Between heaven and earth is a vast expanse of seemingly endless space. If the spirit is to "return to God," it must pass through this incredible stretch of atmosphere. And Scripture warns that Satan, the enemy of the soul, is the "prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2). The devil and his angels rule this air space. Paul adds that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the evil spirit world - "against rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph. 6:12).

In life, evil angels seek to separate believers from God and Christ (see Rom. 8:38). There is no reason to think that they suddenly give up their Satanic efforts when a believer dies. If Satan desired the body of Moses (Jude 9), how much more would he be interested in wresting the spirit of a believer from God? So God sends His angels to transport the spirits of His children safely home. Note that it is more than just an angelic escort: the angels carried Lazarus to his heavenly home.

Hymn: "I've almost gained my heavenly home, my spirit loudly sings. The Holy Ones, behold they come! I hear the noise of wings. O come, angel band, come and around me stand, O bear me away on your snowy-white wings to my eternal home!" (Jefferson Hascall)