Angels. We certainly do have a fascination with
these ethereal messengers of God. Even those who do not believe in God may
ascribe to the belief of angels. We picture angels as transporting the dead to
heaven, fighting in heavenly battles, saving people from mysterious accidents,
or some other phenomena. Perhaps we remember the author of Hebrews, when he
mentioned that some had entertained angels unaware of the heavenly nature of
their guest.
But what does the Bible say about angels? Dr. David
Jeremiah takes us on an extensive study of angels, determining their Biblical
function and purpose, and what that means for us today. With clarity and
reason, Jeremiah cuts through the hype and warns us to be cautious in ascribing
any unexplainable phenomena as the doings of angels. Moreover, Jeremiah reminds
us that the angels are created beings, as we are, and not on the level of God.
Therefore, we must be careful not to make angels an idol.
After this caution, Jeremiah proceeds to explain
what angels are, when they appear, and how they compare and contrast to humans.
Done in a straightforward manner, Jeremiah pulls together all the Scriptural
data regarding angels and draws his conclusions based upon the Biblical data.
Also included are chapters on named angels (Gabriel, Michael) and their
appearances in Scripture. Jeremiah also spends time discussing the Angel of the
LORD, his appearances, and the theological debate as to whether this is an angel
or the pre-incarnate Christ.
Altogether, Angels
is a solid theological read, yet is easily accessible to the layperson. It is
easily the most informative and helpful study of angels that I have read. It
shies away from the sensationalism that much discussion of the topic engenders,
and even cautions against it. For the Christian lost in the modern “spiritual”
concept of angels, this book is a must-read. It removes the modern stereotype of
an angel as a “nice feeling” and restores it to the Biblical sense as the
created spiritual messengers of God.
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