1. DO ANGELS EXIST?

The Bible is God’s message to mankind. Only when we believe this will we treasure what it tells us about angels. True, we can- not now see the angels at work, but the Bible tells us, “the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

This is what the Bible tells us about angels:

• God created angels before He formed the world as we know it. He asked Job “Where were you when I laid the foun- dation of the earth? … when the morn-

ing stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7).

• “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and deliv- ers them” (Psalm 34:7).

• “Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word” (Psalm 103:20).

• Jesus Christ, the Son of God said, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions (72,000) of angels?” (Matthew 26:53).

Yes angels do exist!

2. WHO ARE THE ANGELS AND WHAT DO THEY DO?

The word ‘angel’ means ‘messenger’. Nearly always it applies to God’s immortal angels, but sometimes it refers to human beings. However, supernatural deeds can only be performed by God’s immortal angels. They do not need wings to move between heaven and earth, being empow- ered by the spirit of God. Angels perform many duties on God’s behalf. They do so because God, the great Creator, does not personally interact with sinful human beings. He “dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see” (1 Timothy 6:16).

God’s angels:

• Bear His name and work on His behalf. They gave man a form like their own, when man was created: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). That is why “some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2).

• Are powerful beings called “elohim”, the original Hebrew word translated “heav- enly beings” in Psalm 8:5. It means “mighty ones” who represent God.

• Are immortal beings, and are therefore greater than mortal (dying) human beings (Psalm 8:4,5; Luke 20:35,36).

• Have appeared personally on God’s behalf in both Old and New Testament times. Three angels helped Abraham (Genesis 18), one blessed Jacob (Genesis 32) and another led Israel in the wilderness journey to the Promised Land (Exodus 23:20,21).

• They also comforted and supported Jesus in times of intense trials in the wilderness and in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 4:11; Luke 22:43).

• Deliver God’s message to human beings.

The words angels have spoken down the years are vitally important for us today. They have told us great truths about God’s future plans for the world. We shall be wise if we listen to their words and act upon them.

Consider the words spoken by the angel Gabriel to Mary. He told her that Jesus would be conceived by God’s Holy Spirit; also that Jesus “will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:32,33).

An angel appeared to shepherds

when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. He

said “unto you is born this day … a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord … and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God” (Luke 2:9-13).

What wonderful messages! Jesus is the Saviour of Mankind, and he is coming to be king of the world.

3. WHAT WORK WILL ANGELS PERFORM IN THE FUTURE?

The angels will carry out many important duties when Jesus returns to the earth. Consider these verses:

• People “will see the Son of Man com- ing on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels … and they will gather his elect from the four winds” (Matthew 24:30,31).

• “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne” (Matthew 25:31; see also 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).

• “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven … with the voice of an archangel … And the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). This resurrection from the dead, in which angels will be involved, had already been foretold in the Old Testament: “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2). Jesus himself also said, “everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:40).

• “Everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8). From their creation, the angels have been with God, doing His work and speaking His words. It is fitting that they will be present at the Judgement Seat of Christ, when he returns to “judge the living and the dead” (2 Timothy 4:1). The angels will rejoice to see everlasting life being given to those who have listened to and believed their words.

Their work does not end there. The Bible tells us:

• “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom

… all law-breakers … Then the right- eous will shine like the sun in the king- dom of their Father” (Matthew 13:41- 43). The angels will be working on God’s behalf in His kingdom. The question is, will you be there to see them, and to help Jesus as one of his saints in the kingdom of God?

4. CAN ANGELS HELP ME NOW?

They have already helped you! Messages given through angels, of which you have just read, can lead you personally towards the kingdom of God and everlasting life. That is, provided you believe that angels exist and accept their teach- ings. If your heart is touched by spiritual truths, you will “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). If you do, this will lead to present blessings, and later, everlasting life.

We no longer need to see angels. The Bible tells us all we need to know about salvation. When we believe, faith becomes

our bedrock for living. It will guide us for the rest of our lives. Although we do not see angels, remember God’s promise, “the angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them”. Angels are “all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation”(Hebrews1:14).

As you now know, angels are powerful, immortal beings. They do God’s will and care for His people. Yet Jesus himself, after his resurrection, became “much superior to angels”. He now sits at God’s right hand in heaven (Hebrews 1:4,13). His faithful followers will also enjoy a greater position than the angels in the kingdom of God.

What more can you possibly want? God offers you blessings and content- ment now, and everlasting life in the age to come. Grasp with both hands what God offers you. Then you will be able to say with all your heart, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus”(Revelation 22:20).