Angels In The Church

ANGELS IN THE CHURCH- In Hebrews we read about the sacrifices and things used in the temple. A key word used in Hebrews is the word "better". What we have now is better. Hebrews 12:18-24 reads "Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel." Our day is better than then. Some people say they would like to have been around the cloud (shekinah glory) in the OT. The cloud was there, but only 1 person could come into the presence of God. He had to wash from head to toe before he could go in. Only the high priest could go in, and he had to confess his sins, because if he didn't he could die. Moses was annointed, and could meet  God on the mountain, but no one else could. If they tried, they would die. Hebrews 12:20 says even an animal would be killed if it approached. When the temple veil was torn, it was not so we could go in. It was so he could come out (holy spirit). He wanted to get out of that place (holy of holies) made with natural stones, and to live in a place of living stones. We all can approach God now. The HS came out of that place and into us. Hebrews 12;22-Mt. Sion (the church now) also to an innumerable company of angels. In Daniel 7:10 Daniel didn't know how to describe all the angels he saw. Revelation 5:11 describes so many angels they couldn't be numbered by John. Heb.12:22-Innumerable doesn't mean w/o number. There is a specific number, but God only knows that number. We are not to worship angels. In Acts 17:23 when Paul was at Mars Hill in Athens, he saw statues of gods of this or that. There were so many. He saw a pedastal w/o a statue  which simply said "to the unknown god." Paul said "I like that one". He found that to preach on. He always strived to find common ground, to spread the gospel. They had a different god for everything under the sun. Paul knew they were wrong. He  saw the inscription of the unknown god and preached from that perspective. In Hebrews, the 1st two chapters are about angels & Jesus' superiority over them. Heb.1:6-"When He (the Father) bringeth in the first begotten (Jesus) into the world, he saith, and all the angels who worship Him". Verse 7-"And of the angels He (Father) saith, who maketh His angels(Jesus' angels) spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire." Jesus made the angels, made them spirits. What are angels like? They are created beings. They are the oldest of creation, created by the Son. Angels don't have a body, but can take on a body, and leave a body. They are spirit beings. What does the term "flames of fire" mean? It means light. They would be too dazzling for us to behold if they came in their original form. Light travels very quickly, but angels travel quicker than that. They travel at the speed of thought. When our body is resurrected we will be able to travel like that also. Are there other beings out there? There are. They are angels, not aliens. Jesus created angels for himself (Colossians 1:16)All things were created by Him and for Him.In Psalm 8:3 David looks up into the heavens on a clear night and thinks about how large the universe is and how small he and the earth is. Verse 4-"What is man that you even think of him, and the Son of Man that you visit Him to us?" 5) "You have made man lower than angels"(who are superior in all ways). They are superior by creation and in every way except by position. In position man is exalted above angels. God chose to exalt man by choosing Jesus. In Job 38:4-7 God speaks to Job and asks "Where were you when I created the earth, when the morning stars sang, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (speaking of angels). They were here when the earth was created. There are degrees or ranks of angels, (a chain of command). God is a God of order. There is the Father,Son, the Holy Spirit, and then the angels. Under the trinity are the angels. The highest ranking angels are cherubims (often called cherubs in the word). They are military angels who come to earth to do battle. In Genesis 3 after the fall, 2 cherubs were placed with flaming swords to gaurd the tree of life. They encamp around the throne of God. Cherubs don't leave heaven, but were sent to gaurd the tree of life after Adam & Eve's transgression. In Exodus 25 we read of 2 golden cherubs over the mercy seat. The cherubs are a representation of what is in heaven. The top of the ark represents the throne of God. The cherubs' wings are touching each other over the mercy seat, and are looking down on the throne of God. They surround the throne. The term "the God that dwells between the cherubim" occurs many times in scripture. Lucifer was the highest ranking cherub over all cherubs (Ezekiel 28:14). He was called the annointed cherub that covers. He became the highest ranking before he fell. The next highest ranking angels are seraphim. They also remain in heaven. Theyr'e also called seraphs. They are only mentioned 1 time (Isaiah 6:2:3) where we read about the coal being taken from the altar and being placed on the mouth of Isaiah. The seraphim have 6 wings. Two cover their faces, 2 cover their feet, while 2 are used to fly. The bible doesn't tell us why they have wings. The next highest ranking angel is the ark angel (singular), Michael in Jude 9. He always seems to come in response to prayer and battling w/Satan. The ark angel is always used in the singular. There may be more, but the bible doesn't say. In Daniel 9 & 10 Michael & Gabriel worked together. We assume that Gabriel is an ark angel, but we aren't told so. Michael came to help Gabriel so a door could be opened for Gabriel to deliver a message to Daniel. Gabriel, a messenger angel, also delivered the message to Mary about the birth of Jesus (in Luke). In Daniel 10:13 there are angels that work with Michael called "chief princes". This is the only place they are mentioned. Cherubim & Seraphim remain in heaven, but occasionally come to earth to earth to do the Lord's bidding. The next group of angels are those that reside here, always around us. There are angels on earth and in heaven. They encamp around us as they minister to us and for us. Children have angels. Jesus told us that. Possibly the same one you had as a child is the same one with you all your life. Gabriel & Michael are the only 2 angels that have been given names, or the only information on names given us. They probably have names, but we aren't told of them. The bible tells that we entertain angels unaware. We may find one day that we have seen them and not even knew about it. We don't know if an ark angel has wings or not. The angels here don't have wings. They look like men and have appeared many times. At Sodom & Gomorah the people wanted to have sex with them. They struck the people (the homosexuals) who were trying to get at them. The highest of all is not a created angel. He is the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ called "angel of the Lord". He came to Hagar( appeared as an angel) Gen. 16:7. Once he came as a man, he never came as an angel again. Hagar said "Thou God seest me." We don't call angels God. She called him God and he didn't stop her. Angels will stop them and tell them not to worship them. Gideon called Him Adonai. In Genesis 19 two angels came to Abraham. Abraham called Him "judge of the whole earth". In Judges 13:18 He appeared to Samson's parents. When they asked His name, He said His name is "Wonderful". (in Hebrew). Psalm 103:20 says angels are powerful "excel in strength". They " hearken to the voice of his word." If  you want them to do something, voice his word. They respond when God's Word is spoken. When God speaks it, when Jesus speaks it, and when we speak it, as Jesus came as a man, when we voice His commandment they respond. John the Baptist said "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness." (John 1:23). He was saying "I am the voice of one quoting scripture". He then quoted scripture from the OT. How do we become the voice of God? By worship,prayer, and praying God's Word. They respond to the words of the one inside of us. Gen.18:1-3.