Angels all around us

Tomorrow in church I'll continue pulling back the curtains on the unseen world that God calls the heavenly places. We'll look at some of the zillions of angels that God has created to serve him and us. Someone asked me this week if we'll become angels when we die. The answer is "no". In truth, human beings are a higher order than angels are. They have been created by God as servants to minister to us. The author of Hebrews calls them "Ministering spirits".

I guess we could write a book on angels, but in brief there are a few different types mentioned in the Bible. The highest order of angels are called cherubim. Lucifer used to be the lead cherub before his fall, but there are at least 4 others who surround the throne of God. They are awesome creatures that Ezekiel describes by using terms such as "full of eyes" and "wheels inside of wheels". Jewish legends tell of their being 30 feet tall!

Then there is at least 1 Arch-Angel, whose name is Michael. His main job seems to be as the guardian of the Jewish people. Gabriel is the only other angel mentioned by name. He's the announcing angel, who with his trumpet and loud voice, makes proclamations for God. Seraphims seem to fall in line next . Isaiah describes them as having 6 wings and standing near to the holy presence of God.

Finally there are the millions times millions of angels who are encamped invisibly around every human. It seems we all have some who walk and ride with us every day. The Bible does not describe them, does not say they have wings, but does tell us that they can take on human form. Many of us have seen them and talked with them without even knowing it. Whenever they are seen in the Bible stories they are described as looking like men.