Midweek Message from the Archive
Angels- Episode Two
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.” 1 Peter 1:12 NIV
It seems that angels have limited understanding of the things of God. He revealed His plan to the prophets and delivered it through angels but they couldn’t understand the full impact of their messages. Angels desire to understand this unique relationship mankind has with God. You can’t truly understand something you haven’t experienced.
Let’s look at what, exactly, they couldn’t possibly understand. Angels and mankind are both created but only mankind can procreate. Adam was commanded to establish a family; angels will never understand the idea of family. After our spiritual birth (John 3) God becomes our Father and Jesus our Brother. We are therefore co-heirs with Christ; what belongs to Him belongs to us. It was God’s idea to establish this whole new category separate from angels and they long to understand it all. God as a Father? How can it be?
When God created man in His image and likeness it was a foreign concept to angels. Beings who not only walk and talk with God but actually reflect Him? How is that possible? After the fall a promise was made that God Himself would take them back and restore that face-to-face relationship with Him. What? Restoration? They long to understand this new concept.
God gave up His divine form in heaven and took on the form of man in order to accomplish this rescue, and not only that, but He now lives in a believer! What is that about? Angels cannot fathom this relationship because it’s so far above their own. The divine union through the Holy Spirit that we experience is unique to angels. Yes, they are supernatural, yes, they travel between heaven and earth with divine assignments from God but they do not have God in them: we do.
Angels are God’s connection, go-betweens, so to speak, between heaven and earth. Jesus mentioned that aspect:
And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. John 1:51 ESV
We won’t need that divine connection after the Second Coming of Christ because we’ll be with Him, in His presence, forever. Our lost paradise and dominion will be restored and I’m thinking the new heaven and new earth will have no separation; there will be no need for the present mission of angels.
Yet You have made him (man) a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.
Psalms 8:5-6 NASB
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