ANGELS
Before commencing this section, try to answer the questions below.
1. What is the role of angels in Scripture?
2. Is there evidence in Scripture for individual guardian angels?
3. What's the difference between cherubim and seraphim?
Created by God before the world began
Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone- while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? Job 38:4-7
N.B. The word translated as 'angels' is 'baneey' and whilst being translated as 'sons of God' in the King James is more generally a relational term, speaking of that which has been created by God. Note also Job 1:6, where Satan came with them.
You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. Nehemiah 9:6
Note also Col 1:16, which speaks of all things being created by God.
How Many Angels Are There?
This is not known but scripture indicates a large number:
The LORD came from Sinai and dawned over them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran. He came with myriads of holy ones from the south, from his mountain slopes." Deut 33:2.
"Why gaze in envy, O rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign, where the LORD himself will dwell forever? The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord [has come] from Sinai into his sanctuary."Psalm 68:16-17.
"But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly Heb 12:22.
Note also the return of Jesus accompanied by 'blazing fire, with his powerful angels.' (2 Thess 1:7). These angels are given special power to do God's will.
Ministering Spirits:
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Hebrew 1:14
Note also Ps 91:11-12, Mt 18:10 and Acts 12:15. These verses point to angels being given specific roles as they follow God's commands. There is no evidence here for individual guardian angels.
There is an unseen world that is very much present.
Think of the particular way that God sought to encourage His people through the following two events:
Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is the camp of God!" So he named that place *'Mahanaim'. Gen 32:1-2.
*Meaning, 'two camps'.
And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:16.
The Work of Angels In The Life And Ministry of Christ.
Angels announced facts concerning Jesus' birth to Mary and Joseph to prepare them for Christ's incarnation (Luke 1:26-38; Mt 1:20).
An angel announced Christ's birth to shepherds and was joined by heavenly host praising God (Luke 2:8-15). Think about that - an army more powerful that any the world had ever seen came and sang praises at the birth of Christ.
An angel revealed the name of the incarnate Son of God before He was born (Luke 2:21). The all-powerful King of Kings and Lord of Lords was to be known as Jesus (saviour). The Son of God was entering space and time to dwell with man for a season so that man, the rebel, could have the opportunity to come home.
An angel warned Joseph to take his family to Egypt (Mt 2:13-21).
Angels attended to the needs of Jesus after his wilderness temptations (Mt 4:11; Mk 1:13). Jesus had suffered as any man might suffer; He did not use His power to make things easier for Himself. Had Jesus done so He would not have been able to stand as our representative.
Jesus told Nathaniel that angels of God would ascend and descend upon Him (John 1:51).
As Jesus' death approached and He prayed on the Mt of Olives, an angel came to Him and strengthened Him (Luke 22:43). Yet again this reveals that Jesus did not draw upon any special power to make His suffering a little easier. Angels ministered to Him as they had to many in O.T. times.
If it had been part of God's plan, Jesus could have called upon 12 legions of angels to deliver Him from His enemies (Mt 26:53).
At His tomb an angel rolled away the stone and spoke to the two women there (Mt 28:2-7).
Two angels were seated inside the tomb where Jesus' body had been (John 20:10-12).
Two angels were present at His ascension into heaven and spoke words of comfort to the disciples (Acts 1:10-11).
All the angels will accompany Christ when He comes back in His glory (Mt 16:27; 25:31; 2 Thes 1).
Angels
Angels are God's servants and carry out some of his plans on earth:
They bring messages to people (Luke 1:11-19; Acts 8:26; 10:3-8).
They carry out some of God's judgements such as a plague on Israel (2 Sam 24-16-17 ), and the killing of Assyrian leaders (2 Chron 32:21).
Angels are never said to be made in the image of God, and do not marry (Mt 22:30).
Some angels appear to have been involved in a two-fold rebellion, they left their position in heaven and fell, refusing God's authority and they are bound with everlasting chains for the final judgement (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6).
Rev 12:9 speaks of the final exclusion of Satan and his angels.(note 'demon' = daimonion = evil spirit, heathen god, evil supernatural being). 'Demons' are fallen angels which are as yet still free.
Cherubim
Entrance to the Garden of Eden.
After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. Gen 3:24
Later on in our notes we will be seeing how it was before the Cherubim that Cain and Abel would have brought their offerings - at the entrance of the last place where God's localised presence had been known by their parents. In linking this with the following verses below we see that, in one sense, Cherubim (like all angelic beings) speak of God's mercy.
The Mercy Seat of the Ark of Covenant.
Make an atonement cover of pure gold - two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. Exodus 25:17-20
The Tabernacle:
Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman. Exodus 26:1
The Temple:
For the entrance of the inner sanctuary he made doors of olive wood with five-sided jambs. And on the two olive wood doors he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid the cherubim and palm trees with beaten gold.1 Kings 6:31-33
Think of how easily God's angelic host could destroy fallen man - yet man does not receive what he does deserve (this is mercy) and does receive what he does not deserve (this is grace)
So! The Cherubim appear to be guardians concerning God's localised presence. The places where Cherubim are mentioned also allude to mercy: The Mercy-Seat, Tabernacle and Temple.
So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. 1 Sam 4:4
Note also: Psalm 18:9-19; especially v 10 ".He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind." The section finishes with, ". He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." Here we see grace and mercy yet again!
Seraphim
Seraphim are only mentioned by name in Isaiah 6:2,6. God is seated above the cherubim (Psalm 80:1), but the seraphim stand above him and appear concerned with worship and holiness, in contrast to the Cherubim (see above).
We have taken a brief look at the role of angels in Scripture and seen that they are God's servants, ministering to mankind through obedience to God's commands, thus bringing glory to God. This all speaks of grace and mercy, areas that we will be looking at very closely in future sections.
Now review your answers to the questions at the beginning of this section and see how you can add to them. What does this section tell you about God.