Angels

Angels

Angels and their work are very little understood because there is little understanding of God, and the powers which He sets in motion. A greater fear of God will give us more knowledge concerning various things, because the glories of the covenant are made known to those who fear the Lord.

It seems that in the days of the apostles, people reckoned with angels as a matter of course. After Peter had been freed from prison and had knocked on the door where the brethren were gathered, they said to the girl who was supposed to open the door, when she assured them that it was Peter, “It is his angel.” Acts 12:15. One would hardly ever think of that in our days. But in those days this was their first thought.

In Hebrews 1:14 we read concerning the angels, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” We see that angels are 1) spirits, and 2) they are sent out to minister.

The Holy Spirit has His ministry, and the angels have theirs. The Holy Spirit performs His work within a person; the angels, on the other hand, have an external ministry. An angel came to Cornelius and told him to send for Peter. “When he comes, he will speak to you.” Acts 10:32. The angel himself did not proclaim the word of life. That was not his work; but when Peter came and opened his mouth and spoke about Jesus, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the Word.

We see that the work of the Spirit is within the body—He requires water and blood, the death of our self-life—and He imparts the divine nature to us. The angels do not have a share in this work, but they desire to look into this glorious work of the Spirit. They know that marvelous things are happening, because the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:10. They are sent out to serve the ones over whose repentance they rejoiced. Their ministry is external. An angel and not the Spirit led Peter out of prison. Likewise, angels freed Daniel from the lions’ mouths, his friends from the glowing, fiery furnace, and Lot from Sodom. God’s children come into contact with God’s father’s heart through the Spirit, and He sends His angels to help them. “Their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” Matt. 18:10. There are abundant sources of help available to God’s children if they only understood it!

Angels were often sent in answer to prayer. “Yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel . . . informed me . . . .” Dan. 9:21-22. They were guarding Peter in prison, but the church prayed for him fervently. That night Peter slept bound with chains, between two soldiers, and guards outside the door guarded the prison. “Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, ‘Arise quickly!’” Acts 12:5-7. And the angel led Peter out through the heavy iron gates. This was angel-help in answer to prayer.

On one occasion Jesus said, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26. With these words Jesus was referring to His exaltation after He had suffered death. He came in this glory after the resurrection, and He is there now. (This does not mean—as some people think—that this will happen when He comes again to fetch His elect.) This also has to do with the ministry of the angels. He will deny them before the angels—those who are now ashamed of Him and His words—with the result that the angels will not be sent out to serve them. On the other hand, the Holy Spirit has been sent into the world to convict people of sin. Those who are neither timid nor afraid to confess Him and His word will receive help from the angels.

The fact that angels are sent to give external aid is also confirmed by Psalm 91:10-11. “No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.”

The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Ps. 34:7.

Angels were sent to Jesus to comfort Him after strong temptations and trials. He was seen by angels. 1 Tim. 3:16.

Angels are also sent to punish. David saw an angel killing the people; an angel slew 185,000 Assyrians; an angel also slew Herod when he did not give God the glory.

Because of the blood, angels have victory over evil spirits in their ministry for us. They are not partakers of the blood, but they are servants through the blood.

We receive knowledge through the revelation of the Spirit; but angels receive knowledge through serving the church. God’s manifold wisdom is to be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. Eph. 3:10. Thus the church enriches these powers and principalities with wisdom. As God’s children we can—through the knowledge of God—grow up in our inner man to Him who is the head—Christ. The angels cannot do that. But they can serve the saints with the understanding of the knowledge they receive through the church, and their reward will be according to their works. In 1 Corinthians 6:3 Paul says that we will judge angels. This does not necessarily mean that we will condemn them, but that we will judge that they have helped in this and in that instance.

Many missionaries, and others, for having been rescued through the help of angels who were sent from heaven and by removing dangers on their way and leading them through difficulties. What a comfort it is to know that there is an angel of the Lord who leads us and accompanies us.

Once we understand the work of the Spirit and of the angels, we can pray for the right help with a greater spiritual understanding. It is important to familiarize ourselves with the reality that angels are sent out to serve those who shall inherit salvation. We must accord the angels their rightful place in our life of faith and acknowledge their work—how else can we be along in judging angels? Let us consider their work; let us observe what they have been appointed to do in the future and how they intervene not only in an individual’s life, but also in world events.