After this life, Angels?

 

 

"Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? . . . ‘Here am I (the Christ), and the children God has given me.’ Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels He helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason He had to be made like them, full human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people." Hebrews 1:14, 2:13b-17 (NIV)

Frequently, I hear from families who are grieving that their loved ones have become angels and are now looking down from heaven, protecting them. And while this thought may be in the way of comfort for one’s loss, as people we shouldn’t aspire to be angels. Angels aren’t held in the same esteem in God’s eyes as we are. Angels and humans are two totally different creatures.

Angels were created first, prior to human beings. We know this because angels were worshiping God, around His throne, prior to creation. But we also know that some of the angels, about a third, lead by Satan, rebelled against God. And that those angels cannot be redeemed. There is no salvation for them. The Lord Jesus Himself told us, in Matthew 25:41 that Satan and the angels who followed him will be thrown "into the eternal fire prepared" for them.

There is no salvation for angels who have sinned.

But for people there is the greatest gift, the gift of salvation and mercy. "God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8 NIV). The Lord Jesus Himself died that we might be redeemed, that we might be able to receive forgiveness and not be condemned forever. The angels aren’t loved by God in this way. They don’t have even a possibility of salvation. If they are among those who rebelled, they are condemned already . . . and forever.

As believers, we need to take comfort in the fact that those who have gone before won’t become angels. If they too have accepted God’s salvation, then they are now the beloved of God, before His throne and with Him in Paradise. They have started their "forever" lives with Him.

That’s so much better than becoming an angel.

© 2017 Robin L. O’Hare. All rights reserved. Permission granted for nonprofit and church groups to use this article in its entirety (including this notice). For other uses, please contact servinggodalone@yahoo.com.