Peter was freed from prison by an angel, who personally escorted him to safety. Psalms 91:11-12 and 34:7 promise angelic intervention to those in need.

Often through the agency of angels God executes judgment. When King Herod accepted divine worship from his subjects, an angel afflicted him (Acts 12:23). In the book of Revelation it is angels who open the seven seals, blow the seven trumpets, and pour out the seven bowls. At the Last Judgment, Jesus "will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil" (Matt. 13:41). What awful instruments of God's vengeance these angels will be! Angels always accomplish the will of God. They do so quickly and without question. Angels are a pattern of heavenly obedience to the divine will, which believers are to follow. Joyful service should also be the role of the church.

Yes, angels still do act in our modern world. The promises in Psalms, mentioned earlier, are for today. Hebrews 12:22 portrays heavenly and earthly worship in which the church joins the angelic host in an ongoing praise service. The writer of Hebrews also suggests we might unknowingly host angels, even as Abraham did (13:2). Although we should not seek such encounters, in the course of ministry such a meeting might take place. The New Testament also warns of Satan disguising himself as an "angel of light" (2 Cor. 11:14). Angelic visitations that result in other gospels must be rejected as false. Both John and Paul warned about demonic spirits that would seek to deceive God's people in the last days. This is the error of Mormonism. An angel named Moroni gave Joseph Smith an additional revelation which became The Book of Mormon. This Mormon document contradicts the Bible in many places, and therefore cannot be accepted as inspired and authoritative Scripture.

We are to test the spirits in two ways. First, is their message in harmony with Scripture, or does it go beyond, as in Mormonism? Teaching contrary to and beyond the Bible must be categorically rejected. Second, spiritual discernment must be exercised. The gift of discerning of spirits, found in 1 Corinthians 12:10, is the spiritual gift needed in such situations. The Holy Spirit will tell us if such a revelation is from God or Satan. Angels surround us constantly, although they are unseen. We are not to seek their visitation. Rather, we are to seek a greater visitation of the Holy Spirit. We thank God for His continuing providence through angels. They are but a means to achieving God's purposes in salvation and ultimately in the reconciliation of all things.