Friday, December 23, 2022
We love to hear about angels, don’t we? But do we ‘know’ about the angels? What do we really know? So, let’s discuss angels. This post is definitely not complete in the study of angels, but maybe give you a place to begin your search for them.
Since Jesus told us in Matthew 22:30 that there would be angels in heaven it must be important enough to study a bit about them. (Matthew 22:30 For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven) So here we see that angels are in heaven, and they don’t marry.
What is the actual nature of an angel? Angles are created beings: Nehemiah 9:6, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:7
Angels are ministering spirits. They do not have flesh and bone as we do. Hebrews 1:14, Acts 27:21-24, Luke 24:39
Angles are innumerable: Hebrews 12:22
Angels have great strength: Psalm 103;20, Revelation 5:2
Angels are wise and can discern good and evil: 2 Samuel 14:17-20
Angles possess emotions: Luke 15:10
Angels worship God: Psalm 103:20, Hebrews 1:5-6, Revelation 5:11-13, Revelation 7:11-12. Revelation 22:8-9
Some of the angels rebelled and were disobedient and are kept in everlasting bondage: 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6
Angels are not omniscient for they desire to know the eternal purpose of God: 1 Peter 1:10-12
Angels do not know the day or hour of the Lord’s return: Matthew 24:36
Angels have sometimes appeared looking like a man: Genesis 18:2, 16
Angels, at times, were entertained without knowing they were angels: Hebrews 13:2
Angels that disobeyed and followed satan everlasting fire has been prepared for them: Matthew 25:41
What kind of form do angels have?
Heavenly form: cherubim and seraphim: Exodus 25:18-20, 1 Kings 6”27, 1 Kings 8:6-7, 1 Chronicles 28:18, Isaiah 6:2, Ezekiel 1:6 Hebrews 9:5
Angels can fly (all or some?) Daniel 9:21, Revelation 14:6
Angels are invisible to human vision unless they show themselves: Number 22:31, 2 Kings 6:14-17, Exodus 3:1-6
Angels are part of the invisible creation: Colossians 1:16
Angels take different forms when they appear to man: 2 Kings 6:14-17, Exodus 2:1-6, Hebrews 1:7
Angels can appear to man as a man: Genesis 18:1-2, Genesis 19:1-2, Genesis 32:22-28, Judges 1:9-11, Mark 16:5, Acts 1:10-11
What authority do angels have?
Angels are under God’s authority: Psalm 103:20-21, 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6
Angels are under Jesus’ authority: 1 Peter 3:22; Matthew 28:18, Ephesians 2:19-23, Colossians 2:10
Angels are higher than man: Hebrews 2:6-8
Angles are ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation
Other terms are used to describe these beings.
Sons of God, Job 1:6, 2;1, 38:7
Stars of God or stars of heaven, Job 38:7, Isaiah 14:13, Revelation 12:4, 7
Thrones, dominions, principalities, powers, Colossians 1:16, Romans 8:38, Ephesians 1:21, 1 Peter 3:22, Colossians 2:15, Ephesians 6:12 (good/bad)
Host of angels, Hebrews 12:22, Matthew 26:53, Luke 2:13, 1 Kings 22:19
Lord of hosts, 1 Samuel 1:13
Seraphim (burning ones, Isaiah 6:1-7
Cherubim, Genesis 3:22-24, Exodus 26:31, 25:17-29
Three angels are mentioned to us: Michael, Daniel 12:1, 10:13, Jude 9, Revelation 12:7
Gabriel, Luke 1:19, 26, Daniel 8:16, 9:21, Satan, Rev 12:9
Angels are created beings. They existed before man was created. We are not given a complete count of angels so that part must not be what we need to try to study here.
So what can we know about these angels God created?
Angels have greater intelligence than mankind in our present state, but angels are not all-knowing like God is. Daniel 8:13, 1 Peter 1:12, Matthew 24:36
Angels have greater ability in mobility than mankind but are not everywhere present like God. Daniel 9:21-23 Angels can move in space from God to earth
Angels are powerful beings more than mankind but are limited in their use of their power by God. 2 Peter 2:11
There are good angels. Good angels are holy/sinless beings, Mark 8:38, They need to be in the presence of God
Good angels have an overwhelming glory about them, Daniel 10:5-9, Matthew 28:1-4
Angels are spirit beings, not physical flesh and bones like mankind. Job 4:18-19, Hebrews 1:14
Angels are neither male or female beings nor do they marry. Matthew 22:30
Angels know nothing for themselves of growth, age, or death Luke 20:36
Good angels have a humility of spirit, they would not usurp the worship that belongs only to God Revelation 19:10, 22:8-9 Such worship is forbidden by God that men worship angels Colossians 2:19, Exodus 20:1-3
Angels seem to have the power of choice as to whether they will choose to obey God or not. Fallen angels would seem to indicate such. There is a stress on the concept of angles being obedient or disobedient Psalm 103:20, Jude 6, 2 Peter 2:4, Revelation 12:7
Angels can manifest their presence to humans in various ways, often appearing as another human Genesis 18:2, 19:3, 10-12, Judges 6:13, Hebrews 13:2, Luke 1:26-35, 7:4
Angels seem to have order in rank as well. Michael, who stands for the people of God…Daniel 12:1 is called the chief prince Daniel 10:13, and an archangel Jude 9. It is possible that Seraphim and Cherubim may be a different order of angels. If the terms principalities and powers in Colossians 1:16 has reference to angels, it is possible that these terms would indicate different orders of angelic beings.
The work and ministry of angels
Angels are supernatural, celestial beings, of pure spirit, superior to humans, and who have power, goodness, beauty, intelligence, and abilities, who serve God in many capacities, as messengers, or attendant spirits for a human or humans. While they are obviously not flesh and blood like humans, they have the ability to appear as such when the occasion calls for it. They could eat, be touched, be solid like us and possibly do all the activities that men can do…but they are not human.
Angels are pictured as being in the presence of God and have special tasks that are directed toward God or with god. They worship God: Psalm 29:1-2, 89:7, Matthew 18:10, Revelation 5:11. They rejoice with God in His God works. Job 38:1-7, Luke 15:10
Angels execute God’s will by working in nature. Psalm 103:20-22, They are able to take on various forms to accomplish this task. They can take on human form. Genesis 18:2, Zechariah 5:9. They become or make use of wind, fire, chariots and horses, earthquakes, diseases, etc. Exodus 3;2, Psalm 104:4, 2 Kings 6:14-17, Matthew 28:2, Luke 13;11
Angels serve in other ways. They seem to have been involved in the affairs of nations in the past at least. Daniel 10:12, 13, 21, 11:1, 12:1.
They have been involved in the early churches. Revelation 1:20
God has used angels in the past to assist or protect individual BELIEVERS. 1 kings 19:5, Psalm 91:11, Daniel 6:22, Matthew 4:11, Luke 16:22, Hebrews 1:14, Acts 12:15, and others.
Angels have been used to carry messages to various people. Gen 16:7, 9:11, 22:15-19, Matthew 2;13 etc.
Angels have been used to punish sinful people. 2 Kings 19:35, Acts 12:15, etc
Angels transmitted the Law to Moses on Sinai. Galatians 3:19, Acts 7:53
Angels carried out deliverances and judgments that God commands. Genesis 19:15-22, 2 Samuel 24:15-16, Isaiah 37:36, Acts 12:20:25, Revelation 7:2
Angels fight against the wicked angels. Revelation 12:7-9, 20:1-2 etc.
Angels will be with Jesus when He comes to judge the world. Mathew 25:31
Angels served Christ in connection with His incarnation.
An angel gave the announcement of His birth and His forerunner. Luke 1:8-20, 26-38
An angel told Joseph to take Mary to be his wife. Matthew 1:20-24
An angel told the shepherds of Jesus’ birth. Luke 2:9-15
An angel warned Joseph to take Jesus into Egypt. Matthew 2:13, 19-20
An angel ministered to Jesus after 40 days in temptation. Matthew 4;11
An angel ministered to Jesus during His agony in Gethsemane. Lue 22;43
An angel came and rolled away the stone from His tomb. Matthew 28:2
An angel announced His resurrection to the women. Luke 24:4-8
As Jesus ascended, an angel announced His return someday. Acts 1:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8, Matthew 25:31, Revelation 14:10
The work of angels in serving God’s people
Angels serve God’s people. Hebrews 1:14, Psalm 91:11
Angels have helped to provide physical needs of BELIEVERS. Genesis 21:15-19, 1 Kings 19:5-7
Angels helped Lot and his family to avoid destruction. Genesis 19:15-16
An angel delivered Peter from prison. Acts 12:7-10
An angel directed Philip to go speak to the Ethiopian. Acts 8:26
An angel encouraged Paul in his shipwreck. Acts 27:33-34
An angel took the soul of Lazarus into Abraham’s bosom. Luke 16:22
Angels intercede in mankind’s affairs as God gives them to do. Angels carry out whatever God permits them to do. They are messengers, and mediators, but they are never to be worshiped. Angels can’t do what God can do. Because they are spirits, we can’t fully understand them and only get some insight into the working of angels in heaven and on earth.
Last, I do not find in the scriptures that anyone who dies…ever becomes an “angel”. I did not find that there are girl angels or baby angels flying around either. I just don’t find it. I don’t know how many times I have heard people say that their loved on is now in heaven and is now an angle. No, I do not find that. So unless it is in the bible I discount that from here. I just want to be the better me that God is preparing for me to be in heaven in whatever form that might be.
The fall of angels I will discuss this in another post as time permits it. There is a lot to say about them.