Angels As Associated With The House Of God

by Bell, J. C. | Category: The Ministry Of Angels | Jul 2007

It is, perhaps, too simple or self-gratifying to feel that those who are in the house of God are its only privileged associates. Scripture teaches plainly that angels do have an integral role in regard to this House. Angels have background links to God's people, connections to the Old Testament House, as well as associations with the New Testament House.

In many Old Testament scriptures there is mention of the 'Angel of the Lord'. It is apparent that in some instances this may refer directly to deity although in other places a messenger of deity, acting in the name of deity, may be understood to be involved. We will not make this point for each of the citations in this short article, and trust readers will accept that applying references to the Angel of the Lord is not in any way intended to detract from the possibility that deity is directly or indirectly in view.

As early as in the life of Isaac, God intended a role for angels in the initiation of His people. In Genesis 24:7 the search for Isaac's wife involved a role that angels could play in prospering the search, and by extension the creation of God's people. Furthermore, in Judges 2:1-4, we learn that God used angels as one way to address His people. As we delve deeper into this medium of communication, we also see that at the burning bush, Moses met an angel directing him to God's people in Egypt. Because of that angelic message, Moses initiated their escape. After this escape was effected, God used angels to assist in the deliverance of the Law. Psalm 68:17 infers that there were angelic thousands at Sinai, presumably as Moses was receiving the tablets of the Law, verifiable from Deut.33:2 when Moses said, �"the Lord came from Sinai ... He shone forth from Mount Paran and he came from the midst of 10,000 holy ones."� Also, Galatians 3:19 teaches that the Law was ordained through angels, the reference acting as proof of the integral role which angels played. Zechariah (1:14) tells that the angels told him that God was jealous for Zion; angels, as messengers, worked as a link between God and His people. Finally, Daniel (8:13) hears the 'holy ones' discussing when visions for the future will be fulfilled. Daniel had seen how important the angels are in their association with the house of God.

Apart from these general references about the association of angels with God's people, these holy ones also played a role in the initiation, the establishment, and even the physical function of the tabernacle. In addition to their presence during the Exodus (14:19), the images of angelic beings were constantly before the eyes of the priests entering the tabernacle. On the curtains of the tabernacle the skilful men wove cherubim into the linen, with the blue and purple and scarlet; these embroidered images of angels were on these curtains and on the veil (except for the entrance curtain). The people would also know that on the Ark of the Covenant, cherubim/angels looked constantly on the mercy seat (Ex.25:17-20). Not only in the tabernacle, but also in the temple were these angels featured. Isaiah speaks of seeing and hearing the Seraphim, and Ezekiel speaks of living beings with four faces/wings (1:4-13). God wished that His people would have these holy ones before their minds to create a tangible reminder of Himself.

Moving into the New Testament, we see the importance of the association of angels in the house of God. Peter confirms that the gospel was sent from heaven and that even angels desire to look into it. In Acts 8:26, we see a specific sample of an angel's role in the furtherance of the gospel. It was an angel who sent Philip to meet the Ethiopian eunuch prior to the latter's baptism. Arriving at Revelation, we read of the angels of the churches. Who these angels are is not entirely certain. Some feel that they are heavenly beings; others feel they are symbolic of overseers. Even in the functioning of a church of God, the angels play their role. We learn in 1 Corinthians 11:10 that women in a church are to wear their head coverings �because of the angels�. Finally, there is the heavenly tabernacle/heavenly Jerusalem (Heb.12:22) which the holy ones surround; the same image is presented in Rev.5:2; 8:2 when John sees them around the heavenly throne.

From this short study, we, as saints in God's house, can deduce that we are not alone. The angels have undoubtedly a direct association with us.

Bell, J. C. | Jul 2007
The Ministry Of Angels