ANGELS
Nowhere does
Scripture encourage us to have an angel-fetish, or to look for evidence of
angels in everyday life… [Furthermore] biblical appearances of angels – unlike
those of popular lore – often cause trauma and great fear (Matt. 28:4; Luke
1:29; 2:9).
John MacArthur
The
Heavenly Host taken from The Glory of Heaven by John MacArthur, copyright 1996,
Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton Illinios,60187, www.crosswaybooks.org, page
150, 160.
I have no
doubt that some who claim to commune with angels really have been able to
establish a link with angelic beings – though not in the way they seek.
Scripture warns us plainly that Satan and his messengers often appear as angels
of light (2 Cor. 11:13-15). In other words, demonic beings take advantage of
the gullibility of people who are actively seeking to communicate with the
spirit world. “Angelmania” turns out to be sheer
occultism, with all its horrible effects. Many people have been drawn into
serious demonic bondage by these practices, and Christians should be strongly warned
against them.
John MacArthur
The
Heavenly Host taken from The Glory of Heaven by John MacArthur, copyright 1996,
Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton Illinios,60187, www.crosswaybooks.org,
page 149-150.
Angels – like
all other intelligent creatures – were designed to render worship to God, not
to receive worship themselves. In fact, in every case in Scripture, whenever
angels are offered any form of worship, they always rebuke the worshiper and
redirect all worship to God alone (cf. Rev. 19:10; 22:8-9).
John MacArthur
The
Heavenly Host taken from The Glory of Heaven by John MacArthur, copyright 1996,
Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton Illinios,60187, www.crosswaybooks.org,
page 152.
Whether or
not each believer has a single angel assigned to him for his defense, I dare
not positively affirm.
In Scripture
the visitation of an angel is always alarming; it has to begin by saying “Fear
not.” The Victorian angel looks as if it were going to say, “There, there.”
Notwithstanding
what has been said, many Christians remain functional deists. They don’t
deny that God exists or that there is a spiritual realm in which angels and
demons are active. They simply live as if neither God nor spiritual beings of
either sort have any genuine, influential, interaction with them. God isn’t
dead, but He might as well be. Angels and demons might exist, but what does
that have to do with my life?
Sam Storms
Confronting Spiritual Warfare, November 8, 2006, www.enjoyinggodministries.com.
Used by Permission.
Jesus
believed in and experienced the ministry of angels:
1.
His
conception was announced by an angel (Gabriel).
2.
His
birth was announced by angels.
3.
He
was tempted by a fallen angel.
4.
He
was ministered to by angels subsequent to the temptation.
5.
His
teaching is filled with references to angelic beings.
6.
He
experienced the ministry of angels in Gethsemane.
7.
He
could have appealed to twelve legions of angels (Mt. 26:53).
8.
[Angels]
were present at His tomb following the resurrection.
9.
[Angels]
were present at His ascension.
The point is
that angels were an integral part of Christ’s birth, life, ministry, teaching,
death, resurrection, ascension, and will accompany Him at his second advent. To
deny the reality of the angelic world is to undermine the integrity of Jesus
himself.
Sam
Storms
Angels, November
8, 2006, www.enjoyinggodministries.com, Used by Permission.
An angel is a
spiritual creature created by God without a body for the service of Christendom
and the church.
There's not
much practical Christianity in the man who lives on better terms with angels
and seraphs, than with his children, servants and neighbors.