Angels Watching Over Me? Oh, Glory! Part Two

The Greek word “angelos,” translated angel means “a messenger.” In the Old Testament the Hebrew word with the same meaning is “mal’akh.” They are servants of God. Excelling in strength they await the slightest intimation of God’s will to carry it out. They never add to nor diminish their message and assignment. This unseen army of God constantly awaits His command. They perform God’s will and don’t wait around for human thanks.

        Angels announced the forthcoming birth of Jesus Christ.

        Angels proclaimed His arrival in Bethlehem.

        Angels attended Christ during His exhausting wilderness temptations.

        Angels attended Him in the hour of His grief in Gethsemane.

        Angels were battle ready awaiting His orders while He hung on the cross.

        Belief in angels is an ageless conviction. The earliest reference to them is found on a five by ten slab of limestone at Ur-Nammus which dates back to 2250 BC.

        Plato and Aristotle believed God used angels to govern the world.

        Epictetus said, “God assigns to every man a guardian angel.”

        Seneca and Virgil believed in angels.

Angels are spoken of as flying, but it is not said they have wings. Seraphim have wings but nowhere does it say angels had wings. The idea of winged angels didn’t appear until the third century when Christian polemicist Tertullian stated that “every angel and demon is winged. Consequently, they are everywhere in a moment.”

Around the fourth century angels began to appear in Christian art and soon became very popular. To distinguish them from Jesus and His disciples in their art work they depicted them with wings. 

Angels are spirit beings. In their normal state they don’t have physical bodies. Though they are spirits they are not omnipresent, all present, that is. They are restricted to being at one place at a given time.

Their role is defined for us: “Are they not ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1: 14)

Rarely do they appear to persons. However, they have on rare occasions. Don’t be disappointed if you never see one. Remember, Billy Graham said he had never seen one.

A special word of caution is needed here. Don’t pray to angels. This is unbiblical. Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father…” Believers have direct access to God the Father through Jesus Christ, God the Son.

We are warned not to let anyone trick us into worshiping angels. “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping angels.” (Colossians 2: 18)

Human beings are not creatures in transition on their way to becoming angels. When a believer dies that one becomes a perfected saint. Born again human beings are “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” Angels are separate created beings. Till then live loyal to the royal blood that flowed from Jesus’ veins.