THE WATCHERS

 …things into which angels long to look. 1 Peter 1:12 

Does the title of today’s devotional instill unease? “The Watchers! Br-r-r!” And yet, we trust you will find our subject most sublime… 

The doctrine of Angels can easily be abused, as we observe within various false religions that cultivate a cult of angels, ranging from Roman Catholicism to the various expressions of “New Age” spirituality. An enormous problem arises when we bestow improper emphasis upon the creature, rather than the Creator. Revelation 22:9: “Worship God!”

God can of course minister to us by His direct Hand without the use of intermediaries, but often it pleases Him to employ creatures—both angels and men—unto our aid and rescue. The Scriptures contain a rich Angelology and would have us know that there are an incomprehensible number of such unearthly “messengers” (Revelation 5:11)—powerful “ministers of flaming fire” (Heb.1:7) who presently stand above us (Hebrews 2:7), but who shall one day be under the authority of the saints (1 Corinthians 6:3).  

Fallen angels are hopelessly lost—there is no grace for them! Elect angels have never rebelled, and thus, the matter of personal redemption is alien to them, in that they have never personally experienced such Divine grace (i.e., God’s unmerited favor upon the wicked). Here, angels serve as a foil for humanity—a point of contrast illuminating the basic concept of grace.  

Having never experienced this great salvation, they also function as a probing “audience” for the epic drama of human redemption. The Savior was “seen by angels” (1 Timothy 3:10), and angels are depicted as observers of redemption in various Scriptures (1 Peter 1:12, Ephesians 3:10, 1 Corinthians 4:9). They rejoice when sinners are converted (Luke 15:7) and meticulously observe Christian worship (1 Corinthians 11:10). A group of angels are aptly called the “Watchers” in Daniel 4:13, 17, 23. As actors, let us delight in our audience!

Terry L. Reese