The Truth About Angels--By Linda Kozar

Turn on the television, listen to the radio or tap into Facebook conversations and guess what you’ll hear a lot about? Angels. 

There is a fascination with angels in our present-day society. Remember the show, "Touched by an Angel?" My girls and I used to put a flashlight behind out heads and then say something we hoped was profound. Then, switch on the light. Kind of fun but kind of a spoof.

The Hebrew word for angel is mal’ach and the Greek word is angelos. Both mean "messenger" and describe one who executes the purpose and will of the one they serve.

Unfallen angels are also referred to as Holy Ones. They are:

1. Created without flaw or sin

2. Holy because of their purpose and set apart by God as his servants and attendants to His holiness.

Some believers do claim to have had encounters with angels. The Bible does refer to such encounters:

(Ps. 91:11 For He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands. Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

 Matt. 4:11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.)

So why is everyone so interested in angels?

Part of the explanation could be a search for the meaning of life—for answers that are not to be found in cold rationale or through intellectual pursuit. And of course New Age, Cults and the Occult traffic in their own concept of angels. Truth be told, most people would rather believe in angels than in God. They would prefer the substitute of heavenly celestial beings watching over them than bowing their knee to the Creator of Heaven and Earth.

Mystical, supernatural, spiritual—our society seems fascinated with exploring the idea of angels amongst us without benefit of consulting the Word of God:

Ephesians 2:12 …that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 4:17-19 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hear; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to licentiousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Angels are:

Sons of God--

In their holy state the unfallen angels are called this. 

Created beings--

Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth and all the host of them, were finished. 

Created by God--

Col 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. 

Eternal--

Luke 20:36—(They are eternal). …nor can they die anymore for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God being sons of the resurrection.

Job 38:1-Have been around from the world’s beginning.

Do Not Marry--

Matt 22:30—For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. 

Luke 1:34-35 The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and their resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage.

Are Wise--

2 Sam 14:17—Angels are wise and intelligent. Your maidservant said, The word of my lord and the king will now be comforting: for as the angel of God, so is my lord the kind in discerning food and evil.

Have knowledge and interest in the affairs of man--

Dan 9:21-22—"…yes while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering.

Can Fly And Travel Great Distances Fast--

Dan 10:14, Luke 15:10-- Dan 9:21,  Rev 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue and people.

Surround the Lord--

Host is the Hebrew word “tsaba“ meaning army, armies, hosts. A military term and carries the idea of warfare--the armies of heaven.

Ps 89:6, 8, O Lord God of Hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds you. 

1 Sam 1:11, 17:45. Then David said to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled. 

Guardian Angels

Does each and every believer have a guardian angel?  It is commonly believed, but where’s the proof?

We may have more than one guardian angel. Jesus had a multitude of angels surrounding Him.

Luke 22:43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

Matt. 26:53 Or do you thing that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?

Angels can be visible or invisible and take the form of man:

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it--Luke 13:1-2.

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Angels are messengers of God, powerful, they protect us, encamp all around us, keep us from falling or getting hurt, even strengthen and minister to mankind.

Heb 1:7 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: Let all the angels of God worship Him. And of the angels he says: Who makes His angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire. 14, Ps 34:7, 91: 10-13, 103:21)

When a believer dies, their own angel(s) brings their spirit to heaven in the presence of God. Matt 18:10

Types of Angels:

Seraphim Is 6:1-7 each with 6 wings. With 2 they covered his face, with two they covered his feet and flew with the other two (Is 6:1-4)

Cherubim Gen 3:24, Ezek 1:5-28

Zoa (living creatures) Rev. 4:6, 5:14

Archangels--Chief angels who rule kingdoms and planets Col 1:15-18, 1 Th 4:16, Jude 9

Michael—One of the chief princes, the prince of Israel Dan 10:13, 21, 11:1

Gabriel—who stands before God Dan 8:16-19, 9:20-23

Lucifer—the original ruler of the planet earth and present pseudo-ruler of man’s dominion on earth Is 14:12-14 Ezek 28:11-17

Some angels created to give continuous praise and worship (Ez 10:9-20)

Angels Are:

Glorious--Immortal--Powerful and mighty in body--Heavenly spirit beings--Need no rest--Can appear visible and invisible--Operate in the material realm--Created by Christ--Not to be worshipped--Are organized into principalities and powers with thrones--Are subject to God--Are interested in earthly affairs--Observe us--Can cook--Wear garments--Appear unawares--Have been tested--Dwell in heaven--Stand before God

Angels for certain churches ant church ages Rev. 1:20

Angels are strong!  (Rev 18:21). Carrying out a death penalty for God on a king (Acts 12:20-25). Peter’s own angel freed him from prison (Acts 12).  

We all go through crisis, where we feel like God has abandoned us—that we are encamped about by evil and bad news and there’s no hope for us at all. I challenge you to remember that scripture, that there are more who are with us than those who are against us. You can’t see what God is doing on your behalf. You can’t see his invisible armies around you and your family. You have no idea that your prayers are carried to heaven and the answers come back by his faithful messengers. But you don’t have to see. . .

In the world, seeing is believing, but to Christians, believing is seeing. We walk by faith, not by sight. Fear not, confess your fears and anxieties silently to the Lord right now. Just take a few minutes to tell confess to the Lord that you haven’t trusted Him. You gave in to your fears or disappointments and discouragements or terror and you had a lapse in faith. And then I want you to confess your faith in the Lord again Tell Him you trust Him to take care of you and your family and everyone you pray for. Don’t wake up in fear or shake with terror. Ask for help and believe that He’s sending it. Whether He sends one angel or a whole legion, your help is on the way and will be more than enough to defeat the plans of the enemy! AMEN.