Angels Are for Real

Speculation about the nature of angels has been around since long before Queen Victoria’s time, and it continues down to the present time. Yet through revelation in the Bible God has told us a great deal about them. For this reason, theologians through the ages have universally agreed about the importance of “angel-ology” (the orderly statement of biblical truth about angels). They judged it worthy of treatment in any book of systematic theology. They wrote at length, distinguishing between good angels and “satan-ology” (the study of fallen and thus evil angels). But today we have neglected the theme of good angels, although many are giving the devil and all of his demons rapt attention, even worshiping them.

Angels belong to a uniquely different dimension of creation that we, limited to the natural order, can scarcely comprehend. In this angelic domain the limitations are different from those God has imposed on our natural order. He has given angels higher knowledge, power, and mobility than humans. Have you ever seen or met one of these superior beings called angels? Probably not, for both the Bible and human experience tell us visible appearances by angels are very rare — but that in no way makes angels any less real or powerful.

• They are God’s messengers whose chief business is to carry out His orders in the world.

He has given them an ambassadorial charge. He has designated and empowered them as holy deputies to perform works of righteousness. In this way they assist Him as their creator while He sovereignly controls the universe. So, He has given them the capacity to bring His holy enterprises to a successful conclusion.

Angels Are Created Beings

Don’t believe everything you hear (and read!) about angels! Some would have us believe that they are only spiritual will-o’-the- wisps. Some view them as only celestial beings with beautiful wings and bowed heads. Others would have us think of them as effeminate weirdos.

The Bible states that angels, like men, were created by God. At one time no angels existed; indeed, there was nothing but the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Paul, in Colossians 1:16, says,

For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible.

Angels indeed are among the invisible things made by God, for “all things were created by Him, and for Him.” This creator, Jesus,

is before all things, and by Him all things consist. — Colossians 1:17,

so that even angels would cease to exist if Jesus, who is Almighty God, did not sustain them by His power.

It seems that angels have the ability to change their appearance and shuttle in a flash from the capital glory of Heaven to earth and back again. Although some interpreters have said that the phrase “sons of God” in Genesis 6:2 refers to angels, the Bible frequently makes it clear that angels are nonmaterial; Hebrews 1:14 calls them ministering “spirits.” Intrinsically, they do not possess physical bodies, although they may take on physical bodies when God appoints them to special tasks. Furthermore, God has given them no ability to reproduce, and they “neither marry nor are given in marriage” (Mark 12:25).

The empire of angels is as vast as God’s creation. If you believe the Bible, you will believe in their ministry. They crisscross the Old and New Testaments, being mentioned directly or indirectly nearly three hundred times. Some biblical scholars believe that angels can be numbered potentially in the millions since Hebrews 12:22 speaks of “an innumerable [myriads — a great but indefinite number] company of angels.” As to their number, David recorded twenty thousand coursing through the skyways of the stars. Even with his limited vision, he impressively notes,

The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels. — Psalm 68:17

Matthew Henry’s Commentary says of this passage, “Angels are ‘the chariots of God,’ His chariots of war, which He makes use of against His enemies, His chariots of conveyance, which He sends for His friends, as He did for Elijah..., His chariots of state, in the midst of which He shows His glory and power. They are vastly numerous: ‘Twenty thousands,’ even thousands multiplied.”

Ten thousand angels came down on Mount Sinai to confirm the presence of God as He gave the Law to Moses (Deuteronomy 33:2). An earthquake shook the mountain. Moses was held in speech-bound wonder at this mighty cataclysm attended by the visitation of heavenly beings. Furthermore, in the New Testament John tells us of having seen ten thousand times ten thousand angels ministering to the Lamb of God in the throne room of the universe (Revelation 5:11). The book of Revelation also says that armies of angels will appear with Jesus at the Battle of Armageddon when God’s foes gather for their final defeat. Paul says in 2 Thessalonians,

The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels. — 2 Thessalonians 1:7

Think of it! Multitudes of angels, indescribably mighty, performing the commands of Heaven! More amazingly, even one angel is indescribably mighty, as though an extension of the arm of God.

• Singly or corporately, angels are for real.

They are better organized than were the armies of Alexander the Great, Napoleon, or Eisenhower. From earliest antiquity, when the angels guarding the gates of Eden sealed its entrance, angels have manifested their presence in the world.

Excerpted with permission from Angels: God’s Secret Agents by Billy Graham, copyright The Billy Graham Literary Trust.

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Your Turn

Angels are real! Have you ever suspected that “someone” you received help from was actually an angel? Hebrews 13:2 tells us not to neglect entertaining strangers because angels walk amongst us and we don’t even know it! Come share your thoughts with us. We want to hear from you. ~ Devotionals Daily