Christ -- The Angel of the Covenant

Malachi 3:1

In Isaiah 63:9, our Savior is called “the Angel of his presence.” He is that One who constantly watches over and protects God's elect in this world. The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, is called “the Messenger (Angel) of the covenant” (Mal. 3:1).

In the Old Testament, when we read of “the Angel of the Lord” appearing to men, as he did to Abraham, Monoah and his wife, and others, the one appearing was the Son of God himself. Those pre-incarnate manifestations of Christ were preludes to the coming of our great Savior to accomplish the redemption of his people. He is the Angel Abraham worshipped (Gen. 18), to whom Gideon built and altar (Judges 6:22-23), and the Man of God who appeared to Manoah and his wife (Judg. 13). That man who stood before Joshua as "the Captain of the Lord's host" (Josh. 5:13-15 is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Captain of our salvation.

No Contradiction

To say that Christ is “the Angel of the Lord” does not, in any way, contradict the fact of his eternal Deity. He is both Jehovah and Jehovah’s Messenger. In his eternal Deity, our Savior is God himself, over all and blessed forever. In his mediatoral capacity, as our Surety and Substitute, he is “the Angel of the Lord.”

As the Angel of the Lord, “the Messenger of the covenant,” the Son of God comes to men to reveal and fulfil all the stipulations of the covenant of grace for us (Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:6-13), thereby securing our “eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:12).

Enthroned Mediator

Having fulfilled all the requirements of the covenant as our Substitute, our Savior now sits upon the throne of universal monarchy, ruling all things according to the purpose of God as our God-man Mediator, to give eternal life to his people (John 17:2; Rev. 10:1-6). He, and he alone, is able to open and fulfil the book of God’s decrees (Rev. 5:1-7). He who rules the universe is God in human flesh, our Savior and Redeemer, “the Angel of the covenant.” Rejoice!

The Angel of the Lord

Our Lord Jesus Christ is pre-eminently the Angel of the Lord. He is the Angel who came with a great chain of omnipotent power and bound Satan (Rev. 20:1-3). He is the Angel by whom all the earth shall be judged at last (Rev. 20:11-15). He is the Angel who sits upon the throne and will at last bring all the universe to its divinely ordained completion (Rev. 21:6).