The Truth About God’s Angels - Part 2

Angels live in another world, not the world that so closely surrounds us on a day-to-day basis. Their dwelling place is in heaven; God’s eternal, heavenly home that will someday be ours as believers. As Christians, we are led by the Spirit and are adopted as God’s very own. Yes, we are His children, His heirs; heirs to God’s kingdom and joint heirs with His Son, Jesus Christ, and will be living in that other world someday.

And, as we think upon that other world and angels, it gives us a fresh opportunity to reflect on our heavenly destination and perhaps these thoughts will draw us even closer to God’s power and majesty. Where God’s rule goes unopposed and unquestioned. Where angels constantly worship God. Where angels come and go out at God’s command, to render service to Christians. These angels, holy angels, which are at times referred to as ministering angels, serve to do God’s will . (Matthew 25:31; Mark 8:38)

Holy angels protect believers (“The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him and delivers them.” Psalm 34: 7); little ones in particular (“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 18:10) It is also implied that angels have a special ministry to believers at the time of their death. (“So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom.” Luke 16:22). The world may watch Christians in hopes of seeing them fall, but the angels watch to see the triumph of God’s grace in their lives.

There is much said about angelic activity in the Bible, beginning from the Old Testament through Revelation: Angels were present during the great turning points in the divine plan of salvation, the period of Israel’s exile and the giving of the law. Angels announced the birth of Christ, rejoiced after the resurrection and witnessed the ascension of Jesus Christ. And, you can be certain angels will be prominent again when Christ returns. And, He is coming soon and when He does, we will experience the fullness of that other world - God’s eternal home, heaven - which will be our home right along with the angels. Are you ready?

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TAKE THE ANGEL QUIZ - FACT OR FICTION?

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There are about 10,000 angels in existence today.

• FICTION: The Bible never gives a precise count of all the angels, but John says in Revelation 5:11, “Then I looked, and I heard the a 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 thousand of thousands, saying …..”

God created angels on the sixth day of creation, the same day He gave live to man.

• FICTION: In the Old Testament, God asks Job, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation …. while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” Job 38:4-7

Angels never grow old, get sick, or die.

• FACT: As spiritual beings, angels will never experience physical sickness or old age. In Luke 20:36 we read, “nor can they die any more, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.” When we enter heaven one day we will join the angels in worshipful enjoyment of God’s presence for all eternity.

Angels are omniscient and know everything that will happen in the future.

• FICTION: As created beings, angels have limitation. Their understanding of the future is restricted to whatever information God reveals to them. First Peter 1:12 reads, “…things which angels desire to look into.” This tells us that angels desire to look into coming events.

Angels do not have physical bodies.

• FACT: While angels have taken on human form occasionally, the Bible describes them as spirit beings. “Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.” Psalm 104:4 and “Are they not all ministering spits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation.” Hebrews 1:14

Angels receive salvation through Jesus, just like Christians.

• FICTION: Redemption is not a personal reality for angels, but the are excited about it on our behalf. (Read … 1 Peter 1:12) This means that throughout eternity, Christians alone will be able to give personal witness to salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

The Bible only mentions two (2) angels by name.

• FACT: The only two angels mentioned by name in scripture are Gabriel and Michael. Michael is referred to as “one of the chief princes” in Daniel 10:13, and most scholars believe he is the only archangel. In Luke 1:19, Gabriel identifies himself by name, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.”

At the end of time there will be a massive battle between angels and demons.

• FACT: Revelation 12:7-8 says, “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was there a place found for them in heaven any longer.”

All of the demons are currently in hell.

• FICTION: The Bible mentions two types of demons: the imprisoned and the free. While the first type is locked up in hell as explained in 2 Peter 2:4, “For God did not spare the angels who sinned but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved for judgement.” The second type is free to roam and to create havoc in the world today.

“Angels of light” is another term for God’s angels.

• FICTION: “Angels of Light” is a term the Bible uses to describe the deceptive appearance of Satan and his legions of fallen angels. Scripture warns, Satan himself will deceive and impersonate: “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14. We need to understand that not every angel is sent from God.

When Satan fell, he brought one-third of the angels down with him.

• FACT: We know this from Revelation 12:4, which describes how the dragon’s “tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.” That’s what the demons are: angels who joined Satan’s rebellion and became his servants.

When people die they become angels in heaven.

• FICTION: The Bible makes it cleat that angels are a created class of beings and not spiritually progressed men. Philippian 3:21 reveals that Jesus “will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body,“ meaning that our spiritual bodies will merely be similar to those of angels.

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NOTE: The aforementioned Q & A was written by Dr. David Jeremiah, who says for centuries, people have been fascinated by stories of angel sightings, yet many contemporary beliefs about them are based on misconception and myth rather than solid biblical truth. Visit www.davidjeremiah.org to view additional resources such as his book entitled, “Angels” Who they are and how they help - What the Bible reveals.