Michaelmas & A Word on Angels
“Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but [the dragon] was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven” (Revelation 12:7-8)
"When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire [the angelic hosts] all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:15–17)
“Are they [angels] not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14)
“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. 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. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:1–3)
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What do we know of angels? In many ways, they are mysterious creatures, but it must be admitted, the Bible tells us more about angels than we generally care to notice.
Even in the few select passages above, we learn that angels are protectors of the Lord’s people and the Lord’s kingdom, they are ministers to God’s people, and they are worshippers of God himself (along with us). They are not sovereign entities but agents of the Lord God.
Elsewhere in the Scriptures, we see angels given the honor of making significant declarations — the angel Gabriel announces the coming birth of the Christ (Luke 1:26–38), angels rejoice and tell the shepherds of the Christ’s arrival (Luke 2:8–14), the angelic ‘commander of the Lord’s army’ meets Joshua and the Israelites as they approach the promised land (Joshua 5:13–15), and we cannot forget the angels announcement at Christ’s resurrection, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen” (Matthew 28:5–6).
As we partake in a Michaelmas feast this weekend and in future years, we are acknowledging and rejoicing in the fact that angelic beings and the heavenly hosts participate in this victory with us. God’s angels—invisible to our mortal eyes—are at work. God has commissioned them for good—even our good. We aren’t worshipping angels in the place of God, but we are honoring them and rejoicing in their presence, because they are sent from God to protect his people and defeat his enemies: “My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and [the lions] have not harmed me…” (Daniel 6:22); “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon…” (Revelation 12:7). This is all good news! This is a reality that should move us to give thanks!