The Angel's Light

18“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

19“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” (Luke 1:19)

26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings,b you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.c ” (Luke 1:26)

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  (Luke 2:9)

Thoughts: Gabriel was an archangel found in Daniel 8 & 9 (apocalyptic literature).  Michael is called an archangel (Jude 1:9);  Deutero-canonical literature mention Raphael, Uriel, and Metatron.  1 Thessalonians 4:16 speaks of the Lord coming back at the voice of the archangel.  Angels are not dead human beings but separate kinds of beings.  While the Bible seems to indicate that each person has an angel (Acts 12:15 et al) each person is not an angel in themselves.  Angels are servants sent to minister or serve others.  The halo idea around an angels head- is sometimes just a way to say they are special.  But others who have said they have seen angels, point out that there can be a glow as they reflect the literal glory of God.  In Luke 2:9 it was when the angel came that there was a glow of the glory of God not only around the angel but around the shepherds- indicating something special was happening.  

     The second advent candle lights the angel or light candle.    God sends angels to deliver messages or encourage the discouraged.  

Prayer: Lord, thank you for angels .  I join my coive with thiers to you as worship.