Angels: The Strange and Mysterious Truth - David Jeremiah

Published by Multnomah Books: Colorado Springs, Colorado, 1996.
Previously published as 'What the Bible Says About Angels.'

This is a book I purchased a number of years ago simply because it was on special. Something that I thought could be an interesting subject to read about, but not one that I was in a rush to get to. Recently, I began a sermon series working through Hebrews - which has a few passages about angels in it - so dug this back out and finally read it.

It is, very simply, a book about angels. Specifically, it is a book about what the Bible says about angels (as the original title suggests). 

David Jeremiah is a well known Christian speaker, but not one I've really listened to in the past. In this book he shows both a thorough knowledge of the Bible as well as the gift of story-telling - rather than simply outlining the theology of angels academically, he sets up certain chapters as 'stories', telling the reader: "hold on to your book and let's go for a ride - a journey at the speed of heavenly light across the ages and pages of Scripture." (page 34). In these sections he writes as if we are following an angelic guide through Scripture, being physically taken to witness various moments in Biblical History. It is a bit gimmicky perhaps, but is still an interesting way to give numerous portions of Scripture without becoming too 'dry.'

One area that Jeremiah highlights as important, is that we believers are to remember that angels are messengers of God, and that we should focus on the message rather than allowing ourselves to become too obsessed with the messengers. "Angels are just a means of communication from the God who communicates." (page 61). He also points out the difference between angels, who are called 'wind and fire' in Hebrews, and Jesus, who became flesh and bone. "It was in that human body that "he suffered when he was tempted." And it was in that body that he would "taste death." As spirits, angels cannot bleed or die. Christ could, and did - for you and for me. And for you and for me, it's that distinction between Christ and angels that makes an eternity of difference. For by it, Christ was able "to destroy him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil."" (page 64).

Fairly thorough, this was a good resource for me as I put together my sermon, even if it is not a topic I would tend to hunt out. 

Completed 24 June 2022.

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