Summary
What Is the Purpose of Angels?
Much of what people picture when they hear the word "angel" comes from movies and books—wings to be earned, halos handed out at death, departed humans returning to watch over loved ones. Scripture paints a very different picture. The word angel, in both Greek and Hebrew, simply means "messenger" or "envoy"—one who is sent from God. Angels are not glorified humans, and they are not co-equal with the Triune God. They are part of God's creation, another order of creature made by Him, and therefore they are never to be worshiped or treated as mediators between God and man. That role belongs to Christ alone.
The clearest answer to the question comes from Hebrews 1:14: "Are not all angels spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?" Angels exist to serve God by serving the heirs of salvation. Scripture tells us they exist in ranks and orders—archangels, seraphim, cherubim—and in numbers beyond counting ("ten thousand times ten thousand," "thousands upon thousands"), but it does not lay out a tidy hierarchy. On those points we trust that the Lord knows what He has not revealed.
One central role of the angels is to announce. Gabriel is sent to Mary in Luke 1 to declare God's plan of salvation and the coming birth of Jesus. An angel of the Lord, surrounded by a multitude of the heavenly host, proclaims the Savior's birth to the shepherds in Luke 2. And at the empty tomb in Matthew 28, an angel announces the resurrection: "He is not here, for he has been raised." In every case the message centers on Christ and the gospel.
A second role is to guard. Psalm 91:11–12 promises that God "will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways." After Jesus refused Satan's twisting of that very passage in the wilderness, Matthew 4:11 tells us that "the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him." Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil, and God provides for us even in that unseen realm through these spirits in His service.
The deepest expression of angelic service, however, is shown in restraint. The angels stood by while Christ was tempted, arrested, mocked, scourged, and crucified. As Jesus Himself notes, the Father could have sent legions of them in an instant. But had they intervened, no one would inherit salvation. Their service to God in that hour meant watching their Lord die for sinners. Holding back was their ministry to us.
When the curtain is pulled back in Revelation 5, we see what the angels have been waiting for: the Lamb who was slain takes the scroll, and myriads of myriads sing, "Worthy is the Lamb." That is finally the purpose of angels, and the destiny of those they serve—not earning wings or ringing bells, but joining the unending praise of the One who has made us worthy through His blood. For a fuller treatment of this teaching, see "What is the Purpose of Angels?" 7-11-21.
Video citations
- "What is the Purpose of Angels?" 7-11-21 — If you would, please open your Bibles to the book of Hebrews the first chapter. We're going to be studying Hebrews the first chapter. Okay, so I'm going to ask a question. We're in a Q&A sermon…