Angels and Monsters

(Category: Journey Through Faith)

This thought came to me on Christmas morning, December 25, 2016.  I was reading about the birth of John the Baptist.  I laughed at myself with a thought after reading chapter 1 of the book of Luke.

It will help to know my understanding of what angels look like.

In the book of Daniel, we find the best description of an angel (Daniel 10: 5-6).  Daniel describes the angel as being dressed in linen, his waist was girded with gold, the angel’s body was like Beryl, the face was of lightning, eyes were like torches of fire, arms and feet were like burnished bronze in color, and his voice was like thunder.

Not our typical rendition of an angel is it.

Keep this image in mind as we go through the story of Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth.

Just a little background, Zacharias was a priest.  He followed all the commandments and ordinances perfectly, as did his wife, Elizabeth.  Both were elderly and Elizabeth was beyond child bearing years.

When Zacharias was at the temple, an angle appeared.  When Zacharias saw the angel, he trembled in fear (I wonder why, lol).

The angel spoke to him, remember in a thunderous voice, that his prayers have been heard.  He continued speaking that his wife will bear a child.  The child’s name will be John.  The angle went on to describe the abilities of John, (AKA John the Baptist).

Zacharias was unsure of this because he was old and his wife was well advance in years.

The angel said to Zacharias, “I am Gabriel...”.  Gabriel went on to chastise Zacharias for doubting his word.  Zacharias was left mute at that point and could not speak again.

Just a side note, Gabriel is the top dog in the world of angels along with Michael.  Those two are like 5 Star Generals in our military.

One last thing before I get to my laugh.  I know, a bit of a long set up here.  Zacharias got is voice back at the birth of John when he confirmed the baby’s name was to be John.

Now I kept thinking about this encounter with Gabriel and wonder what would happen today.  I imagined sitting in my favorite place.  Suddenly this giant translucent green humanoid monster appears.

It speaks in a loud booming voice.  Eyes shooting light out of it.  As it appears there is lightening come from his body.  And, I’m standing there with my mouth wide open.

This creature starts telling me that it came back to the past from the future.  It explains that I will get married soon (I am a widower) and she will be my age (mid 60s).  Then it mentions that we will have a child and his name will be John.  John will be a very famous guy.

I don’t know how anybody else would think of this situation.  I am pretty sure, I would not be questioning this giant green being, as Zacharias did of Gabriel.  I would be standing there shaking my head yes, whatever you say.  With big round eyes, trembling knees, pounding heart, I find myself really wishing I had Depends on...

Oh, and I should mention that Christmas 2016 was a Sunday.  This entire moment happened right before Sunday service started.  Yes, I did laugh out loud at my thought.

Scriptures Referenced (New King James Version):

Daniel 10:5-6,

5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz!

6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.

Luke 1: 6-22,

6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,

9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.  He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this?  For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.

20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.

22 But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.

Luke 1:59-64,

59 So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias.

60 His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.”

61 But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”

62 So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.

63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled.

64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.

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