Angels
Angels
“while the morning stars sang together, and all the angels shouted for joy” Job 38:7
We have always been interested in Angels, they are like us yet not of us, more mysterious and powerful than we are. We are prone to worship them, yet it is forbidden, Colossians 2:18, Rev. 19:10, 22:9. They are our “fellow servants” in the vast Kingdom of God. What are they and what is our connection with them?
God is not obligated to use Angels; He can do things directly; he is God after all and doesn’t need an army of “Helpers” to Carrol temperamental mankind. But he chooses to use them for his own reasons. I believe he is working something out in them just as He is with us. An inscription on an old Church in Scotland sums it up very well, it says “Though God’s power BE Sufficient to Govern us, Yet for Man’s Infirmity He appointed His Angels to watch over us.”
Angels are not mentioned specifically in the very beginning of the creation story in Genesis chapters 1-2 but we see them farther along in Genesis and scattered literally all through the remainder of the Bible. No exact timeline of their creation is given but we are given a few details. Job tells us a little in Chapter 38 where we read in verses 4-7 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" Job 38:4-7. Here it would seem that he was referring to Angels as “Sons of God” so many believe that angels were formed before the world was created and existed to witness the first day described in the first chapter of Genesis. We see that Satan was present to tempt Eve in the third chapter of Genesis and he is also described as a fallen angel in Isaiah 14:13. So Angels were around from pretty much the very beginning as far as we can tell. If Angels were created to help people, we can deduct that they must have been in existence by at least the sixth day of the creation timeline.
The Bible describes angels as ministering spirits whose purpose is to help God’s people. “Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14). We find comfort in the idea of guardian angels and ask God to send his angels to guard our children., "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 18:10. Also Psalms 91:11 “He will give his angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways.” Some people believe that we are assigned a guardian angel who follows us all our lives. I do not know how to back this particular idea up with Scripture but I do believe that they are around us to help us in time of need.
Were they created specifically to baby-sit we fidgety humans? Or is that a purpose allotted to them after the rebellion kicked up by Satan? (Matthew 25:41, Rev. 12:4-9). I do not know the answer to that question but there is an interesting Scripture is Hebrews 13:2 that says “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained Angels unawares.” There are Angels among us! Sometimes we see them and do not even know who we are looking at. At other times we merely sense their presence. There are many stories of mysterious companions, supernatural rescues, guardians in times of danger, a “sense” that something is amiss. Yet often disaster strikes, and good people suffer with seemingly no help at all. Can I explain that? No, but I know God’s word is true and he sees things in a way that we don’t. I personally have experienced Angelic protection and so have members of my family. Chances are you have to you just may not recognize it. It may be the only reason you are still here to read this article. Think about that time you really don’t know how you made it, but you did.
Our ability to sense reality is very limited. Your pet dog has an understanding of the world around him that you can only dream of through just his sense of smell. Bats and dolphins are gifted with radar systems that allow them to find direction and food. What about geese and swallows with their amazing guidance systems or Salmon or turtles who travel great distances to go home again? There is much in this world that we do not understand.
I have read that the human eye sees between 430-770 THz. And that we can only hear sound in a range between 20Hz-20 KHz. But these measurements only account for a small part of the light and sound range. This means there is probably a whole lot more going on all around us than we can hear or see.
There are some who believe that reality exists in many different dimensions and that it is possible that Angels step between our human dimension and the dimension where the spirit realm exists. I do not know these things, but I know that much is possible and there is much we do not understand.
Angels can speak, they appear and reappear. They seem to be emotional creatures. They can become visible on occasion. We are usually not equipped to see them any more than we are equipped to see the dimensions of a nuclear field, the structure of atoms or the electricity that bites your hand and powers so much of our world.
Many people believe that when we die, we morph into angels, this is simply not true, we are different beings, created at different times, dogs and cats if you will. Does Fluffy ever at any point in her existence become Fido, or Spot? There is no place in Scripture that says we become angels, no place, I guarantee.
Angels seem to have a more “hands on” approach when it comes to fulfilling their duties. I am sure it must have been unintended but Satan opened a window to understanding the workings of Angels when he spoke to God in Job 1:10 “Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land”. What sort of “hedge” was he talking about? For years I have heard people pray that God would put a “hedge” of protection around folks like travelers and school children. They are asking angelic protection in a situation.
Angels protect us, guide us, and bring people and provision into our lives as need be, they are friends who help us make it to where we need to be, Genesis 19:1, Psalm 91:11-21, Acts 5:18,19. But since Satan can masquerade as an “angel of light” 2 Corinthians 11:14, it is not safe to pray to them or speak directly to them, Col.2:18, Rev. 19:10, 22:9. I am not suggesting you be afraid, just avoid personal interaction with them. We are never to worship them, we are warned in Romans 1:24-25 to worship the “Creator not the Creature.” We can ask for their assistance, but we must go through “headquarters” by addressing the request to God in prayer. They are friends, but you can talk to them later once you get home.
Angel carry us home when we die as we see in the story of Lazarus in Luke 16:22, And They will gather God’s elect at the Rapture Matthew 24:31. I am looking forward to that.
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