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Angelic Protection and Intercession in Christian Life

Angels are heavenly intelligences whom God employs to execute his purposes [6]. The Bible describes angels as ministering spirits who worship God and Christ, communicate God's will, and execute his judgments [3]. While the concept of angelic protection is present in Christian thought, the primary focus of intercession in Christian life is typically on Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Angelic protection is illustrated in various biblical accounts. Angels are depicted as helping and encouraging human beings [7], such as when an angel strengthened Jesus in Gethsemane [8, 9]. The Psalmist declares, "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them" (Psalm 34:7) [12]. This suggests that angels provide a protective presence around believers [12]. God's protection is described as indispensable, unfailing, and perpetual, often afforded through means that might seem inadequate in themselves [4].

Intercession, in a Christian context, primarily refers to the act of pleading on behalf of another. Christ's priestly office includes making continual intercession for believers in heaven, appearing in God's presence for them based on his sacrifice [2]. This intercession ensures the fulfillment of God's promises [2]. The Holy Spirit also intercedes for believers, working on their minds and hearts to enlighten and quicken them, acting as Christ's agent [1]. While Christ intercedes for believers "without us," the Holy Spirit works "upon our minds and hearts" [1].

The concept of intercession can also extend to human prayer. For instance, the one tradition writes that food is "sanctified through the word of God and intercession" (1 Timothy 4:5 YLT) [5]. This implies that prayer, or intercession, plays a role in setting things apart as holy for believers' use [10].

While angels are seen as agents of God's protection and will [3, 6], the New Testament emphasizes Christ's unique role as the primary intercessor [2]. John Calvin noted that Christ's peculiar office is to defend and deliver believers from evil [11].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Intercession of the Spirit — (Rom. 8:26, 27; John 14:26). "Christ is a royal Priest (Zech. 6:13). From the same throne, as King, he dispenses his Spirit to all the objects of his care, while as Priest he intercedes for them. The Spirit acts for him, taking only of his things. They both act with one consent, Christ as principal, the Spirit as his agent. Christ intercedes for us, without us, as our advocate in heaven, according to the provisions of the everlasting covenant. The Holy Spirit works upon our minds and hearts, enlightening and quickening, and thus determini”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Intercession of Christ — Christ's priestly office consists of these two parts, (1) the offering up of himself as a sacrifice, and (2) making continual intercession for us. When on earth he made intercession for his people (Luke 23:34; John 17:20; Heb. 5:7); but now he exercises this function of his priesthood in heaven, where he is said to appear in the presence of God for us (Heb. 9:12, 24). His advocacy with the Father for his people rests on the basis of his own all-perfect sacrifice. Thus he pleads for and obtains the fulfilment of all the promises of the everlas”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Angels — Created by God and Christ -- Ne 9:6; Col 1:16. Worship God and Christ -- Ne 9:6; Php 2:9-11; Heb 1:6. Are ministering Spirits -- 1Ki 19:5; Ps 68:17; 104:4; Lu 16:22; Ac 12:7-11; 27:23; Heb 1:7,14. Communicate the will of God and Christ -- Da 8:16,17; 9:21-23; 10:11; 12:6,7; Mt 2:13,20; Lu 1:19,28; Ac 5:20; 8:26; 10:5; 27:23; Re 1:1. Obey the will of God -- Ps 103:20; Mt 6:10. Execute the purposes of God -- Nu 22:22; Ps 103:21; Mt 13:39-42; 28:2; Joh 5:4; Re 5:2. Execute the judgments of God -- 2Sa 24:16; 2Ki 19:35; Ps 35:5,6; Ac 12:23; Re 16:1. Celebrate the”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Protection — God is able to afford -- 1Pe 1:5; Jude 1:24. God is faithful to afford -- 1Th 5:23,24; 2Th 3:3. Of God is Indispensable. -- Ps 127:1. Seasonable. -- Ps 46:1. Unfailing. -- De 31:6; Jos 1:5. Effectual. -- Joh 10:28-30; 2Co 12:9. Uninterrupted. -- Ps 121:3. Encouraging. -- Isa 41:10; 50:7. Perpetual. -- Ps 121:8. Often afforded through means inadequate in themselves. -- Jdj 7:7; 1Sa 17:45,50; 2Ch 14:11. Is afforded to Those who hearken to God. -- Pr 1:33. Returning sinners. -- Job 22:23,25. The perfect in heart. -- 2Ch 16:9. The poor. -- Ps 14:6; 72:12-14.”
  5. I Timothy “I Timothy 4:5 (YLT) — for it is sanctified through the word of God and intercession.”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Angel — A word signifying, both in the Hebrew and Greek, a "messenger," and hence employed to denote any agent God sends forth to execute his purposes. It is used of an ordinary messenger (Job 1:14: 1 Sam. 11:3; Luke 7:24; 9:52), of prophets (Isa. 42:19; Hag. 1:13), of priests (Mal. 2:7), and ministers of the New Testament (Rev. 1:20). It is also applied to such impersonal agents as the pestilence (2 Sam. 24:16, 17; 2 Kings 19:35), the wind (Ps. 104:4). But its distinctive application is to certain heavenly intelligences whom God employs in carrying on his government”
  7. Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 22:43: 22:43 an angel from heaven: Angels often help and encourage human beings (see Heb 1:14; cp. 1 Kgs 19:5-8; Ps 91:11-12; Dan 3:28; 10:16-19).”
  8. Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 22:43: There appeared an angel - from heaven - It was as necessary that the fullest evidence should be given, not only of our Lord's Divinity, but also of his humanity: his miracles sufficiently attested the former; his hunger, weariness, and agony in the garden, as well as his death and burial, were proofs of the latter. As man, he needs the assistance of an angel to support his body, worn down by fatigue and suffering. See at the end of Luk 22:44 (note).”
  9. Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 22:42: And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven,.... Whether this was Michael the archangel, as some have conjectured, or Gabriel, or what particular angel, is not for us to know, nor is it of any importance: it is certain, it was a good angel: "an angel of God", as the Ethiopic version reads; since he came from heaven, and was one of the angels of heaven, sent by God on this occasion; and it is clear also, that he was in a visible form, and was seen by Christ, since he is said to appear to him: strengthening him; under his present distress, against the terrors of S”
  10. 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 4:5: sanctified--"hallowed"; set apart as holy for the use of believing men: separated from "the creature," which is under the bondage of vanity and corruption (Rom 8:19, &c.). Just as in the Lord's Supper, the thanksgiving prayer sanctifies the elements, separating them from their naturally alien position in relation to the spiritual world, and transferring them to their true relation to the new life. So in every use of the creature, thanksgiving prayer has the same effect, and ought always to be used (Co1 10:30-31). by the word of God and prayer--that”
  11. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 2 (Gen 24-50), section 25.13: him the nature of angels,” so as to become one of them , in the manner in which he truly became man ; for even when angels put on human bodies, they did not, on that account, become men. Now since we are taught, in these words, that the peculiar office of Christ is to defend us and to deliver us from all evil, let us take heed not to bury this grace in impious oblivion: yea, seeing that now it is more clearly exhibited to us, than formerly to the saints under the law, since Christ openly declares that the faithful are committed ”
  12. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 34:7: The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him,.... By whom may be meant, either the uncreated Angel, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Angel of God's presence, and of the covenant, the Captain of salvation, the Leader and Commander of the people; and whose salvation is as walls and bulwarks about them; or as an army surrounding them: or a created angel may be intended, even a single one, which is sufficient to guard a multitude of saints, since one could destroy at once such a vast number of enemies, as in Kg2 19:35; or one may be put for more, since they ar”
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