ANGELS
Angels. By the word “angels” (i.e., “messengers” of God) we ordinarily understand a race of spiritual beings of a nature exalted far above that of man, although infinitely removed from that of God—whose office is “to do him service in heaven, and by his appointment to succor and defend men on earth.”
Mention the word “Angel” and you get many images. A good child, people in Heaven with harps, Guardian Angels. Today we start a 2 part study on Angels.
Part 1
The Nature of Angels
Angels Duties and Order
Common Questions About Angels
The Nature of Angels
Nature of angels.—Angels are termed “spirits,” as in Hebrews 1:14;
HEB 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
God created the Angels, but when did he create them?
Job 38:4-7 describes the angels worshiping God as He was creating the world – “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone - while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7). So, although the Bible does not specifically say when God created the angels, it was sometime before the world was created. Whether this was a day before, or a thousand years before, we cannot be sure.
Their number must be very large and innumerable
Hebrews 12:22
HEB 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,
Their strength is great-descriptions from Psalm 103:20, Revelation 5:2, and
Revelation 18:21 use the term “mighty”.
their activity marvelous
Isaiah 6:2-4
2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."ISA 6:4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
(Isaiahs vision of the Lord)
Their appearance varied according to circumstances, but was often brilliant and dazzling.
Revelation 10:1, 2.
REV 10:1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,
Angels are spirit beings (Hebrews 1:14), so they do not have any essential physical form. It definitely seems that angels have the ability to take on human form. In Genesis 18:1-19, God and two angels appeared as men and actually ate a meal with Abraham. Angels appear as men many times throughout the Bible (Joshua 5:13-14; Mark 16:5). The angelic creatures described in Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 10, and Revelation 4-5 appear quite unusual. So, angels have some form of “spiritual body” but likely we are currently incapable of truly understanding their form. Angels also have the ability to take on other forms, such as human, in order to appear to us in a manner we can understand. Whenever angels did appear to humans in the Bible, it resulted in fear, amazement, and wonder (see Daniel chapter 10).
They are
Immortal-Luke 20:36, Holy-Matt. 25:31, Wise-2 Sam. 14:17, 20
They possess emotions
Luke 15:10
10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
If they didn’t have emotions, they wouldn’t be able to be happy when somebody gets saved like we are.
Office of the angels.—Of their office in heaven we have only vague prophetic glimpses, as in 1 Kings 22:19; Isaiah 6:1-3; Daniel 7:9, 10; Revelation. 6:11,(all visions of Angels and Jesus in Heaven) that show us nothing but a never-ceasing adoration. They are represented as being, in the widest sense, agents of God’s providence, natural and supernatural, to the body and to the soul. In one word, they are Christ’s ministers of grace now, as they shall be of judgment hereafter according to Matthew 13:39, 41, 49; 16:27; 24:31.
Angels Duties and Order
Angels have duties for toward both believers and unbelievers. They are concerned in human things.
Ministry of, toward believers:
They Guide Us
Genesis. 24:7
7 "The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, `To your offspring I will give this land’--he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there.
They Provide for Us
1 Kings tells us of an Angle that came to feed the Prophet Elijah as he was running for his life.
1 Kings 19:5–8
5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." 6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
They Protect Us
Psalm 34:7
PS 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
They Deliver Us
Daniel 6:22-An Angel protects Daniel while in the lions den.
Comfort Us
Acts 27:23, 24-An Angel tells Paul that his the people on his ship will not perish during a dangerous sea voyage.
Ministry towards unbelievers
A destruction
Genesis 19:1, 13
GE 19:1 The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground, because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it."
Persecution
Psalm 35:5, 6
PS 35:5 May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away;PS 35:6 may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
Angels were even involved in the life of Christ.
Announce His conception Matt. 1:20, 21
Herald His birth Luke 2:10–12
Sustain Him Matt. 4:11
Proclaim His resurrection Matt. 28:5–7
Accompany Him to heaven Acts 1:9–11
Common Questions About Angels
"Do we become angels after we die?"
Answer: As I read the Bible, angels are beings created by God (cf. Colossians 1:15-17). In this passage Christ is the agent of creation (Colossians 1:12-17). Angels are entirely different from humans. They are God’s special agents to carry out His plan and to minister to followers of Christ (Hebrews 1:13-14).
Humans are created in the image of God to serve and enjoy Him forever. Adam and Eve represented the human race. They, however, yielded to Satan’s temptation, sinned, and thusly needed God’s redemption. Eventually, Christ came – God with us – the God-man – to do for us what we can not do for ourselves, namely provide us forgiveness and eternal life through His death and bodily resurrection. Those who accept Christ as Savior, receive Christ’s new life, resurrection life, along with Christ indwelling them spiritually. Now the believer in Christ can have fellowship with God and serve Him even giving a cup of cold water in His name.
By the way, it is well to note that angels, not being of the human race, cannot experience the redemption that Christ came to provide the human race. I refer you to 1 Peter 1:12, where they desire to look into the gospel, but it is not for them to experience. Yes, they rejoice when a sinner turns to Christ (Luke 15:10), but salvation in Christ is not for them.
Eventually, the body of the believer in Christ will die. What happens then? The spirit or personality of the believer goes to be with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:8). The believer does not become an angel. It’s interesting that both Elijah and Moses were recognizable on the Mount of Transfiguration. Perhaps believers take on a temporary "body" while in the presence of the Lord after death waiting the return of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 tells us that believers in Christ are asleep in Jesus, that is they are resting in Him but very much alive, for one who is sleeping is not dead but alive. In this text it tells us that when Christ returns, He will bring with Him those who are asleep in Him and then their bodies will be raised, made new like unto Christ’s resurrected body, to be joined with the personalities He brings with Him. All believers in Christ who are living at the return of Christ will have their bodies changed to be like Christ and they will be completely new in their personalities having no sin nature.
All the believers in Christ will recognize one another and live with the Lord forever. We will serve Him throughout eternity. Thank the Lord for the living hope He provides for the believer in Jesus Christ. I trust that you know Him as your personal Savior and are living for Him.
“Do Angels have wings?”
The most common image of an angel is essentially a human being with wings. This is not Biblical. The Bible often presents angels as appearing as human beings. However, this does not indicate that angels in their essence resemble human being. Further, the Bible vary rarely describes angels as having wings. However, there are definitely two types of angels mentioned in the Bible that have wings: (1) Cherubim (Exodus 25:20; Ezekiel 10), (2) Seraphim (Isaiah 6). Cherubim and Seraphim are two types of angels, possibly the two highest orders of angels. So, this much is clear, some angels do have wings.The Bible tells us that angels are spirit beings which we learned in Hebrews 1:14. The descriptions of the cherubim in Ezekiel chapter 10 and the seraphim in Isaiah chapter 6 are highly unusual. It is clear that Ezekiel and Isaiah were having trouble accurately describing the amazing visions they saw of Heaven and the angels. As spirit beings, it is unclear as to why the angels would require wings. A spirit being does not need wings in order to fly. The angels are not bound by the laws of the physical universe. So, do angels have wings? Yes, some angels do have wings. However, we should not limit what the angels can or cannot do based on our limited understanding of the wings angels possess as described in the Bible.
"What are cherubim? Are cherubs angels?"
Answer: Cherubim / cherubs are angelic beings involved in the worship and praise of God. The cherubim are first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 3:24, "After He drove the man out, He placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life." Prior to his rebellion Satan was a cherub (Ezekiel 28:12-15). The tabernacle and temple along with their articles contained many representations of cherubim (Exodus 25:17-22; 26:1,31; 36:8; 1 Kings 6:23-35; 7:29-36; 8:6-7; 1 Chronicles 28:18; 2 Chronicles 3:7-14; 2 Chronicles 3:10-13; 5:7-8; Hebrews 9:5).
Chapters 1 and 10 of the book of Ezekiel describe the "four living creatures" (Ezekiel 1:5) as the same beings as the cherubim (Ezekiel 10). Each had four faces-that of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle (Ezekiel 1:10; also 10:14) - and each had four wings. In their appearance, the cherubim "had the likeness of a man" (Ezekiel 1:5). These cherubim used two of their wings for flying and the other two for covering their bodies (Ezekiel 1:6,11,23). Under their wings the cherubim appeared to have the form, or likeness, of a man’s hand (Ezekiel 1:8; 10:7-8,21).
The imagery of Revelation 4:6-9 also seems to be describing cherubs. The cherubs served the purpose of magnifying the holiness and power of God. This is one of their main responsibilities throughout the Bible. In addition to singing God’s praises, they also served as a visible reminder of the majesty and glory of God and His abiding presence with His people.
"What are seraphim? Are seraphs angels?"
Answer: The seraphim "fiery, burning ones" are angelic beings associated with the prophet Isaiah’s vision of God in the Temple when he was called to his prophetic ministry (Isaiah 6:1-7). Isaiah 6:2-4 records, "Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: ’Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’ At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke." Seraphs are angels that worship God continually.
Isaiah chapter 6 is the only place in the Bible that specifically mentions the seraphim. Each seraph had six wings. They used two to fly, two to cover their feet, and two to cover their faces (Isaiah 6:2). The seraphim flew about the throne on which God was seated, singing His praises as they called special attention to His glory and majesty. These beings apparently also served as agents of purification for Isaiah as he began his prophetic ministry. One placed a hot coal against Isaiah’s lips with the words, "Your iniquity is taken away and your sin is purged" (Isaiah 6:7).
“Are Angels male or female?”
The Bible does not necessarily supports the gender of angels being male or female. Whenever gender is “assigned” to an angel in Scripture, it is male (Genesis 19:10,12; Revelation 7:2; 8:3; 10:7). This does not indicate that angels are male though. Matthew 22:30 is probably indicating that angels are “sexless.”
Matthew 22:30
30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.
If angels do not procreate, why would they need a gender? In a similar manner, God always refers to Himself in masculine language. God is neither male or female, however. He just uses masculine language because it more adequately describes who He is and what He does. If angels do have a gender, Scripture would indicate that they are predominately or universally male. It is more likely that angels are genderless, just as God is, and that masculine language is just used to describe them and their role in serving God.
"Do we have guardian angels?"
Answer: Matthew 18:10 states, "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." In the context, "these little ones" could either apply to those who believe in Him (v. 6) or it could refer to the little children (vv. 3-5). This is the key passage when the discussion of guardian angels comes up. There is no doubt that good angels help protect (Daniel 6:20-23; 2 Kings 6:13-17), reveal information (Acts 7:52-53; Luke 1:11-20), guide (Matthew 1:20-21; Acts 8:26), provide for (Genesis 21-17-20; 1 Kings 19:5-7), and minister to believers in general (Hebrews 1:14). There are so many more instances of these in Scripture.
The question that is difficult to answer is whether each person or each believer has an angel assigned to him/her. In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel had the archangel (Michael) assigned to it (Daniel 10:21; 12:1), but you do not have anywhere in Scripture where it states that an angel was "assigned" to an individual (they were sometimes sent to individuals on different instances but no mention of "permanent" assignment is given). One commentator states that the Jews had fully developed the belief in guardian angels during the time between the Old and New Testament periods. Some early church fathers believed that each person had not only a good angel assigned to him/her but also a demon as well (I am not sure who they believed assigned the demon, whether Satan or God). But at any rate, the belief in guardian angels has been around for a long time.
If one is to understand from the Matthew 18:10 passage that guardian angels are referred to, it would seem that these angels are not in an active duty, but rather "always see the face of" the Father in heaven. The active duty or oversight seems then to come more from God than the angels. In our society today, it is "in" to believe in angels. We have movies that focus on angels; we have series on TV which portray angels as being assigned to help. Scripture makes it clear that although angels possess superhuman power and knowledge, they are created beings just as we are and are "nothing" in comparison with God. As such, they are not to be worshiped (Exodus 20:1-6; Colossians 2:18). Rather, worship is to be reserved for the Trinity alone. Unfortunately, while the shows about angels give lip service to God, the Son of God is rarely mentioned (if at all). And God says, in John 5:23 that if one does not honor the Son, he does not honor the Father who sent Him.
It cannot be emphatically answered from Scripture whether each believer has a guardian angel assigned to him/her. But as stated earlier, God does use them in ministering to us. I believe that it is scriptural to say that He uses them like He uses us, i.e. He in no way needs us or them to accomplish His purposes, but chooses to use us nonetheless (Job 4:18; Job 15:15). And in the end, whether we have an angel assigned to protect us or not, we have a greater assurance that God gives: that if we are His children through faith in Christ, He works all things together for good (Romans 8:28-30), and that Jesus Christ will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). If we have an omniscient, omnipotent, all-loving God with us, what does it really matter whether there is a finite angel along side of us or not?
"What is Angelology?"
Answer: Angelology is the study of angels. There are many unbiblical views of angels in the world today. Some believe angels are human being who have died. Others believe that angels are impersonal sources of power. Still others entirely deny the existence of angels. A good, Biblical Angelology will correct these incorrect beliefs. Angelology tells us what the Bible says about angels. It is a study of how the angels relate to humanity and serve God’s purposes. Some important issues in Angelology are:
Angelology gives us God’s perspective on angels. Angels are personal beings who worship and obey God. God sometimes sends angels to "interfere" in the course of humanity. Angelology helps us to recognize the warfare that exists between God’s angels and Satan and his demons. A proper understand of Angelology is very important.
A key verse on Angelology is Hebrews 1:14, "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?"
“Are Angels meant to be worshiped?-NO”
Colossians 2:18
18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.
There was a period of time when Angels were worshiped. Books and scrolls were written about what Angel was in charge of what and how to contact them to as for something. The only person you need to ask is God since he is the one in charge of them.
In Part 2 we will look at
The Relation of Angels To God
The Angel of The Lord
The relation of Angels to Humans
Satan and The Fallen Angels.
