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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadR.A. Torrey Collection: Torrey, R.A. - What Bible Teaches (about Angels): 02 The Work of Angels
TOPIC: Torrey, R.A. - What Bible Teaches (about Angels) (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 02 The Work of Angels
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02 The Work of Angels
I. THEIR WORK ON BEHALF OF THE HEIRS OF SALVATION. Heb_1:13-14 RV — "But of which of the angels hath he said at any time, Sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation?"
Proposition: Angels are ministering spirits sent forth to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation. 1Ki_19:5-8 — "And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the Lore) came again the second time and touched him, and said, Arise and eat: because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God." Mat_4:11 — "Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him." Luk_22:43 — "And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him."
The angels minister to the physical needs of God's children. Psa_91:11-12 — "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone."
The angels have charge to keep in all his ways the one who abides in the secret place of the Most High and makes the Most High his habitation. (See context.) They preserve him from accident and harm. 2Ki_6:15-17 — "And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold a host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! How shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." Mat_26:53 — "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he will presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?"
The angels protect God's servants from their enemies. (Compare to Gen_19:11 and to 2Ki_6:18.)
God works largely through second causes. Much that God does for His children He does through their fellow humans. He does other things through the angels.
It is thought by some, and not altogether without reason, that each child of God has an angel assigned to protect him (see Mat_18:10): Act_5:19 RV — "But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them out." Act_12:8-11 — "And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed: and he wist not that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision. And when they were past the first and second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed through one street; and straightway the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a truth, that the Lord hath sent forth his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectations of the people of the Jews." Dan_6:22 — "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt."
The angels deliver God's servants from peril and evil. Act_27:23-24 RV — "For there stood by me this night an angel of the God whose I am, whom also I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar: and lo, God hath granted thee all them that sail with thee."
The angels cheer God's servants in hardship and seeming danger. Luk_1:11-13; Luk_1:19 — "And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias; for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John .... And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings."
The angels reveal God's purposes to His servants. Mat_2:13; Mat_2:19-20 RV — "Now when they were departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee unto Egypt, and be thou there until I tell thee: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him .... But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying." Mat_1:20 — "But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." Act_8:26 — "But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert." Act_10:3-6 — "He saw in a vision, as it were about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in unto him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, who is surnamed Peter: he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side."
The angels show God's servants what to do. Luk_16:22 — "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died and was buried."
The angels take God's servants at their death to a place of blessedness. Mat_24:31 — "And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."
At the coming of the Son of man, He shall send His angels and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
II. THE LAW GIVEN THROUGH ANGELS. Heb_2:2 RV — "For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward." Gal_3:19 RV — "What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made; and it was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator." Act_7:53 — "Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it."
Proposition: The law was given through the angels.
III. THEIR PRESENCE WITH THE LORD JESUS AT HIS COMING. Mat_25:31-32 — "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats." 2Th_1:7-8 — "And to you who are troubled, rest with us; when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Proposition: The angels will come with the Son of man when He comes to judge the nations and to execute wrath upon those who don't know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
IV. THE EXECUTIONERS OF GOD'S WRATH TOWARD THE WICKED. Mat_13:39-42 RV — "And the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels. As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (For context, see verses 24-30.) Mat_13:47-50 RV — "Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach; and they sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but the bad they cast away. So shall it be in the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the righteous, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Proposition: At the end of the age, the angels will gather out of the kingdom of the Son of man all things that cause stumbling and those persons who do iniquity, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. They will sever the wicked out of the midst of the righteous and will cast them into the furnace of fire.
The angels are the executioners of God's wrath toward the wicked as well as His mercy toward the righteous. In this also are they not doing service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?