It was revealed to them (the prophets) that they were not serving themselves but you concerning things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Angels desire to look into these things. – 1 Peter 1:12 HCSB
Angels are old – very, very old. They were at least created before the earth was, because they were present when the Lord God established our planet. They watched as He fixed its dimensions and laid its cornerstone. They watched and shouted for joy at the sight.[1]
Being this old, and being holy,[2] God’s angels are very wise.[3] One of the many tasks is to communicate to will of God and Christ.[4] In fact, angels were instrumental in delivering the Old Covenant’s law to humankind.[5]
However, having access to the throne room and to the communications lines running from there to the human race was apparently not enough to prepare them for the wonders of God’s grace toward us. Angels are good, but they are not perfect.[6] They went for thousands of years, ignorant of the depths of God’s love for us; for it was not until the coming of the Messiah and the creation of the church that the mystery of God’s grace was made known to them.[7]
Angels are created beings just like us.[8] We do not become angels when we die. They are a different order of being altogether. We will someday judge or rule the angels.[9] If humans are going to be judging the angels and they will be subject to us, they cannot be a higher order than humans.[10]
What was made known to prophets had to be revealed to the angels in the due course of time and the whole concept of salvation fascinates them. It is the Church that is teaching the angels; it is humanity that is educating the angels as to the profound mysteries of God’s love and grace, not the other way around.[11]
Therefore, besides demonstrating that angels are neither dead humans nor a higher order of beings than humans,[12] this principle shows how demeaning the fascination verging on worship that simple minds have for angels is.
We are neither to worship nor pray to angels. God’s angels refuse worship. An angel that accepts and encourages worship of someone other than God is thus a demon. Someone who teaches that we should worship or pray to angels is a false teacher. [13]
It is also important to know that you should never call on an angel for guidance, deliverance, etc. To do so will open you up for spiritual deception. We should ONLY call on God, trusting in His deliverance, not an angel. While it is true that God might deliver us with angels it is still God who is our Rock, Fortress, Deliverer, etc. God commands his angels what to do and they obey Him.
[2] Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; Revelation 14:10
[4] Daniel 8:16-17; 9:21-23; 10:11; 12:6-7; Matthew 2:19-20; Luke 1:19,28-33; Acts 5:19-21; 8:26; 10:4-6; 27:23-24; Revelation 1:1
[13] Acts 12:23; Colossians 2:18; 1 Timothy 2:5; Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9