Angels are spectacular mysterious beings. In today’s age, there’s much conversation about them. This is nothing new. Paul speaking to the Colossian church warned them about worshiping angels (Col. 2:18). While we are not to worship angels or put them on pedestals, the Bible does speak much of them, 295 times to be exact. So, what can learn from them? What practical lessons can we learn about God from them?

How Does Looking at Angels Help Us to Know God?

There are Four Classes of Angels in the Bible

• Archangels
• Seraphim
• Cherubs
• Worker Angels

Archangels

• In the Bible, there is one archangel specifically mentioned.
• Michael
• There is a second one who is thought to be an archangel by many scholars, though not specifically mentioned as one, Gabriel.

Jude 9 (ESV)
9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”

• What do we know about Michael, the archangel?
• He is God’s Warrior Angel
• He takes no stuff from the devil
• Satan got into a dispute over the body of Moses when he died. Because Moses was such a revered figure in Israel, the Lord wanted to hide his body so the Jews would not make a shrine out of it and get over into idolatry and superstition (Deut. 34:5-6). Satan, of course liked the idea of tripping up Israel with idolatry so he wanted the body.
• In enters, Michael! Game over! Discussion ended! End of story!!
• Michael stands over Israel as its Protector

Daniel 10:13 (ESV)
13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,

The prince of the kingdom of Persia mentioned here are demon principalities that hover over and try to influence nations. This is spiritual warfare at its purest.

[Tweet “Michael the archangel is God’s Warrior Angel . He takes no stuff from the devil.”]

• In this case, Daniel was praying about the meaning of a vision that he had received. God sent a messenger Angel to give Daniel the answer. Satan, through these demon principalities, was trying to stop that answer from coming. In steps Michael!
• Those who mess with Israel have Michael to contend with
• Here is an astounding account of a modern case where Israel was protected.

The Miracle of the 6 Day War

(The following information can be found at http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/timeline_cdo/aid/525341/jewish/Introduction.htm).

• In June of 1967, (June 5th is day one of the war) following close to a decade of relative calm, Israel found itself poised for war against four of its Arab neighbors. You remember that Israel miraculously became a nation again in 1948 after having been scattered since Titus destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
• According to all the military analysts, it was to be a lopsided match. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) consisted of 275,000 troops, compared to the 456,000 soldiers of the combined Iraqi, Syrian, Jordanian, and Egypt armies. The united Arab forces also had a decided edge with regards to weaponry and military equipment: they boasted more than double the amount of tanks and close to four times the amount of combat aircraft…
• So pessimistic was the outlook, that the nation’s cemeteries and national parks were marked to become gravesites for the many that would surely perish in the course of the war.
• However, despite all the prognostications, by the time the war ended the territory under Israeli control had tripled in size. The Jewish nation was miraculously victorious in the face of unbelievable odds.
• History books speak of the “Hundred Years’ War,” the “Thirty Years’ War.” The United States just ended a war that took 9 years of involvement in Iraq. Here, in a matter of six short days, a nation managed to utterly rout not one, but four powerful enemies!
• Jews across the globe thanked God for the great miracles that happened. An incredible sense of pride and spiritual awakening gripped the Jewish people worldwide.
• The following is a brief account of some of the major events of the war, with emphasis placed on a few of the miraculous occurrences which characterized its battles.
• That morning, with the element of surprise in their favor, the IAF obliterated six Egyptian airfields–two in Egypt proper and four in the Sinai Desert–destroying 204 Egyptian planes, half of their air force.

Day One: Israel Takes Out the Air Force

• Israeli air strikes destroy two thirds of the Syrian Air Force, more than 300 Egyptian aircraft, and most of Royal Jordanian Air Force. Though Egypt had sufficient anti-aircraft ammunition to destroy all the attacking Israeli planes, miraculously, no order was given for these missiles to be launched. The Israelis accomplished their mission with practically no resistance.

Day Two: Mass Desertion in the Desert

• IAF planes and pilots had now been involved in almost constant battle for twenty-four hours. The pilots were weary, and the aircraft low on ammunition and fuel. Inexplicably, the enemy did not take advantage of this weakness. Though in control of extensive forces in the Sinai Desert, and certainly capable of mounting a ferocious counterattack, Egyptian leaders were reduced to giving incoherent and disorganized instructions to their troops.
• Israeli troops pressed on in the Sinai front. As the Israelis drew near, they heard massive explosions. When they arrived they saw that the Egyptians, for no apparent reason, had destroyed their equipment and abandoned the base! As the day continued, it became clear that the Egyptians were hastily abandoning many of their outposts, some with all their supplies left behind.

Day Three: Israel Captures Many Cities.

• The most notable ones: East Jerusalem (including the Old City and the Temple Mount), Sharm El-Sheikh (taken by the Israeli Navy), Judea, Jericho, Gush Etzion, and Nablus.

Day Four: White Sheets in Hebron

• Hebron, a holy city that houses the resting place of Jewish Patriarchs and Matriarchs, fell. The IDF entering Hebron found white sheets hanging from the windows, and an Arab population surrendering peacefully. The war in the West Bank was concluded. Israel now had full control over the entire region.

Day Five: David vs. Goliath in Golan

• After suffering significant casualties in the offensive to overtake the Golan Heights, Commander Musa Klein’s platoon had only twenty-five men at his disposal. But they continued upwards. When they reached Tel Fakhr, Klein ordered his men to charge the position, unaware that it was one of the most heavily fortified Syrian positions. It had bunkers, trenches and a double row of wire; an arsenal of antitank guns, machine guns and 82mm mortars. The handful of IDF soldiers were worse off than sitting ducks… Syrian Captain Ahmad Ibrahim Khalili gave his men instructions not to fire until the Israelis reached the wire. In no time at all, however, it was too late. In the Syrians’ own words: “The Jews are already inside and we’ve taken heavy casualties.” Commander Klein and his men were victorious, and continued up the Heights. Israel seizes the Straits of Tiran. Israel breaks through the Golan plateau.

Day 6: Marathon on the Heights

• The Israelis were originally reluctant to invade the Golan Heights. It would be an uphill battle against a well-entrenched and fortified enemy, protected by an army of 75,000 Syrian troops. Incredibly, though, after only seven hours of heavy fighting on June 9th, IDF commanders established strongholds in the northern and central sectors of the Golan. The Syrians, however, had other plans. In a sudden panic, before the Israelis even approached their positions, they pulled out of the Golan and fled in total chaos, leaving most of their weaponry behind. Israel captures the strategic Golan Heights and Massada. The mountain tops that were strategically utilized to murder Jews in the Holy Land, were now in the hands of the Israelis.
• The final offensive was completed and, on that day, at 6:30 PM, a ceasefire was signed.
• What happened to the four enemies of Israel during this war?
• They ran into Israel’s protector – Michael!
• What can we learn about God by looking at archangels?
• What are the Lessons that Angels Teach?

Lesson 1: Your Arms Are too Short to Box with God

• Rebellion against God is a waste of time
• The Bible calls the Most High God the Lord of Hosts
• You could say our High God is the Most of the Host!

Lesson 2: God Will Protect His Kids

• This means you, if you are a born again son of His.
• The nations are wasting their time trying to attack Israel. Michael stands as Israeli’s protector.

Seraphim

Isaiah 6:1–3 (ESV)
1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

• This is the only place the word ‘Seraphim’ is recorded in scripture.
• DEFINITION: The Hebrew word Seraphim means ‘to burn’ or ‘consume’. It also means to ‘incinerate’ or ‘destroy’ (the enemy) in its non-angel usages. The word is plural in Hebrew meaning there are more than one of them.
• So, what are Seraphim?
• Seraphim are fiery beings of supernatural origin who are always seen around the Throne declaring the holiness and purity of God.
• They are also seen in Revelation 4

Revelation 4:2, 6-8 (ESV)
2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

• Note the presence of the wings in these beings.
  • The wings are not there to protect God.
  • They are there to protect the angels from God. Think about that.
  • These Seraphim are created beings who have never committed any sin whatever.
  • Understanding this gives you a sense of the absolute purity of Almighty God.
  • If it weren’t for the Blood, where would we be?
• What do the six wings symbolize?
• Two wings covering the face symbolize humility displaying the fact that even the most exalted spirits cannot bear the fullness of God’s glory.
• Two wings covering the feet symbolizes reverence
• Two wings in the body symbolize the swiftness to execute God’s commands.
• What are the Lessons that Angels Teach?

Lesson 3: Worship is Important

• Humility is a must
• Holiness is essential
• Devotion is to be prized above all.

Lesson 4: The Power of the Blood of Jesus

• The seraphim using their wings to protect themselves from the purity of God sheds light on the tremendous cleansing power of the Blood of Jesus.
• Because of the Blood of Jesus, we have access to the Throne of God.
• We are welcome there. Heb. 4:16 encourages us to come boldly to His Throne.

Cherubim

• Cheribum are first mentioned in the garden of Eden.

Genesis 3:24 (ESV)
24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

• They are protectors of the Holy things of God
• They were woven into the curtains of the Tabernacle
• Cherubim are seen in connection with the Ark of the Covenant

Exodus 25:18,22 (ESV)
18 And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat… 22 There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.

• They are protectors of the Presence and Glory of God
• Cherubim are the angels of Ezekiel that hover over the Throne

Ezekiel 1:15–16 (ESV)
15 Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them. 16 As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl. And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel.

• They are protectors of the Throne – Satan was of this class
• What are the Lessons that Angels Teach?

Lesson 5: What Is Sacred Ought to Be Protected

• What is sacred in God?
• The Blood is sacred. Value it and hold it dear.
• Respect and highly esteem what it means.
• The Name of Jesus is sacred. Don’t ever use it causally.
• Always use it with intent and purpose.
• The Word is sacred. Do not read it like a novel.

Call to Action:

Time spent worshiping and reverencing the Lord is not wasted time. Treating the sacred as sacred and not mixing the world with the precious things of God will bring a depth of God’s presence into your life. This is but a very small part of what we can learn about God when you listen to the lessons angels teach.

QUESTION: What lessons about God have you learned about these heavenly beings? Please leave a comment in the comments section below.