God created angels to serve and worship Him. The word angel means messenger. God sometimes sends messages to mankind by angels. Angels normally appear as men when giving their messages to people. The following are some of the more notable messages God sent to people through angels.
God’s Message to Mary about Jesus
Perhaps the most important message God sent to mankind was by His angel named Gabriel who informed Mary, a virgin, that God had chosen her to be the mother of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”
38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:26-38)
What an amazing message from God to a lowly young Jewish girl. Mary must have been stunned after this angelic visit. Chosen to be the mother of the Son of God, the Jewish Messiah, was the greatest honor any Jewish girl could have dreamed for. It must have taken some time for her to work through her emotions after this visit from the angel Gabriel.
Message to the Shepherds of the Birth of Christ
If you were God, how would you share the message of the birth of your Son? You probably would send it to a king, ruler, or someone of royalty. God’s ways are so different than man’s ways.
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:8-14)
It is very interesting that this announcement by the angel about the birth of the Christ was made to lowly shepherds instead of to royalty. This shows the humility of our Savior. It also shows how His coming was not just for the privileged but also for the common people. Christ’s first coming was in poverty and with little fanfare. His second coming will be in power, glory, and majesty for all people to see and be amazed.
16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (1 Thess. 4:16) 30
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matt. 24:30)
Message Concerning John the Baptist
God sent a message to the father of John the Baptist by the angel Gabriel telling him he would have a son in his old age who would prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” (Luke 1:11-20)
Since Zacharias, who was a Levite and had temple duties in service to God, did not have faith in the words of the angel Gabriel, God gave him a sign. He was struck with muteness until the child was born.
The Resurrection of Christ
After Jesus died by crucifixion, He was laid in a nearby tomb. On the third day he arose from the grave in a bodily resurrection. Two angels were at the tomb after Jesus arose and gave the message that He had arisen from the dead.
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’” (Luke 24:1-7)
But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” (John 20:11-13)
Mary would then turn around, see, and speak to the risen Lord!
The Ascension of Christ
Right after Jesus’ final message to His disciples, He ascended into heaven before their very eyes.
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11) Two angels appearing as men who were standing by gave the Lord’s disciples the message that Jesus was coming back one day in the clouds just as He left them going into the clouds to heaven.