Is Grandma an Angel Now?

A common statement heard near the death of a loved one is that “heaven has a new angel.”  Is this correct?  Are the angels in heaven simply humans who have passed from earth?

Today I will in the next few minutes share with you why I don’t believe grandma is an angel now.

The first thing to understand is that angels and humans were two distinct creations of God.  Job 38:1-7 gives the impression that the angels “morning stars” were already created when God laid the foundation of the world.  Genesis 1-2 make it clear that man was a special creation made in the “image of God” on the sixth day.

At some point between creation and man’s rebellion in Genesis 3, Satan in pride rebelled with some of the angels following him. (cf. Ezekiel 28; Isa. 14).  The rest of the angels remained faithful to God as His servants.  God has never provided a way of redemption for the angels.  They were all individually created for we are told that they are not given in marriage and don’t procreate with one another. (Mt. 22:30; Mk. 12:25)

Though man was created in the “image of God”, he followed the temptation of Satan in Genesis 3 and rebelled against God.  This put all of mankind at odds with a Holy God.  Romans 5 says clearly that because of our sin we are enemies of God.  “But God demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Rom. 5:8)  That love was demonstrated in sending Jesus Christ to pay the penalty of sin on the cross at Calvary.   Christ’s death in turn made salvation available to all that respond in faith trusting in His shed blood to cleanse their sins.  Romans 5:1-2 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

That access and hope are possible because we are adopted children of God. (John 1:12; Rom. 8:15, Eph. 1:15; Gal. 4:5)  This hope is clarified in II Cor. 5 where we are reminded that to be absent from the body is to be present with Christ.   Not only will we have the privilege of access and be in the presence of Christ, but II Timothy 2:12 assures us that those who are faithful will reign with Christ.  A believer at death can look forward to wonderful things beyond any of our imaginations because of our privileged status before God as “joint heirs in Christ.” (Rom. 8:17)

The angels on the other hand that remained faithful to God are “ministering spirits” (Heb. 1:7-14).  Throughout Scripture we see angels watching over believers and Israel, acting as messengers of God, fulfilling the judgment of God, and ministering or worshipping before the throne.

So in a summary statement I don’t believe scripture teaches that my grandma is now an angel, she rather has a much more privileged position.  She is an adopted child of God who will one day reign with Christ, not simply a minister or servant fulfilling God’s bidding!  What hope we have as believers!

The video version of this is available at www.youtube.com/user/churchoflittleton  FW # 79