Angels

While playing prominent roles in history, the nature and function of angels remain mysterious to a great degree. We meet them in the first pages of Scripture. The serpent is an angelic creature (something we learn more about as Scripture unfolds). Cherubim, angels, guard the way to the Tree of Life after the man and woman are expelled. Angels visit Abraham. The angel of Yahweh leads the children of Israel through the Sea and in the wilderness. Cherubim adorn the Tabernacle and Temple. Angels bring messages from God to Daniel (see Dan 10), Zechariah, and Mary (Lk 1). Four-faced angels make up the throne chariot of God, as seen in Ezekiel 1. Angels play a prominent role in the Book of Revelation. Angels are everywhere in history, but we seem to know very little about them.

By carefully examining Scripture, we can begin to unravel the mysteries surrounding angels and gain insights into their significant role in God’s economy.

Man was created under the rule of angels. Psalm 8, interpreted by Hebrews 2, tells us that God made man “a little lower” or “for a little while lower” than the angels. Angels were man’s tutors to move him from his immaturity to maturity. Once this particular angelic ministry was complete, man would be exalted over the angels to take over their responsibilities. The angels were like a drill sergeant in boot camp whipping into shape soon-to-be officers who would eventually outrank him. Hebrews 1—2 emphasizes the man Jesus’ exaltation over the angels to proclaim that God’s original intention for man has been fulfilled in Jesus.

Before this, angels were put in ranks to rule over various parts of creation. Lucifer, the chief angel, misused his position in the Garden and became a sinful tutor, leading man into sin (presumably because he never wanted to yield his authority to man). From that time forward, there has been a battle in the heavenly places between good and evil angels, the principalities and powers.

Angels ruled. This is evident as they ruled over the Garden after man’s expulsion. But their rule extended throughout the world. They governed nations. In Daniel 10, Daniel is fasting and praying for three weeks. An angel tries to bring a message to him, but the “prince of Persia” fights him. Michael, the archangel, comes to fight so that Daniel’s angel can deliver the message. Persia had an evil angelic overlord. These evil angels are demons, fallen angels, who are represented as the nations’ gods (“idols;” Dt 32:17; Ps 106:37; 1 Cor 10:20-21)

Israel was also ruled by angels. The angel of Yahweh led them, as I mentioned earlier. Angels also delivered the Law to Moses according to Galatians 3:19. The Law was an angelic tutor or slave-guardian whose ministry was to guide Israel.

When Paul mentions “principalities and powers” in his letters to the Ephesians and the Colossians, there is a question of whether or not he is referring to earthly rulers or these spirit angels. The answer is “Yes.” Angelic rulers work in concert with willing earthly rulers to arrange the world. There are evil angels who influence and empower wicked rulers to create conditions of chaos, and there are good angels who help godly rulers accomplish God’s justice.

Before Christ Jesus came, angels had a great deal of power in the world. But since Christ has come, died, resurrected, and ascended, the whole world order has been rearranged. It is under new management. A man has ascended to the throne and rules the nations as was promised in Psalm 2. Angels have been subjected to Christ Jesus; whether good or evil, they ultimately serve his purpose.

When Paul writes to the Colossians about “the elements of the world” (variously translated as “the basic principles of the world” (NKJ), “elemental spirits of the world” (ESV), “the rudiments of the world” (KJV), and “elementary principles of the world” (NASB); Col 2:8, 20), he is referring to the old creation order arranged under angelic rule. The Jews are trying to persuade the Colossian Christians that they need to return to the Temple as if Jesus had never come. Paul tells the Colossians that this is a philosophy of empty deceit; it may look like wisdom, but it is a lie. The truth is, in Jesus, the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form, and they are filled up in him, who is the head of all rule and authority (Col 2:9-10). This is a pregnant statement that I can’t fully unpack here. But Paul emphasizes that Jesus is Yahweh-in-the-flesh and has been exalted over the angels, re-arranging the world under his lordship. Putting yourself under the old angelic order as if Christ never came is idolatry that will lead to death.

But how would they be putting themselves under the old angelic order?  Returning to the Temple and putting themselves under the Law of Moses would be rejecting God’s new order for the world in Christ. Yes, the Law of Moses was originally given by good angels, but it has served its purpose. The angels’ jobs are complete. Israel matured in the man Jesus, and now the angels have yielded their authority. To go back to the Temple and the Law would be no better now than worshipping the demons the pagan Gentiles worshiped. They are now all in the same category.

Those who don’t fully embrace Jesus as God-in-the-flesh and submit to his lordship are all in the same condition in their relationship with God. There are not some like the unbelieving Jews who are kind of in an in-between relationship with God. There are people who, in their experience, are more open to the gospel and those who are less open, but as long as they don’t submit to Jesus as Lord, they are in the old, dying-and-passing-away creation. And if nothing changes, they will perish with it.

Those of us in Christ are “filled up” in him. Angels now serve us, working for Jesus and with the Spirit to bring us to our final salvation (Heb 1:14). In Christ, we have the full forgiveness of sins, the fullness of God’s love, and the fullness of God’s peace. In Christ and nowhere else, we have everything God has ever promised his people.