Angels
The heavenly angels are always helpful. They've been that way from the beginning. We know this because the only authoritative book on the subject - the Bible - tells us so. The reason angels are always helpful is quite simple: The sole purpose of their existence is to carry out the will of God.
As an example, have a look at an incident in the Bible concerning a man by the name of Balaam. We read of this incident in Numbers 22, in the period of time when the fledgling nation of Israel was making its way to the land of Canaan - the land promised to them by God. Balaam was well-known as some kind of prophet. One important man who knew of his reputation was the king of Moab. When the nation of Israel gave indications they were going to cross his border on their way to Canaan, he felt extremely vulnerable and threatened by it. To thwart their passage, he hoped to enlist the help of Balaam. He offered the soothsayer riches beyond his wildest dreams if he would only curse Israel. Balaam was all too willing to take the king up on his offer, and despite a warning from God, went off with the dream of untold riches filling his head.
As he rode his donkey, an angel of God stood in Balaam's path, withstanding him. We read of this in Numbers 22 verse 22: " Then God's anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him... " The angel was actually doing Balaam a favour. If Balaam were to go to the king of Moab and speak words not given to him by God, God would surely destroy him. It might be added that the angel was making sure Balaam had no doubt about what he was up against, and he was working toward the furtherance of God's purpose with Balaam.
As stated earlier, the heavenly angels are always helpful. They were intimately involved in the six days of creation that are described in the first two chapters of Genesis. In the poetic language of Job, the angels are referred to as " morning stars " . In chapter 38 from verses four to 11, God asks Job a series of questions concerning the creation. Verse 7 declares how the morning stars, the angels, sang with joy at the wonders and the great feats associated with the creation of the heavens and the earth.
The psalmist reveals to us that the heavenly angels do God's bidding (Psalm 103:20-21). And none other than the Lord Jesus Christ tells his listeners that the angels are indestructible. We find this in Luke 20 and verse 36. Here, Christ is comparing the children of the resurrection who are counted worthy, with the heavenly angels who cannot die. In other words, these angels are immortal.
Wherever we look in the Bible, we find these angels performing the role of God's messengers, encouraging, for example, Joshua, Moses' successor (Joshua 5:13-15), or announcing to Samson's mother the birth of Samson, a deliverer of Israel (Judges 13:3-5), or ministering to Jesus in his hour of direst need (Luke 22:43), or comforting the Apostle Paul (Acts 27:21-25), or delivering the Revelation to the Apostle John on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:1,2).
After a while, Biblical passages describing the role of the " heavenly host " form into a pattern. They are God's representatives on this green earth and they assist or minister to men and women who declare their allegiance to God and who seek to be His emissaries by the way they live their lives.
When the Lord Jesus Christ returns to the earth to claim the throne that is rightly his, his army of heavenly angels will be with him. As our Lord declared: " ...and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet , and they will gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. " We read of this in Matthew 24 verses 30 and 31.
For the person who has become one of God's children, it's compelling to know the angelic beings are on our side in the battle against temptation and sin. For the person who hasn't become one of God's children, you can be sure he or she too would like to be able to enlist these mighty ones in their battles. After all, who wouldn't!
As an example, have a look at an incident in the Bible concerning a man by the name of Balaam. We read of this incident in Numbers 22, in the period of time when the fledgling nation of Israel was making its way to the land of Canaan - the land promised to them by God. Balaam was well-known as some kind of prophet. One important man who knew of his reputation was the king of Moab. When the nation of Israel gave indications they were going to cross his border on their way to Canaan, he felt extremely vulnerable and threatened by it. To thwart their passage, he hoped to enlist the help of Balaam. He offered the soothsayer riches beyond his wildest dreams if he would only curse Israel. Balaam was all too willing to take the king up on his offer, and despite a warning from God, went off with the dream of untold riches filling his head.
As he rode his donkey, an angel of God stood in Balaam's path, withstanding him. We read of this in Numbers 22 verse 22: " Then God's anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him... " The angel was actually doing Balaam a favour. If Balaam were to go to the king of Moab and speak words not given to him by God, God would surely destroy him. It might be added that the angel was making sure Balaam had no doubt about what he was up against, and he was working toward the furtherance of God's purpose with Balaam.
As stated earlier, the heavenly angels are always helpful. They were intimately involved in the six days of creation that are described in the first two chapters of Genesis. In the poetic language of Job, the angels are referred to as " morning stars " . In chapter 38 from verses four to 11, God asks Job a series of questions concerning the creation. Verse 7 declares how the morning stars, the angels, sang with joy at the wonders and the great feats associated with the creation of the heavens and the earth.
The psalmist reveals to us that the heavenly angels do God's bidding (Psalm 103:20-21). And none other than the Lord Jesus Christ tells his listeners that the angels are indestructible. We find this in Luke 20 and verse 36. Here, Christ is comparing the children of the resurrection who are counted worthy, with the heavenly angels who cannot die. In other words, these angels are immortal.
Wherever we look in the Bible, we find these angels performing the role of God's messengers, encouraging, for example, Joshua, Moses' successor (Joshua 5:13-15), or announcing to Samson's mother the birth of Samson, a deliverer of Israel (Judges 13:3-5), or ministering to Jesus in his hour of direst need (Luke 22:43), or comforting the Apostle Paul (Acts 27:21-25), or delivering the Revelation to the Apostle John on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:1,2).
After a while, Biblical passages describing the role of the " heavenly host " form into a pattern. They are God's representatives on this green earth and they assist or minister to men and women who declare their allegiance to God and who seek to be His emissaries by the way they live their lives.
When the Lord Jesus Christ returns to the earth to claim the throne that is rightly his, his army of heavenly angels will be with him. As our Lord declared: " ...and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet , and they will gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. " We read of this in Matthew 24 verses 30 and 31.
For the person who has become one of God's children, it's compelling to know the angelic beings are on our side in the battle against temptation and sin. For the person who hasn't become one of God's children, you can be sure he or she too would like to be able to enlist these mighty ones in their battles. After all, who wouldn't!