The world of angels
Angels are spirits, messengers and servants of God. They play a special role in four important events in Jesus' life, and Jesus referred to them on occasion as he taught about other subjects.
The gospels do not have the purpose of answering all our questions about angels. They only give us incidental information when angels enter the stage.
In the Gospel story, angels appear before Jesus. Gabriel appeared to Zechariah to announce that he would have a son – John the Baptist. (Lk 1,11-19)Gabriel also told Mary that she would have a son (vv. 26-38). Joseph was informed of this by an angel in a dream. (Mt 1,20-24).
An angel announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, and a heavenly host praised God. (Lk 2,9-15)An angel appeared to Joseph again in a dream, instructing him to flee to Egypt and then, when it was safe, to return.Mt 2,13.19).
Angels are mentioned again in connection with the temptation of Jesus. Satan quoted a Bible passage about the protection provided by angels, and angels ministered to Jesus after the temptation was over.Mt 4,6.11). An angel helped Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane during a severe temptation. (Lk 22,43).
Angels also played an important role in the resurrection of Jesus, as the four Gospels tell us. An angel rolled away the stone and told the women that Jesus had risen. (Mt 28,2-5)The women saw one or two angels inside the tomb (Mk 16,5; Lk 24,4.23; Joh 20,11).
Divine messengers pointed to the significance of the resurrection.
Jesus said that angels will also play an important role when he returns. Angels will accompany him on his return and gather the elect for salvation and the wicked for destruction.Mt 13,39-49; 24,31).
Jesus could have summoned legions of angels, but he did not ask for them. (Mt 26,53)They will accompany him when he returns. Angels will be present at the judgment. (Lk 12,8-9)This is probably the time when people see the angels “ascending and descending over the Son of Man.” (Joh 1,51).
Angels can appear as a person or with unusual glory (Lk 2,9; 24:4). They do not die and do not marry, which obviously means that they have no sexuality and do not reproduce. (Lk 20,35-36)People sometimes believe that unusual events are caused by angels (Joh 5,4; 12,29).
Jesus said that “these little ones who believe in me” have angels in heaven who watch over them.Mt 18,6.10). Angels rejoice when people turn to God and angels bring the deceased righteous to paradise (Lk 15,10; 16,22).
Michael Morrison
