Please note the reference to the “destroyer” as the agent used in killing the firstborn of the Egyptians. . Job makes it clear God has numbered our days, but He alone chooses when we reach the end of our life on earth (Job 14:5). On page 321 of MATTHEW HENRY’S COMMENTARY on Exodus 12:29, he states the following: “God’s Son, even His firstborn, released this judgment and conquered Pharaoh…” The angel of the Lord’s designation has been interpreted as being none other than Jehovah Himself (see Genesis 22:15, 16; Numbers 22:22-35; Judges 2:1-5; 6:21-23). Your email address will not be published. Article Images Copyright © 2020 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Christ our Redeemer died on the cross, Died for the sinner, paid all his due; Sprinkle your soul with the blood of the Lamb, And I will pass, will pass over you. Four doctoral dissertations have analyzed his contribution to religious education and evangelism. Whether or not He placed a single angel in charge of death or in charge of ushering us from one life to the next (which Scripture does not indicate), we need to understand that that angel’s role will become obsolete after Christ returns. When looking at Scripture, it appears angels do have a hand in some instances of death and destruction. A number of commemorations were held, ranging from memorial services for those killed or injured to demonstrations protesting the use of nuclear weapons. All rights reserved. “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Verse 23 continues, “For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you.” This verse might sound more like a third party was involved—an angel—due to the word “destroyer.” However, the word is actually a verb used as a noun (destroying). Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. This last week marked the 40th anniversary of the first atomic bomb drop on Hiroshima. He [God] loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 2:2; 4:10). John the Baptist declared, “Behold! Jesus came to earth as a babe to die on the cross for our sins. For example, Genesis 3:24 reads, “So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.” Second Samuel 24:12–17 records how an angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem until God told him to withdraw his hand. from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, a Th.M. The idea of a grim reaper has not only pervaded popular culture, such as in books like The Book Thief and Scythe, but it has also taken a featured spot in many religions. The Angel of Death is a misnomer. We need to keep in mind, as well, that God will one day destroy death itself (Revelation 20:14). So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. We all will experience death, but no one single angel by the name of Azrael carries out all of the death duties, so to speak. In none of these cases are the angels called “the angel of destruction” or “the angel of death.” So the people bowed their heads and worshiped.” In these verses we read that it was the Lord Who passed over the houses of the Children of Israel. But death is not necessarily the sole duty of these beings, and was an angel the instrument who carried out the deaths referred to in Exodus 11 and 12? The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). The Grim Reaper, so to speak, does not exist in the way we have perceived it as a culture to exist. Let’s take a look at God’s power over the most infamous of all angels, Satan. For instance, an angel of the Lord in 2 Kings 19:35 goes out at night and kills 185,000 Assyrians. Send your Bible questions to nolson@garbc.org, or mail to Norman A. Olson in care of the Baptist Bulletin, 1300 N. Meacham Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60173-4806. from Northwestern College in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a M.A. Photo Credit: GettyImages/Guilherme Ribeiro. from Dallas Theological Seminary also in Dallas, a MRE from Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, and a D.Min. In reference to the meaning of the term “death angel,” the Bible uses the term “destroyer,” as in the passage of Exodus 12:23: For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. However, as I study this passage in particular and Scripture in general, I do not find a specific angel in charge of death. So God was saying that He would not permit the destroying (the destruction) to enter their houses if they had the blood sprinkled on the lintel and doorposts. Underlying most of these commemorations there was a reaction to the killing of thousands of people who were not personally involved in the military forces of Japan, many of whom were women and children. Although angels, if given the command of God, can take away a life, they will not do so unless they have received that command or if God wills it. In the Moffatt version of the Scriptures, the term “destroying angel” is used in Exodus 12:23. The actual term “death angel” or “angel of death” is not found in the Scriptures. Considering the Assyrians made themselves out to be enemies of God’s people, God willed this angel to commit such a mass destruction. Notice Exodus 12:12–14: “For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. Although interesting to speculate, in the coming age, it does not hold as great of a weight as other matters. In Scripture, Michael appears to fight spiritual battles and carry out the commands of God, none of which seem to indicate a grim reaper role. The name Azrael never appears in the Bible as well.

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