Angels from the realms of glory..........

I have, for my entire life, marveled at angels and the different ways in which angels are mentioned in the Bible.  My current interest is certainly in high gear in relation to "all things angelic" because we lit the Angel Candle in our church service yesterday.  This, as you know, marked the fourth Sunday in the season of Advent.  But what is the significance of angels in the Advent wreath?  We know, from reading God's word, that we (as human beings) were created "just a little lower than the angels."  But what/who are angels?  Why were they created?  And exactly what do angels do?

Artists, for centuries, have tried to depict the likeness of angels on their many and varied canvases.  So many of their images have been of comfort to us, but are they really images which have been drawn from God's word?  I used to think that angels were plump baby-like beings with tiny sets of wings.  Although this might make a cute image for our enjoyment, it is hardly Biblical.  So what does the Bible say about angels?

Part of that answer lies in the fact that angels are mentioned 273 times in the Bible.  For the purpose of this writing, I certainly won't take you to all those places or try to find all those places myself.  But there are different scripture passages that mention, in specific, some of the roles and functions of angels.  I thought it might be interesting to look at some of these.

Angels were created by God:
Genesis 2:1
Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished.
Colossians 1:16
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
Angels were present when God created the world:
Job 38:1-7
Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: "...Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? ...while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?"
Angels are wise and intelligent:
2 Samuel 14:17
Your maidservant said, ‘The word of my lord the king will now be comforting; for as the angel of God, so is my lord the king in discerning good and evil. And may the LORD your God be with you.’
Daniel 9:21-22
...while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding." 
Angels have knowledge of, and interest in, the affairs of men:
Daniel 10:14
"Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come."
Luke 15:10
"Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Angels are faster than men:
Daniel 9:21
... while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.
Revelation 14:6
And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world—to every nation, tribe, language, and people.
Angels were created to glorify and worship God the Father and God the Son:
Revelation 4:8
Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings.  Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."
Hebrews 1:6
"And again, when God brings his firstborn into the word, he says, 'Let all God's angels worship him.'"

But in keeping with Advent and the season of Christmas, the Bible tells us that:
Angels announced the birth of Jesus:
Luke 2:10-14

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
 
And that, my friends, is the best news of all.  God came to Earth, in human form, to ransom the souls of sinners like me.  Because of the birth of Christ, as proclaimed by the angels of heaven "on a cold wintry night that was so deep", I have a Savior and a Means by which to spend eternity with my Heavenly Father - my Abba.
 

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Selah (סֶלָה )