The Angels of Christmas

Some Fact About Angels

Angels were never people and people do not become angels after they die.

Angels were created, not born. God is not presently creating new angels.

Some Fact About Angels

Though angels sometime appear to be men the Bible does not depict angels in the form of children or women.

Some Non-biblical Pictures of Angels

Some Facts about Angels

• The term “angel” (Grk., anggelos; Heb., Malakh) means messenger.

• Meaning messenger, it can sometimes refer to human messengers: Haggai 1:13 Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, spoke the LORD’s word to the people: “I am with you!” says the LORD.

Some Facts about Angels

• Not all Spiritual Beings are called angels. We use the term generically.

• Not all Spirit Beings have wings.– Some have six, some have two, some have none.– They are often seen as men.– They don’t have to earn their wings.

THE RELATIONSHIP OF JESUS TO THE ANGELS BEFORE HIS ADVENT

Jesus Created the Angels

Angels are created beings, whereas Jesus is eternal.– John 1:1–3 1 In the beginning was the Word, and

the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. 2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.

Jesus Created the Angels

Angels are created beings, whereas Jesus is eternal.Colossians 1:15–17 15 He is the image of the

invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, 16 for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him – all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers – all things were created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him.

They are sons of God, He is the only begotten Son of God

John 1:14 (ESV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. God did not send an angel to die for our sins!!!

Angels Are to Worship Jesus

Hebrews 1:6 (ESV) And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

Jesus is Superior to Angels

Hebrews 1:7–10 (ESV) 7 Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” 8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” 10 And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;

Only Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father

Hebrews 1:13–14 13 And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

Jesus is not an angelJesus created the angels

Jesus has dominion over angels

THE RELATIONSHIP OF JESUS TO THE ANGELS DURING HIS ADVENT

The Angels Announced His BirthGabriel Announced John’s birth to Zacharias. Luke 1:8–20 (ESV) 8 Now while he was serving as priest before God

when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

The Angels Announced His Birth16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their

God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” 18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

Angels Announced His BirthGabriel announced Jesus’ birth to MaryLuke 1:26–38 (ESV) 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was

sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

Angels Announced His BirthAnd the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33

and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Angels Announced His Birth

An Angel announced Jesus birth to JosephMatthew 1:18–25 (ESV) 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took

place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Angels Announced His Birth21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name

Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Angels Announced His BirthAn Angel announced his birth to shepherds.Luke 2:8–14 (ESV) 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out

in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JESUS AND THE ANGELS DURING HIS LIFE.

The Angels Ministered to Him

After his temptation by SatanMatthew 4:11 Then the devil left him, and

behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

The Angels Ministered to HimIn the Garden of Gethsemane Luke 22:39–45 39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to

the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow,

THE ANGELS WERE MESSENGERS AFTER THE RESURRECTION

Angels announced His resurrectionLuke 24:1–7 (ESV) 1 But on the first day of the week, at early

dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”

Angels were Messengers at His Ascension

Acts 1:10–11 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

ANGELS WORK FOR JESUS NOW

They do Jesus’ work now

Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

Hebrews 13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

ANGELS WILL SERVE HIM IN THE FUTURE

The Angels will:• Execute judgment during the tribulation• Return with Jesus to gather up his electMatthew 24:29–31 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those

days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Were people ready for the first advent?

Are You ReadyFor His Return?