Stranger Things: Angels

​Angels are one of those supernatural beings that many people are fascinated with. If asked to describe an angel many would start to describe a halo, wings, white robe, and a harp in their hand while they sit on a big white fluffy cloud.
 
Angels pop up all throughout the Bible. Over 350 times angels are mentioned. In fact, angels are often referred to as “holy ones” watchers,” or collectively they are known as “the assembly,” “host” or “hosts.” But what are angels?
 
Angels are spiritual beings. God created angels just like he created everything else. We don’t know when he created them, all we know is that he commanded that they exist, and now they do. In the book of Psalms and other places they serve in heaven and on earth.
 
Angels are personal beings. Angels are not robots, they have personalities. They have intelligence and will. If they didn’t have a will, they wouldn’t have chosen to follow Lucifer or Satan. When they made that choice God sent them out of his presence.
 
When I first became a Christian I thought that all angels did was attend a perpetual church service. Yea, it might be fun for a few hours, but to spend eternity on a hard pew didn’t appeal to me. Scripture shows us that angels have five primary functions. 
 
Angels worship God. He is the creator and sustainer of all things and the angels continually bring God glory. Angels praise God every time someone begins a relationship with Jesus. Most of the time they praise God in his presence, but on at least one occasion they did it on earth. It was at the birth of Christ. When Jesus was born an angel came to tell a group of shepherds that their savior had come.
 
Angels are God’s messengers. Throughout the Old Testament angels revealed and communicated God’s message to humans. Theologian Millard Erickson writes: “Whenever angles are mentioned in the bible it is always to inform us further about God, what he does, and how he does it.” The word “angel” in Hebrew and Greek means “messenger.” The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah to tell him that his wife was going to have a son and they would name him John. Then Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she was going to give birth to the Savior Jesus. 
 
Angels minister to believers. They take great interest in the spiritual well-being of God’s followers. Hebrews 1:14 tells us that they serve believers. “Are they not all ministering spirits sent for to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?” Hebrews 1:14
 
Sometimes God sends out his angels to bring justice upon those who oppose him.
Jesus himself said:  “41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.” Matthew 13:41
 
Angels will be involved in the Second Coming of Jesus. Jesus says: “When the Son of Man [Jesus] comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.” Matthew 25:23
 
Angels are not deities to be worshipped, they are powerful spiritual beings. 
“Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idol notions.” Colossians 2:18
 
I believe in angels because the Bible tells us who created them, what they do, and why they do it. God even says that sometimes we entertain angels without even knowing it.
Hebrews 13:2 says: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”  We may never know how many times we interacted with angels until we get to heaven.
 
Angels exist for a reason. They are God’s messengers, they rejoiced at the birth of Christ, they celebrated when you gave your life to Christ, God will send them to protect you if He wills, and they will be there upon your death.