The world of angels - by Tim Millen - Part 5

SO THEN ARE ALL ANGELS GOOD?
Well NO! You can't trust every angel.
All angels were originally holy, enjoying the presence of God (Matthew 18:10) and the environment of heaven (Mark 13:32).
Other angels oppose God under the leadership of Satan (Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Ephesians 6:12), and we usually call these fallen angels “demons.”
And between the holy angels and the demons there is a fierce unseen conflict raging that goes beyond anything we can imagine.
However, it’s not a fight between two equal forces.
God who created all beings is still in charge, and once He has used wicked angels to accomplish His purposes, He will bring them to a final defeat.
I was going to include demonology in tonight’s study but I soon realized that there would only be enough time to look at the good angels.
Maybe some other time we’ll have a look at the demons and Satan in detail.
Now I’m nearly done.

So we have learnt a few things about angels.
We have seen that they are real- that they exist invisibly all around us in this present physical world.
We have seen that God created the angels before He created the earth.
We know that there are thousands upon thousands of angels – possibly millions – as the Bible says they are innumerable.
They are spirit beings but they can take on physical form – human or otherwise when they are required to do so.
There is organization, rank and structure amongst the angels.
We have seen their ministry to the Lord Jesus, their ministry to Believers and their ministry also to unbelievers.
And all in all, angels seem to be very important beings that God has created to fulfill His purposes.
Of course, God does not have to use an­gels in carrying out the details of His plan, but He has chosen to do so.
Now this does not mean that we worship angels any more than we would worship the circumstances or the friends God might use to carry out His plans.
But since He has chosen to use them, we should give due consideration and thanks to God for angels.

Through the years many people have developed a wrong relationship to angels. For example – the R.C. Church teaches that catholics should pray to angels.
On one catholic website http://www.catholictradition.org/ there are 21 different prayers to angels that catholics can recite.
For eg. This one is supposed to be said to your guardian angel;. “O Angel of God, make me worthy of thy tender love, thy celestial companionship and thy never-failing protection!”
So although angels are powerful and important – it is vital that we don’t elevate them to higher position than that which God has given to them.
In an old church in Scotland are inscribed these words which put the matter in proper bal­ance: "Though God's Power Be Sufficient to Govern Us, Yet for Man's Infirmity He appointeth His Angels to Watch over Us."
So always remember what Paul wrote to young Timothy, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” 1 Tim 2:5.
The Lord Jesus, according to Ephesians 1:21 has been exalted “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.”
That’s why Paul wrote to the Philippians that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil 2:10-11).
The Apostle Peter agrees that: “Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.” (1 Peter 3:21c-22).

Scripture is clear that Jesus is not an angel, He is the Creator of the angels. He is above the angels, who in fact worship Him and are under His authority.
The best passage for showing how Christ is exalted far above the angels is Hebrews 1:1-14 and if we had time tonight we could go through it but I urge to read it this week.
The passage affirms that;
1 Jesus is the exact duplication of God’s substance (v 3).
2 Jesus is the Agent of Creation (v2).
3 Jesus is the Author of Salvation (v3b).
4 Jesus is the Son of God (v5).
5 Jesus is worshiped by angels (v6)
6 Jesus is God (v8).
7 Jesus is the eternal King (v8).
8 Jesus is Jehovah (v10-12)
9 Jesus is Immutable (v10-12).
10 Jesus sits at the Father’s right hand. (v 13)
So although angels are pretty impressive – The Lord Jesus Christ has always been, and will always be by far - the first and best of beings.

End