Angels – Unique Creations Angels are invisible, powerful servants of God who reside in the spirit realm. Their existence is independent of that of humans. Angels are spirits created by God. Ps 148:2,5. The Bible shows that angels were created long before humans. When Jehovah created the planet that humans would much later inhabit, the angels joyfully cried out together and began shouting in applause. Job 38:4-7. So they existed aeons before man appeared on earth. Angels and humans differ greatly in their nature and their place in Jehovah’s purpose. The “proper dwelling place” of angels is the heavens (Jude 6) God’s original purpose for man was to live forever on earth. (Gen.1:28; 2: 17; ps. 37:29) If the first human couple had been obedient to God, they would never have died. From the beginning, then, humans and angels have enjoyed very different places in God’s purpose. What happens to humans who die? Do they continue existing but in another form, perhaps as angels in the spirit realm? The Bible has this simple and clear answer: “The living are conscious that they will die, but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all.”(Eccl. 9:5) So at death humans cease to exist. But is there hope for the dead? Yes! The Bible shows that the vast majority of the dead are to be raised to life as humans on a paradise earth. Luke 23:43, John 5:28. The very small number – 144,000 in all, who will be resurrected to life in heaven are quite distinct from angels. They will rule as immortal kings and priests with Christ. They have authority as judges. (1 Cor.6:3; Rev. 20:6) Are they babies who have died? No. They are followers of Christ who have been fully tested and tried. Lu.22:28, 29. The idea that angels are the souls of deceased humans might make for imaginative TV programs or movies, but the notion finds no support in the Scriptures. The Bible truths set forth above help us to avoid any misconception about the fate of our loved ones who die.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 19:45:13 +0000
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