Angels

Throughout history there has been a fascination with the supernatural, and the role of heavenly or celestial beings. Every religion has it’s spirit beings. Heavenly beings are mentioned over 260 times in the Bible. Today, this fascination is on television, in magazines and newspapers, in books, and endemic on the internet. The internet is ripe with articles, blogs, and videos all purporting to give a person full knowledge of who the angels are, and how to connect with them to obtain supernatural powers in an effort to overcome loneliness or disenchantment with their own self abilities or image. Scripture speaks of two types of angels: those who have always been faithful to Yahweh, and those who have declared their allegiance to Lucifer (Satan).

Premises and Characteristics of New Age Angelology
New Age teachings on angels is eclectic: it is taken from the Bible, Koran, Book of Mormon, Pseudepigrapha, Apocrypha, and many other sources; all are used to form an amalgamated image and description. Myths and ancient teachings tell of genies, fairies, hybrids, and other supernatural beings. New Age teachings are fairly extensive regarding the job angels have. Angels, they say, help you make your image as you wish it to be: “Be All You Can Be” is their motto. Angels, they say, help you achieve unconditional self-love. All is love and sweetness: there is no condemnation, hell, or lake of fire. Angels, they say, are channels for entry to the spiritual realm: just get in touch with your spirit guide and all will be well with your soul and you will gain knowledge of the secret teachings. The new age is coming: the spirit is good but the material is bad.

Biblical Angelology and Faithful Angels
Scripture paints a very different picture of angels. Angels are Yahweh’s messengers whose role is to minister to Yahweh’s people as he commands them to do. There are the elect angels (1 Timothy 5:21), the angels of the churches (Revelation 2:1-3:18), the Cherubim (Genesis 3:22-24; Exodus 25:17- 20; Ezekiel 10:1-19), Seraphim (Isaiah 6:2-7), and Living Creatures (Ezekiel 1: 5-14; Revelation 4:6-11). Scripture also mentions two angels by name: Michael and Gabriel (Daniel 8:15-9:22; Luke 1:18-28).

The items below have been compiled from essays by: Pastor David E. Thompson, pastor/teacher at Texas Corners Bible Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan posted at :
http://www.raptureready.com/2017/09/19/angelic-believer-and-unbeliever-ministry/
http://www.raptureready.com/2017/09/12/what-are-some-things-that-unfallen-angels-do/

Angelic Areas Of Responsibility
#1 – angels have a ministry to Yahweh and to worship Yahweh (Revelation 4:8, 5:13-14, 22:9).
#2 – angels have a ministry connected to Yahweh’s program, especially in association with the New Testament church (Matthew 18:15-18; I Timothy 5:21-22; Revelation 2:1-14).
#3 – angels have a ministry connected to Yeshua Ha’Mashiach (Matthew 1:20, 4:1, 4:11; Luke 22:43)
#4 – angels have a ministry to those who accept Yeshua as their Lord and Savior (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:30-38; John 20:12; Acts 12:7).
#5 – angels have a ministry to people who have yet to accept Yeshua as their Lord and Savior (Acts 10:7).

Angelic Ministries To The Bride Of Yeshua
#1 – Angels help enable a follower of Yeshua to do Yahweh’s work (Acts 8:26; Acts 10:3).
#2 – Angels may help answer the prayers of a follower of Yeshua (Acts 12:5-7).
#3 – Angels are involved in the life of every follower of Yeshua (Psalm 91:1; Luke 4:10).
#4 – Angels are involved in protecting and giving encouragement to a believers (Acts 27:23-24).
#5 – Angels have a special ministry to a Bride of Yeshua at death (Luke 16:22).
#6 – Angels have a ministry of unannounced and unsuspected inspections (Hebrews 13:2).
#7 – Angels have a ministry of observation and remembrance (1 Timothy 5:21).

Angelic Ministries To The Unbeliever
#1) – Yahweh uses angels to prevent an unbeliever from harming or hurting a believer (Acts 12:6-10; Matthew 26:53).
#2) – Yahweh used an angel to inflict disease resulting in death (Acts 12:19-23).
#3) – Yahweh will use angels to preach the Gospel (Acts 8:26; Revelation 14:6-7).
#4) – Yahweh will use an angel to gather the unrighteous at the final harvest and throw them into the furnace of fire (Matthew 13:39-43; Revelation 14:19).
#5) – Yahweh will use angels to announce the seal judgments, sound the trumpets, and pour out the bowls of wrath (Revelation chapters 6, 8, 9, 11, and 16).

Below is a chart of those “jobs”:

Conclusions
Christians and non-Christians today are both confused about angels. The church and its leaders have not preached about angels despite a very concise Biblical understanding and teaching. The current interest in angels and the spiritual realm is a symptom of a search for new spirituality. Our main source for identity and information about spiritual matters should be in Yahweh’s Word, rather than in angels.

Final Thought
Prophecy as foretold by the Hebrew prophets continues to unfold in an escalating pattern. The stage is nearly completely set. The great and terrible Day of Yahweh, Joseph’s Trouble, hastens forth and will not delay. Time is short – Yeshua Ha’Mashiach is coming soon – get busy reaching the lost.