| Study of Angels Three |
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Introduction
At this very moment there is a vast supernatural reality all around you. Although you cannot see it, this other realm encompasses angelic beings and spiritual powers. Does the Bible have anything to say about this other reality and how it involves us? Yes, it does!
Who are these mysterious creatures that adorn decorations and stir imaginations? What do angels do, and what is their purpose? The Bible has much to say about angels. It also tells the stories of men and women who encountered them. Throughout history, angels have protected people or brought them special messages from God. Even today, some of us can recount experiences of angelic encounters at specific times in our lives. But whether we are aware of them or not, angels are continuously doing what they were created to do. What Is an Angel? An angel is, by definition, a messenger. The Bible has over three hundred references to angels, and defines two groups of angelic messengers. Heavenly angels carry out the commands of God, while fallen angels carry out acts of deceit and wickedness.
The Bible details the job description of God's angels: "Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word" (Psalm 103:20). The angels of God are always ready and available to obey His commands! They are strong and competent to carry out their next assignment from God's throne. But what exactly are angels assigned to do? The Lord "maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire" (Psalm 104:4). These angels are "all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation" (Hebrews 1:14). In other words, angels are sent out from the throne room of God "because of the ones being about to inherit salvation." Wow! Our Creator God, who so loved the world, has not only brought salvation to us through Jesus Christ but also made angels to be His ministering spirits for us, the heirs of salvation! Angels are heavenly spirit beings created by God, through Jesus Christ. "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible...all things were created by him and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist" (Colossians 1:16-17; also see Nehemiah 9:6). Angels are helpers, guardians, proclaimers of news, and agents of both the mercy of God and the wrath of God. The Bible is not clear on when God created angels, but we do know that by the sixth day of creation, "the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them" (Genesis 2:1). We also know that angels were present when God laid the foundations of the earth (Job 38:4-7) and they rejoiced to see His creative work. Scripture is mostly silent on the nature and origin of angels, for such information would distract us from the Bible's theme of God's salvation plan for mankind. But we are told how angels were created: "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth" (Psalm 33:6). What Else Does the Bible Say About These Heavenly Messengers?
Let's look at some fascinating facts about angels (heavenly messengers) from the Bible.
Angels possess intelligence superior to that of humans (II Peter 2:11). They are not limited by an earthly body and can move instantly through space. In fact, in a single instant, an angel can come from the highest heaven down to earth or go from one end of the universe to the other.
These powerful beings stood by, ready to assist Jesus Christ when He faced the agony of a tortuous death. Jesus said, "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" (Matthew 26:53). Angels are completely subject to Jesus and "all the angels of God worship Him" (Hebrews 1:6). In fact, ever since Jesus ascended into heaven and sat on the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers became subject to Him (I Peter 3:22). What Do Angels Do? As ministering spirits, angels carry out the commands of God pertaining to the heirs of salvation. This involves warning, guiding, protecting, comforting, providing, and delivering the children of God according to His perfect will. "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them" (Psalm 34:7; also see Psalm 91:11).
How did angels attend to the needs of people in the Bible?
It is intriguing to read biblical accounts of angelic interaction with humans, and it is especially interesting to note how people responded. Were they afraid? Terrified? Did they even know it was an angel who was speaking to them? Regardless, whether angels appeared in dreams, visions, or in human form, the result was miraculous protection and provision.
Here we encounter a question that many of us ask at one time or another: When tragedies happen, where are angels? And, where is God when the wickedness of man causes innocent people to die? The answer is that we cannot see all the warfare that goes on in the spiritual realm. There are, in fact, angels unseen even in such painful times, bringing assurance, protection, comfort, and guidance to certain ones as directed by the wisdom and sovereignty of God. We can trust our faithful Creator to make all things right in the end. What Is the Army of God?
Angels make up the vast army of God, often referred to as the host of heaven or heavenly host, and God Himself is the commander of this mighty host! "I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded" (Isaiah 45:12). Since the angels and the stars of heaven are often used interchangeably (Judges 5:20; Job 25:5, 38:7), we surmise that an angel accounts for each star in the sky; for the number of angels and stars are so vast that they cannot be determined (Hebrews 11:12, 12:22).
Angels not only carry out God's commands relating to His children, but also carry out the commands of God pertaining to the ungodly. As warriors in God's army, angels bring about judgment (Matthew 13:41, 49), pestilence (II Samuel 24:15-17), curses (Judges 5:23), sudden death (II Kings 19:35; Acts 12:23), and persecution on evildoers: "Let them be as 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 persecute them" (Psalm 35:5-6). The army of God is usually invisible to the human eye, but it is awesome. In the time of Elisha the prophet, the King of Syria was at war with Israel. This king came against Israel with "horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots." Elisha's servant panicked, and asked what they should do. Elisha answered, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (II Kings 6:14-17). What an amazing, incredible sight! Elisha knew that the chariots of fire on his side were greater than the warriors coming against them. There was nothing for him to fear, not even a frightful army. Who Do Angels Worship? God's angels surround His throne, serving and worshipping Him continuously. Scripture commands them: "Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts" (Psalm 148:2). The prophet Micaiah said, "I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left" (I Kings 22:19). This awesome sight was also witnessed by John in Revelation 7:11: "And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God." God's angels are beautiful and magnificent creatures, yet we are not to pray to or worship them (Colossians 2:18); for only God is worthy of worship. God says, "I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another" (Isaiah 42:8). In fact, the Old Testament writers warned about the danger of worshipping heavenly bodies and prescribed the death penalty for the worship of anything besides the Creator, including the sun, moon, or any of the host of heaven (Deuteronomy 17:2-7). Scripture says, "Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth" (Isaiah 40:26). One day He, Who is worthy of all worship, will receive His own (Luke 12:8-9), and He will confess or deny each person in the presence of the angels! Who Is the "Angel of God"? Throughout the Old Testament, there are certain references to the Angel of God or Angel of the Lord. Although not exclusive, this term may refer to appearances of the preincarnate Word (Jesus Christ)! Many of those who saw Him said that they had seen God. Others fell down to worship Him.
Who in the Old Testament saw the Angel of God?
In these encounters, the Angel of God (Angel of the Lord) spoke for God in the first person (Genesis 16:10; Exodus 3:2, 6; Judges 2:1). He alone has the ministry of intercession with His Father on the behalf of men (Isaiah 63:9; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 9:24).
How Were Angels Involved in the Life of Christ?
The coming of Jesus the Messiah was anticipated for thousands of years and prophesied numerous times in the Old Testament. How excited the angels must have been when the time finally came for His advent to earth! The angel Gabriel joyfully announced His conception to Mary (Luke 1:26-27), and a multitude of the heavenly host heralded His birth to some very terrified shepherds: "And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:13-14). Thirty years later, angels came and ministered to Jesus when He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4:11). It was none other than an angel who also helped sustain Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane when He faced great suffering and death (Luke 22:43). Angels were the ones who proclaimed Christ's resurrection to the women at the tomb (John 20:12) and appeared to the disciples after Christ's ascension into heaven (Acts 1:10). The Bible tells us that angels will also play a colossal role in the future when Christ returns (Matthew 13:41, 49; II Thessalonians 1:7), for they will carry out God's judgment upon the earth (Revelation 8-9, 14:15-19, 20:1-3). Do We Have Guardian Angels? The term guardian angel is not in the Bible, nor does the Bible give a definitive answer on whether each person is assigned a specific angel.
However, the idea that angels have protective roles is implied in the following passages: "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 18:10); and "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways" (Psalm 91:11). In these verses, it is clear that angels guard and protect certain ones both in childhood and throughout their lives. It seems evident that there is an age of accountability where an angel will withdraw protection if the person indulges in sin and turns from God. For example, after the children of Israel had taken possession of the Promised Land, they served the Lord faithfully for a season. But after the death of Joshua and the elders, the children of Israel began to serve idols. For this reason the angel of the Lord said that he would no longer drive out the inhabitants of the land (Numbers 33:55). Another example is when two angels brought Lot and his wife out of Sodom before the Lord destroyed it with fire. The angels were merciful to them, but when Lot's wife turned back to look at Sodom, she was left to her fate (Genesis 19:16-17; Luke 17:31-32). Angels not only watch us (I Corinthians 4:9), but apparently, they also record the deeds of our lives: "Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?" (Ecclesiastes 5:6). Every person will be judged according to their words and their deeds, whether good or evil. Thanks be to God that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin (Acts 3:19; I John 1:7)! Some other passages implying that angels have guardian roles are Psalm 34:7, Daniel 10:13, and Revelation 1:20. The New Testament mentions Peter's angel; the believers thought Peter's angel had come to them instead of Peter (Acts 12:15) when really an angel had released Peter from prison. A final verse implying a guardian role is Luke 16:22, when an angel carried the soul of the beggar Lazarus away from earth at his death. Were it not for the vigilant protection of these heavenly guardians, the lives of God's children would probably be in serious jeopardy from malicious spiritual attacks. There is all around us a raging spiritual war that believers can influence through their prayers (Revelation 8:3-4). Ezekiel 9:1-6 tells how God commissioned a heavenly messenger with a "writer's inkhorn" to go through the streets of the city and "set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof" (Ezekiel 9:4). This mark of protection was for intercessors, for those who cried out to God because of the wickedness of their city. Ultimately, no matter how or when angels protect us, it is God who watches over us. The ministry of God's angels will always bring glory to the One Who alone is worthy of all praise. What Are Cherubim and Seraphim? Cherubim and seraphim are winged creatures that appear in Scripture and make their most memorable appearances in the visions of Ezekiel (1:4-28, 10:3-22), Isaiah (6:2-6), and John (Rev 4:7). Although not specifically called angels, cherubim and seraphim are revealed as living creatures or heavenly beings whose primary purpose is to worship God at His throne.
Cherubim (also called cherubs) are revealed as powerful guards or attendants to the divine throne. God placed cherubims and a flaming sword at the garden of Eden to guard the way of the tree of life (Genesis 3:24). In the tabernacle and also the temple, gold cherubim on the mercy seat signified the presence of God (Exodus 37:7-9; Numbers 7:89; Psalm 80:1). In Ezekiel's vision, he saw cherubim as living creatures next to the throne of God, worshipping and serving Him. The cherubim had four faces: man, lion, ox and eagle, although Ezekiel 10:14 replaces the face of the ox with the face of a cherub. Each living creature possessed four wings, two of which covered their bodies, and two of which extended upward. They traveled on what appeared to be a "wheel in the middle of a wheel" (Ezekiel 1:16) and went in any direction with great speed like a flash of lightning. Their appearance was brilliant like fire and their wings made noise like a great waterfall. What was Ezekiel's reaction? He fell on his face, completely overtaken by the glory of the Lord. Seraphim only appear in Isaiah's vision. Isaiah saw the Lord sitting on a throne, and seraphims stood over the throne crying out, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: His glory is the fullness of the whole earth" (Isaiah 6:3 — literal translation). Seraphim means the burning ones or flying serpents. They were similar to cherubim but had six wings, two of which covered their face, two of which covered their feet, and with two wings they flew. What was Isaiah's reaction? He said, "Woe is me...I am a man of unclean lips" (Isaiah 6:5). He saw his own inadequacy and sinfulness when he encountered the holiness of God! But then one of the seraphim touched Isaiah's lips with a live coal from the altar, and God gave Isaiah a message for the people of Judah. Who Is Gabriel?
Gabriel is one of only two angels named in the Bible. His name means "strong man of God" or "God is my strength." He appeared by name four times: twice to Daniel to interpret the meaning of his visions (Daniel 8-9), once to announce John the Baptist's birth to his father Zacharias (Luke 1:11-20), and once to announce the birth of Jesus to Mary (Luke 1:26-38).
Who Is Michael? Michael means, "Who is like God?" He is mentioned several times in Daniel (10:13, 21, 12:1), once in Jude (1:9), and once in Revelation (12:7). Michael is an archangel.
In the book of Daniel, Michael is called a chief prince. In Jude, a dispute is recorded between Michael the archangel and the Devil over Moses' body. And in Revelation, Michael commands the hosts of the Lord against the forces of the dragon (Satan) in a war in heaven: "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven" (Revelation 12:7-8). What About Other Angels? The angels of God are innumerable (Psalm 68:17; Revelation 5:11), and He knows each of them by name (Isaiah 40:26)! Beware of modern angel literature that claims to reveal "secret knowledge" about angels. Hidden behind such appealing names as angel of healing, angel of light, and angel of comfort could be demonic influences that seek to have us worship anything or anyone but God.
Besides Michael and Gabriel, apocryphal books and historical documents mention names of other angels. The Bible makes reference to seven angels in Revelation (1:20, 3:1, 4:5, 8:2, and 10:7) who have been placed over the seven churches and also carry out the seven judgments on the earth. These may be the seven archangels named in extra-biblical writings. The Book of Enoch tells of seven powerful angels (20:1-8). Uriel, who is set over the world and over Tartarus; Raphael, who is set over the spirits of men; Raguel, who takes vengeance on the world of the luminaries; Michael, who is set over the best part of mankind, over chaos, and over Israel; Saraqael, who is set over the evil spirits; Gabriel, who is set over Paradise, the serpents (seraphim), and the cherubim; and Remiel, whom God set over those who rise. What Is an Archangel? The word archangel is mentioned twice in Scripture. The Greek word is archaggelos which is a combination of archo (meaning "first" in political rank or power) and aggelos (meaning "messenger"). An archangel by definition is the first or highest angel and leader of the angels. It denotes a definite distinction of rank for a special service, as in chief priest or chief shepherd.
The only angel mentioned to be an archangel in the Bible is Michael (Jude 1:9). The other Scripture that mentions an archangel is in reference to the coming of Christ: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first" (I Thessalonians 4:16). This event is described in detail in Revelation chapters 10 and 11. Is There an Angelic Hierarchy? The Bible does not reveal an angelic hierarchy. God is the commander of His heavenly host (Isaiah 45:12). However, there are a few scriptures that infer delegated authority to some angels. Paul mentions "elect angels" (I Timothy 5:21) and says that "one star differeth from another star in glory" (I Corinthians 15:41), implying that each star (and each angel) is unique in glory and in position.
What Are Fallen Angels?
Remember that an angel is a messenger and that the Bible defines two groups of angelic messengers: the good and the evil. We have seen how God's heavenly messengers obey His commands and minister for us — the heirs of salvation. Evil angels, however, are those who have fallen from their first estate (see Jude 1:6) since the Creation. The Bible records several different times when angels fell to earth. Some have already fallen (Genesis 6:2; Amos 5:26; Revelation 12:4) and some will fall in the future (Revelation 6:13, 8:10-11, 9:1). It is Satan, the great dragon, who entices them (Revelation 12:4), perhaps with promises that they will be worshipped by men as gods or rule over an earthly kingdom. Fallen angels learn wickedness and become apprentices of their new master Satan. Unlike humans, fallen angels cannot be redeemed. Once angels rebel against God, they are permanently banned from God's glory and presence. Some fallen angels are currently imprisoned until God's day of judgment (I Peter 3:19-20; II Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6), and some rule the realm of darkness with Satan. They, too, will face the wrath of God (Matthew 25:41). What Was the Sin of These Angels? The Bible confirms that there are angels who sinned: "Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly" (Job 4:17-18; also see Job 15:15, 25:5). In addition, the Bible tells us the origins of some fallen angels. Every time the Old Testament mentions sons of God it is a reference to angels (compare Job 1:6, 2:1, 38:7 and Psalm 89:6). In Genesis 6:2, sons of God (angels) took on human form — which angels can do (see Genesis 19:15-16; Hebrews 13:2). But these sons of God transgressed their created purpose by lusting after the daughters of men and marrying wives who bore them children. This evil brought mankind to a new realm of wickedness so frightening and terrible that God saw it necessary to destroy the earth with a flood, saving only Noah and his family. Here is the Genesis account: "It came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown" (Genesis 6:1-2). The fall of these angels is also told by Enoch, great-grandfather of Noah, who walked with God (Genesis 5:22). Copies of the Book of Enoch were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. Although this book is not a part of canonized Scripture, it does line up with the Genesis account and is, in fact, quoted in Scripture (see Jude 1:14). Enoch told how these angels not only took human wives but also taught them the secrets of good and evil (remember that Adam and Eve ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thus opening the door to all knowledge). In this way fallen mankind became corrupted very quickly, soon requiring a world-wide flood to purge the human race. "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:4-13). Enoch's account also describes the consequences for the sin of these fallen angels. The angels felt remorse for their sin but were not allowed to return to their former estate in the heavens. They were bound (and are still bound, according to II Peter 2:4 and Jude 1:6) to await judgment. The children of those angel-human relations died, but their spirits would go throughout the earth as evil spirits to harass mankind. They would look for human bodies to inhabit; the male ones being malevolent spirits and the female ones being seductive spirits (or sirens). In the last days, the earth will again become corrupted to complete wickedness. Jesus told us, "as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" (Matthew 24:37). In the end times the world will become just as wicked as it was before the Flood. Because of today's heightened fascination with the occult and spirit world, it is entirely plausible that fallen angels and humans will mix once again, creating terrible chaos to bring about the final wrath of God. This possibility is suggested in the prophetic dream which Daniel interpreted for the King of Babylon. In the dream, there was an image whose feet were part iron (spiritual beings) and part clay (mankind). Daniel says, "And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay" (Daniel 2:43). After this time, God's Kingdom will break all other kingdoms and then be established for ever. Noah was a righteous man among those in his perverse generation. His ways pleased the Lord (Genesis 6:8), and he and his family were saved by the Ark (a picture of our being in Christ). The question for our generation is this: "when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8). How Are Angels and Idolatry Related? The worship of gods or idols is in fact the worship of demons. "They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not" (Deuteronomy 32:17; also see Psalm 106:36-37). The worship of anything other than the One True Living God is idolatry. "Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them" (Deuteronomy 11:16).
Idolaters will not inherit the kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9; Revelation 21:8, 22:15). Those who insist on worshipping the creation rather than the Creator are given up to vile affections and a reprobate mind (Romans 1:18-32). We are told to "flee from idolatry" (I Corinthians 10:14). The Bible mentions idol worship of false gods right along with worshipping the host of heaven: "Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven...ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them" (Acts 7:42-43). Paul encountered hostility in the city of Ephesus from those who worshipped an image which fell down from Jupiter (Acts 19:35). From these verses, we can suppose that every false god has demonic (fallen angel) influence behind it. Old Testament prophets confirm that images made for idol worship originated from the spirit world. "But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves" (Amos 5:26). Those who worship idols are blinded to the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 4:4), and their foolish heart is darkened (Romans 1:21). They walk in vain imaginations, "having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart" (Ephesians 4:18). Who Is Satan? The mastermind of the powers of darkness and evil angels is none other than Satan himself. "Then shall he [Jesus] say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels"
(Matthew 25:41). [See Satan teaching]. How Do We Avoid Giving Place to the Devil?
Not only can Satan appear as an angel of light, but fallen angels can appear as ministers of righteousness! Paul warned that Satan's evil apprentices show up in the form of false prophets and false apostles (II Corinthians 11:13-15). They are deceivers, seducing people away from faith in Christ to the doctrines of devils (I Timothy 4:1-2; I John 2:18-22). We must be on guard and stay alert, "lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices" (II Corinthians 2:11). Our enemy especially seeks to beguile the children of God and catch them in his snare (I Timothy 3:6-7; II Timothy 2:26). We must fill our hearts with the Word of God (Psalm 119:11) and walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). We must also heed the warning to not give our enemy a foothold (territory) in our lives. How to avoid giving place to the Devil:
The Bible is very clear that "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils" (I Corinthians 10:21). Choose you this day whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15), because the kingdom of darkness is at war with the Kingdom of Heaven!
How Do We Fight Evil Powers? The prophet Daniel had several revelatory visions about future events. In one particular vision, a very real spiritual battle took place, hindering a messenger sent to Daniel. This heavenly messenger (possibly Christ Himself) said, "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia" (Daniel 10:13). What was Daniel doing while the principality of wickedness ("Prince of Persia") withstood the messenger from heaven? Daniel was fasting and praying (Daniel 10:3)! The powers of darkness are very real and very mighty. But Jesus has defeated them! Through the blood of His cross and His resurrection from the dead, Jesus "spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (Colossians 2:15; also see John 16:11). We are, however, still involved in a battle that rages on in the spiritual realm, manifesting itself in the natural realm through the end of this age. How do we fight against the powers of darkness? With the Armor of God. Our struggle is "not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12). Spiritual battles cannot be fought with fleshly (carnal) weapons. There are even some demons that only come out by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21). Satan and all spiritual forces of evil were defeated at the cross (Colossians 2:14-15). These powers of wickedness were cast down to earth when Jesus was resurrected (Revelation 12). They tremble at the judgment prepared for them, and know that Jesus will be the one to carry out that judgment: "And, behold, they [the devils] cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" (Matthew 8:29; also see Luke 8:28-31). The final destiny of Satan and his angels is the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10). But meanwhile, the Devil is on earth, full of wrath, knowing his time is short. There is a purpose for these adversaries. They grow up the children of God to maturity and "full stature" in Christ. They purge and purify the Bride of Christ. And they give us the opportunity to overcome evil by the power of the Holy Spirit. "And they overcame him [the Devil] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death" (Revelation 12:11). We who remain in Christ look forward to this promise: "In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear...No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD" (Isaiah 54:14-17). Conclusion God is the Creator of all, and in His wisdom He has created angels as part of His master plan in bringing mankind into relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.
Angels desire to look into the mysteries of salvation (I Peter 1:12). In fact, one of the purposes of the Body of Christ (the Church) is so the angels will realize the depths of God's wisdom! "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God" (Ephesians 3:10). Until God's work is completed in us, we can hold confidently to His promises, such as this one: "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39)!  The Christian Counter |