In the Shadow of His Wings

The Pastoral Ministry of Angels: Yesterday, Today, and for Heaven

Jonathan Macy

• Publisher: Cascade Books
• Year: 2011
• Print ISBN:
  9781608998371
  9781498213073
• eBook ISBN:
  9781621892601
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Theology

Historically, angels have been viewed as either disconnected objects of speculative investigation, or as mystifying beings mysteriously influencing our lives. However, this is not how the Bible describes them. Scripture, in sober and straightforward terms, simply describes what angels do. It is a practical depiction, a pastoral presentation. We see messages of encouragement, revelation, and guidance; we see judgment and correction; we see strengthening; we see journeying; we see prayer and worship. The biblical focus concerning angels is on ministry to the people of God. Angels are one way that God intervenes in human affairs in response to pastoral concerns or problems. Created to minister, angels are best understood, not using speculative or detached theology, but through applied and pastoral lenses. Using only Scripture and a classic model of pastoral theology as the framework, this book shows practically how angels are employed by God to bless His church and people as His servant ministers who glorify Him alone.

• 1

An Overview of Angelic Ministry in the Bible

Angelology has been, at various times during the history of the church, either deeply engaged with or almost completely ignored, with little time spent on the ground in-between. This tendency to extreme approaches has led to corrective measures being almost as excessive. Theologies were built around overreactions, and, eventually, extreme reactions became the current norm when considering angels. This means that when one reads about angels, what one sees is generally flowing from an already existing position, which, as we shall see in chapter 2, is either an extreme position driven by a reaction to another extreme position, or a simple, almost blind, continuation of what has gone before.

Polarised and preconceived theological assumptions about angels strongly shape how people view them and their ministry, and so you, the reader, need to be as free from preconceived theological assumptions as possible. Although nobody is truly influence-free, it is possible to minimise our inherent biases, and this is especially important in the area of angelology where the influences seem to be particularly strong and deep-seated.

The following biblical survey is brief and simple, introducing the issues, questions, and mysteries that have traditionally surrounded
angels. I have tried to relay what the Bible says without adding too much theological comment. However, I have assumed that when symbolic language is used around angels, it is intentional and purposeful, and designed to be understood by the reader. For example, therefore, when we read in Rev 8 that angels are involved in presenting prayers to God, even though the language has a symbolic feel to it, it nevertheless has the intention to lead the reader to conclude that angels are, somehow, involved in presenting prayer to God, and not to conclude that they are not. The exact dynamic of the symbolism may need deeper
investigation to understand specifically what it means, but broadly the symbolic language points to what it suggests. Also, for the purposes of this book the term “angel” is used to include all the heavenly beings and not simply those that the Bible designates as “angels.” So while not directly called “angels,” I shall refer to cherubim, seraphim, and the so-called “living creatures,” for example, as groups within the angelic society. Thus, in my terminology, biblical angels are a subdivision of this wider category of “angels.” In later chapters I will add further detail, explaining how specific passages might be interpreted. I also include, in this initial chapter, something about how first century Judaism would have viewed the Old Testament evidence, and so what would have influenced early Christian understanding. However, as we go through the material, you will see that many of the (later) questions customarily asked of the passages are not questions the passages themselves pose. Frustrating though this can be we should not force the content so that questions raised in our minds over-dominate our reading of Scripture. Scripture, itself, should set the agenda.

Old and New Testaments

Angelic Creation and Fall

While it is clear that angels are created beings, made by God,1 evidence is sparse regarding further issues. For example, when were angels created? Gen 1:1 talks of the heavens and earth being created, but only the earth was formless and void, which could indicate that the heavens were not, and that angels had been created already. Alternatively, since angels are called beings of light, were they created as a part of light?2

The existence of demons suggests that some angels fell, but when was this? It was presumably before the serpent (which has been traditionally understood to be Satan) tempted Eve in Gen 3, but was it after Gen 1:4, or perhaps after 1:31, since at both these junctures God saw everything as good and demons are certainly not good. Why did they fall? The Bible does not tell us. Some scholars have looked at Isa 14:12–15 which, whilst not directly about Satan, may be interpreted to indirectly suggest that Lucifer wanted to become like God. It was also suggested, in some post-biblical sources, there may have been jealousy on the part of some angels that humans were only lower than the angels for a while, and later God was going to exalt humans above angels via the honor of the Incarnation. And once in this exalted position humans would judge the angels. This anticipated reversal of fortunes and status led Satan and then the other demons to fall, and this is the source of their hatred of both God and humanity.3 However, little is clear cut as to exactly how and why the angelic fall happened.

Angelic Nature

Angels are described as beings of light, fire, and wind (or spirit), but none of these descriptions really say as much as one would like.4 Angels are spatially limited, so they cannot be in more than one place at one time,5 and it is possible that a large number of angels or demons can inhabit a relatively small space.6 Angels are intelligent, holy, and obey the will of God,7 and are able to exercise moral judgement since some, as we have seen, misused that faculty and sinned, and are now subject to judgement.8 The fact they are described as holy, by implication, says that they are without sin. However, the idea of them being sinless raises questions when faced with a couple of enigmatic verses—Job 4:18 talks of angels being charged with folly (error), and Col 1:20 talks of all things in heaven (which presumably includes the angelic realm, cf. Col 2:8, 18) needing reconciliation through Christ. How does one balance angels being sinless, yet with folly, and needing reconciliation with God? This again raises the question as to how holy and sinless beings could fall, and why those who didn’t fall now don’t, and those who fell now can’t be reconciled.

The nature of the angels is of importance since men will be like unto, or equal to, angels in the resurrection.9 This state of being isangelloi (ισαγγελοι: like the angels), while in the immediate context of the verse primarily relates to marriage relationships, might also be further understood in terms of the nature of an angelic body, and/or morally, spiritually and intellectually, and/or immortality, but it is not detailed. Angels in heaven do not marry, but arguably do have gender and perhaps, as fallen angels, might be able to engage in sexual intercourse.10 However, as previously mentioned, humans will be exalted above the angels,11 which could also have implications for what is understood by humans being isangelloi.

Although angels are spirit beings, they can appear to humans in physical form. People do not always see them, and sometimes need God to illuminate their minds in order to do so.12 They usually take human form (the main exception being when they appear as living creatures), and can be mistaken simply for other humans.13 The angelic appearances can also come with a brilliant light or a glory, which could be either ...

Table of contents

• In the Shadow of His Wings
• Preface
• Introduction: All Things Seen and Unseen
• 1 • An Overview of Angelic Ministry in the Bible
• 2 • From Biblical Times until Today
• 3 • Why a Pastoral Theology of the Angels?
• 4 • Angels in the Life of Jesus
• 5 • Angels and Healing
• 6 • Angels and Sustaining
• 7 • Angels and Guiding
• 8 • Angels and Reconciliation
• 9 • In the Shadow of Their Wings
• Bibliography
• Scripture Index