Angels (2)

As you can see, understanding what an angel is (or isn’t) has gotten pretty confusing. So, let’s dive into a discussion this morning to explore the topic.

Seeing Angels Clearly

There is only one way to clear up the confusion about angels. It is to get back to biblical reality. I think that understanding angels is helpful to a Christian because they are a part of God’s creation. They were designed for God’s purpose. “Their general purpose, reflected in the Hebrew and Greek words translated “angel” (mal’akh and angelos, “messenger”), is to carry the message of divine words and works.[1] Angels are intelligent, moral, and spiritual beings created by God who worship him and carry out his will.[2]

I’ve been taught since a boy that studying angels can lead to dangerous teachings. Well, it certainly lead the founder of the Mormon church into error. So, I avoided too much of an emphasis on angels. However, avoiding the topic robs us of the richness of God’s goodness. I agree with Duffiend and Van Cleave: “Believers should clearly understand the ministry of angels on their behalf, so that their faith might be encouraged regarding this gracious provision from God.”[3] It is certainly a Heaven Matters topic worth celebrating.

In the book of Daniel there is a wonderful description of an encounter with an angel. Most of the time, when we look at the book of Daniel we do so with interest on the message. Today I want us to take a look at the messenger. In this passage we will see many of the characteristics of angels that should cause us to shout and give God the glory!

Daniel’s Encounter with an Angel

Our passage today comes out of the OT but rest assured, there are actually more encounters with angels in the NT. Let’s take a look at Daniel 10 to see what spiritual benefit we can learn for our spiritual walk today.

Angels Were Created by God

Daniel 10:4–6 NIV

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

We would all have to agree that if we saw this man, it would be shocking. On the other hand, we might be completely unaware of the fact that there is an angel at our table.

I’ve already said that angels are God’s messengers and that they worship God. Other angels in the Bible are described as cherubim and seraphim. These angels tend to be in the Bible at times when it is especially appropriate to worship God. The cherubim is mentioned at the gates of Eden, in the wilderness tabernacle and above the Ark of the Covenant, and around the throne of God in Revelation.

God created a myriad of angels. Revelation tells us about a mighty chorus of angels and Jesus admitted at his arrest that He could have called on legions of angels to deliver Him. Let me add one historical footnote:

(It was)…Later (that the) Assyrians and Greeks attached wings to some semi-divine beings. Hermes had wings on his heels. Eros, “the fast-flying spirit of passionate love,” had them affixed to his shoulders. Adding a playful notion, the Romans invented Cupid, the god of erotic love, pictured as a playful boy shooting invisible love arrows to encourage humanity’s romances. Plato (ca. 427–347 b.c.) also spoke of helpful guardian angels.”[4](This reference provides an amusing stroll through history on the theories about angels).

Let’s move on to another truth about angels.

Angels Are Divine Messengers

Daniel 10:7–11 NIV

I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground. A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

I love the interaction that takes place this angel and Daniel. Others took off because of fear but they didn’t even interact with the angel. Daniel was left alone. Then the angel began to speak. “… consider carefully the words I am about to speak…”.

Think about the many times that angels showed up to make powerful announcements:

1. Mary and Joseph were informed

2. The birth of Christ

3. The resurrection. “He is not here…”

4. The ascension. “He will return…”

5. An angel told the evangelist Philip about the Ethiopian eunuch.

I included the last instance because it occurred after the ascension of Jesus and gives us reason to believe that the interaction of angels is possible today.

The next 2 truths that we learn from Daniel’s encounter with the archangel Michael should encourage us even more!

God’s Angels Protect and Deliver Believers

Daniel 10:12–14 NIV

Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”

Before we explore this too far, I want to state that I do not believe in praying to angels – and certainly not to worshipping. The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit (the Godhead) is the target of my prayers and should be yours as well. It is up to God how He protects and delivers us.

[Personal story of God’s protection and deliverance on the car ride from Avon to Lima. It took place in front of Harper Park].

Who knows how often that has occurred in our lives without us knowing about it. In Daniel’s circumstance there was spiritual resistance (which we will look at further in upcoming weeks). Michael (the archangel and strongest of all angels) cleared the way. There is a powerful verse in Psalm 91 that we should all remember:

Psalm 91:11–12 NIV

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Angels are at God’s command to protect and deliver us. Isn’t God good to us!

Ministering and Encouraging Believers

It is wonderful that angels are protecting and delivering us from trouble. But sometimes the battle that we are facing is unseen. It can be emotional or spiritual.

Daniel 10:15–21 NIV

While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless. Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.” Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.” So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.

Daniel was speechless and overcome with anguish. In this instance anguish means “turn about, turn over”, “overturn”. It seems that an accurate translation in English would be to have our feet knocked out from under us. This is another instance of how good God is to us. When we feel like our feet have been knocked out from under us, God finds a way to minister life to us.

Do you remember when Elijah was depressed and felt all alone? God sent an angel to him to minister to him.

1 Kings 19:4–6 NIV

while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

It is not important whether it was an immaterial angel or an angel in flesh. What is amazing is that God ministers and encourages us. The Apostle Paul highlighted this fact for us:

Hebrews 1:14 NIV

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

This passage in Daniel is one of the most debated passages in the Bible because of the potential meanings of the prophecy. I’ve used it today to discuss some of the purposes and characteristics of God’s angels. I hope it has encouraged your faith.

Angels Display God’s Goodness and Power

Last week we learned that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father – meaning that He has resumed all of His Divine powers. He has sent us the Holy Spirit to empower and remind us of true life in Jesus Christ. He is forever interceding for us (I used this the last week, reminding myself that Jesus was aware of my circumstances, and He was actively involved). We learned that, when we fail and sin, He is faithfully advocating for us. You and I have some powerful advantages as believers.

Now add what we’ve just talked about to those blessings. Angels and the activities of angels are a part of God’s blessing and His care for us. You may have understood angels to be past family and friends who are now in Heaven with wings. The Bible doesn’t support that, the truth is even better! Our family and friends are in Heaven, but angels are designed by God to communicate with you, protect and deliver you, and, also, to minister and encourage you! What an amazing resource God has provided!

A good way to think about angels is to understand their presence more than their visitation.

“… in the Scriptures the emphasis for the believer rests mainly on the continuing presence of angels… angels encamp around and guard believers…”. There have been times at our church when it seemed that we were a part of a larger celebration of worship. That belief is biblically sound! They are unseen yet very real.

I won’t pray for the participation of angels, I will set my heart, my faith, my eyes on Jesus. That is the same business of the angels. God may or may not allow us to be aware but regardless of what I know, angels are present and demonstrate the goodness of God.

The Heavenly Multitude

As I write this the countdown to the 2nd coming of Christ continues. Today Israel is under attack. There are wars and rumors of wars. There are famines, earthquakes, and droughts. There are false prophets and persecution of Christians is greater than any other time in history. These things are true…and, God is still in control. He is worthy of worship and one day we will join the angels in Heaven to worship.

Revelation 5:11–14 NIV

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Be encouraged! If God is for us, who can be against? Heaven is promised. It is wonderful and full of wonder!

[1]Carolyn Denise Baker, “Angels,” in Systematic Theology: Revised Edition, ed. Stanley M. Horton (Springfield, MO: Logion Press, 2007), 186. [2] Sam Emadi, “Angels,” in Lexham Survey of Theology, ed. Mark Ward et al. (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2018). [3] Guy P. Duffield and Nathaniel M. Van Cleave, Foundations of Pentecostal Theology, Revised & Updated., vol. 2 (Los Angeles, CA: Foursquare Media, 2016), 134. [4]Carolyn Denise Baker, “Angels,” in Systematic Theology: Revised Edition, ed. Stanley M. Horton (Springfield, MO: Logion Press, 2007), 181–182.

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