By Michael Davis
In modern culture angels have become a popular icon, but who or what are they? The answer to this question will never be known by many until the day that people rue the catchphrase and until they quit getting their philosophy from the arts. Unlike what a current country-western song asserts, ‘human beings becoming angels after death,’ a popular myth, the truth remains that humans and angels are two separate and distinct kinds of beings.
“In the beginning [of time] God created the heavens and the earth” (the story continues) and on the sixth day God created man. Man is a physical being, bound in time and space, unable to “see” the preternatural realm. Man is also a spiritual being, spiritually dead or alive. Those who are spiritually dead have no clue about and cannot understand that which is supernatural. On the other hand, those who are spiritually alive can “see” God moving and working in time and history through the “eyes” of their heart.
In death, all people cast off their physical bodies and are then taken into eternity, whether eternal life (with connotations of heavenly themes) or eternal existence (with connotations of a hellish nature). Furthermore, the souls of men may be redeemed/cleansed from the required punishment for sin while they have breath in their bodies.
Angels are
quite different. They were created
spiritual beings. There is nothing
physical about their natures. As such,
at all times they can clearly see the preternatural realm as well as the physical
realm. And however “real” our realm is
to us and the preternatural realm as if a shadow, it is exactly the opposite
with angels. In their case the spiritual
realm is “real” whereas our volatile world is but a shadow in the passing.
Moreover, angels have no souls. Created
pure, but able to fall, angels cannot be redeemed if they choose to sin. Fallen angels are demons. (As an aside; Lucifer was an angel who
fell. He is the one known as Satan. God originally created him; therefore he
poses no persistent threat to the
So they are spirit beings, who are they?
The
word angel is actually a transliteration of the Greek word “Aggelos,” which means “a
messenger, envoy, one who is sent…a messenger from God.” Although much reverence is given to these
servants of God, this is all in vain.
Angels are supernatural beings, but God imbues all of their powers unto
them. Angels should neither be feared
nor worshipped. Their job is to direct
our attention unto Christ who is much better than the angels. In the past they had specific tasks to
complete in furthering the history of redemption. They have served as the heavenly “choir” in
the sense that they worship God constantly.
They have also served as the heavenly armies with Michael the
In conclusion, the hype over angels, spawned by such television shows as “Touched by an Angel,” contributed to widespread myths. In such cases, basic truths are overshadowed in favor of the spectacular. Eventually the hype fades and people stop believing in angels. Angels do exist. Their roles are comparatively small and their power derivative. The one who ought to be the real focus is Christ. This is a premier purpose of angels, to point unto their God. Thus I would end by saying turn your thoughts above and go see the “Passion of the Christ.” You will walk away from the experience a different person. Keep in mind that this movie is practically a documentary on the last several hours of Jesus’ life.