Are angels a thing anymore? How popular are angels these days? I remember a time when they had good PR and were all over the place: Highway to Heaven, Touched by an Angel, Angels in the Outfield; they even got John Travolta to play the Archangel Michael in a big Hollywood movie. Hallmark angels were all the rage; does anyone buy them anymore? Good Omens was on Amazon recently, so maybe that’s a little bit of interest. It’s tough to be an angel in 2026.
It’s easy to get confused about angels. The Hebrew Christians were confused about them, as are some people today. No, Jesus is not a created angel, and no, we will not become angels when we die. The Hebrew Christians were getting carried away and worshipping the angels, making too much of them. “Let’s keep things in perspective,” the author of Hebrews wrote in Hebrews 1:4, “Jesus is much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.” As real and wonderful as angels are, how is Jesus better than angels?
Jesus is the Son of God. To which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? None. Or, to which angel did God ever say, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son (Hebrews 1:5)”? Again, none. Jesus (God the Son) existed with the Father and Spirit from the beginning, and when Jesus was born of the virgin, the angels worshipped Him (Hebrews 1:6). We tell this story every year at Christmas: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased (Luke 2:13–14)!” Jesus is superior to the angels because He alone is God’s one and only Son.
Now don’t get me wrong, it’s true that angels are great. Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire (Hebrews 1:7).” But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions (Hebrews 1:8-9).” Angels don’t reign on a throne, but Jesus does. Angels don’t have a scepter, but Jesus does. To which of the angels has God ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet (Hebrews 1:13)”? None. Jesus alone is King of kings and Lord of lords— Hallelujah!
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made (John 1:1–3). Of Jesus it was said, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end (Hebrews 1:10–12).” He created and is eternal, from everlasting to everlasting. Heaven and earth will pass away, but He will remain long after.
The angels are ministering spirits, but Jesus is better. He is better than the angels because He is the Son of God. He is better than the angels because He is Lord and reigns on His throne. He is better than the angels because He created all things and is not a created being. He is eternal, but the angels are created and serve and worship Him. Thank God for angels; they have an important role to play in God’s universe, but not as great as Jesus. Jesus is much superior to angels. We worship Him alone.