ANGELS’ ROLE IN THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST
Angels are supernatural spiritual beings created by God to serve Him. The story of the birth of Jesus Christ – the Son of God – shows how angels carry out God’s plan.
It was angel Gabriel who announced to Mary that she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus, who is the Son of the Most High. It was an angel who informed Joseph that the child in Mary’s womb was conceived by the Holy Spirit, that he should take Mary as his wife and that the child was to be named JESUS. It was an angel who announced to the shepherds in the field one cold night that their savior, the messiah, had just been born in Bethlehem. It was a multitude of angels who sang praises to God on the night His son was born. It was an angel who instructed Joseph to leave Bethlehem with Mary and Jesus and to go into Egypt because King Herod was planning to kill Jesus.
These events are the reasons why, during the Christmas season, angels are honored by Christians all over the world. Christmas carols about angels are played and sang. Bible verses about angels carrying out God’s plan for Jesus are read or recalled during religious gatherings. Images of angels abound and they are often used as symbols for the Christmas season.
Below are some stamps and first day covers (fdc) about the story of the birth of Jesus, and on these philatelic items are images of angels. These show the important role the angels played in this glorious and historic event.
Large Images of Stamps and Bible Verses
Stamp: The Annunciation on 1989 Christmas stamp from Australia with a 36-cents denomination
Bible Verses: “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” (Luke 1:30-31 / KJV)
Stamp: The Announcement to the Shepherds on 1989 Christmas stamp from Australia with a 41-cents denomination
Bible Verses: “And the angel said unto them [shepherds in the country field], Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11 / KJV)
Stamp: The Announcement to the Shepherds on 1979 Christmas stamp from Cayman Islands with a 20-cents denomination
Bible Verses: “And the angel said unto them [shepherds in the country field], Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11 / KJV)
Stamp: Gloria in Excelsis Deo on 1979 Christmas stamp from Cayman Islands with a 30-cents denomination
Bible Verses: “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, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:13-14 / KJV)
Stamp: Gloria in Excelsis Deo on 1995 Christmas stamp from Australia with a 45-cents denomination
Bible Verses: “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, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:13-14 / KJV)
Stamp: Flight into Egypt on 1979 Christmas stamp from Cayman Islands with a 1-cent denomination
Bible Verse: “And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” (Matthew 2:13 / KJV)
Large Images of First Day Covers (FDC), Bible Verses and a Christmas Carol
FDC: Angel and Star of David in the illustration or cache area of the 1974 Christmas first day cover from Australia
Bible Verse: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2 / KJV)
FDC: The Annunciation on 1970 first day cover from France
Bible Verses: “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” (Luke 1:30-31 / KJV)
FDC: Angel in the illustration or cache area of the 1984 Christmas first day cover from Brazil; With 4 stamps that show important events related to the birth of Jesus, and with Mary and Baby Jesus cancellation
Bible Verse: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14 / KJV)
FDC: Angels on 1999 Christmas first day cover from Philippines (A1)
Bible Verses: “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, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:13-14 / KJV)
FDC: Angels on 1999 Christmas first day cover from Philippines (A2)
Bible Verses: “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, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:13-14 / KJV)
FDC: Angels on 2000 Christmas first day cover from Philippines
Bible Verses: “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, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:13-14 / KJV)
FDC: Angels on 1981 Christmas first day cover from Cocos Islands; A Christmas carol theme on first day cover - “Angels We Have Heard on High”
Bible Verses: “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, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:13-14 / KJV)
The Christmas Carol: Angels We Have Heard on High
I. Angels we have heard on high,
sweetly singing o'er the plains,
and the mountains in reply,
echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain
Gloria in excelsis Deo,
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
II. Shepherds why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
which inspire your heavenly song?
Repeat Refrain
III. Come to Bethlehem and see,
him Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Repeat Refrain
IV. See within in a manger laid
Jesus Lord of heaven and earth;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
with us sing our Savior's birth.
Repeat Refrain
