Angels - Part III

God uses Angels to work on the behalf of His children. They are sent to comfort and strengthen us. When Jesus was in the garden praying, before His arrest, Luke 22:43 states "there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him." Hebrews 1:14 tells us they are "sent forth to minister (comfort) for them who shall be heirs of salvation." I Kings 19:5 and also 7 tells us about the angel coming to Elijah on two occasions, touching him and telling him to "arise and eat", thus nurturing and ministering to Elijah in his time of need.

Scripture also tells us that the angels watch us. I Cor. 4:9 says that the apostles were made a "spectacle unto the world, and to angels". Ephesians 3:10 (NIV) says "through the church, the manifold (or displaying) wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms." It should be a sobering thought that the church on earth is observed, so to speak, by spiritual powers.

During the time of Tribulation, God will use His angels to execute most of the judgments. It will be the army of God's angels that will defeat Satan and his fallen angels and cast them forever out of Heaven, and at the end an angel will seize Satan and bind him and cast him into the bottomless pit for a thousand years.

God created the angels sometime before He created the universe, as they were there according to Job 38:4-7. And we know they will be entrusted with guarding the New Jerusalem in eternity as Rev. 21:12 describes this beautiful place as having a "great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates."

As powerful and beautiful as these angels are, and as overwhelming as it might be should we actually see an angel, we are not to worship them. When John was overcome at the sight of the angel, the angel told him "do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!" (Rev. 19:10, NIV) Also in Rev. 22:9 he again says, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant...Worship God!"