The Angels: Los Angeles

Angels appear in the Bible from start to finish, from first book of Genesis to the last one of Revelation. The word "angelos" in Greek means messenger. Angels are personal spiritual beings who have intelligence, emotions, and will. This is true of both the good and evil ones or demons. Angels possess intelligence (Matthew 8:29; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Peter 1:12), show emotion (Luke 2:13; James 2:19; Revelation 12:17), and exercise will (Luke 8:28-31; 2 Timothy 2:26; Jude 6). Angels are spirit beings (Hebrews 1:14; Psalms 103:20; Matthew 26:53) without true physical bodies. Although they do not have physical bodies, they are still personalities. An angel of the Lord appeared to Moses (Exodus 3:2) to lead the Israelites from captivity in Egypt to the Promised Land. God sent an angel to punish King David and the Israelites, but stopped the angel from destroying Jerusalem after King David repented and offered sacrifice to the Lord (2 Samuel 24). God sent an angel to free the Apostle Peter after he was jailed by King Herod (Acts 12:7-11). The angels were created as an order of creatures higher than humans. Therefore, they innately possess greater knowledge. They have studied the Bible and the world more thoroughly than any human could and have gained knowledge from such (James 2:19; Revelation 12:12). Also angels have gained knowledge through long observation of human activities. Sometimes angels have taken human form, as seen in the two angels in human form along with God in the flesh, in Genesis 18. These were the same two angels who appeared to Lot before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. And the Bible is our best source of knowledge about angels for example, Psalms 91:11, Matthew 18:10, and Acts 12:15 indicate humans have guardian angels. One of the best-known angel “names” of the Bible is that of Gabriel. Gabriel is a messenger of God. He appears in the Old Testament Book of Daniel and in Luke’s Gospel. Gabriel appeared twice to the prophet Daniel. One of those appearances was to explain the meaning of a vision that the prophet had experienced. (Dan. 8: 16) The second visit of the angel was to explain a prophecy that God had revealed to Daniel but that the prophet did not understand. (Dan. 9:21) Gabriel had the privilege of announcing the future births of John the Baptizer and Jesus. In Luke’s Gospel, the angel appeared to Zechariah to announce the coming birth of John the Baptist to his wife Elizabeth. (Luke 1: 5-19) Gabriel said this about himself: I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. (Luke 1: 19) The pregnancy was a miracle because Elizabeth had been unable to bear children until then. It was Gabriel who appeared to Mary. (Luke 1: 26-38) This is the revelation of another miracle, a virgin birth. The angel tells Mary that she has been blessed among women to mother the “Son of God”. He also informs her that her relative Elizabeth is also pregnant. “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1: 37) Michael is an archangel. Jude describes Michael as “the chief angel”. (Jude 9) Jude was teaching that even Michael does not condemn the Devil, but leaves that to God. Revelation describes a war in Heaven with Michael leading his angels in a battle victory against the dragon (Satan) and his angels. The Devil is thrown out of Heaven and sent to earth. (Rev. 12: 7-9) Michael is described in the Book of Daniel as “Israel’s guardian angel”. (Dan 10: 21) A prophecy regarding Michael’s role in the end times struggle against evil is revealed to Daniel. (Dan.12: 1) Satan is an angel but, a fallen one. Revelation 12: 9 describes his fall from Heaven. Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 3:6 that Satan was condemned because of pride. Satan appears before God as the accuser and meets with The Lord in the first chapter of Job. Satan’s job is to steal, kill, and destroy all yet his time is set, as we see in the book of Revelations. Apollyon is the “angel in charge of the abyss”. (Rev. 9: 11) Apollyon means “The Destroyer”. He has a Hebrew name also: Abaddon. And there are many instances of unnamed angels appearing and working for God as messengers and warriors. Angels visited Lot in Sodom to warn him, deliver him, and protect him. (Genesis: 19) Angels protect God’s people, also. (Psalm 91: 11) Angels are created beings, (Psalm 148: 2-5) do not marry, (Luke 20:34-36) and are created holy (Genesis 1: 31; Jude 6). We are commanded not to worship them (Revelations 19:10; 22:8-9). Some have entertained them being unaware of it (Hebrews 13:2). For all that fear and serve God in truth, remember

the following verse by heart. Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. Do not forget that Elisha was surrounded by carnal armies yet the greater number of Angelic armies protected him from evil (2 Kings 17-20). God can and will deliver us, if it's in his Divine plan.