One Powerful Word!

Revelation 7:11-12

11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Years ago I worked in a small Christian bookstore. I would often decorate the windows, and I had the opportunity to unpack and feature the items that would come in for sale. Many were angels. They were so pretty! Their hair was golden blonde and long, beyond their shoulders. They had the form of a woman and their robes were sparkling and white with beautiful golden ties. They often held harps, or other instruments posing as if they were playing in an angelic choir. The beauty in the artwork and creativity of these angels always struck me-as beautiful, and wrong!

When angels are mentioned in the Bible, they may be described in sparkling robes, or, they may look like the ‘Hebrew guy next door.’ They may be recognizable as a celestial being coming with a message of great importance, or they may just knock on your door like the UPS man. In other words, they did not come as a beautiful blonde woman drawing them to do what they she wanted them to do. Nay Nay, rather, they came as very persuasive men that could not be refused! Yes, every angel mentioned in the Bible is a man. They were created by God, to be His messengers. When something important had to be told quickly to a human, one of the angels got the assignment. Popular Christmas movies will be coming up soon that talk about angels, or feature them. Angels do not have a bell ring when they get their wings. They do not grow up from the sweet ‘cherub’ angels you see flying around as babies. Oh, they can come as messengers an ‘impersonate’ people. They would have to shrink in stature, as most angels are 7-9feet tall.

When I think about my own guardian angel, I think of a warrior, equipped for any possible emergency I might have. And remember, every angel mentioned in the Bible-is male! So, back to my angel. He has the muscular arms and legs of Hercules, the flying power of a space craft, the sight of the Hubble telescope, and every high tech weapon he might need to defend me in an encounter. He is not in shining white robes with golden wings playing a harp. Yet, there is a place for that. It is at the throne of God!

When the angels are in Heaven, they are around the throne giving glory to God. That is when they are probably in their ‘dress whites’ as God deserves only the best. In the book of Revelation the angels are with the four living creatures, as well as the elders and, of course, God! It is a very vivid vision in our minds eye. The magnificent throne where the one and only creator of the Universe is sitting. The angels, tens of thousands of them bowing before Him, giving thanks to Him. These are creatures who have always been at God’s call. They do not know the gift we have, Salvation from sin and hell. They never needed to be forgiven of their sin. They have always had their home in Heaven, and always will.

To sum it up, angels were created by God, there will be not more, or no less of them. We will NEVER become angels when we die. They would never become human, for long anyway.

So, the ONE powerful word I am referring to in my title is…THANKS! The angels, are bowing down giving thanks to their God. With THANKSgiving Day right around the corner, let’s remember this day was set aside by President Abraham Lincoln for declaring Thanksgiving a federal holiday in 1863, during the American Civil War. He called it a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens,” to be celebrated on the last Thursday in November.

Let us also remember to give thanks to our ‘beneficent Father who dwells in Heaven.’ Follow the example of the angels!