Tag: Angels
The Holy Beings of Heaven
“As Gabriel approached the place where I was standing, I became so terrified that I fell with my face to the ground……While he was speaking, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. But Gabriel roused me with a touch and helped me to my feet.” Daniel 8:17-18 NLT
When you think of angels, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Is it ‘fear’? Most of us would say no. How about ‘terrified’? No, again. Would you faint at their voice? Probably not. But the prophet Daniel experienced all three all three of these as the angel Gabriel approached him to give the interpretation his vision concerning future events. The fact that Daniel in his righteous and moral character would react this way in seeing one of God’s angels emphasizes the deep chasm between earthly beings and the holy beings of heaven.
The magnificent splendor of these heavenly beings and the reaction from earthly creatures when they meet are noted in Scripture. Zechariah, the priest, encounter the angel Gabriel one day in the Temple as he was serving before the Lord and Scripture says he was shaken and overwhelmed with fear. (Lk.1:12) Gabriel told Mary not to be afraid when he appeared before her to announce Jesus’ birth. (Lk.1:30) When Jesus was born, an angel of the Lord brought the good news first to the shepherds, and they too were terrified. “Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified.” (Lk.2:9 nlt)
Not all appearances of angels in Scripture are met by fear, but their presence does emphasize the divide between heaven and earth. Holy beings of heaven separate from the world who stand before a holy God bring just a portion of His radiance on this earth. One day all of us who have accepted Christ as savior will experience that radiance for eternity with the angels.
“The Angels’ Song-Gloria in Excelsis Deo” 5 Songs of Hope for Advent
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’” Luke 2:13-14 ESV
A common thread that ran through the last two songs of hope we have looked at, Mary’s song and Zechariah’s song, is they both give glory to God. Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,” and Zechariah exclaimed, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel.” And the angels continue the theme this week with “Glory to God in the highest.” Indeed, the birth of Christ is reason to rejoice in praising God and giving Him all the glory. This week in our 4th Song of Hope for Advent we sing along with the angels, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Lk.2:14 esv)
The greatest birth the world has ever known, the incarnation of God embodying human flesh, occurred in the most humiliating of circumstances. But God saw it was noted as the most glorious event that it was. R.C. Sproul describes it in this manner, “At the very moment the babe is wrapped in the cloth of humiliation, God is not satisfied that the circumstances of the Son’s birth be only humiliation. God desired that shame be balanced with glory and exaltation.” (1) And it was glory with a host of angels preceding down from heaven in a chorus of praise.
The first ones to receive the glorious news were the shepherds working the night shift out in the fields overlooking Bethlehem. Theirs’ was a busy occupation with the Temple in Jerusalem only six miles away. They provided many of the animals for sacrifice, including sheep. Shepherds worked day and night 365 days a year. They were also on the lower cast of society. The smell of the fields and animals was just as unattractive as their occupation for most people. Nevertheless, God chose them as the first ones to hear the good news. The news of Christ’s miraculous birth is for all people willing to come to Him and accept Him for salvation. The shepherds didn’t waste any time after the angels left them, “(they) said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’” (Lk.2:15, esv)
The shepherds were filled with joy and hurried to see the Christ child, but when the angels first appeared, they were frighten to death. In fact, it was only one angel that got them all worked up. “And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.” (Lk.2:9 esv) Fear would have been a natural reaction when on a dark, quiet night of the same-old, same-old work an angel appears with the glory of the Lord shining all around them. But the angel quickly calms their fears with good news. “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Lk.2:10-11 esv)
This was good news for the shepherds. They would know ‘Christ’ was the Messiah that the Jews were waiting for. The angel referred to the city of David where the Messiah was prophesied to be born. This was a declaration of the birth of the one who would save the world from sin and death. Notice, the angel gives three titles to the Christ-child; Savior, Christ (Messiah, anointed one), and Lord (Yahweh, or God.) He was both God and man. The angel then gives them a sign of what to look for when they go to into Bethlehem to look for the savior, and then the song begins.
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’” (Lk.2:13-14 esv) A heavenly host of angels came down and joined their colleague in singing their song ‘Gloria in Excelsis Deo.’ Here again, as in Mary’s and Zechariah’s songs, we get the name from the Latin Vulgate translation. The first words in the Latin Vulgate are ‘Gloria in Excelsis Deo’ meaning ‘Glory to God in the highest.’ The angels know of the glory and majesty of God and have just witnessed perhaps the greatest event they have seen and can’t hold back in giving praise and glory to God.
We will have the opportunity to sing along with angels this Christmas season whether singing in church, or caroling, singing at home, or in your car. This song of hope this week is giving glory to God for His plan of salvation coming to realization in the birth of Christ and the peace we can have by accepting Him as savior. What better song to sing.
(1) Sproul, R.C. Luke: An Expositional Commentary. Sanford: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2020. Pg 57
Read: Luke 2:7-20 ESV – And she gave birth to her firstborn son – Bible Gateway
Angels We Have Heard on High:
Joy in Heaven and on Earth
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 KJV
“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth” Luke 15:7a KJV
The Christmas season is a joyous time for most people. I say most, because not all people rejoice in the month of December for various reasons. Sadness may prevail at the loss of a loved one. A terminal illness may have been discovered. The loss of a job at the end of the year puts a damper on the New Year. Others have no interest in the holidays in general or want anything to do with the religious tone to the season. Whether we are joyous or not, the Christmas season is here. There will be rejoicing in heaven and on earth, and that is a good thing.
The heavenly angels were sent to the shepherds out in the fields to announce the coming of the savior. There was great joy for all people on the earth. A savior had been born to take away our sin and reconcile us back to God. The long-awaited Messiah had finally come, and it was time to rejoice. I’m sure the angels in heaven were rejoicing along with the others sent to earth that night. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Lk.2:13-14 kjv) Good news had come to all that night and that is a reason to rejoice.
The Bible tells us of Jesus’ words in the gospel of Luke concerning joy in heaven. “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth.” (Lk.15:7a kjv) The angels in heaven rejoice over a soul set free by the power of Christ and His work on the cross just as they rejoiced at His coming to earth to set that soul free. There is also joy on earth as friends and loved ones witness the transformation of a changed life.
May this Christmas season be a joyous time for you whatever your circumstances. Yes, there will be rejoicing in heaven and on earth for the savior who was born and for those who will be set free this Christmas by accepting Him as savior and Lord.
Read: Luke 2:1-20 ESV – The Birth of Jesus Christ – In those – Bible Gateway
Jesus; a little lower than the angels?
“What we do see is Jesus, who was given a position ‘a little lower than the angels’; and because he suffered death for us, he is now ‘crowned with glory and honor.’ Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9 NLT
There is much in the pages of scripture that is hard to understand, confusing, and at times seem contradictory. For instance, Hebrews 1:6 says, “And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’” (NIV) In the very next chapter the writer of Hebrews says, “What we do see is Jesus, who was given a position ‘a little lower than the angels’” (2:9a NLT) One who is placed in a position lower than angels certainly would not be worshiped by them, it doesn’t make sense, or does it?
It makes perfect sense if we remember why Jesus came to earth in the first place. He was born to die. Born to die by crucifixion on a cross for sinners. The apostle John writes, “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (1 Jn. 4:10 NLT) And Paul writes in Romans chapter 6, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (6:23 NLT)
There was a need for a perfect sacrifice for sin which none of us fit that criteria. Jesus, the Son of God, lowered His position to identify with us becoming human, (God-man). But he in no way gave up His Deity, “So the Word became human and made his home among us.” (Jn. 1:14a NLT) Jesus being obedient to the Father’s plan for salvation came to this earth born of a virgin for your sin and mine as we accept Him as our Savior. The writer of Hebrews then tells us the rest of the story, “…..and because he suffered death for us, he is now ‘crowned with glory and honor.’ Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.” (2:9b NLT) Jesus is now crowned with glory and honor for His sacrificial death for our sins. And yes, the angels continue to worship Him.
Angels Worship Him
“And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said, ‘Let all of God’s angels worship him.’” Hebrews 1:6 NLT
“Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.’” Luke 2:13-14 NLT
Have you ever thought of the significance of the angels announcing Christ’s birth and preceding to worship Him in highest praise? We read the familiar story of the shepherds being the first to hear the news and quite spectacularly in the gospel of Luke. (Lk. 2) Angels are God’s ministering spirits to serve Him and on this particular night they were sent out to shout the good news of the Messiah’s birth. God’s created spirit beings, the angels, worshiped the Christ child because He was God the Son, the second person of the trinity. Hebrews 1:6 says, “And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said, ‘Let all of God’s angels worship him.’” (NLT) And they did.
This is of vital importance especially in our day as there are many who consider Jesus to be no more than an angel of higher rank. Others perceive Him to be a prophet, and still others believe He was just a man sent by God for good works and to act as a model on how we are to live our lives. Today’s world is filled with false religions that support these claims and sadly there are many (so called) Christian churches among them.
To understand Jesus’ deity, that He is truly the God-man, is everything. Our very salvation depends on a perfect, sinless, and blameless substitute sacrificed for the remission of sins. That substitute could only be Jesus Christ, the Son of God-the Messiah, whom the angels worshiped. Do you know Jesus as truly the Son of God and have you accepted Him as your Savior? Make this Christmas season be the year you accept Christ for even the ‘Angels Worship Him.’
Word for the Soul 