Angels And Heavenly Beings - Part 1 - Faithful Angels + Heavenly Beings Series

They are quite popular worldwide and are often depicted looking like celestial spirits surrounded by rays of light with halos or crowns, and most often, having feathered wings. Some people teach that there are as many as nine orders of Angels in three hierarchies and ranks, even though no specific Bible passages say that either directly or indirectly. Sadly, much of what is known and taught about them is based on legend and occultism.

Faithful Angels

The word "angel" comes from the Greek word 'aggelos,' which means 'messenger,' and describes a range of countless supernatural spirits God created as good with free will. The Hebrew word for "angel" is 'mal'ak' and has the same meaning. They frequently bring God's messages to people (Luke 1:11–19, Acts 8:26, 10:3–8, 22, 27:23–24). They are active in the world today (Psalm 34:7, 91:11-12; Matthew 18:10; Hebrews 1:14, 12:22, 13:2, Acts 23:8). They live in the Third Heaven. They patrol the Earth as representatives of God (Zechariah 1:10–11) and carry out some of His judgments (2 Samuel 24:16–17; 2 Chronicles 32:21; Acts 12:23; Revelation 16:1).

There is clear evidence in the Bible that Angels have played a vital supernatural role throughout history, always - and only - appearing as a man. Humans can't usually see them unless God reveals them. The Angels who visited people in the Bible appeared in human form and were not recognized as God's messenger until they manifested some supernatural ability that revealed their spiritual nature (Numbers 22:31, 2 Kings 6:17; Matthew 28:5; Luke 2:13; Hebrews 13:2).

Faithful Angels can appear in dreams to give direction from God (Matthew 1:20-24). They are busy re-gathering Jews to Israel and helping to fulfill biblical prophecy (Matthew 24:31). When they appeared in the Bible, they always were in dazzling apparel and blazing glory. They were frightening to people who would most often fall on their faces in fear and awe. The Angel would first say to them, "Fear not" (Genesis 18:2, 19:1,10; Judges 12:6; Matthew 28:4; Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4; Acts 1:10). If they came in judgment, they spoke words of reassurance. They warned Abraham to spare his son from sacrifice and saved Daniel from the lion's den. In the New Testament, they appeared to Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and women at the tomb of Jesus, where they had rolled away the stone covering it. They also appeared to the Apostles at the ascension of Jesus, Peter, Philip, Cornelius, and Paul.

Angels are sometimes called "elohim" because they are a type of finite divine beings that God created (Genesis 6:2, 32:24-31; Job 1:6). They are also known as holy beings (Heb: 'kedoshim/qedoshim') (Psalm 89:8; Job 5:1). Often in the Bible, an Angel is called simply "man" such as when Jacob wrestled with a mysterious being (Hosea 12:5; Genesis 32:24-31). They are also called "mighty ones who do his word" (Psalm 103:20 ESV), "thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities" (Colossians 1:16 ESV). They are "greater in might and power" than humans (2 Peter 2:11 ESV, see also Matthew 28:2). Angels use their power to battle against satan's demonic forces (Daniel 10:13, Revelation 12:7–8, 20:1–3).

Angels are not part of our physical universe but of the Heavenly realms, nor are they a race of beings descended from an ancestor (Luke 20:34-36). They are not described in the Bible as male or female and are not glorified human beings (Mark 12:25). Jesus said Angels don't have human bodies (Luke 24:39). They are spirits like the spirit of human beings, but without physical bodies (Hebrews 1:14). They have distinct personalities (Daniel 8;15,9:21,10:13,12:1). They are stronger than humans and greater in knowledge, but are not omnipotent, omniscient, or omnipresent they cannot be in more than one place at a time (2 Samuel 14:20; Psalm 103:20; Matthew 24:36; 2 Peter 2:11).

No new Angels are being added to their ranks, and they never die (Luke 20:36). They do not marry or reproduce (Matthew 22:30; see also Luke 20:34–36), nor are they a race descended from a common ancestor (Luke 20:34-36). Humans are called "sons of men," but Angels are never called 'sons of Angels.'

Angels have not always existed (Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 148:2,5). The Bible says that God created millions upon millions of Angels at some point immediately after the creation of the heavens by the sixth day and before the seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:1; Exodus 20:11) before He "laid the foundation of the earth" (Genesis 1:1; Job 38:4-7; Daniel 7:10; Matthew 26:53; Hebrews 12:22 ESV).

"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on Earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:16-17 ESV)

The Bible tells us that there are three 'heavens.' The Apostle Paul said he was taken up to the "third heaven" where God, the Father, and God, the Son, Jesus dwell (2 Corinthians 12:2–3). The second Heaven is the universe or outer space, and the first is our atmosphere or air. The evil one and his demons can only move in the first and second Heaven to oppose the Word of God and hinder the Faithful Angels (Ephesians 2:1–2; 6:12; Daniel 10:10-14).