Matt. 26:53 + 2 Kings 19:34

Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of

angels?

12 X 5,000 = 60,000And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of

the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand;

60,000 X 185,000 = 11,100, 000,000

Matt. 26:53“Thanks for the help, Peter. But, if I asked, the Father would provide me with enough angels to

destroy every person on earth!”

Angels – Their Ministries

I want to acknowledge the wonderful resource of the Ryrie Study Bible in my studies this week,

which material I referenced and quoted extensively.

It’s helpful to not have to “re-invent the wheel” when such excellent, painstaking, and thorough

work has been made available to us.

OverviewI. All about angels

II. Jesus and the angels

III. The angels and you

The Son of God is greater than the mighty angels and the mighty angels are there for you!

Angels – Their History

• Created before the world – (Job 38:6-7)• Perfect in creation (Jude 6)• It appears many fell into sin with Lucifer, who

became Satan (Rev. 12:4, 7-9)• Will be judged by believers (1 Cor. 6:3)

Angels – Their Nature

• Spirit beings (Heb. 1:14) who can change forms (Heb. 1:7)

• They do not reproduce in heaven (Mt. 22:30), nor do they die (Lk. 20:36)

• They have great power (2 Pet. 2:11)

Angels – Their Organization (Eph. 6:12)

• Archangel = Michael (Jude 9)• Chief Princes (Dan. 10:13)• Ruling angels (Eph. 3:10)• Guardian angels (Mt. 18:10)

Angels – Their Organization (Eph. 6:12)

• Seraphim (Isa. 6:1-3 – involved with worship of God

• Cherubim (Gen. 3:22-24) – involved with guarding, such as God’s holiness (Ark of the Covenant)

• Elect angels (1 Tim. 5:21)

Angels – Their Ministries

Involving Jesus…• Predicted and announced His birth (Lk. 1:26-

33; 2:13)• Protected the Baby (Mt. 2:13)• Strengthened Christ (Mt. 4:11; Lk. 22:43)• Prepared to defend (Mt. 26:53)

Angels – Their Ministries

Involving Jesus…• Rolled away stone (Mt. 28:2)• Announced the resurrection (Mt. 28:6)

Angels – Their Ministries

Involving Believers…• Involved with answering prayer (Acts 12:7)• Observe Christian experiences (1 Cor. 4:9; 1

Tim. 5:21)• Encourage in time of danger (Acts 27:23-24)

Angels – Their Ministries

Involving Believers…• Interested in evangelistic efforts of Christians

(Lk. 15:10; Acts 8:26)• Care for the righteous at death (Lk. 16:22;

Jude 9)

Angels – Their Ministries

To the nations…• Michael seems to have a special relationship to

Israel (Dan. 12:1) and others, fallen and unfallen, seem involved with other nations (Dan. 10:13)

• God’s agents in the execution of His providence (Dan. 10:21)

Angels – Their Ministries

To the nations…• Involved with the judgments of the

Tribulation (Rev. 8, 9, 16)

Angels – Their Ministries

To the unbelievers…• Announce coming judgments (Gen. 19:13;

Rev. 14:6-7)• Inflict punishment (Acts 12:23)• Act as “reapers” at the end of the Age,

separating believers and unbelievers (Mt. 13:39)

Angels – Their Ministries

To the unbelievers…• Satan seeks to keep them from believing the

Word that they might not be saved (Lk. 8:12; 2 Cor. 4:4)

• Have an organized system of teaching that seeks to deceive (1 Tim. 4:1)

Angels – Their Ministries

And, they have one more key ministry which we will now discuss…

Angels – Their Ministries

And, they have one more key ministry which we will now discuss…

Hebrews 1:4-5having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name

than they.The Son Exalted Above Angels

5 For to which of the angels did He ever say:“You are My Son,

Today I have begotten You”?And again:

“I will be to Him a Father,And He shall be to Me a Son”?

Hebrews 1:4-5Jesus will reign forever because He is the Son of David and heir of the promised eternal throne.

No angel was ever, nor will ever be, heir to the eternal throne!

Hebrews 1:6But when He again brings the firstborn into the

world, He says:“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”

Ex. 4:22– The FirstbornApplied to Israel 

"Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD, “Israel is My son, My firstborn.

Deut. 21:17– The Firstborn

Acknowledged with a double-portion

"But he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of

all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn.”

Col. 1:15, 18 – The Firstborn

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”

“He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in

everything.”

Hebrews 1:6 – The Firstborn

The idea, then, seems to be “Preeminent One”,

not first in order.

Heb. 1:6b - Worship“And when He again brings the firstborn into the

world, He says,

"AND LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM.’”

Hebrews 1:6 – The Firstborn

No angel ever receives worship!

Mt. 4:10

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your

God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

Hebrews 1:7Notice also that the angels can change:

And of the angels He says:“Who makes His angels spirits

And His ministers a flame of fire.”

Hebrews 1:8-9But to the Son He says:

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your

kingdom.You have loved righteousness and hated

lawlessness;Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You

With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

Hebrews 1:8-9The Son and His reign of righteousness

will last forever!

Our King will never change!

Hebrews 1:8-9Notice that the Son is addressed as God!

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever…Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You

With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

Hebrews 1:8-9Notice also that the King has “partners”…

“Therefore God, Your God, has anointed YouWith the oil of gladness more than Your

companions.”3:1, 14; 6:4; 12:8

Hebrews 1:10-12And:

“You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,

And the heavens are the work of Your hands.They will perish, but You remain;

And they will all grow old like a garment;Like a cloak You will fold them up,

And they will be changed.But You are the same,

And Your years will not fail.”

Hebrews 1:10-12The Son is also the Creator who gets it all, rules

it all, and will outlast it all!

That cannot, and will not, be said of any angel!

…even one who has tried to usurp the throne!

Hebrews 1:13But to which of the angels has He ever said:

“Sit at My right hand,Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?

Hebrews 1:13It is to the King, and only to King Jesus, that

God extends the invitation to sit in the place of honor, having earned the right to rule.

Hebrews 1:13During the Church Age, our lifetimes, Jesus

waits until His enemies who are defeated will be subdued.

Hebrews 1:13Throughout the Psalms, the Messiah’s victory

over His enemies was celebrated with anticipation!

Psalm 110

Hebrews 1:13No angel receives this honor.

Hebrews 1:14It is important to see that it is in this context of

the victory of the Son and His rule over His enemies that the writer now focuses on His

partners!

Hebrews 1:14Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

Hebrews 1:14Not only are the angels not greater than the Son, they are now “ministering spirits” for those who

would become “partners” with the Son in His victory over His enemies!

Hebrews 1:14How ironic that the angel who tried to usurp the

rule of Christ now watches as the Son has His angels serve those who fell by Satan’s deceit.

Hebrews 1:14Those whom he deceived,

those lesser in majesty and might,

and those to whom Satan brought death,

are now honored by ruling with the Son

and will one day judge the one who caused them to lose the rule of the earth.

Jesus vs. the Angels• His rule is forever• His rule is righteous• His rule brings the Father joy • He has partners in His rule• His rule is over the creation He made• His rule will outlast creation• His rule has eternal stability

OverviewI. All about angels

II. Jesus and the angels

III. The angels and you

The Son of God is greater than the mighty angels and the mighty angels are there for you!

Hebrews 1:14The angels will help His partners succeed.

Who will be His partners?

Will you?