I’m sitting here doing homework for a study I’m taking on Revelation. In the booklet, there’s a reference to 1 Peter 1:10-12, concerning our salvation. At the end of verse 12 it says, Even angels long to look into these things. What is Peter talking about in the verses leading up to this verse and what does it mean that even angels long to look into these things?
Peter was writing to the gentile churches in what’s called Turkey today. In 1 Peter 1:10-12 he explained that the Old Testament prophets knew about the Lord’s plan to give His life to save them (and us) and tried as hard as they could to figure out when He was coming. The Lord told them they were writing to a future generation. Peter told his readers that they were the generation to whom the prophets had been writing. The Lord had come and died for our sins in their generation and that’s why the gospel was being preached to them.
The angels didn’t know how God’s plan for our redemption would be accomplished but were intensely curious about it as well. In essence Peter said that they learn by watching how God works with us. Paul confirmed this by saying the Father’s intent was that now, through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God would be made known to the angelic realms according to His eternal purpose, which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 3:10-11).