Who are the Angels?
Who are the angels? Are there kinds of angels? Do they help us? Are Satan and demons angels? Are we at war with them? The word angel comes from a Greek word ???e??? (angelos) meaning a messenger. The study of angels is thus called angelology.
Who are the Angels?
Heaven’s angels were created by God.
For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16 NIV)
One of their most important jobs is to be ministering spirits serving the heirs of salvation.
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (Hebrews 1:14 KJV)
Angels are often collectively referred to as the heavenly host, or heaven's armies.
Micaiah said, "Therefore, hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left. (1 Kings 22:19 NASB)
… you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. (Hebrews 12:22 NLT)
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:13-14 ESV)
Both humans and angels are called sons of God.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12 KJV)
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Romans 8:14 NASB)
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26 NASB)
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. (Job 1:6 KJV)
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. (Job 2:1 KJV)
The angels in heaven are also called holy ones or saints, a title which can also apply to human beings.
The heavens praise your wonders, Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings? In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. (Psalm 89:5-7 NIV)
Angels are individual persons who can have curiosity.
To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into. (1 Peter 1:12 NKJV)
Angels shout praises.
Suddenly many other angels came down from heaven and joined in praising God… (Luke 2:13 CEV)
Angels have free will because some chose disobedience.
And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment. (Jude 6 NLT)
Angels are a slightly higher created order than human beings.
What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. (Psalm 8:4-5 NKJV)
Angels are unable to have children.
For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. (Matthew 22:30 KJV)
Like us, angels are also inferior to Christ.
But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:1-14 NKJV)
Are there Kinds of Angels?
Head angels are called archangels.
But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 9 NIV)
At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. (Daniel 12:1 NLT)
And we know of at least two other classes. One is called seraphs, or using the Hebrew plural ending seraphim.
Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory." And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. (Isaiah 6:4 NASB)
And another class is cherubs and other unusual creatures.
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. (Genesis 3:24 NIV)
There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites. (Exodus 25:22 NIV)
… Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings… (Ezekiel 1:4-28 KJV)
… And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle… (Revelation 4:4-8 KJV)
Some angels even look after people and are commonly called guardian angels.
Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father. (Matthew 18:10 NLT)
Do Angels Help Us?
The angels served the saints of the Old Testament period.
When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the Lord was merciful. (Genesis 19:16 NLT)
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways (Psalm 91:11 NIV)
They served Christ during his earthly ministry.
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin… (Luke 1:26-38 NKJV)
And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. (Mark 1:13 KJV)
And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. (Luke 22:43 ESV)
Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? (Matthew 26:53 NASB)
Angels rejoice in the salvation of believers, serving, protecting, encouraging and relaying God’s will to them.
Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (Luke 15:10 NKJV)
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14 NIV)
And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands. (Acts 12:7 NASB)
For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ (Acts 27:23-24 NLT)
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (Acts 8:26 NIV)
Evil Angels
Not all angels are good. Some have rebelled against God.
For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment. (2 Peter 2:4 NLT)
Jesus spoke often of the devil and demons.
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44 NIV)
The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels. (Matthew 13:39 NLT)
“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. (Matthew 25:41 NLT)
And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ. (Luke 4:41 NKJV)
Spiritual Battles
We are in a constant state of war with spiritual adversaries, but through Christ we have the victory. We don’t need to fear. Resist the devil and he will flee from us.
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:7-8 NIV)
It is spiritual warfare.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God… (Ephesians 6:12-18 NIV)
The battle is won on God’s side, with Christ who is far above every power. Let’s just be sure whose side we are on.
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. (Romans 16:20 NLT)
The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” (Psalm 110:1 NKJV)
… Christ… far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church (Ephesians 1:20-22 NASB)
Thank God that Jesus has already won the battle. Thank God that in Jesus, we win, and the righteous Angels who are loyal fellow servants of the Most High God, win with us. Next time we’ll explore God’s purpose for humanity.
