Angels Christians are different from others in many ways. One way - the world is striving for what they see about them. Manifested in Communist Party "We want our paradise here and now" Christians look at things not seen 2 Corinthians 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eter nal. Angels are one part of what is not seen Yet, too often not looked at. Angels are mentioned nearly 300 times in the Bible. Use of "Angel" as Human Messengers (Malak = Hebrew, Angelos = Greek) 2 Samuel 2:5 So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, You are blessed of the Lord, for you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him. 1 Kings 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." 2 Kings 16:7 Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria... Haggai 1:13 Then Haggai, the Lord's messenger, spoke the Lord's message to the people, saying, "I am with you, says the Lord." Malachi 2:7 For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. Luke 7:24 When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? Luke 7:27 This is he of whom it is written: `Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.' 2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me... James 2:25 Was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? Revelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches. Revelation 2:1 To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, `These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: Angels Are Spiritual Creatures Created by God Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. Psalms 148:2, 5 Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created. Nehemiah 9:6 You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, ...and You preserve them all. They Were Present at the Creation of the World Job 38:4-7 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Angels Are Innumerable Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, Psalms 68:17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, Even thousands of thousands... Daniel 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. a thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him... There is no word in Hebrew for million - 10,000 x 10,000 = 100 million Matthew 26:53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? What is the Purpose of These Special Creatures? #1 Give glory to God and help accomplish His will. Revelation 5:11-12 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" Revelation 7:11-12 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen." #2 Serve God's people Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? They Can Travel From the Spiritual Dimension to the Physical Judges 6:11-21 Gideon Judges 13:3-9 Manoah and his wife Luke 2:9,13 Shepherds Acts 12:7 Peter in prison Angels Can Be Detained - Daniel 10:10-15 Angels are Very Strong 2 Peter 2:11 ...angels, who are greater in power and might, (than man) Psalms 103:20 ...His angels, Who excel in strength... 2 Thessalonians 1:7 ... the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 2 Kings 19:35 ..the angel of the Lord... killed 185,000. Ranks Among Angles As Well As With Wicked Spirits Ephesians 1:21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. (cp. 6:10-12) Michael the Arch-angel. Others under him. Angels Do The Will of the Father Prayer of Jesus Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Psalms 103:20-21 Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. They Are Sent to Minister Hebrews 1:13-14 But to which of the angels has He ever said: "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? Sent from the presence of God to the realm of mankind. Genesis 24:40 But he said to me, The Lord, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father's house. Daniel 6:22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him... Luke 1:19 Gabriel was sent to Zacharias Luke 1:26-31 Gabriel was sent by God to Mary. Acts 12:11 Peter ...said, "the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people." What Are Angels Sent For? Angels are Messengers 1. Abraham told not to kill Isaac 2. Manoah and wife told of son to be born. 3. Interpreted vision of ram and goat to Daniel. 4. Helped Daniel understand Jeremiah's prophecy of the 70 weeks 5. Zacharias told about his son by Gabriel 6. Mary, Joseph, shepherds all have message by angels. 7. Philip told to go out to the desert 8. Told Paul that they would be delivered form the storm at sea Angels Delivered the Law at Sinai Deuteronomy 33:2 And he (Moses) said: "The Lord came from Sinai, and dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, and He came with ten thousands of saints; from His right hand came a fiery law for them. Psalms 68:17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, Even thousands of thousands; The Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the Holy Place. Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it. Galatians 3:19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made. Hebrews 2:1-2 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, How is it meant that the Law Was Given by God? Hebrews 3:7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, Hebrews 4:7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, ..."Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." God Š angels Š Moses Š Israel We now have complete revelation from God. Hebrews 1 - 2 shows how Jesus is greater than the angels. The revelation through Him is greater. They still are our ministers. How? The key to understanding the role of angels today is to understand their role in the past. Angles Care for Physical Needs 1. Provided water for Hagar and Ishmael Gen. 21:14-120 2. Provided food for Elijah 2 Kings 19:3-9 3. Ministered to Jesus after His 40 day fast 4. Keep wild animals away as with Daniel? How did they strengthened Jesus? Luke 22:43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. We are not told the details, but we know angels were involved. God promised to care for us, Mat 6:33 etc. Angels one way of doing this. Angels Help Us Be Successful in What We Do Genesis 24:40 But he said to me, The Lord, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father's house. Many passages teach of God blessing individuals. How does He do this? One way - angels. Israel Exodus 23:20-23 Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him. But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off. Exodus 33:2 And I will send My Angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. Psalms 91:11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. Rescue From Danger Genesis 19:10-16 - Lot Genesis 48:16 the Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; (Jacob blessing Ephraim and Manasseh) Psalms 34:7 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Angels Encouraged Paul - Act 27:13-26 Angels Protected Elisha From the Syrians 2 Kings 6:16 Do not fear... those who are with us are more than those who are with them Angels Fights Against Our Enemies Psalms 35:5-6 Let them be like chaff before the wind, And let the angel of the Lord chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery, And let the angel of the Lord pursue them. Genesis 19:11 And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door. Psalms 78:49 He cast on them the fierceness of His anger, Wrath, indignation and trouble, By sending angels of destruction among them. [plagues on Egypt] 2 Kings 19:35 185,000 killed in the camp of the Assyrians 1 Corinthians 10:10 nor murmur, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Angels Enabled People To Hear the Truth, Open Doors Philip and Eunuch - Acts 8 Peter and Cornelius - Acts 10 Colossians 4:3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ... Rev 3:8 Philadelphia Angels help in Providence Dan 10-12 Angels Are Present At Our Death What happens when a person dies? Where does his spirit go? How does it get there? Are there any forces trying to keep the spirit separated from God in the spiritual realm as there are now? 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Philippians 1:23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. How De We Get There? Luke 16:22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. Many spiritual enemies in the spiritual realm. After the spirit leaves the body, why should we expect the wicked spirits to no longer care? We are chaperoned through spiritual realm to the presence of Christ in the same realm angels and Satan are. (in heavenly places) What is there no one knows. Many attempt to learn of this realm through hypnosis, drugs, astral projection. Commonly reported of a tunnel to pass through, what's on the other side of the tunnel? Angels waiting to escort us to Christ. Angels Will Be Coming With Christ Greatest event in the future is the 2nd coming of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. Wheat and the Tares - Matthew 13:24-30, 36-39 No more hypocrites, insincere, apathetic, lukewarm in the church. Some we know are not following God. Some we cannot judge. They appear to be righteous and fool men. God and the angels will not be fooled. Angels Will be Present When We Are Brought Before the Throne of God - (Mat 25:31-32) Luke 12:8-9 Everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man shall confess him also before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. Angels Will Cast the Sinners Away 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, How will this be accomplished? The Wicked in the Kingdom Matthew 13:41-42 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Wicked in the world Matthew 13:49-50 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 25:41 Then He will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: Revelation 20:10 And the devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. With the casting of Satan, his angels and the wicked into the lake of fire, this part of the work of the angels will be finished. there will be no more being sent from the presence of Christ to men on earth. Together with the redeemed they will live through eternity in the presence of God and enjoy a life of praise and peace in heaven. They witnessed creation, fall, redemption, judgment They are our servants to help us reach home with God. With help like this how can we loose? Not to go about feeling defeated, but more than conquerors. Not our power, but God's. We may not have angles visibly come to us as with Lot, and Elisha to deliver us. Tell us personally where to go find someone to teach But they are still ministering spirits sent our to serve us. Struggle we involved in Satan hinders, angels help Revelation 19:11-16 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Paul Was Aware of Their Presence 1 Timothy 5:21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. Do the Angles See People As Interested In Redemption As They Are? 1 Peter 1:10-12 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, ...things which angels desire to look into. Wayne Wells wayneliz@twave.net http://users.twave.net/ncc