Messengers of God

Angels: Hebrew Malik = Messenger of God.

1. Their Appearance/Powers

Though there are countless millions of angel beings in the universe (Revelation 5: 11) none of us in this audience have actually seen an angel. Indeed few people in the history of mankind, comparatively speaking, have actually seen an angel. We've all heard about angels and we believe that angels exist; but how many of us can actually say “I’ve seen an angel.” In the Scriptures we read of many instances where angels have appeared to men and women. These appearances fall into 2 categories:

Literal appearances in which the angel came face to face with a person and even touched them or spoke to them. When angels made a literal appearance they were mistaken for men. No doubt there was something awesome and indefinably majestic about their appearance; but they nevertheless looked like men. They had faces, hands, feet and walked upon the earth. (see Judges 13: 1-21)
Symbolic appearances in which the angels were seen in a vision or dream and appeared different in design and structure to men. They had 6 wings and 4 faces. (Ezekiel 1:5-12 ) In (Revelation 4: 6-8) the symbolic description of angels may confuse many. But like the symbolic representations of Christ (who in (Revelation 19: 15-21) is described as a lamb with a sword coming out of his mouth) they are given to illustrate the multiple characteristics and duties of angels.
- Full of eyes = with ability to see all around.
- Four faces = four primary areas of action:
- lion-like = majestic, powerful
- ox-like = the servant of man
- man-like = similar interests as mankind
- eagle-like = able to rise above the earth
- Six wings = multiple modes of transport, each with specific boundaries.

Ezekiel 1:	11: “Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.”
Isaiah 6:	2: “Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.”

Though far reaching in access, these seraphim were not allowed to gaze on Yahweh's person. With two he flew. The seraphim (another order of angels) are able to travel the universe and - within limits - to look into matters of awesome importance. All this is symbolically displayed by their multiple eyes, faces and wings.

2. Angel Activities

If you were to analyse the Biblical records of people have seen or spoken to angels you would find that angel activity falls into recognizable categories. Here are a few of those categories:

They punish:

Genesis 19:

1: “12: And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:
13: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.”

2 Kings 19:

32: “Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.
33: By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD.
34: For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
35: And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
36: So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.
37: And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead.”

They give messages

Judges 6: 11-40	Points of note in the message:
Verse:	12: “The Lord is with you.”
Verse:	14: “Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?”
Verse:	16: “And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee,* and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.”*
Verses:	20: “And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, (symbolic of Jesus Christ) and pour out the broth. And he did so. 21. Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.” Note: Offerings of praise and thanks are only acceptable to Yahweh if they are free from pagan error and offered through Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ), the ROCK of our salvation!
Verse:	23: “And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.”
Verse:	25: “... the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: 26: And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.”

Carrying out instructions of this nature are frightening to say the least. But if they come from God we need have no fear because angels stand by God to protect the faithful. Yahweh is ever present to support all those who attempt to put away paganism and practice His law.

They minister to and guard believers

Angels are ministering spirit beings (Guardian angels) sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation. (Hebrews 1:14) You may be certain that Yahweh's angels are all extremely active beings; each one daily completing a specific task in the great program of salvation. The kind of work these heavenly beings are engaged in is outlined in these verses.

Mark 1:	13: “... and the angels ministered unto him.”
Psalm 91:	11:“ For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12: They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”
Psalm 34:	7: “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”

They warn of coming danger

Acts 10:

22: “And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.”

These are facts believers should never forget: that on Yahweh's orders angels accompany us to warn, defend and preserve us from all harm and danger. Nothing can happen to a believer without Yahweh's permission. The story of Job proves categorically that even Satan is unable to go beyond the limits that God has set for him. Believers attract Yahweh's protection by being obedient. This means that if one wilfully follows the path of evil or does that which is obviously wrong in the sight of God, then that person forfeits divine protection and blessing, and will pay the price.

3. Angels in the Last Days

The book of Revelation mentions angels in many places. Before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes, mankind will again be warned. Believers will be ministered to and protected. It is possible we shall even see the angels at that time. Here are texts which tell of these things:

Revelation 1:1	Angels instruct the servants of God.
Revelation 7:1-2	They hold back calamities till Yahweh's people are sealed.
Revelation 8 and 9	They unleash fearsome punishments on rebellious mankind.
Revelation 12:7	They war against Satan and the other fallen angels (demons).
Revelation 14	They warn against receiving the Mark of the Beast and rescue God's people as in the days of Lot. See file entitled The Two Witnesses.
Revelation 15	They will pour out the seven last plagues upon this world.
Revelation 20:1	They will bind Satan and cast him into the Bottomless Pit, the Abyss.
Matthew 24:31	They will gather the saints to meet Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) at his return.

In view of these facts let all believers remember that angels are all about us. They may not be visible to human eyes at the moment; but we will see them in the near future. That is what the Bible teaches.

AMEN!

In the Son’s Name - For the Father’s glory.

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