Alpha And Omega: The Beginning and the End The Life and Times of Jesus and His Apostles

By Isaac Jalal

The book Alpha and Omega covers pre-existent names of the Messiah, prophecies, and predictions about the coming of the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament. This book guides readers through some of the usual arguments about the existence of God and the self-existence of Christ before His incarnation as Jesus. Following the very first verse in the Bible, Genesis 1:1 provides the roadmap for the rest of Jesus's biblical story as represented in the New Testament from His birth through His crucifixion, resurrection, and second coming. This study restates the subjects and events based exclusively on biblical accounts and known historical facts in exceptional detail.Jesus Always ExistedThe Old Testament prophets recognized Jesus as God Almighty or Jehovah God, "the First and the Last" (Exod. 6:3; Isa. 44:6, 48:12). In the Old Testament, Jesus is not referred to by His earthly name "Jesus." His true identity is revealed in the New Testament after His holy birth to Virgin Mary when God's angel told Mary to name Him Jesus (Luke 1:30-31).He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. (1 Pet. 1:20)Jesus's true identity was reaffirmed in the book of Revelation:"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." (Rev. 1:8)Who Was Jesus and What Was His Message?Different individuals have different views of Jesus. To some, He is either a prophet or enlightened man. To others, He was a revolutionary or political defiance. To the believers, however, Jesus is the Son of God, the Alpha and the Omega (which He is).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781098090012

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ISBN 978-1-0980-9000-5 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-0980-9001-2 (digital)

Copyright © 2021 by Isaac Jalal

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

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Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society Biblica, Inc.®

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgment

Introduction

Part 1

The Old Testament

Creation of Angels

Guardian Angels—Do We Have Guardian Angels?

Should We Worship Angels?

The Origin of Satan (Devil)

Who Was This Sinful Creature?

Who Was Lucifer?

Creation of the Universe

The Creation of Adam and Eve

The Fall of Adam

Who Is Responsible for the Fall?

Eve’s Role in the Fall

Prophecies Fulfilled

Concluding Comments

The New Testament

Christ Always Existed!

An Overview of Jesus’s Birth and Youth

The Birth of Jesus in Detail

The Angel Gabriel’s Announcement to Mary

Mary Visits Elizabeth

The Angel Gabriel Appears to Joseph

The Decree of Augustus

Jesus Is Born in Bethlehem

The Angels Announced to the Shepherds

Jesus Presented in the Temple

Simeon Blessed the Baby Jesus in the Temple

The Magi (Wise Men) Visit Baby Jesus

Misconception about the Timing of Wise Men’s Visit

Mary and Joseph Escape to Egypt

King Herod Tries to Kill Jesus

Mary and Joseph Return to Nazareth

Birth of Jesus—December 25?

Here Are the Findings of This Study

Other Views

Jesus’s Death Is More Important Than His Birth

Jesus at Age 12 Visits the Lord’s Temple

The Death of Joseph

The Preaching of John the Baptist

Jesus’s Relationship to John the Baptist

The Ministry of John the Baptist

Jesus Is Baptized

Death of John the Baptist

Why Jesus Was Baptized

What Is the Christian Water Baptism?

Biblical Prerequisites for the Christian Baptism

Question about Infant Baptism

Jesus Begins His Ministry

Temptation of Jesus Christ

Jesus Fasts for 40 Days and 40 Nights

The First Temptation

The Second Temptation

The Third Temptation

Why did Jesus Wait Thirty Years to Begin His Ministry?

An Overview of Jesus’s Three-Year Ministry

First Year of Jesus’s Ministry

The First Disciples of Jesus

The Names and Life Descriptions of the Apostles

Miracles and Teachings of Jesus

Jesus Performs the First Miracle

Jesus’s First Miracle

The First Cleansing of the Temple in Jerusalem

Nicodemus Meets with Jesus

Nicodemus Approaches Jesus Under the Cover of Darkness

Jesus’s Encounter with a Samaritan Woman

A Contrast: Nicodemus and the Samaritan Woman

The Samaritan Woman

Lesson for Us

Jesus Heals a Royal Official’s Son

Jesus Is Rejected at His Hometown (Nazareth)

Second Year of Jesus’s Ministry

Jesus Calls His Disciples

Jesus Sends out the Twelve Apostles

Jesus Sends out the Seventy-Two

The Return of the Seventy-Two

Jesus Preaches the Sermon on the Mount

The Beatitudes

Jesus Talks about Praying to God

Jesus Heals a Roman Officer’s Servant

Jesus Raises the Widow’s Son at Nain, Galilee

The Unpardonable Sin/Unforgivable Sin

Jesus Calms a Raging Storm

Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

The Third Year of Jesus’s Ministry

Jesus Feeds 5,000 and 4,000 (Two Different Miracles)

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

Jesus Walks on the Water

The Healing at the Pool of Bethsaida

Third Year of Jesus’s Ministry—Popularity and Opposition

Jesus Visits Martha and Mary in Bethany

Jesus Questioned about Fasting

Jesus Is the Bread of Life

Jesus Transfigured

The Woman Caught in Adultery

Jesus Feeds 4,000 People

Contrast between the Feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,000 Miracles

Jesus Heals 10 Men Suffering from Leprosy

Jesus Proclaims the Kingdom of God

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection

Jesus Talks about Humility

Jesus Values Little Children

Jesus Talks about Forgiveness

Forgiveness, Conditional or Unconditional?

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

Why Must We Forgive?

Forgive and Forget

Jesus Ends His Ministry with Great Miracles

Jesus Heals the Man Born Blind

The Death of Lazarus

Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus

The Resurrection of Lazarus

Jesus’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday)

The Moments of Sadness

Jesus Goes to Jerusalem

The Prophecy Fulfilled

Jesus’s Last Week in Jerusalem

The Second Cleansing of the Temple

Question: Did Jesus Cleanse the Temple Once or Twice?

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

The Fig Tree vs. the Nation of Israel (Scriptural Reference)

The Withered Fig Tree

Conflict with the Chief Priests and Elders

The Temple Tax (Matt. 17:24–27)

The Question about Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

The Greatest Commandment (the Golden Rule)

Jesus Commends the Widow’s Offering

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

The Characters in the Parable of the Ten Virgins

Jesus’s Last Week in Jerusalem The Plot against Jesus

Jesus Is Anointed at Bethany

The Last Supper

Jesus Washed the Apostles’ Feet

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

Jesus Introduced the Eucharist (a New Ordinance)

Did Judas Partake in the Eucharist at the Last Supper?

Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane

Judas Betrayed Jesus with a Kiss

Jesus’s Trial before the Sanhedrin (Grand Council)

Jesus at the Palace of Caiaphas

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

Jesus Appears before Pontius Pilate

Taking the Place of Barabbas

The Soldiers Mocked Jesus

The Crucifixion of Jesus

The Centurion’s Statement

The Last Seven Words Jesus Spoke on the Cross

The First Word

The Second Word

Devil’s Last Attempt to Deceive Jesus

The Third Word

Why Jesus Referred to His Mother as Woman

The Fourth Word

The Fifth Word

The Sixth Word

The Seventh Word

The Burial of Jesus

What Was Jesus’s Exact Date of Death?

The Resurrection of Jesus

The Day One (Sunday Morning)

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

The Guards at the Tomb

The Significance of Christ’s Resurrection

Jesus’s Resurrection Appearances

Jesus’s Appearance to Saul of Tarsus (Paul)

The Great Commission

Jesus Ascends into Heaven

The Upper Room and the Pentecost

Why Jesus Had to Die

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

What Is the Rapture?

How Will the Rapture Occur?

What Is the Tribulation?

1. Pre-Tribulation Rapture

2. Mid-Tribulation Rapture or Pre-Wrath

3. Post-Tribulation Rapture

The Most Favored View

Rapture Is One Event or Two?

Rapture Is Not a Secret Event

The Role of the Holy Spirit at the Rapture

The Antichrist

The Beast

God’s Elect or Chosen People

The Doctrine of the Trinity

Shield of the Trinity

Part 2

Mary Magdalene—Forgotten Heroine of Christianity

How Mary Magdalene Became a Penitent Prostitute

Mary Magdalene vs. Early Catholic Church

Mary Magdalene in Art Media

Let Us Set the Record Straight

The Name Mary Mix-Up

Mary Magdalene, a Victim of Mistaken Identity

Mary Magdalene and Other Biblical Women

Mary Magdalene’s True Portrait

Non-Christians’ View of Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene—Saint, Not a Sinner

The Gospel of Mary (Magdalene)

The Life and Times of Apostle Paul (Saul)

When Saul Became Paul

Death of the Apostle Paul

The Story of Judas Iscariot

Early Life of Judas Iscariot

Why Judas Betrayed Jesus

Judas Iscariot Regrets Betrayal of Jesus

Death of Judas

Mixed Feelings about Judas’s Act of Betrayal

Judas Had a Choice

Was Judas Forgiven?

The Gospel of Judas

Conclusion

Bibliography

Preface

Many titles can be attributed in relation to Jesus, each one with significant meaning. The title Alpha and Omega is selected for this book to accentuate both the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ based on the facts and belief as depicted in the Bible that Jesus was the first and the last incarnated by God the Father. The phrase Alpha and Omega comes from the expression I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Alpha ( ) is the first letter, and omega (Ω) is the last letter of the Ancient Greek alphabet. The words alpha and omega are used in the book of Revelation to illustrate Jesus and God (Jehovah). The Bible applies this phrase both to Jesus and to God (Jehovah), but in different context.

Self-existence of Jesus is evident in the very first verse of the Bible (Gen. 1:1), and it is apparent especially in the book of Revelation, where Jesus proclaimed, four times, that He is the Alpha and the Omega (Rev. 1:8–28, 11, 1:17–18, 21:6, and 22:13). In addition, these statements connect Jesus with the earlier statements echoed in the Old Testament:

I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. (Isa. 44:6; Deut. 4:35, 39)

I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. (Isa. 48:12)

These statements reveal the eternal nature and deity of Jesus, as well as confirm His self-existence at the beginning and always will exist. The "

I am

statement found in the Gospel of John clearly refers to God. Thus, whenever Jesus made an

I am

statement, He proclaimed Himself as God. Apostle John equates Jesus as the

word,

" which existed before God created the universe.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. (John 1:1–3)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:14)

Other indication of Jesus being the Alpha and the Omega is found in the doctrine of the Trinity. There is a clear sign of the eternal nature of the Godhead. Just like the Father and Holy Spirit, Jesus is an eternal member of the Godhead—second Person of the Trinity. As such, Jesus deserves honor and devotion as is the Father God:

That all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. (John 5:23)

Jesus Christ was there at the beginning, and He will be there at the end. He is with us from the beginning and will be with us to the end of the age. We passionately wait for His second coming.

The Holy Bible—True Word of God

The Holy Bible is not a novel. Rather, it is the real and true Word of God. It comes directly to us from God through the Holy Spirit. The Bible declares, Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it (Luke 11:28). The Bible is written by God’s people, who were divinely inspired, guided, and moved by the Holy Spirit to write the exclusive Word of God! Numerous times, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, it has been declared that the writers of the Bible are speaking the Word of God (1 Sam. 9:27; Heb. 4:12). Therefore, what they wrote must be without fault, for God cannot lie, nor can He make mistakes.

The infallible Word of God is guide to humanity written for the benefit of future generations. It is completely reliable and everlasting. As such, it must be taken seriously and obeyed faithfully. Thus, the Word of God as found in Scripture is the origin and foundation for all of Christianity.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. (Isa. 40:8)

Let us trust in the Word of God and His people who wrote the Holy Scriptures and must accept it for what it says and refrain from spiritualizing it into meaning anything except what it says.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22)

The apostle Peter declares, You must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things (2 Pet. 1:21).

Acknowledgment

First and foremost, I would like to thank God in the process of completing this book. I could never have undertaken this work without the faith in Christ and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

This book is dedicated to my beautiful grandchildren—Adam, Andrew, Samara, Elia, and Ezra Isaac.

Your affectionate grandfather

A grandchild fills the empty space in your heart that you never knew you had.

Introduction

Through the years, thousands of books, articles, films, and television documentaries have been written and produced by scripture writers, scholars, and alike about Jesus Christ. Different people have used different approaches to deal with the life events of our Lord. This book restates the events surrounding the life of Jesus as recorded in the Bible. The book is based exclusively on Scripture and known historical facts. It presents a historical account of Jesus’s life and teachings, as well as the origin of Christianity in simple plain language, and it refrains from theory and opinion—the usual approach to this subject.

This book contains thirty-one chapters, and each chapter is filled with rich detailed historical narratives that provide valuable insights into factors associated with Jesus. The events are arranged in chronological order, mapping out the life of Christ from birth through His youth, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension into heaven, and second coming.

Both the Old and the New Testaments reveal the identity of the Messiah. In the Old Testament, the prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isa. 7:14)

Also read Isaiah 52:13, 53:12, 9:6–7; Psalm 22; and Daniel 7:13–14. In the New Testament, the Messiah is recognized through the fulfillment of the prophecies predicted in the Old Testament (read John 1:29–51; John 4:23–26; Luke 4:15–21; and John 20:30–31). Although, the New Testament presents the fulfillment of most of the prophecies which were foretold in the Old Testament about the coming of the Messiah, some knowledge of the Old Testament is necessary for the new reader to fully understand who Jesus is and His purpose for coming to this world. Keeping this in mind, I have referenced the Old Testament whenever it was necessary.

In writing this book, I have closely followed the text of the gospels throughout and separately to consider each passage in them, so that I may truthfully present an honest account of the Scripture. In so doing, throughout I have had the common reader in view, especially the new Christians and the beginners seeking a point of entry into the subject. Hopefully, this study would prove to be beneficial and uplifting to many and would contribute to the development of this knowledge of the Lord’s extremely inspiring life and His unique teachings. To those who already have a good knowledge of Jesus’s life and teachings, this book should serve as an overview of the most valuable understanding they already possess.

Today, just as the Pharisees and religious teachers of Jesus’s time did, many factions, nonbelievers in particular, and teachers in religious establishments deny the divinity of Jesus, His virgin birth, His crucifixion, and His physical resurrection from the dead. They deny the fact that Christ died on the cross for the sins of the world. Some even say that the miracle stories are not true and that Jesus was not a historical figure. Others believe that Jesus was placed up on the cross, but He did not die on the cross. Another person was crucified in Jesus’s place. So it is very important that Christians respond to these skeptics and differing opinions honestly and truthfully by proclaiming what Jesus taught and how He lived, and to clearly distinguishing His spirit and teachings from all others. Our Lord’s teachings are supreme, and His message of love and grace is for all who truly believe in Him.

Shortly before ascending to heaven, Christ commanded His disciples:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matt. 28:18–20)

This command was directed to the disciples, as well as to all the followers of Christ then and now. Therefore, it is every Christian’s moral obligation to spread the gospel to all people, be it our neighbor, coworker, or any one that we come across. We can convey the Word of God through preaching, writing, and showing Christian-like examples. The Gospel of Christ must be preached throughout the entire world, and the story of Jesus must be told to all nations. People who do not know Jesus and are not His followers need to hear about Him, because they must believe and obey the gospel message to be saved.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. (Rom. 10:17)

In summary, all believers in Christ want to learn more about Jesus. The best way to do this is to pray that God show us His ways and show us how to be more like Him. Read the Bible regularly and attend a good Bible-based church. Most importantly, seek opportunities to talk to people about the Gospel of Christ. We Christians have to take a stand and play our part in preaching the gospel through whatever approach is available to us. I for one have taken the opportunity to convey Jesus’s gospel message through this written manuscript. I read elsewhere a comment: Man is responsible to (1st) acknowledge before God his inability and, (2nd) to cry unto Him for enabling grace. Surely, this will be admitted by every Christian reader. It is my moral obligation to own before God my ignorance, my weakness, and my sinfulness to comply with His holy and just requirements.

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Phil. 2:13)

The book is divided into two parts. The first part begins with a brief mention of the creation of the universe, the origin of mankind, and God’s plan for His creation as depicted in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament. The book then examines the events of the New Testament surrounding the life of Jesus, including His birth, youth, teachings, three years of ministry, His crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and second coming in detail with an analysis, whenever warranted, based exclusively on the biblical accounts and known historical facts in exceptional detail and in plain language. The two complex subjects—the Rapture and the doctrine of the Trinity—are illustrated through diagrams and easy-to-understand examples. The second part attempts to shed light on the lives of the three often forgotten, extraordinary biblical figures in the early Christianity: Mary Magdalene, Apostle Paul, and Judas Iscariot, the traitor.

The primary sources of information used for this study are the four synoptic gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—including the Acts of the Apostles, which highlights the religious and spiritual perspectives of the people who lived during the time of Jesus and witnessed the events in real time, in particular the twelve apostles who had lived with Jesus for more than three years. They had heard His teachings, and witnessed His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension to heaven. They possessed the best possible knowledge of what Jesus had preached and did while on earth. For the secondary sources, I have relied on the Old Testament and various articles and written materials, including the Urantia Book, Halley’s Bible Handbook, and other resources listed in the bibliography. By no means does this study claim to have provided a complete account of Jesus’s life and teachings on this earth. It is beyond the scope of this study to cover even a tiny fraction of Jesus’s spotless and holy life.

And now I leave this book in your hands (the readers) with gratitude to the Holy Spirit for guiding me to complete this task. I have certainly given my best and most intense efforts in restating the events as depicted in the Bible. I have followed the Holy Scripture closely and have provided an honest account what I believe to be accurate, regardless of differing opinions it may receive. I do not pretend this study escaped all errors and/or all readers will follow along with me. It is a study conducted by a human being, and hence quite subject to mistakes. May God use this study to allow us to know Him more closely and to serve Him with love and dedication.

Isaac Jalal

Montreal, Canada, 2016

Part 1

Chapter 1

The Old Testament

The Holy Bible is the Word of God, true to the word. It contains the Old and the New Testaments. The Old Testament is Hebrew Scripture called Torah or Pentateuch, and the prophet Moses is the author of the Torah. The Torah or Law of Moses contains five Books—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Of course, there are other books in the Old Testament (total of thirty-nine), the last being the book of Malachi.¹

I begin this first chapter with a brief mention of the creation of the universe as described in the book of Genesis. The book of Genesis tells us the story about the creation of the universe, the origin of mankind, and God’s plan for its creation and promise of salvation and forgiveness. The discussions includes the creation of Adam and Eve and their expulsion from the garden of Eden and what role Satan (the devil) played in the downfall of our first parents. For the benefit of new Christians and those who are not familiar with the origin of Satan, a brief discussion on who Satan is, where he came from, and why and how he deceived Eve and Adam would seems to be in order. However, before we deal with Satan, let us first take a brief look at the creation of angels because the angels were created first. Angels are mentioned in the Bible from the beginning (book of Genesis) to the end (book of Revelation). It was one of the archangels who rebelled against God and turned into Satan.

Creation of Angels

Angels transcend every religion, every philosophy, and every creed.

In fact, angels have no religion as we know it…their existence

precedes every religious system that has existed on earth. (St. Thomas Aquinas)

In World English Dictionary, archangel is described as a principal angel, a member of the order ranking immediately above the angels in medieval angelology.² In other words, in the hierarchy of angels, an archangel is head angel and more powerful than the other angels. The Bible has depicted three archangels by name: Gabriel (Dan. 8:16; 9:21); Michael (Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1); and Lucifer (Luke 10:18; Isa. 14:12–14).

The English word angel comes from the Greek word angelos and the Hebrew word malak, which means messenger. Angels are spiritual beings—ministering spirit (Heb. 1:14).

Jesus said:

Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost [spirit] does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have. (Luke 24:39)

Angels are immortal (Luke 20:36). They have no gender (Matt. 22:30). Though at times they have been given the ability to manifest themselves in the form of human bodies, as in Genesis 18:3. Angels are normally invisible (Num. 22:22–31). St. Thomas Aquinas, known as the Angelic Doctor, has written extensively on angels in his book, the Summa Theologica. St. Thomas held the belief that angels are spiritual beings who have personalities that include emotions (Luke 2:13), intelligence (2 Cor. 11:3), and wills (2 Tim. 2:26). The Bible does not specifically say when God created the angels, but it is believed that the angels were created sometime before God created the physical universe. The book of Job reports that the angels were present when the earth was created, and they witnessed some of God’s creation.

Then the

Lord

answered Job out of the storm. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? …while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? (Job 38:1–7)

This passage tells us that the angels already existed, and they rejoiced when God created the visible universe. So it is apparent the angels were present prior to the creation of the world as described in Genesis 1:1.

Originally, God created angels to worship Him and to carry out His will (Ps. 103:20). God uses angels to protect, guide, and comfort His peoples (Gen. 24:7, 40; Ps. 34:7; 91:10–12; Acts 27:24; Dan. 3; 6:22; 9:21–22). As the messengers of God, angels carry out God’s will and deliver His divine messages to humans on earth. There are numerous examples of angels acting as God’s messengers. Here are a few:

Angels provide guidance (Exod. 14:19); punish evil (2 Sam. 24:16); and tour the earth (Zech. 1:9–14). An angel conveyed God’s instructions to Hagar (Gen. 16:10–12) and provided water for Hagar and Ishmael (Gen. 48:16). An angel told Abraham not to sacrifice Isaac (Gen. 22:11–12). The angel Gabriel told Zacharias that his wife, Elizabeth, would bear a son (Luke 1:8–19). Angel Gabriel told Virgin Mary that she would conceive and give birth to a son—Jesus (Luke 1:26–38). Angels announced the Christ’s holy birth to the shepherds in the fields (Luke 2:8–14). Joseph received a message from an angel about Jesus (Matt. 2:13). An angel of the Lord said to Philip to go to the desert (Acts 8:26). The apostle Paul was told by an angel that he will be saved from the storm at sea (Acts 27:23–24).

The time came when the beggar died, and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. (Luke 16:22)

In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus is comforted by an angel: An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him (Luke 22:43). Angels declared Jesus’s resurrection from the dead (John 20:12). God’s angel freed the apostle Peter from jail (Acts 12:7–11).

And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call. (Matt. 24:31)

At the end of the age, the angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous. (Matt. 13:49)

There are still many more examples in the Bible where God used angels to achieve His will of purpose. God has created countless angels. Angels are mentioned at least 273 times in the Bible. The Bible does not give the exact number of angels, but there are several passages in Scripture that give clues concerning the angels’ population as myriads innumerable.

You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly. (Heb. 12:22)

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. (Rev. 5:11)

Also see Deuteronomy 33:2; 2 Kings 6:17; Daniel 7:10; and Matthew 26:53. God uses angels to serve and protect humans.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. (Ps. 34:7; 91:10–13; 103:21; Luke 4:10).

The Bible reports that angels will play a significant role in Jesus’s second coming:

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels. (Matt. 16:27; 24:31)

And give relief to you who are troubled and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. (2 Thess. 1:7)

Originally, all the angels were created holy and without sinful nature. They enjoyed the presence of God and the surroundings of heaven. According to the Scripture, there are good (holy) angels and the evil (fallen) angels. Even after sin entered the world, God’s good angels remained obedient to Him and carried out His will. They are called holy angels (Mark 8:38; Matt. 25:31; Gen. 28:12; Ps. 91:11). These are the elect angels (1 Tim. 5:21). In contrast, the fallen (evil) angels disobeyed God and followed Lucifer (Satan) in his rebellion against God (Matt. 25:41; Luke 8:31; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6; Eph. 6:12). Lucifer was the leader of this rebellion plot against God. Apparently, as we will see later, all angels have free will. Some chose to remain obedient to God, and one-third of them chose to disobey God and followed Lucifer.

Guardian Angels—Do We Have Guardian Angels?

Bernhard Plockhorst of Brunswick, Germany - The Guardian Angel, 1886.

A guardian angel watching over two children by Bernhard Plockhorst (Google)

This is an age-old question. We often wonder whether we have guardian angels assigned to us. I can’t say it for certain, but I do believe that possibly all humans have angels in their lives. A recent survey published in Time magazine found that 69 percent of Americans believe in angels, and 46 percent of them said that they have a personal guardian angel assigned to them. In his article Angel Talk: Are You Listening, Robert Graham states that everyone has a guardian angel who is willing to talk with you, provided you are willing to listen. According to Graham, If you want a clear and concise message from your angel, you must ask a direct question. Your angel will always answer your questions. You must ask your question out loud. Clear, concise questions will get you clear, concise answers.³

Many people believe that their guardian angels watch over them and have come to help whenever they are in trouble. History reveals that the Old Testament Jews and also early Christians believed in the existence of guardian angels. In the Old Testament (Dan. 10:21; 12:1), the nation of Israel had the archangel Michael assigned to it for protection and guidance. The Torah describes God telling Moses, Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you (Exod. 32:34).

The Bible indicates that we have guardian angels in Psalm 91:11, Matthew 18:10, and Acts 12:15. When we Christians discuss the possibility of guardian angels, we often rely on the following two passages from the Bible: when the apostle Peter was miraculously rescued by an angel from prison and unexpectedly appeared at the door and the church people didn’t believe.

Peter knocked at the outer entrance and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening the door and exclaimed. Peter is at the door! But the people ignored her saying, You’re out of your mind, they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel!" [meaning Peter’s guardian angel]. (Acts 12:13–15).

Here is another passage from the Gospel of Matthew that implies the little children have guardian angels.

See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. (Matt. 18:10–11)

If God has assigned guardian angels to little children or to Apostle Peter for that matter, chances are that we, too, have guardian angels because we are also His children through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. However, I must admit that nowhere in the Scripture does it say that God has specifically assigned a guardian angel to each and every one of us. As a Christian, however, I do believe that I have a guardian angel or even legions of angels who have come to my rescue whenever I needed them. I also believe that all Christian believers have guardian angels or even host of angels around them.

You might question how do you know that you have a guardian angel? Well, I have had near-death experiences at least three times in my life, and each time my guardian angel rescued me and protected me from mishaps. Let me briefly share with you one of the latest incidents. My latest car accident would have killed me if my guardian angel had not rescued me. One day, while driving on a busy road, suddenly, from nowhere, an old lady came in front of my car. I panicked, and in an attempt to save her, instead of putting my foot on the brakes, I pushed the gas pedal, hitting the concrete wall of a huge building. My car collided head-on with a cement wall of a building. Both airbags burst into my chest, severely fracturing my sternum. I was unconscious for few minutes (as I was told). While the car was burning in flames, an angelic being suddenly appeared out of nowhere and pulled me out of the burning car. Within three to five minutes, a police car, an ambulance, and a fire truck with a crowd of people surrounded the scene. Immediately, they put me on the stretcher. The ambulance attendant asked, How did you come out of the blazing car?

I said, I don’t know. Someone must have pulled me out.

Shaking his head with a smile, the attendant said, Well, it is a miracle! You came out of the burning vehicle while the doors are still locked. Both the police and the attendant were amazed to see my miraculous escape. I spent two hours in the emergency room and was told that I had both shoulder cuffs broken with sternum completely split apart. The sternum was only few millimetres away from my heart and lungs. It is really a miracle you have survived, said the surgeon who examined me. You are very lucky man! he added.

Who or what protected me and brought me out of the burning car to safety? Was it my guardian angel or sheer good luck? God knows. I leave it to you to figure it out. However, I have the answer. Whether you believe it or not, it is a matter of faith. It is not my intention to convince people to believe or not to believe. But my personal experience, coupled with my research and study on the subject of angels, has convinced me that the angels are real, and we all have guardian angels that watch over us and work in our lives, protecting us, guiding us, and caring for us. Guardian angels are gifts from God, and we Christians should thank God for providing us with this priceless gift. It is my sincere belief that all believers have one or a multitude of angels caring for us devotedly and unconditionally. Reverend Billy Graham once said, Rather than only one angel, therefore, God surrounds us with a host of angels to protect us and go before us. Even when hard times come, Satan can never snatch us away from their protection—and some day they will escort us safely to heaven.⁴ The fact of the matter is that as God’s children, we are protected by Him, whether we have guardian angels beside us or not. Worry not, because the Lord will certainly protect us. He has declared:

Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. (Heb. 13:5)

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matt. 28:20)

Should We Worship Angels?

The Bible tells us never to worship angels. They are not divine and are not to be worshipped. We are to only worship God. Angels act on His command (Exod. 25:19; Deut. 4:19; 17:2–7; Col. 2:18; Rev. 19:10; 22:8–9). Like all of creation, angels are under God’s power and subject to His judgment (1 Cor. 6:3; Matt. 25:41). The apostle Paul warned against the angelic worship.

We are constantly reminded of the First Commandment: You shall have no other gods before me (Exod. 20:3). Angels are created holy and superior to mankind. They are spiritual beings, and as such, they do not die as humans do. Even though we are created lower than angels, we ought not to worship them or pray to them because they are just another creation of God like us. We ought to worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who alone is worthy of our worship because He is far superior to any angel.

Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shinning stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the

Lord

, for he commanded and they were created. (Ps. 148:2–5)

We read in the book of Revelation that when Apostle John received the revelation from God through an angel, he bowed down to worship him.

And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, Do not do it; I am a fellow servant with you and with your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Rev. 19:10; 22:8–9)

God alone is worthy of worship. (Isa. 37:16)

However, Satan continues to seek worship. In the beginning, he demanded that instead of God, he should be worshipped. Centuries later, he even attempted to deceive Jesus Christ in the wilderness to sin and worship him (Matt. 4:8–11). The Bible says that in the end-time, Satan will demand and force people to worship him or else be killed (Rev. 13:15).

The Origin of Satan (Devil)

The Scripture reports that Satan already existed in the garden of Eden before God created Adam and Eve.

You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you. (Ezek. 28:13–18)

Lucifer, the fallen angel. Source: photobucket.com/images/fallen.

In Genesis 3, we read the presence of Satan. He was there not to be adorned by every precious stone but rather to deceive God’s creation—Adam and Eve. According to the Scripture, the beginning of sin took place prior to the creation of the heaven and earth (Gen. 1:1). The origin of sin took place even before Adam and Eve were created (Gen. 1:26–27).

Before Adam and Eve sinned, there was "already a sinful creature who was in the Garden of Eden and who was in a fallen and wicked condition" (Gen. 3:1; Rev. 12:9). The tree of knowledge of good and evil already existed in the garden of Eden before the fall of Adam. Most biblical scholars believe that Satan’s (Lucifer) fall must have taken place somewhere after the time the angels were created and before Satan tempted Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden (Ezek. 28:13–18).