Are there really such things as angels that are among us? Consistently found within the Bible are passages that speak to powerful heavenly beings with very high intelligence that both protect us and are agents of judgement. In our english language they are refereed to as angels, and not the type that you see on television that are babies flapping around wearing dippers.
When God created the heaven and the earth, he also created heavenly beings and a whole realm that we cannot see, unless for the rare chance when God gives us the ability to see them. These angels have very high intelligence, and were created to worship and glorify God. Sometime after being created, one of the lead angels, later named satan, decided that he wanted to have the status of god and led a rebellion against the heavenly hosts to try to gain that status. Satan, along with a third of the angels that chose to rebel along with him, were cast out of heaven and onto the earth destined one day for destruction and are now known as demons.
Among the angels, there is an order and ranking structure, and several different types that the Bible points out. Michael the archangel, as well as the warrior angel Gabriel, are the only two angels that are named in the Bible. The rest are characterized as either angels, cherubim, or seraphim that are innumerable in number.
So what exactly do angels do? Found within the Bible, they are used to glorify God in several ways. First they are messengers of judgement that are sometimes sent to destroy large numbers of people that are enemies of God, and also are sent to patrol the earth to watch and guard his creation. They also war against demonic forces and will one day come to proclaim Jesus’ second coming and future judgement.
The Bible also says that when God saves someone here on earth and they become a christian, the angels specifically rejoice upon seeing one more son or daughter brought into the kingdom of God. In fact, they spend a large majority of their time stooping to look at the truths of the Bible and why exactly God decided to have grace on some humans and save them when he only served justice to the angels that rebelled against God. But probably the most well known thing that angels are known for is protecting christians and delivering them from danger or harm.
This week, show some mercy and sympathy to someone you cross paths with that you don’t know and will never benefit from helping them. Hebrews 13.2 says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” How cool is that!
Purposeful Theology 