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 take the stage before Jesus. Gabriel appeared to Zacharias to announce that he would have a son - John the Baptist (Luke 1,11-19). Gabriel also told Mary that she would have a son (vv. 26-38). An angel told Joseph about this in a dream (Matthew 1,20-24).

An angel announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds and a heavenly host praised God (Luke 2,9-15). Another angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to tell him to flee to Egypt and then, when it was safe, to return (Matthew 2,13.19).

Angels are mentioned again in the temptation of Jesus. Satan quoted a passage from the Bible about angelic protection and angels ministering to Jesus after the temptation was over (Matthew 4,6.11). An angel helped Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane during a severe temptation2,43).

Angels also played an important role in Jesus' resurrection, as the four Gospels tell us. An angel rolled away the stone and told the women that Jesus was resurrected8,2-5). The women saw an angel or two inside the tomb6,5; Luke 24,4.23; John 20,11).

Divine messengers pointed to the significance of the resurrection.

Jesus said angels will also play an important role when he comes back. Angels will accompany him on his return and gather the elect for salvation and the wicked for destruction (Matthew 13,39-twenty; 494,31).

Jesus could have called legions of angels, but he did not ask for them6,53). You will be with him when he comes back. Angels will be involved in judgment2,8-9). This is likely to be the time when people will see the angels "going up and down over the Son of Man" (John 1,51).

Angels can appear as a person or with unusual glory (Luke 2,9; 24,4). They do not die or marry, which obviously means that they have no sexuality and do not reproduce (Luke 20,35: 36). People sometimes believe that unusual events are caused by angels (John 5,4; 12,29).

Jesus said, "These little ones who believe in me" have angels in heaven watching over them (Matthew 18,6.10). Angels rejoice when people turn to God and angels bring the righteous who have died to paradise5,10; 16,22).

Michael Morrison


pdfThe angelic world