As I was worshiping the Lord recently, the Lord spoke these words clearly:
"When supernatural activities are on the increase, angelic activities will also be on the increase!"
The Book of Acts (the recommended book to read as you start the year 2018) is a book full of supernatural events, manifestations, and healings. And as written in this book, angels were definitely at work in the early days of the Church! Lots of it!
Examples of angelic activities in the Book of Acts:
Acts 5:19 (angel opened prison doors to release the apostles)
Acts 8:26 (Philip sent by angel to witness to a man of Ethiopia)
Acts 10:3 (angel instructed Cornelius to send for Peter)
Acts 12:7 (angel rescued Peter from the prison at night)
Acts 12:23 (angel struck the violent and cruel king Herod)
Just looking at the first twelve chapters of the Book of Acts, you would already have seen how angelic activities were so frequent and common in the early Church days! People of God, get ready for such increase of angelic activities in the year 2018!
To begin with, let's understand who are the angels. The word 'angels' in Hebrew is 'malak', which means 'a messenger, an agent', whereas the word 'angels' in Greek is 'angelos', which also means 'a messenger'. In effect, these are 'messengers' of God's protection, deliverance, tidings, and even healings to you! Hebrews 1:14 says, 'Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?' Now, who are those who 'inherit salvation'? You and I! The beloved children of God!
Angels are created beings
Psalm 148:1-5 says, 'Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light! Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created'.
Angels are not to be worshiped, because they too were created by the Lord. The only one who wished to be worshiped is Lucifer, the fallen angel, but now known as Satan! (see Isaiah 14:12-15, Luke 10:18)
Angels are spirit beings
Psalm 104:1-4 says, 'Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with honor and majesty, Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariots, Who walks on the wings of the wind, Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers (servants) a flame of fire'.
Angels are spirit beings, and they are servants of the Most High God. The 'flame of fire' here is the symbol of 'divine holiness' that is upon them.
Angels can sometimes assume human forms
Genesis 18:1-3 says, 'Then the Lord appeared to Abraham by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, "My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant."' Genesis 18:8 then says, 'So Abraham took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate'.
Even though as spirit beings, angels are invisible, there can be times they are visible to human eyes, as seen here.
Examples of holy angels
1. 'Michael' ('Miyka El' in Hebrew), meaning 'Who is like God', a fearless warrior, strong hand, guardian of the Hebrew nation. Daniel 12:1 says, 'At that time (end-time) Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people - everyone whose name is found written in the book (of life) will be delivered'.
2. 'Gabriel' ('Gabriy El' in Hebrew), meaning 'Strong and powerful is God', who explains meanings, or brings good tidings from God. Daniel 8:15-17 says, 'As I, Daniel, was trying to understand the meaning of this vision, someone who looked like a man stood in front of me. And I heard a human voice calling out from the Ulai River, "Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of his vision." As Gabriel approached the place where I was standing, I became so terrified that I fell with my face to the ground. "Son of man," he said, "you must understand that the events you have seen in your vision relate to the time of the end."'
3. 'Raphael' ('Rapha El' in Hebrew), meaning 'Medicine of God, Healing of God', who brings wholeness, wellness, and healings from God. John 5:2-4 says, 'Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called Bethesda (House of Mercy)... In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had'.
Though the Gospel of John does not mention the name of this angel, it is well-understood that this angel is called Raphael.
These are some of the arch-angels (chief angels) of the Lord, and they have a company of angels who minister with them. So, people of God, whether you are doing the work of an apostle, a prophet, a teacher, an evangelist, or a pastor (Ephesians 4:11-13), or whatever spiritual gifts that you are operating in (Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11) for the kingdom of God, know that you are not alone here, because angels are with you, and they are now ministering for you! For the greater glory of God! Amen!
