The angels of God take a deep interest in all the work of their Commander, the Son of God. Theirs is a service of love; in whatsoever He delights, in that they delight. He spent years of suffering on earth, and laid down His life for the salvation of man. How deeply, then, must their feelings be enlisted in behalf of man, and in the work of the gospel! Though the work of preaching the gospel is not committed to them, they have an important part to act in aiding the minister in his work. Look at the case of Cornelius. He was a conscientious, God-fearing man. The Lord had respect to his prayers and his alms. But he was ignorant of the name of Jesus of Nazareth. An angel was sent to move him, to send for the apostle of Christ. Then the angel went to Peter to prepare his mind to go on this mission, for Cornelius was a Gentile. With the way thus opened, the work was easily accomplished. But how different would have been the result if the angel had not taken a part!ATNM 24.1

By this we are led to believe that many times the success of the minister is due to the part that angels act in preparing the way, that the hearts of the people may be reached. And often, no doubt, the failure of the minister to accomplish any good in the conversion of souls is owing to the fact that he went out in his own strength, ready to take the glory of the work to himself, and angels have been grieved away, and he has had no help from Heaven.ATNM 24.2

The angels spoken of in the book of Revelation are generally supposed to be symbols, and not real angels; especially the angels of Revelation 14:6-12, because the work of proclaiming the everlasting gospel is said to be committed to them. But we do not think that such a conclusion is necessary. The Son of man is, in the same chapter, represented as reaping the harvest of the earth, while, in fact, the reapers are the angels. Matthew 13:39. But the work is done under his immediate direction and supervision, for “He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect.” Matthew 24:31. Therefore it is very properly called His work, and so of these angels. The work of unfolding the things contained in the prophecy of Daniel, especially concerning the atonement and the sacrifice of the Messiah, was committed to the angel Gabriel. Daniel 8:13-17; 9:20-27. To the same angel it was given to foretell the birth of John the Baptist, and of the Messiah. Luke 1:11-19, 26-33. All the teachings of the Scriptures justify the belief that the messages of Revelation 14:6-12 are committed to angels, who move upon the hearts of the servants of God to search the sure word of prophecy, where these things are made known, and open the way for their work among the people. It were very unreasonable to conclude that God commits the work of these messages to men, who are to proclaim them in their own strength, and according to their own wisdom, without immediate help from heaven. No one who has carefully examined the Bible on the work of the ministry, can believe this. The gifts of God’s Spirit are for the work of the ministry, for the perfecting of the saints. Ephesians 4:8, 11, 12. “Not by might, nor by power, but my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.” Zechariah 4:6. According to the Scriptures, the Lord’s ordinary method of assisting men in their work is by means of the angels, who by His Spirit bring to earth the blessings of Heaven.ATNM 25.1

§7. THE DIFFERENT ORDERS OF ANGELS

§9. THE ANGELS ARE MINISTERING SPIRITS TO THE CHILDREN OF GOD