MINISTRY OF ANGELS R. D.
Ice 1977 [TEV]
“Angel means messenger.
Spiritual beings who exist to serve God and to praise the Lord. Higher in status than humans, they are lower
in status that the exalted Jesus (Hebrews 2:6-8). Among them there are
different ranks or orders, including angels and archangels. Some rebelled against God's sovereignty;
their leader is known as Satan (the devil), and they became fallen or disobedient
angels. The vast majority, however, have
remained as free obedient beings, and it was they who welcomed the birth of
Jesus (Luke 2:13-14) and will come with Him at His Second Coming (1
Thessalonians 4:18). In the Old
Testament, the 'angel of the Lord' is in fact God Himself speaking. Two angels are specifically named in the Old
Testament, Gabriel and Raphael. Gabriel
appeared again to announce the Incarnation of Christ. Michael, the "prince of Israel
Angels are a separate order of creation. Contrary to popular folklore, a human does
not become an angel after death. Note
that angels existed before the death of any human being -(compare Genesis 3:24;
Job 38:6-7.
In the Scriptures angels sometimes appear
with bodies and in human form, and with abilities similar to the resurrected
Christ (compare Genesis 18:1-8; 19:1,10; Luke 24:37-43; John 20:19).
God gave the Old Testament Law through
angels (Gal. 3:19). In contrast the Gospel
Good News came through Christ rather than angels (Hebrews 1:1-2).
Angels are interested in the salvation of
mankind (1 Peter 1:12). Yet the
Scriptures strongly warn us not to worship angels (Col. 2:18,23; Rev.
22:8-9).
Angels come with Christ to judge the earth
and reap the harvest of both reward and punishment (Jude 14-15; Rev.
14:14-20).
The Devil and his angels were defeated at
the Cross (Col. 2:15). But they are still permitted to oppose the
followers of Christ (Eph. 6:12; 1 Cor. 10:13), and Christians must "resist
the Devil" (James 4:7).
"God has not placed the angels as
rulers over the new world to come - the world of which we speak. Instead, as it is said somewhere in the
Scriptures (Psalm 8:4-6): 'What is man, O God, that You should think of him;
mere man (the son of man), that You should care for him? You made him for a little while lower than
the angels, You crowned him with glory and honor, and made him ruler over all
things.' It says that God made man
'ruler over all things'; this clearly includes everything. We do not, however, see man ruling over all
things now. But we do see Jesus, who for
a little while was made lower than the angels, so that through God's grace
(kindness) He should die for everyone (taste death for everyone in all the
world). We see Him now crowned with
glory and honor because of the death He suffered. It was only right that God, who creates and
preserves all things, should make Jesus perfect through suffering, in order to
bring many sons (daughters) to share His glory.
For Jesus is the one who leads them to salvation." [Hebrews 2:5-10]
1. Ministering
Spirits.
"The angel of the LORD met Hagar at
a spring in the desert on the road to Shur . . .He said, 'Go back to her and be
her slave.'" [Genesis 16:7-9]
"The angel of God, who had been in
front of the army of Israel
"God will put His angels in charge of
you to protect you wherever you go."
[Psalm 91:11] The Devil quotes
this during the temptation of Christ.
2. Angels announced
the Birth of Christ.
"But the angel said to them: 'Don't be
afraid! For I am here with good news for
you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This night in David's town your Savior was
born - Christ the Lord!" [Luke
2:10]
3. Comforted Christ
in His Temptation.
"He was there forty days, and Satan
tempted Him. Wild animals were there
also, but angels came and helped Him."
[Mark 1:13]
4. Delivered
Apostles from prison.
"But that night an angel of the Lord
opened the prison gates, led the apostles out, and said to them, Go and stand
in the Temple
"Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood
there, and a light shone in the cell.
The angel shook Peter by the shoulder, woke him up and said, Hurry! Getup!
And at once the chains fell off his hands." [Acts 12:7]
5. Angels execute
the vengeance of God.
“When the LORD's angel was about to destroy Jerusalem
"An angel of the LORD went to the
Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 soldiers." [Isaiah 37:36] The angel was defending the city of Jerusalem
6. Rejoice over
sinners who repent.
"In the same way, I tell you, the
angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents." [Luke 15:10]
7. Fallen angels.
“For God did not spare the angels who
sinned, but threw them into hell, where they are kept chained in darkness,
waiting for the Day of Judgment."
[2 Peter 2:4]
"Remember the angels who did not stay
within the limits of their proper authority, but abandoned their own
dwelling-place: God has kept them in the darkness below, bound in eternal
chains for that great Day on which they will be condemned." [Jude 6]
8. Heavenly angels.
“Again I looked, and I heard angels,
thousands and millions of them! They stood around the throne, the four living
creatures, and the elders, and sang in a loud voice: "The Lamb who was
killed is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and strength, honor, glory,
and praise!" And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, in the
world below, and in the sea—all living beings in the universe—and they were
singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and
honor, glory and might, forever and ever!" The four living creatures
answered, "Amen!" And the elders fell down and worshiped.” [Rev 5:11-14 (TEV)]
