Principle
God created angels with a realm in which to dwell and a mission to fulfill.
Explanation
GOD creates everything and everyone with a specific purpose in mind. Angels (and all heavenly creatures) are no exception.
We have previously established that the Bible refers to heavenly creatures, including angels, by multiple descriptions, including “the heavens” and the stars.
GOD assigned the heavens as the dwelling place for angels.
Jesus said that there were angels who always saw GOD’s face (see Matthew 18:10). Since GOD dwells in the heavens, angels were created to share the living space of GOD.
1 By David.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Psalm 103 [104]:1-4 OSB
O Lord my God, You are magnified exceedingly;
You clothe Yourself with thanksgiving and majesty,
2 Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,
Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain;
3 You are He who covers His upper chambers with waters,
Who makes the clouds His means of approach,
Who walks on the wings of the winds,
4 Who makes His angels spirits
And His ministers a flame of fire.
Scripture often refers to the angels as stars. When we look at the Genesis creation account, we see that the heavens were given specific jobs to do:
14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven for illumination to divide day from night. 15 Let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years. Let them be for illumination in the firmament of heaven to give light on the earth.” It was so. 16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.
He made the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of heaven to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:14-18 OSB
On the surface, it appears that Moses is simply telling the reader that GOD created the lights we see in the sky, the sun, moon, and stars.
This is definitely true. Therefore, we can indisputably say that, at creation, GOD assigned the angels (stars) the mission of shedding physical light upon the earth, particularly at night.
But there appears a deeper meaning.
Throughout the Bible, light is synonymous with wisdom and insight. For instance, in Psalm 19, David wrote:
1 For the End; a psalm by David.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
Psalm 18 [19]:1-9 OSB
The firmament shows the creation of His hands.
3 Day to day utters speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
4 There is no speech nor language
Where their voices are not heard.
5 Their proclamation went forth into all the earth,
And their words to the ends of the world.
In the sun He set His tabernacle;
6 And it rejoices exceedingly
Like a bridegroom coming forth from his bridal chamber,
Like a strong man to run a race.
7 Its rising is from one end of heaven,
And its circuit runs to the other end;
And nothing shall be hidden from its heat.
8 The law of the Lord is blameless, converting souls;
The testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making children wise;
9 The ordinances of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is bright, enlightening the eyes;
As with Genesis 1, on the surface, it seems David is simply saying, “The sun, moon, stars and birds show us how glorious GOD is because He made them all.”
And that is definitely part of David’s point.
But look at the abrupt shift David makes in verse 8. The first 7 verses are entirely focused on the heavens (and how they glorify GOD).
What David did in verses 8-9 was to compare the light that comes from GOD’s law to the enlightenment gathered from the heavens. He says that GOD’s commandments bring brightness that enlighten us.
A similar example of light as enlightenment is found in John 1 with regard to Jesus. Here’s a brief excerpt:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:1-5 NIV
(The Greek word which is translated “Word” in John 1 also means “reason or logic.” Thus, the text also means that Jesus was the logic and reasoning of GOD which brings so much enlightenment to humanity that evil [darkness … the opposite of light] cannot overcome it.)
And we could cite so many other Scriptures.
I believe we may safely conclude that one mission GOD gave to the angels, at creation, was to provide knowledge to humanity with the intent of leading humans to make good choices, to know how to build and develop the earth and to prosper within GOD’s creation.
Sadly, as we will see in subsequent principles, many angels rejected their mission.
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