Definition: Angels are supernatural beings, created by God to be messengers, which is what the Greek word Angelos means. Angels are always masculine in the Bible, with the possible exception of Zechariah 5:9f
Two men come with God in Genesis 18-19 and are identified as angels in 19:1.
They come with the message and power to bring about the removal of Lot and his family from Sodom.
HEB 2:2 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every
transgression and disobedience received a just recompense,
HEB 1:13 But to which of the angels has He ever said, "Sit at My right
hand, Until I make Thine enemies A footstool for Thy feet"?
HEB 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service
for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
EPH 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness,
against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Who Directs Angels?
Matthew 26:53 [Jesus] at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions
of angels
Matthew 28:18 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
This tells us Jesus has authority over angels.
Colossians 1:16-17 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven,
and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him,
and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
How does one become an angel?
Angels are not women. They are not even beautiful women. Angels are
unmarriageable beings. They are not dead earthlings. They were created
before creation of the earth.
The Character of God requires holiness and perfection in his creation.
This includes angels. See Genesis 18:25 and compare 1:31; Habakkuk 1:13
Do Angels Marry?
MAT 22:23 On that day some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection)
came to Him and questioned Him, :24 saying, "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a
man dies, having no children, his brother as next of kin shall marry his
wife, and raise up an offspring to his brother.' :25 "Now there were seven
brothers with us; and the first married and died, and having no offspring
left his wife to his brother; :26 so also the second, and the third, down
to the seventh. :27 "And last of all, the woman died. :28 "In the
resurrection therefore whose wife of the seven shall she be? For they all
had her." :29 But Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not
understanding the Scriptures, or the power of God. :30 "For in the
resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like
angels in heaven.
MAR 12:18 And some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came
to Him, and began questioning Him, saying, :19 "Teacher, Moses wrote for
us that if a man's brother dies, and leaves behind a wife, and leaves no
child, his brother should take the wife, and raise up offspring to his
brother. :20 "There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and
died, leaving no offspring. :21 "And the second one took her, and died,
leaving behind no offspring; and the third likewise; :22 and so all seven
left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. :23 "In the
resurrection, when they rise again, which one's wife will she be? For all
seven had her as wife." :24 Jesus said to them, "Is this not the reason
you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures, or the power
of God? :25 "For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are
given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
LUK 20:29 "Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and
died childless; :30 and the second
LUK 20:31 and the third took her; and in the same way all seven died,
leaving no children. :32 "Finally the woman died also.
LUK 20:33 "In the resurrection therefore, which one's wife will she be? For
all seven had her as wife." :34 And Jesus said to them, "The sons of this
age marry and are given in marriage,
:35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the
resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage; :36
for neither can they die anymore, for they are like angels, and are sons of
God, being sons of the resurrection.
Are There Sexy Angels?
MAR 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor
are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
This is the response to the Sadducees, to did not believe in the
resurrection [They were Sad -U- See]. They asked a question about a woman
who married 7 brothers here on earth. There question, "Whose husband would
she be in heaven." Jesus indicates in this verse, that in heaven we will
be non-sexual beings just like the angels.
Do Angels Fly?
REV 14:6 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal
gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and
tribe and tongue and people;
Another possibility of angels flying is at the birth of Jesus.
"And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host praising God, and saying..." Luke 2:13 Please note however that in
verse 9, "an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them."
Do Angels get Emotional?
ACT 12:23 And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did
not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.
PSA 78:49 He sent upon them His burning anger, Fury, and indignation, and
trouble, A band of destroying angels.
What do Angels look like?
Apparently, angels look like men most of the time on earth. In the Bible
they assume several different appearances.
I have not been able to find one reference to angels having wings or a halo
in the Bible. In fact horns, and halos appear to be a Painter's thing in
the Middle Ages.
Seraphs and Cherubs do not seem to be in the same class as angels. Both
Seraphs and Cherubs have as many as six wings, but they also have up to
four faces, and Cherubs seem to be close to the Throne Room of God.
Most of the time, Angels appear to look like men on our planet. Some
angels come with God's Shekinah Glory, but most come, looking like men. My
Sunday School class has decided some must come as women, since "some have
entertained angels without knowing it." As I said, every reference in the
Bible shows angels in the masculine form. Obviously, from Matt 22:30,
Mark 12:25, Luke 20:36, angels are sexless beings in heaven.
Compare Genesis 18:1-2 with Genesis 19:1-2. The men of chapter 18, leave
Abraham's dinner table and go toward Sodom. Moses labels the two, as they
walk into Sodom, angels.
Genesis 19: Lot didn't understand these were angels. They looked like men,
but had the power to blind the men trying to sin against them.
Ezekiel 1: 5 And within it there were figures resembling four living
beings. And this was their appearance: they had human form. But they had
four faces.
John 20:12 and she beheld two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and
one at the feat, where the body of Jesus had been lying.
Hebrews 13:2 NASB "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by
this some have entertained angels without knowing it." This would indicate
they look enough like men to be incognito.
Zechariah 1:9-10 then I said, "My lord, what are these?" And the angel
who was speaking with me said to me, "I will show you what these are." 10)
And the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered and said...
Angel and man are used interchangeably.
Angels are supernatural, spirit beings. Heavenly spirit beings do not seem
to need a body, but can take on the body shape they need to get their
message across.
1CH 21:16 Then David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord
standing between earth and heaven, with his drawn sword in his hand
stretched out over Jerusalem. If we believe scripture literally, this is
one big angel.
What is the Shekinah Glory?
EXO 34:33 When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over
his face. :34 But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with
Him, he would take off the veil until he came out; and whenever he came out
and spoke to the sons of Israel what he had been commanded, NOTE: Moses
came down from Mount Sinai after spending 40 days with God. His face was
so bright, the people couldn't look on him. He had to put a vail over his
face so the people could view Moses and hear what God wanted them to know.
MAT 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the
sun, and his raiment was white as the light. :3 And, behold, there
appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. NOTE: We can't look
at the sun, it is far to bright. Jesus face was the Shekinah glory of
heaven, we shall live with all eternity.
Guardian Angels?
Psalm 91:11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard
you in all your ways.
PSA 34:7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And
rescues them.
Heb 1:13-14 But to which of the angels has He ever said, Sit at My right
hand, Until, I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet? Are they not
all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those
who will inherit salvation?
Matthew 4:6 KJV And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself
down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee:
and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy
foot against a stone cf Ps 91:11
Daniel 12:1 Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard
over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of
distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time;
and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book,
will be rescued.
Is there a guardian Angel for each Christian?
Heb 1:13-14 But to which of the angels has He ever said, Sit at My right
hand, Until, I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet? Are they not
all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those
who will inherit salvation?
There is no mention of a guardian angel for unsaved people. Romans 8:28
states:
ROM 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good
to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
There it is again. "Those who love God" There is no direct reference
telling us if we have an individual angel, or demon to challenge us, as is
the premise of C.S. Lewis' book, Screwtape Letters.
DAN 3:28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his
servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded
their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their
own God. NOTE: Here is a visualized angel in the fire with Shadrach,
Meshack and Abendnego to protect them.
Does Fire hurt Angels?
Who was in the fire with Shadrach, Meshack, and Abed-nego? Dan 3:24-26
Cherubs have arms, and hands. Ezekiel 10:4, 7, they are able to handle
fire in these arms. cf Angel: Judges 13:20
Judges 6:21 And the angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the
unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth." And
he did so. :21 then the angel of the Lord put out the end of the staff
that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and
fire sprang up from the rock and consumed...Then the angel of the Lord
vanished from his sight... :22 "Alas, O Lord God! for now I have seen the
angle of the Lord face to face."
Isa 6:6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, with a burning coal in his
hand which he had taken from the altar with tongs.
Daniel 3:28 and context indicate Angels cannot burn even when they are in a
fierce heat of direct fire. This is clearly a miracle to keep the three
men alive, but the angel was not harmed either.
Where do Angels live?
Angels appear to live in heaven. Although they can travel between heaven
and earth.
Genesis 22:11, 15 called "from heaven"
We see angels walking up and down on a ladder between earth and heaven in
Jacob's dream verse Genesis 28:12
ISA 14:12 "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of
the dawn!
LUK 2:15 And it came about when the angels had gone away from them into
heaven, that the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight
to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has
made known to us."
JOH 1:51 And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you shall see the
heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son
of Man."
Organization of Angels?
EPH 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness,
against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Colossians 1:16-17 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven,
and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him,
and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Over half the verses in Colossians are also in Ephesians.
And just to muddy the waters, 2 Corinthians 11:14 indicates Satan can
disguise himself as an angel. I do not believe Cherubs are angels. I
believe they are Living Beings.
2CO 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of
light. (angelon thotos)
They were created holy Gen 18:25, 1:31, Hab 1:13, 2 Pet 2:4, Jude 6
GEN 18:25 "Far be it from Thee to do such a thing, to slay the righteous
with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike.
Far be it from Thee! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?"
GEN 1:31 And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.
And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
HAB 1:13 Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil, And Thou canst not look
on wickedness with favor. Why dost Thou look with favor On those who deal
treacherously? Why art Thou silent when the wicked swallow up Those more
righteous than they?
2PE 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned
They had probation 1 Tim 5:21, 1 Pet 1:1, 2
1TI 5:21 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus
and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing
nothing in a spirit of partiality.
Some preserved their integrity Psa 89:7, Mark 8:38, matt 25:31
PSA 89:7 A God greatly feared in the council of the holy ones, And awesome
above all those who are around Him?
MAR 8:38 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and
sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes
in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved
for judgment;
MAT 25:31 ¶ "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels
with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
Some fell from their state of innocence Jude 6, 2 peter 2:4, Rev 12:7,
Matt 25:41
JUD 1:6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their
proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment
of the great day.
2PE 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them
into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;
REV 12:7 ¶ And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war
with the dragon. And the dragon and his angels waged war,
MAT 25:41 "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me,
accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil
and his angels;
The good are confiremd in goodness Matt 6:10, 2 Cor 11:14,
MAT 6:10 'Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
2CO 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of
light.
The evil are confirmed in Wickedness, matt 13:19, 6:13, John 8:44, 1John
5:19, Rev 12:7,9 22:11
MAT 13:19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not
understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in
his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
MAT 6:13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
[For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.]'
JOH 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires
of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in
the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he
speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.
1JO 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power
of the evil one.
REV 12:7 ¶ And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war
with the dragon. And the dragon and his angels waged war,
REV 12:8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place
found for them in heaven.
REV 12:9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is
called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown
down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
REV 22:11 "Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and let the one who
is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still
practice righteousness; and let the one who is holy, still keep himself
holy."
What Class are Seraphs, Cherubs, etc.?
Angels are Angels. Seraphs and Cherubs and other "thrones, or dominions,
or principalities, or powers" are called "Living beings" in Ezekiel 1:14.
Archangel, as there name implies, seem to be the Generals of the Angels.
EZE 1:14 And the living beings ran to and fro like bolts of lightning.
Are There Named Angels?
Gabriel
Gabriel means mighty one of God: is described both as a man and angel, yet
another reference to angels looking like men. He is a messenger of God.
Daniel 8:16, Daniel 9:21, Luke 1:19 and Luke 1:26
Michael
Michael = Who is like unto God?
Daniel 12:1 Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard
over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of
distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time;
and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book,
will be rescued.
Jude 9. Michael saw a man, not unlike the vision in Revelation 1, but it
appears to be an angel, for he needed "Michael, one of the chief princes,"
to help him overcome the Prince of Persia. Daniel 10:13 Michael is the
only one given to appose the forces Daniel 10:21
Michael appears to be the five star general of heaven Rev 12:7
REV 12:7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war
with the dragon. And the dragon and his angels waged war, :8 and they were
not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in
heaven.
Michael is named as a guardian angel? archangel?
All references: Daniel 1:13, 10:21, 12:1, Jude 1:9, Rev 12:7
Lucifer
Name means light bearer. Lucifer was a Cherub before he fell. Ezekiel
28:14, 16. See also Devil.
Archangel
1TH 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in
Christ shall rise first.
JUD 1:9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and
argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a
railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you."
Archangels don't have the authority to fight with fallen cherubs.
Cherub
Cherubs are mentioned 20 times in Scripture. We first see them being
described to the artists who will carve them for the seat of the Ark of the
Covenant. Exodus 25:19, 37:7-9
Cherubs have wings
David's Song of Praise. 2 Samuel 22:11 And He rode on a cherub and flew;
And He appeared on the wings of the wind. cf Psalm 18:10
1 Kings 6:24 And five cubits (length of your arm from elbow to fingertips)
was the one wing of the cherub and five cubits the other wing of the
cherub;
Other verses 1 Kings 6:27, 2 Chronicles 3:12
1 Kings 6:26 The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was the
other cherub. Cherubs appear to have wings one half as long as they are
high.
There was a city named Cherub Esra 2:59, Nehemiah 7:61
Shekinah Glory is on Cherubs Ezekiel 9:3, 10:4
Cherubs have arms, and hands. Ezekiel 10:4, 7, they are able to handle
fire in these arms. cf Angel: Judges 13:20
Cherubs appear to have several faces Ezekiel 10:14, 41:18
Lucifer was a Cherub before he fell. Ezekiel 28:14, 16
Unidentified Beings
Unidentified being may be Cherub. Cherubs have more than one face and fly.
So does the unidentified being.
EZE 1:4-14 And as I looked, behold, a storm wind was coming from the
north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright
light around it, and in its midst something like glowing metal in the midst
of the fire. :5 And within it there were figures resembling four living
beings. And this was their appearance: they had human form. :6 Each of
them had four faces and four wings. :7 And their legs were straight and
their feet were like a calf's hoof, and they gleamed like burnished bronze.
:8 Under their wings on their four sides were human hands. As for the faces
and wings of the four of them, :9 their wings touched one another; their
faces did not turn when they moved, each went straight forward. :10 As for
the form of their faces, each had the face of a man, all four had the face
of a lion on the right and the face of a bull on the left, and all four had
the face of an eagle. :11 Such were their faces. Their wings were spread
out above; each had two touching another being, and two covering their
bodies. :12 And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about
to go, they would go, without turning as they went. :13 In the midst of
the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of
fire, like torches darting back and forth among the living beings. The fire
was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire. :14 And the living
beings ran to and fro like bolts of lightning.
Seraphim
Two mentions in Bible, both are mentioned regarding Isaiah's vision of the
Throne Room of God. The name Seraphim, is the plural of Something burning
and dazzling.
Isaiah 6:2 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.
Isaiah 6:6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, with a burning coal in his
hand which he had taken from the altar with tongs.
Seraphim is a plural expression for Seraph. When you hear someone say
Seraphim, they are using an improper Hebrew plural and English plural.
Seraphim are not described as angels, they appear to be located with
another kind or level of spiritual beings of the Colossians 1:16 variety.
Angel of the Lord
There are 77 references to "angel of the Lord" in the Bible. This subject
could use an entire book to itself. Some translators see this angel or
Angel of the Lord as God, or Jesus pre-incarnate? Let us look at several
scriptures and see.
First mention:
Genesis 16:7 Now the angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in
the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. Verse 11, identifies him
again, The angel of the Lord said to her,...
Notice Hagar's response in verse 13, Then she called the name of the Lord
who spoke to her, 'Thou art a God who sees' for she said, 'Have I even
remained alive after seeing Him?' Hagar felt she was looking at God. This
response is recorded for us to read and learn some 4000 years later. This
would indicate a Pre-incarnate personality
NUM 22:32 And the angel of the Lord said to him, "Why have you struck your
donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because
your way was contrary to me. NOTE: The angel of Lord states he is God.
Judges 6:21 then the angel of the Lord put out the end of the staff that
was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire
sprang up from the rock and consumed...Then the angel of the Lord vanished
from his sight... :22 "Alas, O Lord God! for now I have seen the angle of
the Lord face to face." Gideon behaves much as Hagar did when she sees the
Angel of the Lord.
I Samuel 37:36 Then the angel of the Lord went out, and struck 185,000 in
the camp of the Assyrians; and when men arose early in the morning, behold,
all of these were dead. Power
PSA 34:7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And
rescues them. Guarding Angel
ISA 37:36 Then the angel of the Lord went out, and struck 185,000 in the
camp of the Assyrians; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, all
of these were dead. Power
ZEC 1:11 So they answered the angel of the Lord who was standing among the
myrtle trees, and said, "We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the
earth is peaceful and quiet." NOTE: Verse 9 identifies the speaker as an
"angel." Verse 10, identifies him as an "man." And verse 11, identifies
him as "the angel of the Lord."
ZEC 3:1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel
of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. NOTE:
This seems to have the personality of Jesus. Compare with the four
following verses:
MAT 2:13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared
to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise and take the Child and His mother, and
flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to
search for the Child to destroy Him." NOTE: Messenger, certainly not Jesus
pre-incarnate. He is the Child mentioned in the passage.
MAT 28:2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the
Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon
it. NOTE: One occasion where angel of Lord almost couldn't be
pre-incarnate Jesus.
LUK 2:9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory
[doxa] of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
NOTE: When Moses had been with God on Sinai, he had to wear a vail because
he was so brilliant, the people couldn't see him. This doxa doesn't have
to be God, but people/angels that have been close to God. Gabriel
announced to Mary, she would have a child. This is two verses after Jesus'
incarnation.
ACT 8:26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, "Arise and go
south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza."(This is a desert
road.) Messenger
ACT 12:23 And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did
not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died. NOTE: This
shows the Power of angels, it also shows emotion of angels.
Conclusion, There is some validity to feeling "Angel of the Lord" is
special. Hagar and Gideon sure felt he was. On the other hand, most of
the 77 verses in the NASB Bible using these words, don't indicate anything
out of the ordinary, other than an angel that was of the Lord. And in
Matthew 28:2, the Angel of the Lord was present while Jesus was in the
tomb. If he was really dead, and I believe he was, then this almost
certainly wasn't a pre-incarnate or incarnate Jesus.
Angel of God
GEN 21:17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called
to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear
not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. NOTE:
compassionate
GEN 31:11 And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And
I said, Here am I.
Angels met Jacob as he went to see Esau Genesis 32:1 and he knew they were
angels.
GEN 32:1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. :2 And
when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of
that place Mahanaim.
EXO 14:19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel,
removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before
their face, and stood behind them:
JDG 6:20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the
unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And
he did so...:22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD,
Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD
face to face. NOTE: This equates Angel of God with Angel of the Lord.
JDG 13:6 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God
came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of
God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me
his name:
JDG 13:9 And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God
came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband
was not with her.
1SA 29:9 And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good
in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the
Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
2SA 14:17 Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now
be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern
good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.
ACT 10:3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an
angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
ACT 27:23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am,
and whom I serve,
GAL 4:14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor
rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
What Do Angels Eat?
In 1 Kings 19: 5 and 7 we find an angel (singular) coming and cooking a
meal for Elijah after he wearied from his long run from Jezebel.
Genesis 18:8 And he took curds and milk and the calf which he had
prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the
tree as the ate.
How fast can Angels Travel?
Daniel 9:20 Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin
and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the
Lord my god in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, while I was still
speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision
previously, cam to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening
offering. And he gave me instruction and talked with me, and said, ... at
the beginning of your supplication the was issued, and I have come to tell
you ...
This passage tells us that as he prayed the prayer between verses 5 and 19,
God told Gabriel to come and tell Daniel the future. It took 553 words to
get God's attention, have Gabriel come, give him the message and then have
Gabriel move from the Throne of God to Daniel.
Angels move very fast, or God is very near. Angels appear to move at the
speed of thought. One more consideration. If E=MC^2, angels don't have to
worry about mass. As spirit beings, the speed of light may be quite slow.
The Power of Angels
One angel can kill 70 thousand men.
2SA 24:15 So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning until
the appointed time; and seventy thousand men of the people from Dan to
Beersheba died. :16 When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem
to destroy it, the Lord relented from the calamity, and said to the angel
who destroyed the people, "It is enough! Now relax your hand!"And the angel
of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. :17 Then
David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking down the
people, and said, "Behold, it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have
done wrong; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let Thy hand be
against me and against my father's house."
1CH 21:14 So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel; 70,000 men of Israel
fell. :15 And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; but as he was
about to destroy it, the Lord saw and was sorry over the calamity, and said
to the destroying angel, "It is enough; now relax your hand."And the angel
of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. :16
Then David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing
between earth and heaven, with his drawn sword in his hand stretched out
over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, covered with sackcloth, fell on
their faces.
The Angel of the Lord killed 185 Thousand in a short time.
I Samuel 37:36 Then the angel of the Lord went out, and struck 185,000 in
the camp of the Assyrians; and when men arose early in the morning, behold,
all of these were dead.
2KI 19:35 Then it happened that night that the angel of the Lord went out,
and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men rose early in
the morning, behold, all of them were dead. See also 2 Chronicles 32:21
and Isaiah 37:36
Able to change the course of a major river and kill 1/3 of mankind.
REV 9:14 one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the
four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." :15 And the four
angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were
released, so that they might kill a third of mankind.
Able to subdue the devil.
REV 20:1 And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the
abyss and a great chain in his hand. :2 And he laid hold of the dragon,
the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a
thousand years,
Able to cause physical pain and death.
Acts 12:23 And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did
not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.
Able to keep guards asleep and do many supernatural details
ACT 5:19 But an angel of the Lord during the night opened the gates of the
prison,
ACT 12:7 And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared, and a light
shone in the cell; and he struck Peter's side and roused
him, saying, "Get up quickly."And his chains fell off his hands.
from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were
expecting." 12:11 And when Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I know for
sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me Walked through
locked gates, they opened, guards kept asleep, chains fell off
The Work of Angels
Garden of Eden. GEN 3:24 So He drove the man out; and at the east of the
garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim, and the flaming sword which
turned every direction, to guard the way to the tree of life. NOTE: guards
JOS 5:13 Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up
his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his
sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you
for us or for our adversaries?"
14 And he said, "No, rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the
Lord."And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to
him, "What has my lord to say to his servant?"
PSA 34:7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And
rescues them. 8 O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the
man who takes refuge in Him!
DAN 3:24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste;
he responded and said to his high officials, "Was it not three men we cast
bound into the midst of the fire?"They answered and said to the king,
"Certainly, O king." 25 He answered and said, "Look! I see four men loosed
and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance
of the fourth is like a son of the gods!"
DAN 6:22 "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have
not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward
you, O king, I have committed no crime."
ACT 12:7 And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared, and a light
shone in the cell; and he struck Peter's side and roused him, saying, "Get
up quickly."And his chains fell off his hands.
8 And the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and put on your sandals."And he
did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me." 9
And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was
being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10
And when they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron
gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they
went out and went along one street; and immediately the angel departed from
him.
EXO 23:20 "Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you
along the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.
NUM 22:22 But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the Lord
took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on
his donkey and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the
angel of the Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, the
donkey turned off from the way and went into the field; but Balaam struck
the donkey to turn her back into the way.
MAT 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and
ministered unto him.
LUK 24:23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they
had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
HEB 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service
for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
Angels watch us: HEB 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of
witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the
sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race
that is set before us,
Angels as Messengers
GEN 16:7 Now the angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the
wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, "Hagar,
Sarai's maid, where have you come from and where are you going?"And she
said, "I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai." 9 Then the
angel of the Lord said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit
yourself to her authority."
GEN 19:15 And when morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Up, take
your wife and your two daughters, who are here, lest you be swept away in
the punishment of the city." 16 But he hesitated. So the men seized his
hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the
compassion of the Lord> was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him
outside the city. 17 And it came about when they had brought them outside,
that one said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not
stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, lest you be swept
away."
DAN 9:21 while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I
had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about
the time of the evening offering. 22 And he gave me instruction and talked
with me, and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight
with understanding.
1CH 21:18 Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that
David should go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of
Ornan the Jebusite.
MAT 1:20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord
appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid
to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of
the Holy Spirit.
MAT 2:13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared
to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise and take the Child and His mother, and
flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to
search for the Child to destroy Him."
ACT 10:3 About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an
angel of God who had just come in to him, and said to him, "Cornelius!"
Can We See Angels?
1CH 21:16 Then David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord
standing between earth and heaven, with his drawn sword in his hand
stretched out over Jerusalem.
NUM 22:27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under
Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick. :28 And
the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have
I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" :29 Then Balaam
said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had
been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now." :30 And the
donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all
your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?"And he
said, "No." :31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the
angel of the Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and
he bowed all the way to the ground.
Men seem to be able to see angels when they wish to be observed. Even
Baalam's donkey could see angels, only his master couldn't see, until the
donkey talked to him. By the way, the donkey was afraid of the vision he
saw, and he had seen many men.
Should we Worship Angels?
COL 2:18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in
self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions
he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,
Angels or God?
Angels don't accept adoration. God always does.
Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, "Do not
do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the
testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit
of prophecy."
REV 22:8 And I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when
I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed
me these things. :9 And he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow
servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed
the words of this book; worship God."
David Jeremiah, mentions on page 55, one of the reasons we may not be able
to see angels is because we would worship them.
Ant, animal or angel all are created by God. No matter how glorious an
angel is for us to view, God is the infinite, immutable, one who is Light.
See JOHN 8:12 "I am the light of the world; JOHN 9:5 I am the light of
the world."
"Money, power or self-indulgence, The Lord says, "You shall have no other
gods before me." Jeremiah pg 55.
How Old are Angels?
JOB 38:4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me,
if you have understanding, :5 Who set its measurements, since you know? Or
who stretched the line on it? :6 "On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid
its cornerstone, :7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons
of God shouted for joy?
Sons of God is translated many times, angels of God. Angels have been
around since at least the creation of the earth.
Number of Angels
PSA 68:17 The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands; The
Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness.
DAN 7:10 "A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him;
Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were
standing before Him; The court sat, And the books were opened.
HEB 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living
God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,
REV 5:11 And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the
throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was
myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,
Where "Good" Angels Live?
Angels have their own dwelling place near God.
GEN 28:12 And he had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth
with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were
ascending and descending on it.
JOH 1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter
ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending
upon the Son of man.
HEB 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living
God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,
Where do "Bad" Angels Live?
MAT 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from
me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his
angels:
JUDE 1:6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their
proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment
of the great day.
2PE 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to
hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto
judgment;
Angel as opposed to Angels
Needs work
First mention in Bible:
An unnamed angel gives a direct command: Gen 16:7-9 He found her, he
said...Return to your mistress and submit yourself to her authority. 2)
You shall call his name Ishmaiel
He also knows much Behold you are with child, you will bear a son
He knows the future, I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they
shall be too many to count.
Second mention: "Don't fear," is only used in Christmas story.
Diserning Angels
MAT 13:41 "The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather
out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness,
... :49 "So it will be at the end of the age; the angels shall come forth,
and take out the wicked from among the righteous,
Matt 24:31 And he will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they
will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky
to the other
Ministering Angels
Mark 1:13 And He was in the wilderness forty being tempted by Satan; and
He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.
1 Kings 19? Elijah being fed twice in the desert by angels.
Are Angels Omni Knowledge
Mark 13: 32 But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in
heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. NOTE: This verse implies that
angels know a great deal.
Angels in close proximity to God
Angels seem to be part of the approval/denial process of God.
Luke 12:8-9 And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the
Son of man shall confess him also before the angels of God; but he who
denies Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
Can Angels Die?
Luke 20:36 for neither can they die anymore, for they are like angels, and
are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
Angels Watch Us
1 Timothy 3:16 And by common confession great is the mystery of godliness:
He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Beheld by
angels, Proclaimed among the nations...
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore since we have so great a cloud of witnesses
surrounding us... This is not definitively angels, but may with the numbers
suggested include angels.
Demonic Angels?
1 Tim 4:1 that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow
deceiving spirits and things taught by angels.
2 Peter 2:4, and Jude 6.
Needs developing
Where did the Devil Come From?
Most conservative Theologians believe these two passages discuss Lucifer,
while talking about other kings. What king fell from heaven?
ISA 14:12 "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of
the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the
nations! :13 "But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will
raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of
assembly In the recesses of the north. :14 'I will ascend above the
heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' :15
"Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, To the recesses of the pit.
:16 "Those who see you will gaze at you, They will ponder over you, saying,
'Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms, :17 Who
made the world like a wilderness And overthrew its cities, Who did not
allow his prisoners to go home?' :18 "All the kings of the nations lie in
glory, Each in his own tomb. :19 "But you have been cast out of your tomb
Like a rejected branch, Clothed with the slain who are pierced with a
sword, Who go down to the stones of the pit, Like a trampled corpse.
The middle letter of both "Pride" and "Sin" is "i". How many
"i's" can you find in Isaiah 14: 12-19.
EZE 28:11 Again the word of the Lord came to me saying, :12 "Son of man,
take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'Thus says the
Lord God,"You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in
beauty. :13 "You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was
your covering: The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx,
and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; And the
gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, Was in you. On the day
that you were created They were prepared. :14 "You were the anointed
cherub who covers, And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of
God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire. :15 "You were
blameless in your ways From the day you were created, Until unrighteousness
was found in you. :16 "By the abundance of your trade You were internally
filled with violence, And you sinned; Therefore I have cast you as profane
From the mountain of God. And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub, From
the midst of the stones of fire. :17 "Your heart was lifted up because of
your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I cast
you to the ground; I put you before kings, That they may see you. :18 "By
the multitude of your iniquities, In the unrighteousness of your trade, You
profaned your sanctuaries. Therefore I have brought fire from the midst of
you; It has consumed you, And I have turned you to ashes on the earth In
the eyes of all who see you. :19 "All who know you among the peoples Are
appalled at you; You have become terrified, And you will be no more."' "
How Many Angels Can Dance on the Head of a Pin?
TIT 3:9 But shun foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and
disputes about the Law; for they are unprofitable and worthless.
1TI 1:4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give
rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God
which is by faith.
1TI 6:4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid
interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which
arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
2TI 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;
but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves
teachers in accordance to their own desires; :4 and will turn away their
ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.
2PE 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to
you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses
of His majesty.
2TI 2:23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they
produce quarrels.
Where is God/Angels/Men in the Great Chain of being?
PSA 8:4 What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of
man, that Thou dost care for him? :5 Yet Thou hast made him a little lower
than God, And dost crown him with glory and majesty! :6 Thou dost make him
to rule over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his
feet, :9 O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Thy name in all the earth!
HEB 2:5 For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning
which we are speaking.:6 But one has testified somewhere, saying, "What is
man, that Thou rememberest him? Or the son of man, that Thou art concerned
about him? :7 "Thou hast made him for a little while lower than the
angels; Thou hast crowned him with glory and honor, And hast appointed him
over the works of Thy hands; :8 Thou hast put all things in subjection
under his feet. "For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that
is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to
him. :9 But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than
the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with
glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for
everyone.
1CO 6:3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, matters
of this life?
NOTE: We change places with angels. Does this occur at Salvation?
Books on Angels
The Bible, any version is the best source. I used the New American
Standard Version for this paper.
Bancroft, Emery, Christian Theology, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand
Rapids, Michigan, 1955. Beginning on page 283. Brought a number of good
verses to mind, and helped me organize my thoughts.
Freeman, Eileen Elias, The Angels' Little Instruction Book, Time Warner,
1994. A Verse and a quote on each page, not worth the $.95.
Graham, Billy, Angels: God's Secret Agents, 1975, Doubleday, Garden City,
New York. A popular work on the topic.
Gabelein, A.C., The Angels of God, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI.,
1969. A classic work first published in 1924.
Harvey, Gail, On the Wings of Angels, Gramercy Books, New York, 1993.
Quotes, pictures, Bible verses., poems. Don't get any theology from this
book.
Jeremiah, David, What the Bible Says About Angels, Multnomah Books,
Sisters, Oregon, 1996. Good book.