“Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,” (Revelation 5:11 ESV)
Some time ago ceramic angels became part of collection mania in America. Angel figurines rose to the top of the list of objects for collection and affection, along with ducks, chickens, cows, clowns and a plethora of other things for which we sometimes inexplicably develop an attraction. We soon tire of their everywhere presence and either sell them or give them away. But for some, it is much easier to rid ourselves of smiling pigs or frowning frogs than to let go of the glass angels, which seem to have taken over our homes and demand constant dusting and places of prominence.
Perhaps our inclination to attach meaning and adulation to religious art, along with our natural inclination toward the tangible and visible, were the reasons for the second of the Ten Commandments. God knew our faithfulness in worshiping Him as the one true, all-knowing, everywhere-present Lord would be continually tested by our longing for a physical presence and proof of His existence. But the very essence of faith is ‘the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen’ (Heb. 11:1).
“God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). The wonders of His creation and His written testimony to man (The Holy Bible) are sufficient proofs of His power and presence (Rom. 1:20-25 & Psa. 104). We must be careful that our harmless symbols of God's eternal presence and power don't become snares to us, as Gideon's golden memorial became to him and to all Israel (Judges 8:23-28).
God is not honored by idealistic images of Himself or of His angelic creation. Neither is He honored by statues nor giant crosses of gold. All the riches of the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica bring no true honor or worship to Him. Rather, steadfast faith and trust in Him through any and all circumstances, along with our obedience to Him, are of much value and are acceptable worship to Him. Through faith in Christ as our Savior and Redeemer, the poorest of humanity can bring honor and praise to God as well as the richest of mankind.
But what of the real angels of God which have been depicted as the most beautiful and glowing of all God's creatures? They are just that – gloriously created beings whose very purpose is to carry out the will of God continually. They are not former human beings (John 1:3, Matt. 18:10 & Heb. 1:14). We are instructed to not worship angels (Rev. 22:9 & Col. 2:18). Apparently, they can take on various forms as needed for God's purpose (Heb. 1:7 & II Kings 6:15-17). They cannot die (Luke 20:35-36). There are fallen angels who are bound and reserved for the final judgment (II Pet. 2:4, Jude 6 & Matt. 25:41). Angels are sometimes seen and/or heard by mortal man (Acts 5:19-20 & 8:26). They are sent by God to punish the wicked as well as to do good (Acts 12:23). It is possible to see angels without recognizing them as such (Heb. 13:2). The number of unfallen angels is countless to man (Rev. 5:11). Man is (“for a little while”) lower than angels in the glory of God's creation (Heb. 2:7). The Scriptures nowhere indicate that angels indwell inanimate objects or icons, small or large. An image is no more than ink on a page; a figurine or statue is no more than the mold from which it came. Angels do not intercede for us before God. The work of mediation belongs to Christ alone, as the Holy Spirit helps us to pray as we ought. Fellow believers do pray for one another while they are here in this world, interceding and supplicating on each other’s behalf (I Tim. 2:5, 2:1 & Rom. 8:26). The angels worship God; they are fellow servants of God with us (Rev. 22:9 & Heb. 1:6).
It is of the utmost importance to remember that Satan himself would love to appear as an angel of light to mislead us, just as false teachers seek to “if possible deceive the very elect” (II Cor. 11: 14 &Matt. 24:24). We are to test all teachings and ‘so called’ messages from God by the written word of God. God never contradicts Himself or His Word.
What the Scriptures tell us about angels is delightful food for thought – all truth from God should be cherished. “Men did eat angels' food...” (Psa. 78:25) and we still may do so by giving our hearts and minds to the study of God's word (Deut. 8:3 & Matt. 4:4). The Word of God is better than the manna in the wilderness. It should be great nourishment for us, to think on the myriads of angels whose joy is to serve their Creator (which includes the care of His people).
But the greater comfort and sweetness should be found in the sure hope that we will one day join them before God's Holy Throne. There we will bring gladness to the angels in glory as we sing ‘the song of the redeemed’ (e.g. Revelation 5:9-10). They will bow to Him with us when, in glorified bodies, we sing the Lamb’s praise before the watching universe (I Pet. 1:12). Myriads of angels anxiously awaiting the song which only redeemed sinners can sing—WOW!
~ DLA
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