Hugh Sherrill

As we continue our angel study, let me reflect for a moment on the 239^th celebration of America’s independence from Saturday. It is still the greatest nation on earth! But, I am afraid that if our nation does not turn back to God it will cease to be a great nation. Our prayer should be that America would do what 2^nd Chronicles 7:14 tells us.

A question quite often asked is: Where do angels come from? The Bible clearly tells us that they are created beings; a supernatural being, a littler higher in dignity than man. It does not say when they were created; but they were the first being to have been created by God. They were already here at the creation of the world. Job tells us the angels were present when God spoke the world into existence. 

God, when rebuking Job in chapter 38:4-7 said: “Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. ‘Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know!  Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?’”

Herbert Lockyer wrote in his book “All the Angels in The Bible”: “There is a class of beings who inhabit the expanse of the heavens. They are the angels of God; they are the tenants of the heavens. Would it be like God to have fashioned the boundless universe with no creatures to praise Him except mortal man? The Angels are living beings of the highest position and greatest consequence in the universe. They are more than mere powers emanating from God. Though in no way independent in the sense that they are self-originating, self-sustaining, or capable of self-annihilation, they are free moral beings and, in the past ages at least, held their own destiny within the power of their own choice.”

William George, in his “Commentary on Hebrews”, states: “Angels as first created were after the image of God: The purest, holiest and readiest to do goodness of any creatures…They are the most glorious of God’s creatures.” 

Daniel described an angel as a man dressed in fine linen, with a belt of fine gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightening, his eyes were flaming torches, his arms and legs of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of many waters (Daniel 10:5-6).

Angels have the highest habitation of all creatures; far beyond the moon and sun are all the glorious hosts of the highest visible heaven. 

“…angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).

They have knowledge, prudence, purity, glory, power, speed, zeal and immortality. Such is the excellence of these resplendent beings, created of a substance which is spiritual — the most excellent substance that any creature can have, and that which is nearest to the divine nature.

The Bible only mentions the names of two angels. Gabriel is mentioned four times in the Scripture. He is the one that interpreted dreams for Daniel and explained the vision of 70 weeks in Daniel 8,9. He announced to Zachariah the birth of John; and was sent to Mary with the unique message of Jesus’ birth. Michael is the archangel whose chief responsibility seems to have been the care of the Jewish people. You will remember he battled Satan (Jude 9).

Remember “Worship God”.

Hugh G. Sherrill

Pastor Philippi Baptist Church

1444 SE County Rd 18

ems-hugh43@comcast.net