The topic of angels can be a difficult one. In his theology textbook, Millard Erickson says, “When we come to the discussion of angels, we are entering upon a subject which in some ways is the most unusual and difficult of all of theology.”[1] This difficulty had led to many scholars wanting to avoid the topic at all costs. Some even express that the topic of angels is not even needed when studying Christianity, that no serious Christian doctrine is compromised if we ignore angels altogether.
This can be disproven very easily with only a simple look at just how often angels appear in the Bible, and how they drive the biblical narrative. The word translated “angel” occurs in 34 of the 66 books of the Bible. This includes 108 times in the Old Testament and over 165 times in the New.[2]
Angels are a major part of the biblical narrative as they make appearances to many important men and women, take part in major events, and carry out the will of God. Just take a look at the following examples.
They appear and take part in the lives of many major people throughout Scripture such as Abraham and Jacob, the prophets Daniel and Ezekiel, Mary, the mother of Jesus, Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, and the apostles (Resurrection narratives and Acts 12 for example). It is an angel that appears to Moses in the burning bush, leads Israel through the desert, and in their conquest of the Promise Land (Exodus 3:2; 14:19-20: 23:20-23; 32:34-33:17).
Angels take part in executing God’s judgment on various people including Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:12-16), the Israelites (2 Samuel 24:15-17); the Assyrian army (2 Kings 19:35), and one angel even kills Herod in Acts 12:23.
They fight demons and evil forces (Daniel 10:13; Revelation 12:7-8), reveal and interpret divine revelation (Daniel 4:13), and communicate and interpret God’s will (Daniel 7:15ff, 8:13ff, 9; all of Revelation).
They provide guidance and direction for God’s people. (Genesis 24:7, 40; Exodus 14:19; 23:20; Numbers 20:16; Acts 5:17-20; 8:26; 10:3-7, 22; 16:9), comfort and encourage (Matthew 4:11; Luke 22:43; Acts 27:22-24), guard and protect (1 Kings 19:5-7; Psalm 34:7; 78:23-25; 91:11; Daniel 6:20-23; 12:1; Acts 5:19; 12:6-11; Hebrews 1:14), and assist believers when they have prayed (Daniel 9:20-24). It is possible that when you are suddenly delivered from danger or distress it may have been an angel sent by God.[3] When a believer dies, angels are the ones to escort them to the place of blessedness (Luke 16:22).
Then we have the fact that Jesus believed in angels. This in and of itself should show us how important angels are. Angels were involved in his life.
- They announced his conception and birth (Luke 1:30-33).
- They were present at this birth (Luke 2:13-14).
- An angel warned Joseph of Herod the Great (Matthew 2:19-20).
- Angels minister to Jesus immediately after Satan (a fallen angel himself) tries to tempt Jesus (Matthew 4:11).
- Angels ministered to him in Gethsemane just before his trial and crucifixion (Luke 22:43).
- During his trial, Jesus says that he could call down twelve legions of angels to stop his death (Matthew 26:53).
- Angels make an appearance at his resurrection and ascension (Matthew 28:2, 5-6; Acts 1:10).
- They will announce and accompany him when he returns and assist him in gathering the elect and judgment (Matthew 13: 39-42, 24:31, 25:31; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 18:1-2, 21; 19:17-18).
Pastor and scholar Sam Storms summarizes the situation well when he says, “The point is that angels were an integral part of Christ’s birth, life, ministry, teaching, death, resurrection, and ascension, and will even accompany him at his second advent. Thus, to deny the reality of the angelic world is to undermine the integrity of Jesus himself.”[4]
That last point is of crucial importance. Angels are so important to the work of Jesus that to disbelieve in angels or find them unimportant enough to understand is a slap to the face of Jesus himself. And not only were they important to the life of Jesus, but we find their importance throughout Scripture. Angels appear and guide believers, they interpret God’s will and visions, and they execute God’s judgment. As Christians, we are obligated to study these heavenly beings that God himself created and uses in the lives of believers.
This video can also be found at Bitchute: The Importance of Angels (bitchute.com)
[1] Millard Erickson, Christian Theology 2nd Ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1998), 458.
[2] Sam Storms, Tough Topics (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2013), 121.
[3] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994), 406.
[4] Storms, 121. Emphasis is mine.
