Christians Spiritual Allies: Angels

We hear about angels all the time. Some are depicted as guardians, others are shown in pictures as adorable children angels while others are said to be fierce warriors. We often speak of humans as angels because they seem to possess angelic qualities. But what are angels, what characteristics do they really possess and what role, if any, do they play on planet earth?

Early Christianity inherited Jewish beliefs about angels. In the New Testament the salvation work of Jesus is interpreted as a triumph over the evil angelic powers and principalities and the supremacy of Christ over all angels is never in doubt.

We notice in the Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament, the Book of Enoch presents an extensive development of angels in which good and bad angels make their appearance and is deeply rooted in Jewish traditions (i.e. The Ophanim is a class of higher angels also known as the “Thrones” because they are said to be carriers of the throne of God). Biblical angelic beings were believed to represent the nations of the world in heaven as well as individuals and churches (Revelation letters). The archangel Michael was thought to have had a special responsibility as the guardian angel of Israel.

“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book--will be delivered. Daniel 12:1

“See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” Matthew 18:10.

In the Bible, angels constitute a distinct order of higher echelons of universal beings. The word is derived from the Greek angelos, and the Hebrew malakh both meaning messenger. Even though messenger is sometimes used to designate human messengers it is easily differentiated when taken in proper context. Other names for angels include hosts, heavenly hosts, holy ones, heavenly beings and so forth.

Angels are spirits, supernatural celestial beings whom God created to execute His will. They praise, reverence, and obey God. They promote divine goodness, and are mediators of God’s love and goodwill to man. Angels, therefore, are active in a variety of universal operations. They were created long before man and being spirits, can function as mediators between God and man. They are able to pass back and forth between the spiritual and natural realms at will, unimpeded by physical boundaries. Angels are superhuman in strength yet not omnipotent; superior in intellect and wisdom yet not omniscient.

We know from our Bible readings that angels consistently appeared in human form though we never read of them assuming other forms such as animals, objects, and the like. It is very interesting that neither do we read of angels ever appearing to evil people nor warning them of impending dangers. Good angels seemed to always appear to good people such as Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, Peter and others.

Another characteristic we notice in Scripture about angels is that they ALWAYS appeared as men, NEVER as women or children, and they were ALWAYS clothed. As Christ identified Himself with the male species in flesh and blood, so angels identified themselves in male form, spoke in human language and performed human deeds during their brief visits. Thus, it is clear that God has repeatedly revealed Himself to humanity by establishing rapport in ways accommodating human understanding and perception at each particular time in history.

On many occasions, angels were disguised so perfectly as “human men” that they were not at first identified as angels. Abraham, you remember, entertained three men as dinner guests. One remained to talk with him while the other two “angels” went on down to Sodom and spent the night with Lot, who thought that they were men. This is probably the reason why the Hebrews author admonished his brothers to “not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” (3:2). Gideon did not know that his reassuring guest was an angel until he had served him a meal and “the angel of the LORD touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the LORD disappeared. 22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, “Alas, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!” Judges 6:21-22. And we recall that an angel of the Lord made more than one appearance as a “man” to Manoah and his wife.

Understanding angels’ relationship to man, the Hebrew writer actually describes the role of angels in his question: “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” The services and role of angels are many and varied and in response to the commands of Jesus Christ. Their responsibilities cover a wide range of actions and they are believers’ most powerful invisible allies.

Angels as Newscasters

Angels are the newscasters who heralded the births of some of God’s selected servants. An angel announced in advance to Abraham and Sarai the conception and birth of Isaac. Likewise, an angel foretold the birth of Samson to his parents. Gabriel announced the birth of John the Baptist to his father Zechariah before his wife Elizabeth had even become pregnant, and the birth of Jesus to Mary before she was with child. On the night of His birth, that momentous event was pronounced by an angel to the shepherds and was immediately joined by a chorus of heavenly angels praising God and blessing man.

Angels not only proclaimed blessed events but they also on occasion forewarned the “righteous” of imminent danger or threatening disaster. Abraham and Lot were forewarned by angels of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Joseph was warned by an angel to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape Herod’s edict. Gabriel revealed future events, involving God’s judgment to the prophet Daniel. Similarly, an angel revealed to John on Patmos a kaleidoscope of eschatological visions including the Resurrection, the Judgment and New Jerusalem.

Angels as servants

Scripture also pictures angels as ministering to man’s needs. As mediators of God’s love and benevolence to humanity, their mission is always encouraging goodwill to God’s children. They not only ministered to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob during times of critical need, but also with tender compassion to the slave girl, Hagar, and her young son, Ishmael, when they we threatened with starvation and thirst in the wilderness. When Elijah, fearful and exhausted, fell asleep under a tree in the desert, an angel awoke him and served him food and water, which provided him with strength for a long journey ahead. Peter was delivered from chains and prison by an angel, just as earlier, “during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought” the apostles out and commanded them to go into the Temple and preach.”

Of course we all know that angels ministered to Jesus on several occasions. After He had spent forty days in the wilderness, threatened by wild animals, weak from hunger, and harassed by Satan, angels attended to Him. In His agony and sorrow in Gethsemane, an angel appeared and strengthened Him. After His body had been entombed, “an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.”

Angels as guardians

The belief in guardian angels is an old one and finds its support in both Old and New Testaments. For example, an angel guarded the lives of Daniel and the three young Hebrews against the death sentence pronounced by powerful rulers. An angel is said to have guarded Jacob during his twenty years in Haran and brought him safely to Canaan. When Moab and Midian allied to bring a curse of destruction on Israel, their plan was aborted by an angel who made Balaam revise his prophecy and rewrite his sermon. Also, reminiscent of Jacob’s experience in meeting “God's army” of angels on returning to Canaan was that of Joshua when he met the captain of the hosts of the Lord who joined him as an ally at the beginning of the conquest of Canaan.

Concerning guardian angels for children, Jesus explicitly warned, “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” Matthew 18:10.

In the guardianship of God’s people, angels were sometimes engaged in warfare against their enemies. So when Sennacherib’s army threatened the destruction of Jerusalem; “that night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning--there were all the dead bodies!”

One of the most compelling, enlightening and reassuring truths on angelic guardianship was spoken by Jesus Himself at the time of His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter had just attempted a valiant defense of Jesus by wielding his sword, when Jesus disarmed him and uttered amazing words of reassurance that I hope we all never fail to remember:

Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? Matthew 26:53.

Jesus Christ has an innumerable company of angels standing ready at His command to perform as He directs. Angels themselves, of course, are not to be prayed to, but the Lord of the angels: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11.

We rejoice in the knowledge that there is a world of angels always at the service of the Lord and at His beckon dictate will come to accompany, defend, and preserve us. God's angels are our spiritual allies. All glory to God!!

* Nephilim, Fallen Angels or Watchers that Fell, Wikipedia