The Truth About Angels

In the Youth Instruction Program that we've been going through here in the local area, we've been focusing on some of the fundamental beliefs that the Church has in trying to begin to share some of those things with our children. And we've been talking about God, and we've been talking about Jesus Christ, and gotten into the angelic realm. And so I'd like to tie in a little bit with that today, and I'd like to begin a first, probably a two-part message that has to do with the topic of angels.

You know, when we think about angels, I think too many people, and maybe even perhaps carelessly, have based their beliefs on what they've always heard, or maybe what they have seen, whether it be in the movies or on television. There's different concepts out there, different images, perhaps, that you can imagine that you've seen over the years, also when it comes to angels.

You know, there are movies that maybe you've seen, like Angels in the Outfield. There are television shows, like Michael, or Touched by an Angel. That's been a while back, but I think the reruns are still there. And in that particular series, if you've seen it, there are three angels, main characters that are angelic beings, and two of them are women, and one of them is a man. And if you and I were to explore the topic of angels in literature, in books, magazines, on the internet, or that type of thing, I think what we would find is a lot of what we see is based on fable or myth.

Because when it comes to the Scriptures, we know that God is the one that has God-breathed the Scriptures, and He reveals most definitely that there is an angelic realm out there. But He gives us the specifics of what they are like. Where did they come from? How long have they been around? What is their job? What is their responsibility? What do they do? So if you were to explore some of these topics, and you heard some of the issues of angels and what they look like, you would see that oftentimes they're portrayed as women, oftentimes they're portrayed as babies, sometimes as young children, whether young boys or young girls.

And you may have heard about an a guardian angel, someone that helps you, protects you, in times of difficulty. And so there are all different types of concepts that are out there, and some of them are true, and some of them are fables. So let's take a look at Scriptures today and look at what God has to reveal to us in the Bible about the topic of angels. Let's begin to discuss that today. So we're going to review the subject of angels from Scripture, from God's Word, and take a look at it.

We're going to review several Scriptures to begin to understand the angelic realm, who they are, and what their purpose is. We're going to read Scriptures that address some of mankind's various encounters with angels, because you will find them in both the Old Testament and in the New Testament, and see how is it that they manifested themselves, and what did they do, and what was the purpose. You know, we're going to see various encounters of some of these often invisible beings, and some of the things that we're going to read about are rather astonishing as we go through here.

We're going to read of angels that serve the physical needs of human beings, that they help them, they serve them in times of trouble or danger. So the Scriptures actually have a lot to say about angelic beings, and then we're going to read about some of the visits that they've had with human beings here. We're going to see that they play an important role in God, with God's plan, and what He is doing. So make no mistake, they do exist, and they do serve, and they do administer, in a sense, to mankind, part of God's creation.

But they're not necessarily, as most people perceive them to be. So let's refresh ourselves from Scripture. I think all of us have heard stories about supernatural encounters, maybe even something that comes to your mind, something that happened to you, or something that you know that happened to someone else. You know, I may have told this story before, I believe I have, but I still fervently remember an example of, this was a young lady who was attending the feast in Mexico, the Feast of Tabernacles in the fall. She had gone to Mexico. And after one of the socials that evening, that she and her sister looked along the beach, and they saw their hotel from a distance, and they thought, well, we can make it there before it gets too late.

And you know how sometimes it can be that the distance is longer than what you thought it was, and you keep walking, you don't necessarily get that much closer with all the walking that you're doing. So all of a sudden, the sun started to get a little closer to the horizon, and they were walking alone. They were in their probably early 20s at this time. And all of a sudden, there's a couple of men that didn't look like they had very good intentions that began to follow them from a distance, and began to close that distance slowly but surely, and talking about that, hey, senorita!

Pertit senorita! A lovely senorita. And so they knew that they were potentially in danger.

Well, they came to an area where, I don't know what they actually call it, when it's like a river that flows into the ocean, it's fresh water that's flowing into the ocean. And they didn't know that was there. So all of a sudden, they were in a sense trapped, because they didn't have a way to get across this body of water. If they turn back, these two men were closing in. If they go forward, they've got this water that's rushing in. So as they're looking at this river, and they're looking at these men, all of a sudden they hear a voice, and there's somebody in a boat. And he says, ladies, come over here. Get in the boat, and I'll get you across. Well, they looked at him, and they looked at these two thugs, and they thought, I think we'll trust the man who's got the boat.

So he pulled up the shore, they climbed in, he rode them across. They got out of the boat, they started to climb up the shore, they turned back to thank him, and he was gone.

They looked up and down the river, and he was nowhere to be seen.

And so, they look back and they think, well, this was God actually intervening in their life to help them, to protect them, to bring safety to them. And they felt that there was an angel that was there.

So you can maybe imagine some of this type of thing, or you've heard stories from others, or maybe you've got your own stories of things that have taken place. And so angels do serve God, and they do serve us at times in our lives. Well, let's take a look at a few points here. We're going to cover a few points today in the time that we have. There are several. Don't have time to get through them all, which is probably why we'll be going to a second sermon on this topic. But let's begin with the first point about angels. Point number one. Angels are God's messengers. Angels are God's messengers. If we were to look at the Greek word and see what it goes back to, what it is, it's angelos. And it means messenger. So this Greek word could not only be translated angels, it could be translated messenger. And when we talk about a messenger from God, we're talking about somebody that brings God's words to somebody. They don't speak their own words. They are a messenger with a message from somebody else. They're simply relaying the message that God has given to them and they're bringing to us. And so we see that they are messengers. And let's look at a few examples of this. Let's go over to Luke chapter 1 and we'll begin in verse number 11.

Luke chapter 1 and verse 11. We're going to talk about a man by the name of Zacharias, who was the father of John the Baptist. And Zacharias and his wife were quite elderly. They weren't able to have children. They had wanted that. They desired about that. They prayed about that. But they, she was barren, at least up to this particular period of time. And Zacharias was serving in the temple. He had a responsibility twice a year to come before the altar and to make offerings to God as a priest. And so he's serving here and he's doing this here in this context. And he's thinking that he's alone in the room. All right, it's closed. The doors are closed. He's thinking he's just doing this offering. And something happens. Verse 11. It says, and then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. Now you can imagine you think that you're in this room alone. And all of a sudden, there's something else that's there with you in the room. An angel appears. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled. Verse 12. And fear fell upon him.

But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid. And we'll see that there are several instances when an angel basically manifests himself to a man or a woman that they know that there's something significant that's there that's extraordinary. That there's a power. That there's an energy there. Now, not always, but a lot of times that's the case. And so their first reaction is to be afraid.

And so Zacharias, it says here, it says he was afraid. Verse 13. But the angel said, Don't be afraid. So the first one of the first things the angel says is it's okay. Don't be afraid.

He says, Don't be afraid, because Zacharias, your prayer is heard. And your wife Elizabeth is going to bear a son. And you will call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness. And many are going to rejoice at his birth. Now, the angel is a messenger. So let's take a look at the message that he's bringing. Verse 15. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from the womb, from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. So that will be a responsibility. He's going to turn many to God. Verse 17. He will also go before him in the Spirit and the power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children. So he'll be involved in that as well. Very important part in family. And the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, and to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. So John the Baptist was going to have a significant role here according to this message from God through this angel. In verse 18, Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.

And the angel answered and said to him, I am Gabriel. Now it's very, very seldom that the angel ever tells its name. In fact, there's very few times in Scripture when we look at an angel that there's only three angels that are named in Scripture. There's this is the one of the times here. It's Gabriel is one of the angels. The other two are Michael and Lucifer. But those are the only angels of the enormous number of angels that exist. We've only heard three names is Michael, Gabriel, and Lucifer. And this is one of the times here. Verse 19, I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God and was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news or these glad tidings. But behold, you're going to be mute to not be able to speak until the day these things take place because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their own time.

So apparently there was a perception that Zacharias wasn't really believing here.

And so the angel relayed the message here that you're not going to be able to speak for a while.

Let's go over. We're in Luke chapter one. Let's go over to verse number 28.

Just a few verses forward here. And we'll see also that an angel comes to Mary about the coming birth of Jesus Christ. Luke chapter one and verse number 28.

And having come in, the angel said to her, Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women.

And when she saw him, she was troubled. So again, there was something extraordinary going on here with the presence of this angelic being. And so she was troubled.

And considered what manner of greeting this was, I'm guessing that she was. And when she, verse 29, verse 30, And then the angel said to her, Don't be afraid, Mary. So again, the angel is trying to calm Mary. Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you're going to conceive in your womb, you're going to bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

And notice again the message which is from God. He's going to be great, verse 32, and will be called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David. And he's going to reign. He's going to reign over the house of Jacob forever. And of his kingdom there will be no end. Wow, there's quite a lot of prophecy here, isn't there, about the coming Son of God? He's going to sit on the throne of his father, David. He's going to be called the Son of the Highest, verse 32. And as it says in verse 33, he's going to reign over the house of Jacob forever. And of his kingdom there will be no end. As we go on here in verse 34, and Mary said to the angel, how can this be since I don't know a man? How is this going to take place? I'm not having any sexual relations with anyone. I'm not married. And the angel answered, verse 35, and said, the Holy Spirit is going to come upon you, and the power of the Highest is going to overshadow you. And therefore also that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. And so we see again an angel bringing a message from God, an important message here to both the father of John the Baptist and the mother of Jesus Christ. Let's go over to Luke, the next chapter, chapter 2, in verse number 7. It seems like when there are significant messages to be delivered that God sends an angel. He sends a messenger with a significant message. And there's another one here in Luke, chapter 2, beginning here in verse number 7. Luke, chapter 2, and verse number 7. And it says, talking about the Christ being born here of Mary, and she brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. So they stayed with the sheep at night in their fields.

And behold, verse 9, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. So again, they're fearful. There's something extraordinary going on.

And then the angel said to them, Don't be afraid, for behold, I have come to bring you good tidings. I have a message from God for you. In other words, good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people. For there is to be born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be assigned to you. You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. And then suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts, and hosts referring to angelic beings also, a multitude of a heavenly host, praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill towards man. Verse 15, so it was when the angels, plural, so we know that this heavenly host were angels, there was one angel that came initially and then there's a heavenly host of them that came with this message in verse 14. Verse 15, so it was when the angels, plural, had gone away from them into heaven that the shepherd said to one another, let's go to Bethlehem and let's see this thing that has come to pass which God the Lord has made known to us. And so we know the rest of the story. They did indeed eventually find, just as the sign was given, they found a babe in a manger in swaddling clothes. So we see that there are messengers here. Let's look at one last example before we go on to the next point, and that's an Old Testament encounter with an angel. Let's go back to Judges chapter 13 and verse number 10. Judges chapter 13, we'll pick it up here in verse well, we'll pick it up in verse 1.

This is an encounter that the mother of Samson had with an angelic being here. Let's pick that up here in verse 1 of Judges chapter 13. It says, And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. So this seemed to be a trend from time to time. God's people would begin to fall away from him, and of course, He'd allow them to be punished. And so, in this particular case, He's allowing them to be delivered into the hands of their enemies to the Philistines for forty years. Verse 2, And there was a certain man from Zora of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah, and his wife was barren, and had no children. And notice the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman, and said to her, Indeed now you are barren, and of born no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. So here's a message again from God, that you're going to have a son, and in the meantime, while you're pregnant, that you shouldn't be drinking any wine. And be careful not to do anything that's of similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. For behold, you're going to conceive and bear a son. Verse 5, And no razor shall come upon his head. For the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb. So I suppose that's why they weren't to drink strong drink either. I suppose from the womb that she was not to drink, because he was going to be a Nazarite to God from the womb. And he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. So he was going to be a deliverer, that God was sending. They were 40 years under the hand of the Philistines. Well, let's go on. Verse 6, So the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came to me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very awesome. So apparently there's something as significant that happens often, not always, but often when an angel manifests himself to mankind.

That she describes it as very awesome. But I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name. And usually the angels will not tell you their names for a reason. And we'll cover that here in a moment. Verse 7, He told me that I'm going to have a child, and I shouldn't drink any strong drink. Verse 8, Then Manoah prayed to the Lord and said, O my Lord, please let this person, or whoever it is, this man of God whom you sent, come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who shall be born. You know, what are we supposed to do? We understand this is a special child, but how should we raise him? How should we teach him? Those types of things. Verse 10, Then the woman ran in haste and told her husband, oh excuse me, verse number 9, And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came to the woman again as she was sitting in the field. But Manoah, her husband was not with her. So again, it's manifesting himself just to the wife, not the husband. Verse 10, Then the woman ran in haste and told her husband, and said, Look, the man who came to me the other day has just now appeared to me. So he arose, followed his wife, and when he came to the man, he said to him, Are you the man who spoke to this woman? And he said, I am.

And so we'll see from Scripture when the angels manifest themselves, they appear as men or as young men. Now there's no reference here to any child, to any baby, to any young boy, to any young girl, anywhere in Scripture. But when they appear, they appear as men or young men. So he's referring now to this man, quote-unquote man, verse 10, Are you the man? Look, the man who came to me the other day has just now appeared. Verse 11, So Manoah rose and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he spoke to him, and said, Are you the man who spoke to this woman? And he said, I am. And Noah said, Now let your words come to pass. What will be the boy's rule of life? What will be his work? You know, they'd pray that God would give them some information on that, and ask that this angel come back. And so the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, in verse 13, Of all that I have said to the woman, let her be careful. She may not eat anything that comes from the vine, nor may she drink wine or similar drink, nor eat anything unclean. And all that I have commanded her, let her observe. Then the Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, Well, please let us detain you, and we will prepare a young goat for you. And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, though you detain me, I will not eat your food, but if you offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to the Lord. And we'll cover that in a moment, too, that the angel said, Don't offer anything to me. Don't offer anything to me. Don't worship me. You know, worship God. They're always pointing people to worship God. Don't offer anything to me. For Manoah did not know that this was the angel of the Lord. Verse number 17, Then Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, What is your name? That when your words come to pass, we may honor you. And I think that's one of the reasons why the angels don't give their names, because they don't want to be worshiped. They don't want to be honored. They want to deflect all of that to God, which is where it belongs.

And so I think that's possibly one of the reasons why they don't give their names, because they are afraid of exactly that. People will start to honor them. People will start to worship them. And that's not that's breaking the first commandment. That we worship God and God alone.

And so that we may honor you, verse 17, and the angel of the Lord said to him, Why do you ask my name, seeing it as wonderful? So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering and offered it upon the rock to the Lord. So that is not to the angel, but to the Lord.

Blame of the altar. And when Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the ground. So obviously, this got their attention. You can imagine being there. What appears to be a man is there and all of a sudden turns into a flame and mixes with the fire and then ascends up to heaven in the flame. And we'll see in other places of Scripture that they are they are listed as flames of fire. Ministers, ministerial flames of fire. The angelic realm also can manifest themselves as flames of fire. So point number one is that angels are messengers. They bring a message from God and they don't speak their own words. Let's go to a second point here. And I've already touched on this one. Angels generally appear as men or young men when they manifest themselves to mankind. So we don't want to be misled by some of the icons that you see out there, because there are so many different things. You can see pictures. You can see paintings. You can see pictures of angels in books or on the internet and that type of thing, which often look very different than what they actually manifest themselves in Scripture. And so we want to not be misled by that or be fooled by modern misrepresentations of what they look like.

Let's go to let's notice an account here of angels visiting Abraham in Genesis 18.

And this will be a pretty familiar Scripture, I think, for many of us. But let's focus on the context of the subject today of the angelic realm. Genesis 18. We'll pick it up in verse number 1.

This is a time when Abraham is suddenly...there's three men that appear to him, and he noticed there's something significant. He noticed there's something unusual, and he's understanding that God is appearing to him along with two angelic beings. So let's take a look at that. And that's in Genesis chapter 18 and verse number 1. See how Scripture depicts these angels and what they look like when they appear. Genesis chapter 18 and verse 1. It says, Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted up his eyes, and he looked, and behold, three men were standing by him. And so we see that this is how they're manifested to Abraham. This is what he sees. He understands the LORD has appeared to him, and that there were three men that were standing by him. Again, talking about men here and the way they're manifested. And we know the LORD was there, so we know that one of these that are standing here was the LORD. We know that. Verse number 2. And when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and he bowed himself to the ground.

And he said, My LORD, if I found favor in your sight, do not pass on by your servant. Please, let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts, and that you may pass by inasmuch as you have come to your servant. And so they said, Do as you have said. So, in a sense, these angelic beings, they had their feet washed. They ate something. You know, they had an afternoon meal, and they drank things. And so, angels can eat and drink. They can manifest themselves as a man, and they can eat and drink. Let's jump to verse number 22 of the same chapter. Verse number 22.

Just focus a little bit here on part of the scripture here. Verse number 22. It says, Then the men turned away. So again, they were manifesting themselves as men.

So again, we're noting that they appeared as men as they appeared to Abraham.

And they went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. So the one that stayed was the Lord, and the other men left, and they went to Sodom. So let's talk about what happened to the other men that went to Sodom. Let's jump to the next chapter, Genesis chapter 19. And we'll pick it up here in verse number 1. Genesis chapter 19 and verse 1.

And now notice, Now the two angels came to Sodom. So we know that these two men, at least manifesting themselves as men, these angelic beings, they came to Sodom in the evening. Remember the story? Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom, and when Lot saw them, he noticed somehow there was some significance. He rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face to the ground. And he said, Now, my Lord's police turn into your servant's house, and they said, No, but we'll spend the night outside. And of course, he encouraged them not to do that. He continued to talk with them and persuaded them eventually to come in. And he said that you may spend the night, verse 2, and wash your feet, some of the same things that Abraham was talking about, and that you may rise early and go on your way. And he said, No, we'll stay in the open square. But he insisted. And so finally they entered the house, verse 3, and he gave them something to eat.

And he baked unleavened bread. And they ate. So again, we can see the angelic beans can eat.

Verse 4. Now, before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, and if you remember the story, it was very corrupt sexual immorality, was running rampant in that city. And there were people of that city that had seen these two men. Well, what they thought were men. And they had come into Lot's house. And so they're saying here, in verse number 5, they called the Lot and said to him, Where are the men? So that's how these angelic beans again manifested themselves. Where are the men who came into you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally. And if we're reading between the lines here, they wanted to know them sexually. And again, the angel beans look like men. And I think we know the rest of the story, that eventually these two angels saved Lot and his wife, and they got them out of there, basically before vengeance, God's vengeance, was placed on that city. Let's go over to Hebrews chapter 13 verse 2. Hebrews chapter 13 verse 2, we've talked about the fact that when angels manifest themselves, that somehow, some way, there's something that's extraordinary that we sense that there's something significant.

And so people are afraid. And one of the first things the angelic beans do is try to calm the people. But that's not always true. Let's take a look at this in Hebrews chapter 13 verse 2, because we have to look at all of the scriptures as we begin to get a complete idea on the subject here of how things work. And you may recall this scripture, too. Paul is writing here in the book of Hebrews, or the author of Hebrews is writing here, and he says, let's pick it up in verse 1, let brotherly love continue, and don't forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing, some have unknowingly or unwittingly entertained angels. So there may have been times in the past when you have entertained angels, that God just allowed this to take place, that maybe someone was there, they were part of the team, they were part of the club, they were part of a situation, and they were there, and we didn't know it. And unwittingly, we were serving them or entertaining them. And so we see that this is something that can happen. They may look like normal men, young men, but they were actually an angel that happened to be there. Let's also notice a New Testament account here of angels manifesting themselves. Let's go over to Mark chapter 16 and verse 1. Mark chapter 16 and verse number 1.

Story of Mary Magdalene here after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. We'll pick it up in verse 1 of Mark chapter 16. And when the Sabbath was passed, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James and Siloam, bought spices that they may come and anoint the body of Jesus. Verse number 2. Very early in the morning on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the son had risen.

And they said among themselves, who's going to roll away the stone? It's pretty heavy. You know, now they're starting to think about, okay, we've got all this, but we didn't really maybe think about how we're going to move this this massive stone that's covering the opening of the tomb.

Verse 4. But when they looked up, they saw that it had already been rolled away, for it was very large. So we know it was large and we know it was heavy. Verse 5. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man. So in this case, it's referred to not as a man, but a young man.

He was clothed in a white robe, and he was sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. You can imagine being there yourself. And again, that they were afraid, in a sense. Verse 6. But he said to them, Don't be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth. Again, this is a message now, performing a message here. It covers kind of point one and two. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, but he is risen, and he's not here. See the place where he had been laying.

But verse 7, but go and tell his disciples and tell Peter that he's going to go before you into Galilee. So if you wanted to know where he's going, he's alive. He's going before you into Galilee. And there you will see him as he said to you. So it must have been something that Christ had told them before. But the angel is now telling them again, just to emphasize. So because I'm sure they're just in shock and surprise, and they're alarmed. Verse 8, So they went out quickly, and they fled from the tomb, for they trembled, and they were amazed, and they said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. So we see it again manifested as a young man in this case. Now let's go to Acts chapter 10. Acts chapter 10. And we'll pick it up right in the very first verse.

And this is talking about Cornelius. Cornelius was a Gentile, and he was of an Italian regiment. He was a God-fear. He was not an Israelite, but he believed in the God of Israel. And he prayed to the God of Israel, and he helped God's people. So let's pick it up here, Acts chapter 10 and verse 1. There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of which was called the Italian regiment. He was a devout man, so he took the true God seriously. He was devout, and one who feared God with all of his household, so not just himself, but also his family, who gave alms generously to the people. So he was a giver, and he prayed to God. He talked with God, as we heard in the first message today. Very often, he had regular communication with the God of Israel. Verse 3, about the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision and angel of God that came to him. Now, in a moment, he's going to describe what he looked like. We'll get to that in just a moment. Verse 4, when he observed him, he was afraid. So again, that constant fear. And he said, What is it, Lord? So he said to him, Your prayers and your alms have come up for memorial before God.

Wow! How does that tie in so much with the first message that we hear? How important our prayers are? God hears them, and it moves him, and they came up to a memorial before God.

Now, because of that prayer, I'm going to send men to Joppa, verse 5, and send for Simon, whose name is Peter. So I want you and your men to go to Joppa, and you'll find someone by the name of Simon Peter there. And he's lodging with a tanner by the name of Simon also, whose house is by the sea. He's going to tell you what you must do. In verse 7, when the angels spoke to him, and departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. So he was a man that had people under him. In verse 30, so Cornelius said, and he jumped there to verse 30, he says, he starts to tell about his story. He says, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold a man stood before me. So again, the angel is manifesting himself as a man. There's no other indications of a woman, or of a young boy, or a young girl, or babies. So again, as we look at Scripture, this is how God says that they manifest themselves. So a man stood before me in bright clothing and said, Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in God's sight.

Let's go back to Acts. Let's go back to chapter 1 in verse number 9.

Acts chapter 1 and verse 9, another encounter here of an angel.

Or angels, in this case. There's two of them. You may remember this account as well when we get there. Acts chapter 1 and verse 9. It says, Now when he had spoken these things, Jesus is speaking to his disciples, this is just before he ascends to heaven, while they watched, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, it says, Behold, two men are standing there in white apparel. So once again, we see the form and the likeness here of two men when these angels are talking to the disciples and basically saying, you know, in the same manner in which he's going up, he's going to come back.

But again, they're giving a message also, aren't they? As they appear, they're giving a message from God. You may have noticed in the Scripture sometimes, the angel doesn't say much.

Usually they want to relay the message from God, and if they're asked questions, they don't say much. They don't speak very much, and they won't use two words when one word will do. And so, they have very little to say. They just convey the message here. I've heard stories from some ministers who've encountered demonic spirits, and it's like they almost talk all the time.

They talk nonstop. And so, there is a big difference between the good angels and the bad angels that became the demons when it comes to how many words they speak.

Let's go to a third point. The angels are very, very numerous. The angels are very, very numerous.

Some scriptures refer to them as innumerable or uncountable. There are many, many angels.

So, let's take a look at Psalm chapter 68 and verse number 17. Psalm chapter 68 and verse number 17. We're going to see that angels are very numerous. There's just not a hundred of them. There's not just a thousand of them or even ten thousand of them, but there are many, many more than that. They're very numerous. Let's take a look here. Psalm chapter 68.

And we'll pick it up here in verse number 17.

And I'm reading here from the New King James version. Psalm chapter 68 and verse number 17.

It says, the chariots of God are 20,000, even thousands of thousands. And the Lord is among them as in Sinai in the holy place. So, he's referring to that the angelic realm is very close to God often. Like he's referring as in Sinai. So, when Moses went up to Sinai and the law was given and God was there, there were angelic beings that were there as well. We'll cover that here in a little bit here. Psalm chapter 68 verse 17. The New Living Translation translates it this way.

Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots, the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.

And the old King James renders it this way. The chariots are 20,000, even thousands of angels. The Lord is among them as in Sinai, as in the holy place. So, we see that there are a lot of angels. Let's see how many. We're going to cover that here in just a moment. Let's go to Deuteronomy chapter 33 and verse 2. So, we'll go back to Deuteronomy. David was writing the Psalms about the thousands and thousands of angels. And Moses saw an amazing spectacle when he went up to Mount Sinai to receive the law. It's an awesome sight as he proceeded up there. Let's notice Deuteronomy chapter 33 and we'll pick it up in verse 2. Deuteronomy chapter 33 and verse 2. And he said, The Lord came from Sinai, and he dawned on them from Sare, and he shone forth from Mount Peran, and he came with ten thousands of saints. Now, the word saints there can also be translated angels or holy ones. So, we're seeing that God came with ten thousands of his holy ones, with angels as it can also be rendered. And from his right hand came forth a fiery law for God's people, for them. I'll just refer to Acts chapter 7 and verse 53, where Paul is saying, you've received the law by the dispensation of angels, but you haven't kept it. So, he's talking to the Jewish people. He's talking to God's people in the book of Acts chapter 7, verse 53. So, you can write that down for reference, or if you want to turn to that, you can. But we have received the law by the disposition of angels, but we haven't kept it. So, we know that the angelic beings were also there. Sometimes we just imagine God being there, giving the ten commandments to Moses, but the angelic beings were also there. Deuteronomy chapter 33, verse 2, he came with ten thousands of saints, and from his right hand came a fiery law for them. And so, we see he was surrounded by ten thousands of holy angels.

Let's go over to Daniel chapter 7 and verse 9. We'll begin to get an indication of how many angelic beings there are. Daniel chapter 7, and we'll start in verse number 9.

Daniel chapter 7, right after the book of Ezekiel.

Daniel is in a vision, and he says, and I watched till the thrones were put in place, and the ancient of days was seated. And we understand the ancient of days to be represented by God the Father. In a sense, the court is being seated. Verse 9, and his garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head was like pure wool, and his throne was a fiery flame, his wheels a burning fire. Verse 10, and a fiery stream issued and came forth from before him. I can't imagine what all this is, this fiery stream, you know, that's issued and came forth from before him. And notice a thousand thousands ministered to him. Now for you mathematicians out there, how many are a thousand thousands?

That's a million. That's a million. A thousand thousands ministered to him, and notice, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. So if you can imagine this scene, and how many are ten thousand times ten thousand. A hundred million. One hundred million. Now, I, the most of people I've ever been around, and maybe, you know, you can think about your own situation, I've been around it at one time is about a hundred thousand people at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. And there'd be a roar that would go up with some great play or something, and you just thought, wow, that's just a hundred thousand. We're talking about a hundred million angelic beings that are standing before the Almighty, the Ancient of Days, here in verse number 10. And the court was seated, so we're definitely talking about a court. We're talking about the end of the age. God's going to render some judgment, enough of what has been going on in the age of man, in the age of Satan. There's going to be a judgment rendered. So we know this is talking about the end of the age and the court is seated, the Ancient of Days, but can you imagine the scene of a hundred million standing before him? So we see all of this, and Daniel saw this in vision, you know, and many of the prophets of old were witnesses to all kinds of these visions of things, and you could see why they would be in awe. You can see why, if you put yourself in their shoes, why they would be in awe of all of these things that they were seeing. Where there's a million angels that are ministering to God, and there are a hundred million that are just standing before the throne, that are all there, right there at the throne. Let's go over to a New Testament scripture, again talking about the number of angels that there can't be, gives us an idea that there are many. Revelation chapter 5 and verse number 11. Revelation chapter 5.

Now, this isn't Daniel that's having this vision, this is John, the Apostle John that's having this vision. So this is a different person that's having a vision here that God's revealing something.

Revelation chapter 5 and verse number 11. So John has said, Then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels. Well, how many is he hearing the voice of? I know what this voice of 100,000 people sounds like. I heard the voice of many angels about the throne. And so how many are there? Well, it talks about that there's living creatures, and there's the elders, and the living creatures other places talk about. There's four living creatures, and talking about the elders. There's 24 elders, and it's talking about these angels, and the number of them was 10,000 times 10,000 and thousands of thousands. It's exactly the same verbiage and terminology that's used in the book of Daniel. So we see here it's at least 100 million angels that he is seeing and hearing the sound of. Verse 12, and they are saying with a loud voice. So can you imagine 100 million not saying with a regular voice, but with a loud voice they're saying this message here that worthy is the lamb that was slain. I can't imagine what he's seen in vision and what he is hearing from all of these angelic beings that are around the throne. Worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. So we see all of these angels at the throne, and they're praising the lamb, saying that he's worthy because of what he did. He's worthy of praise. All right, so all of these things are happening. Now let's go over to Hebrews 12. Hebrews 12 and verse 18.

I'm going to realize here that the angels are very numerous, and there's an account, a reminder of Moses going up to Mount Sinai to receive the law, and then there's an additional point that's added here. It's not talking about Mount Sinai, but it goes on to talk about Mount Zion, which is a different mountain here. Hebrews 12 verse 18. I think he's talking about Mount Sinai first, and then he shifts to Mount Zion. So let's pick it up here in verse 18 of Hebrews 12.

He says, for you have not come to the mountain that may be touched, and that burn with fire, and to blackness, and darkness, and tempest. You know, you're coming to a different mountain than Mount Sinai because that one could be touched, and it had all that fire, and blackness, and darkness. Verse 19. And the sound of the trumpet, remember it blasted so loud that the people said, I couldn't hear, I don't want to hear anymore. Moses, you talk to us, don't let God talk to us.

Because the people begged, verse 19, that the Word should not be spoken to them anymore.

And when they heard the voice of God, they trembled. You remember? They said, this is too much. We're going to die if we don't, if this doesn't stop. Well, let's jump to verse number 21.

And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, even I am exceedingly afraid. I'm not just afraid, I am really exceedingly afraid and trembling. Verse 22. But you have come to Mount Zion, not Mount Sinai, but Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels. So this Mount Zion is heavenly Jerusalem. We've come to a innumerable company of angels. In other words, they can't be counted. There are so many you can't count them. Verse 23. To the General Assembly and Church of the First Born who are registered in heaven, to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men that have been made perfect, and to Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant. And that's important that we understand, and we'll cover this maybe a little bit more next time, that Jesus is the Mediator between God and man, not an angelic being. They shouldn't be between us and God. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Mediator. He's our Mediator, not any angelic being. Verse 25. And see that you don't refuse Him who speaks, for if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, how much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks in heaven? So we see, verse 22 talks about an innumerable company of angels. The Jerusalem Bible translates verse 22 this way, the heavenly Jerusalem where millions of angels have gathered. So we see here it's translated that it's innumerable. Too many to count. All right. So when we come to the mountain of God, in a sense, just as Moses came to Mount Sinai, when we come to Mount Zion, we see maybe we haven't imagined that God could be surrounded by an innumerable company of angels that are there with Him when we come before Him to pray. Let's look over at Matthew chapter 26 and verse 53.

Matthew chapter 26 and verse 53.

Jesus Christ here is being threatened. And He talks about the fact that God, if it was God's will, He could send some angels to help Him.

Let's pick it up in verse 52. The situation is that He's being taken in the garden, and Peter's got a sword, and he cuts off the high priest's servant's ear. And Jesus says, put your sword into its place, because this needed to play out according to God's plan.

He says, verse 52, put your sword, Peter, in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or don't you think that I cannot now pray to my Father, and He will provide me with more than 12 legions of angels. Now, a legion could be up to 6,000 in a legion. So talking about 12 legions, we're talking about 72,000 angels. He's telling Peter, don't you understand that I could just ask God, and He could immediately send this many angels to help me. 72,000 angels, you know, just for Him, at a moment's notice. And so we see here that that's something that God could do, and can do, and has done, and we'll cover some of that next time. So when we put all these scriptures together, we see that the angels are so numerous that they're innumerable, that we can't count them. Let's move on to point number four. Angels are not to be worshipped. Angels are not to be worshipped. And there can be a danger to think, well, I've got this guardian angel, I've got this angel in my hip pocket, and I can just call on them at any time. If I knew their name, I'd probably call them my name. We'd have this relationship, and, you know, some people want to have that type of thing, to have this guardian angel, not to say that we don't have one, that God doesn't have one that watches out for us, because that's one of the things that angels do.

We'll cover that in more detail next time, is that they help. They serve. They protect.

But sometimes the angel can become more important than God, and that can be dangerous. Angels are real, but we have to be careful. We have to be cautious that we don't exalt the angels, so to speak, and begin to place them in the place of God, that we don't worship them, in a sense. Because angelic worship has been around. It's been around for a long time. You know, that goes against the First Commandment in Exodus chapter 20 in verse 3, that we should worship God and God alone. And so, to have no other gods before me is what God the Father says in Exodus chapter 20 verse 3. Now, I'll just touch a little bit on Gnosticism, but that's a teaching regarding angels. Like, it's a necessary part of a belief system about angels to worship them. And so, we mustn't forget that Christ alone is our mediator to God the Father, that we don't have to go through an angel to get to God the Father, because Christ alone is our mediator, not angels. And true angels, the holy angels, the good angels, in a sense, don't want to take our focus off of God. On the contrary, they'll say, don't worship me, worship God. Let's take a look at that. Revelation chapter 22 in verse number 6.

Revelation chapter 22 in verse number 6.

John is near the end of his writings here in the book of Revelation.

In Revelation chapter 22 verse 6, it said, then he said to me, these words are true and faithful, and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show his servants the things which must shortly take place. So again, God is sending the angels as a messenger to show his servants what's going to take place. Behold, I'm coming quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. Now, hi, John, saw, and I heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Okay, what's the angel going to do? John is so overwhelmed, he just falls down at the feet of this angel, he's going to worship the angel. This is the Apostle John here. He's at the end of his life. He's seeing these visions, and he's so moved by this angelic being that he feels he needs to worship. What does the angel say in verse number 9 of Revelation 22? The angel said to me, see that you do not do that, because I'm your fellow servant. I serve God, too, just like you. Don't worship me. He said, see that you do not do that. I am your fellow servant and of your brethren the prophets. They were servants, too. And those who keep the words of this book, and notice he says, worship God.

Worship God. So the angels are very quick to say, they deflect that. Don't worship me. Get up off of your feet. I'm a servant just like you of the great God. Don't worship me. Worship God.

Let's go over to Colossians chapter 2, verse 8.

Colossians chapter 2 and verse 8. Another scripture here that we are not to worship the angels.

And that was beginning to happen right in the first century here.

Colossians chapter 2. We'll pick it up here in verse number 8.

Referring to Christ here, making himself of no reputation in verse 7, he took on the form of a bondservant, and he came in the likeness of men. Verse number 8, and being found in the appearance of a man, he humbled himself, and he became obedient to the point of death.

Oops, I'm in the wrong scripture here. I was in Philippians. I get to Colossians.

Colossians chapter 2, verse 8. Beware lest anyone cheat you. So someone's trying to cheat you. They're trying to deceive you. So beware of that. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy or empty deceit, which means it leads to nothing. It's empty. According to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. And let's jump to verse number 18 here in the same context. Verse number 18, let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and notice and the worship of angels. So there it was, right in the first century. Some people were saying you have to worship an angel. And Paul is saying that's deceitful. Don't be cheated. That's false. That's not true. God would not have us to do that. And we've already read in Revelation chapter 22 where the angels said alone, get up off your feet. Don't do that. Worship God. So we see here that God says that the angels are not to be worshipped. All right. Well, that's where we're going to leave it for this time.

But angels are powerful beings. They are messengers from God with a message.

And they are innumerable. They are innumerable angels. And that's one of the points there. And they generally appear as men or young men. And they are very numerous. And they are not to be worshipped. But there's many, many other points that we're going to cover next time, including how did they come into being? How long have they been around? What specifically is their purpose?

No? We touched on a little bit. We'll get into some more of the details later. And we'll cover all of that next time. But they are there, brethren. They are real. And the Scriptures tell us how they manifest themselves and what purpose we're going to cover that next time on how they serve God and how they serve the heirs of salvation.