Angels

Angels are now trendy, being featured in books, cards, and calendars. They appear many times in the Bible, but definitely not as the cute, pudgy infants that adorn Christmas cards.

Our word angel comes from the Greek angelos, meaning “messenger.” In the Bible, angels are messengers from God.

Some angels were so humanlike that the people they visited noticed nothing unusual about them, as with the two men who visited Lot in the city of Sodom (Gen. 19).

The warrior Gideon didn’t realize he had been conversing with an angel until the visitor set a rock on fire by tapping it with a cane (Judg. 6).

Angels are unnamed, with two exceptions: Michael (Dan. 10; Rev. 12) and Gabriel (Luke 1). See 212 (Michael the archangel) and 213 (Gabriel the angel).

Were there bad angels? According to 2 Peter 2:4, some rebellious angels were cast out of heaven: “God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell.”

The fallen angels face a certain doom, described in the book of Revelation (12:9).

See 216 (Satan); 211 (cherubim).

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Poetry of Praise and Redemptive Mission

Timothy Keller

The praise of the redeemed. His people praise him because he has made them his people and because he honors and delights in them —though they don’t deserve it. Gospel joy, knowing how honored and loved we are in Christ, makes us ready for this mission.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

The Praise that Unites All

Timothy Keller

Praise Those Unites. We see extremes brought together in praise: wild animals and kings, old and young. Young men and maids, old men and babes. How can humans be brought into the music? He has raised up for his people a horn, a strong deliverer.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Praise Resounds Throughout Creation

Timothy Keller

The Praise Of Creation. Praise comes to God from all he has made. It begins in the highest heaven (verses 1–4). It comes from the sun and moon and stars (verse 3), from the clouds and rain (verse 4).

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

True Worship that Pleases the Lord

Timothy Keller

A little boy left his toys out and went in to practice the piano, using hymns for his lesson. When his mother called him to pick up his toys, he said, “I ca n’t eat; “I’m singing praise to Jesus.” His mother responded: “There's no use singing God's praises when you're being disobedient.”

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

From Heavenly Greatness to Inexhaustible Love

Timothy Keller

The number of stars is still uncountable by human science, yet God knows them by name (verse 4; cf. Isaiah 40:26). Job speaks of the creation, when “the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy” (Job 38:7).