26 BI Winter 2008-09 west. south- the from seen Nazareth, modern of view over An Below: as Heralds of God of Heralds as - By Roy E. Lucas, Jr. Lucas, E. Roy By matters of diplomacy in times of both war and peace. warand both of times in diplomacy mattersof relatedtoword superiors,messengerstheir thesea carried of dictates Following the them. sent had superiors their whom for people the for searched purposely they as roads Roman pavedand trails dusty the on pathscrossedMessengersficient. inef- and slow extremely was A.D. century first the in cation c e-mail, by or telephone by world the around speed C mae t mdr lf wee esgs instantaneously messages where life modern to ompared 1 ommuni-

ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ BOB SCHATZ (10/5/4) ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/DAVID ROGERS/BRITISH MUSEUM (554/26) NewTestaments God’smessengers.faithfulas and Old the both in angels of role the illuminates culture Greek classical in messengers human of background This message. the of authenticity and the readingannouncement ensuringaidedintruthfulnessthe even or memorizing Thus, crime. serious constitute a superior’s could messagethe with another deceiving or message the Changing demon- role. messenger’s a exactlyof integrity highest the strated message the deliver To words. faithfullyhiscommunicateintentions toand his messenger expected superior the protection. The mutual provide and message the authenticate to served messengers more or Two protected. gods mythological the who and him sent who superior (Greek, nes r God are angels First, relationships. yet interrelated basic, three around revolve n Jesus in are involved atfourmoments critical Angels Jesus. specifically to is connected often activity ic 9:20-27; Finally,- 2:13). 1:20-21; Dan. Matt. 6:15-17; Kings (2 oe n God in done are activities their of All 2:13-14). Luke worship 6:1-3; (Isa. Him praise They and servants. and (see Luke 1–2; 1 Thess. 4:13-18). Thess. 1 1–2; Luke(see appearance his than message angel’s the on more focuses usuallywriterthe angel, an mentiondoestext a When all. at angels mention not do books Testament New several while activity, ic - angel to references short few, a The only contain Epistles Testament. New the in encounters angelic the of the most present Revelation of Book and Acts, Gospels, four The Angels of Role Revealing The angels servetorevealangels God tect those who follow God follow who those tect pro- and guide to and humans to egr o God of sengers mes- as role Their Thess.4:16). (1 coming second and 16:4-7; 24:4-7); Luke Mark 28:1-7; resurrec- (Matt. tion 4:11); (Matt. tations temp - 2:8-15); 1:26-38; (Luke birth Angels messenger a literature, Greek classical In ’ life and ministry: His His ministry: and life sre a a usiue o the for substitute a as served aggelos) ’ ciiis n h Bible the in activities ’ s service. Second, Second, service. s ’ s revelation is is revelation s ’ messengers s ’ s truth truth s ’ s will will s

Zechariah. and Elizabeth Mary’sto visit commemorates which Karem, Ein at Visitation the of Church the of exterior the is Shown Zechariah. and Elizabeth visit to went Mary Baptist, the John and Jesus both of births the told fore- had angels After Right: family.his and Apra-Hormiz, of son Chosroes, protect to spirits and idols various and angel the invokes inscription The Script.” “Syriac or Mandaic in written bowl Incantation Above: 2

ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ GB HOWELL (35/49/26) el o ti go news good this you tell presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and ue ihihs n o angels of one highlights 1–2—Luke Luke Angels of Role Messenger The ot rmnn i te opl artvs that narratives Gospel the Jesusdescribe in prominent most The angel stands in God standsin angel The authority. his of source the and function his both the angel the message, Messiah the doubted the Zechariah When for (vv.11-20). way the prepare would son this that and Baptist) the (John son a bear would wife name by identify his that Zechariah to Gospels announced He 1:19,26). (Luke the angel only the Gabriel is Christ. the of coming the announce who God Testament:Newof the messengers in as roles ETB: Luke 1–2; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Thessalonians 1 1–2; Luke ETB: Lesson Reference servant and he carries out that service with ’ s words,s ’ God birth and resurrection. resurrection. and birth “ ’ s authority.s I am Gabriel, who stands in the the in stands who Gabriel, am I o none o ay that Mary to announce to This same angel was also sent sent also was angel same This she would be the mother of of mother the be would she God’ ’ ” s presence as His personal presencepersonal s His as v 1, CB, revealed HCSB), 19, (v. s Son by the power of of power the by Son s ’ major major

27 BI Winter 2008-09 28 BI Winter 2008-09 voice of the , and the trumpet of God) oftrumpet thearchangel, andthe of voice return.threeThesounds mentioned (ashout, the a part of God’s angelic host will announce Christ’s ay oe a te acmay hit t His phrase significant at The coming. Christ second accompany they as roles many appropriatemessengers. the be provednews,For to importantangels people. such all to offered is salvation of news good the clear: was message The shepherds. common of group a with butelite social the with messagenot this shared angels (vv.The peace 13-14). bring to come had who Messiah the of telling and God to praise Suddenly,God. heavenlya appeared,offeringhost of work the wascoming His that emphasized and 2:9, HCSB). The angel told of the Messiah the of told angel The HCSB). 2:9, served as God as served Messiah promised 1:20-21). (Matt. the was and Spirit Holy the conceivedbeenby hadchild her that vision a in An angel appeared to shepherds in the field and and field the in shepherds to appeared angel An “ messenger angelic this that stated specifically Luke (1:26-38). Spirit Holy the An angel also revealed to Mary to revealed also angel An voice of the archangel the of voice acting as God as acting (1:26, HCSB), again emphasizing that Gabriel was the glory of the Lord shone around them around shone Lord the of glory the Agl wl fulfill will 4:13-18—Angels Thessalonians First hn h Msih a br, nes again angels born, was Messiah the When ’ ’ s herald and with God with and herald s s heralds in announcing the birth. birth. the announcing in heralds s ”

(v.NASB) 16, “ a sn b God by sent was ’ s husband Joseph husband s ’ reveals that that reveals s authority. s “ with the with ” ’ (Luke s birth birth s ”

Hebrew and Greek terms forterms Greek Hebrewand the up make These angels. to refer Psalm also uses the terms etos , mentions of the Christ and to lead God lead to and Christ the of return the of news great the proclaim to angels: arch- of functions future two reveal texts biblical can also be translated as translated be also can is term Hebrew comparable A birth. “ term Greek “ the used he from God, message a bearing angel individual to another or Gabriel to specifically referred Luke When Angels for Titles a and 4:1), 1:10,12; (Rev. trumpet a with voice Testament a connect passages New Other archangel. tothe belongs which sound mayone be to God His will and purposes (12:7-9). purposes and will His oppose who forces spiritual those againstbattle for and supremacy over all creation. overall supremacy and for serve God as the an extension role, of His care this In purposes. His fulfill to command angel term for the group of angels that appeared to the the shepherds: to appeared that angels of group the for term host messenger hl etacnncl ieaue commonly literature extra-canonical While ” ” appeared to declare God serves as God’s herald (5:2; 7:2). Overall, the ’ s heavenly army of angels, who move at His ” or stratia (1:11-19; 2:9). But Luke used another another used Luke But 2:9). (1:11-19; 4 “

the New Testament uses uses Testament New the host “ malakim and host ” (2:13). This angelic angelic This (2:13). “ ” ’ host ’

s majesty at Christ (Ps. 103:20-21). This This (Ps.103:20-21). s angelic army into into army angelic s ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ GBHOWELL (35/47/32) aggelos, ” 3 generally refer generally . Both the the Both tsaba.

mishrathim to , which which tsaba, meaning meaning “ mighty ’ s of the angels deal almost exclusivelyalmost deal angels Jesusthe with of functions TestamentNewthe the In men. to work most essential role is that of revealing God’s will and Old Testament picture of angels and their roles. The rank.lesser of are existwho angels other see that implies HCSB; archangels of existence The 10:13, 12:1). 10:21; (Dan. angels the among prince chief a as him torefer does archangel, title the with ity. tosenger reveal God’s tokingdom and human- plan in then, , God’smes- likeas special serves he Michael, tocontrast archangel an is Gabriel If 12:7). (Rev.Satan with battle doing by God Michael serves archangel. only or top the being his rather than others than known better is Michael mean may This archangel.” “the as Michael mentions 9 Thessalonians JudeThess.4:16). (1 trumpet the sound will who gel 1 in only 4: 13-18 and Jude 9. Paul “archangel” refers to an unnamed archan- term the royal in dressed day,appointed an on “So details: lar recordssimi- Luke days. five in died Herodtroubles, stomach with suddenly Gripped death. impending his of omen an be to that took He overhead. perched owl an saw Herod pened hap- this As god. a as Herod praise to began people the him, seeing Upon regalia. fine in dressed theater the to came 37-44) A.D. ruled (who Herod Herod’sto death. up leading details offeredJosephus Mediterranean. the overlooks Maritima Caesarea at theater The left: Lower Jesus. to ministered and came angels days, 40 the of end the After Jesus. tempted Satan where was this tradition, to According Jericho. to cent adja- is level, sea above feet 1100 over rises which Temptation,of Mount The Right: The New Testament proves consistent with the the with consistent Testamentproves New The The Book of , while not labeling Michael Michael labeling not while Daniel, of Book The

ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/LOUISE KOHL SMITH (33/26/15) 12:21-23, HCSB). 12:21-23, (Acts died" and worms with ed infect- became he and God, to glory the give not did he because him struck Lord the of angel an once At man!’ a of not and god a of voice ‘It’sshout, the to began populace The them. to address public a deliveredHerod , the on seated and robes of Jerusalem. of Tomboutside Garden the of Interior Right:

IMB PHOTO ’ life life

n h Nw etmn a te raet revelation greatest of the the Father and His will (Heb. as 1:1-13). Testament New the in alone Jesusstandsthough, announcements Himself n pso o Frt ats Cuc, Loyall, Church, Baptist FirstKentucky. of pastor and Clear Bible, of professor CreekBibleBaptist College, Pineville, Kentucky is Jr. Lucas, E. Roy 32. Doubleday,23-24, 1983), 1, vol. in Enoch” of) Apocalypse “(Ethiopic trans., Isaac, and , Saraqa’el, archangels: E. See cherubim. the and Eden gardenof for the supervised Gabriel states Enoch Suru’el. names other three mentions 20 Enoch First GELNT,in oujravnio"" 1:145. "stratia; 1:144-45; 1989), Societies, the of Lexicon New Testament Greek-English Based on in Semantic Domains (GELNT), 2nd ed. (New "a[ggelo" York: United Nida, Bible A. Eugene and P. Louw Johannes InterVarsity,155. IL: Grove,Noll, (Downers 8; McKnight 1992), Scot and Green InterVarsity,155. 1998), Jesus at mes- sage God’s revealed directly They ministry. and 4. First Enoch 40:9-10 names four angels: Michael, , Gabriel, and Phanuel. and Gabriel, Raphael, Michael, angels: four names 40:9-10 Enoch First 4. Dickason, Fred C. 3. 2. Maxwell J. Davidson, “Angels” in Noll, F. Stephen 1. , ed. James H. Charlesworth (New York:(New Charlesworth H. James Testamentsed. and , Literature Apocalyptic ’ birth and resurrection. After these these After resurrection. and birth nes f ih, oes f Darkness of Powers Light, of Angels Ciao Moy rs, 95, 59; 1975), Press, Moody (Chicago: Evil and Elect Angels: Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, ed. Joel B. The Old TestamentOld The Pseudepigrapha, Dwes rv, IL: Grove, (Downers i

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