Angels

Both God and Satan, have spirit-being “troops” that they command. God has those whom the Bible calls “angels” (in both Hebrew and Greek the word for angels means “messengers”), and Satan has those referred to as “evil spirits” or “unclean spirits.” A study of Scripture shows that all of these spirit beings were originally good “angels.”

Only three angels are named in the Bible: Gabriel, Michael, and Lucifer.

Gabriel

Daniel ponders the meanings of several visions he has experienced in exile, when Gabriel appears to him (Daniel 8:16-25).

Gabriel is mentioned twice by name:

  1. "...And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it; and, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, who called, and said:' Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.' So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was terrified, and fell upon my face; but he said to me: 'Understand, son of man; for the vision belongs to the time of the end..." (Daniel 8:15-17). 
  2. It is towards the end of the rule of Babylonia, Gabriel is sent to explain the "End of Days", "...And 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 for the holy mountain of my God; and while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, approached close to me about the time of the evening offering. And he made me understand, and talked with me, and said: 'Daniel, I have now come to make you skillful of understanding...Seventy weeks are decreed upon your people and upon your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sin, and to forgive iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal vision and prophet, and to anoint the most holy place" (Daniel 9:20-24).

Michael

"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels," (Rev. 12:7)

Michael is a righteous, very powerful, high-ranking angel of God - the only angel who is specifically called an "archangel" in the Bible. Michael is prominent, although not often mentioned, in Bible History (e.g. when he prevented Satan from stealing the dead body of Moses), and in Prophecy where he is mentioned in both of the major prophetic books of Daniel and Revelation. He is described as having command of a large force of angels that defeat Satan and a multitude of demons, and as the "great prince who has charge of" the nation of Israel.

"The archangel" (Jude 1:9). Probably also the unnamed archangel of 1 Thess 4:16 is Michael. In the Old Testament he is mentioned by name only in Daniel. He is "one of the chief princes" (Dan 10:13), the "prince" of Israel (Dan 10:21), "the great prince" (Dan 12:1); perhaps also "the prince of the host" (Dan 8:11). In all these passages Michael appears as the heavenly patron and champion of Israel; as the watchful guardian of the people of God against all foes earthly or devilish. In the apocalyptic writings, however, Jewish angelology is further developed. In them Michael frequently appears and excretes functions similar to those which are ascribed to him in Daniel. 

Among the many characterizations of Michael the following may be noted: It is he who opposed the Devil in a dispute concerning Moses' body (Jude 1:9). It is Michael also who leads the angelic armies in the war in heaven against "the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan" (Rev 12:7).

Lucifer

Beside Michael and Gabriel, the other highest-ranking angel was one whom Scripture refers to as the “angel of light” (and by many other names and descriptions).

"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:13-14)

Satan has not always existed. He was created by God, not as the evil spirit-being that we now know as Satan, but as the above Scripture describes, created full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. Satan was, at a time long ago, perfectly righteous and obedient beforeGod.

"You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the Holy Mount of God; you walked among the firey stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you." (Ezekiel 28:12-15)

But Lucifer became jealous of God,

"How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! (or Lucifer, which means light-bringer) You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like The Most High." (Isaiah 14:12-14)

Satan didn't just refuse to obey God any longer, which was bad enough; he actually tried to overthrow God! The attempted coup failed of course,

"I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." (Luke 10:18)

Satan was still on earth during the time of Jesus' ministry, and was directly involved in His betrayal by Judas Iscariot.

God created the perfectly-righteous Lucifer. Lucifer, and all of the millions of angels had the power of choice - to obey, or to rebel. two-thirds chose to obey God, while one-third followed Satan's rebellion and have become hopelessly corrupt.

The angels were not created like mindless machines. Biblical accounts of them show that they are individuals with powers of reason. Good angels are capable of patience, joy, compassion, curiosity, and sometimes anger.

God did not force the angels to obey Him. Even though angels are very powerful, God remained, and will always remain, absolutely supreme in power and authority over any number of them.

More About Angels

Angels were given free will, and it was “Lucifer” who rebelled against God and somehow persuaded one-third of the other angels to choose to join him in his attempt to usurp the throne of heaven (Isaiah. 14:12, Ezek. 28:14, Rev. 12:3,4). They failed, were condemned to eventual extermination, and ejected from God’s presence. They now inhabit our world, where they are doing as much damage as they can to mankind before their time runs out and they are destroyed.

As is the case with many important biblical truths, Satan has introduced much error about angels. For example, angels are not dead people. Neither are they chubby babies with bows and arrows. Angels are spirit beings that God created before He created mankind. Because there are both good spirit beings and bad spirit beings, we must know what God’s Word says in order to discern between the genuine and the counterfeit.

Satan has many angels, determined to destroy us, but God has twice as many good angels, whose only mission is to work for God in helping us.

Jesus Christ successfully faced and defeated Satan and his evil-spirit minions on their own turf. In doing so, he is exalted to the right hand of God, and is the Commander of God’s armies. He intervenes in both the spiritual and earthly realms on behalf of those who call upon him in faith. One of the ways he does so is by sending angels to do battle with the evil spirits afflicting people.

Scripture gives us ample information about the role of angels in helping people, primarily by providing direction and provision. Angels are mentioned at least 108 times in the Old Testament and 165 times in the New Testament, and about 50 of those show angels helping people, almost always those who are believers.

There is no verse in the Bible saying that human beings can ask angels to do anything, as some Christians today teach. They are the Lord’s messengers and servants, not ours. Neither does the Word say that people are to worship angels. In fact, Scripture shows that angels respect believers, who they are here to help (Dan. 10:11). It appears that angels recognize that people were originally made in the image of God, and that people are the focus of God’s infinite love.

Because we have a mortal spiritual enemy who we cannot see, hear, we need some spiritual help. In the world in which we live, there are many ways that Satan can destroy us.

”Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14)

The phrase, “them who shall be heirs of salvation,” is misconstrued by some who teach that it refers only to unsaved people, who angels guard and keep alive until they get saved. Then, they erroneously teach, when one gets born again, his “guardian angels” leave him. They teach that angels do not help believers. Not only is that idea clearly contradicted by God’s Word (chances are that David, Daniel, Peter, Paul, and Jesus were in that category), it makes no sense. Think about it: finally, after however many years of living in sin and maybe being a great asset to the Devil, you become born again and become an asset to God, and God then withdraws His angelic protection?

It is of that future aspect of “inheriting our salvation” that Hebrews 1:14 speaks, indicating that angels help believers until their salvation is perfected at the appearing of Christ. A good example is:

“And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said; Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.” (Acts 12:7-11)

There are other examples found in Acts 5, 8, 10, 12, and 27.

Additional biblical accounts of angels interacting with people:

·         2 Kings 6:8-23, is a very comforting and encouraging record of angelic protection. This time it was Elisha who was the target, and the king of Aram and his army who were the human vehicles for evil spirit-inspired attack. When the king found out where Elisha was, he sent a huge force to get him. The next morning, when Elisha’s servant was risen early, he found an army with horses and chariots encompassing the city. The servant was fearful, and Elisha’s reply to him is worth quoting: “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” The servant looked around, saw no one.  So Elijah prayed that he would be allowed to see into the spirit realm. God answered his prayer, and the young man saw “the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” There was more than enough angelic protection for Elisha and his servant.

·         Daniel 10:5-18, gives us more information about the unseen spiritual battle raging around us. Daniel received a remarkable vision from God that greatly concerned him, so he began to pray for greater understanding of it. Three weeks later an angel in the form of a “man” came to him. In many biblical accounts, the angels, who appear, look like other humans, but this one was spectacular in his appearance, and “the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude” (Daniel 10: 5- 6). The angel proceeded to tell Daniel that his prayers had been heard 21 days earlier, but that the reason it took him so long to get there was because he had to fight his way past “the prince of the Persian kingdom,” and he couldn’t do so until Michael came to help him fight. (Daniel 10:12-13). That mighty angel would have taken about two seconds to dispatch any human. But that wasn’t a human “prince”; it was a high-ranking, territorial demon, and a formidable foe. In the presence of the angel, Daniel was astonished, “Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me” (Daniel 10:18)  touched him and gave him strength. Then he explained the vision to him.

What we can learn from that record is that because of the intense battle constantly raging around us in the spirit realm (Daniel 10:12-13), our prayers are not always answered immediately.

Where Are The Angels?

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;” (Ephesians 3:17-18)

Four dimensions are presented:

1st.                  Breadth (width)
2nd.                 Breadth and Length
3rd.                  Breadth, Length, and Depth
4th.                  Breadth, Length, Depth, and Height

Man lives in the third dimension (Breadth, Length, and Depth). We cannot visualize or physically experience anything more than three dimensions. And, we only see two of those dimensions - length and breadth. We perceive depth, the third dimension.

Perhaps the fourth dimension is where the angels are. Even though the elements of each dimension are distinct, they overlay each other. The angels can be all around us and because we are in the third dimension, we can’t see them.

In his book, Though I Walk Through the Valley, Dr. Vance Havner tells of an old preacher who worked into the night on a sermon for his small congregation. His wife inquired why he spent so much time on a message that he would give to so few. To this the minister replied, "You forget, my dear, how large my audience will be!" Dr. Havner adds that "Nothing is trivial here if heaven looks on. We shall play a better game if, 'seeing we are encompassed,' we remember who is in the grandstand!"

Some Interesting Facts About Angels

Angels are spirit beings, having aspects of intelligence, emotions, and will.  This is true of both the good and evil angels. 

  • Good angels, Satan, and demons possess intelligence (Matthew 8:29; II Corinthians 11:3; I Peter 1:12). 
  • Good angels, Satan, and demons show emotions (Luke 2:13; James 2:19; Revelation 12:17). 
  • Good angels, Satan, and demons demonstrate that they have wills (Luke 8:28-31: II Timothy 2:26; Jude 6).
  • "Fallen angels", like the faithful ones, have supernatural powers beyond our comprehension. Just as the good angels are ever working to protect us from evil, the fallen ones are ever working to seduce us with lies and seek to keep us from knowledge of the truth. They also work constantly to destroy us physically, with illness and other physical harm.
  • An angel can manifest himself in all his God given glory or he can appear as a mere mortal (or not at all) depending on what he is sent to do. It is evident that angels can and do appear in the form of a man as stated: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels  unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2)
  • The knowledge angels possess is limited by their being creatures.  This means they do not know all things as God does (Matthew 24:36).  They do seem to have greater knowledge than humans however.  This may be due to three causes:  (1) angels were created as a higher order of creatures in the universe than humans are.  Therefore, innately they possess greater knowledge.  (2) Angels study the world more thoroughly than humans do and gain knowledge from it (James 2:19; Revelation 12:12).  (3) Angels gain knowledge through long observation of human activities.  Unlike humans, angels do not have to study the past; they have experienced it.  Therefore, they know how others have acted and reacted in situations and can predict with a greater degree of accuracy how we may act in similar circumstances.
  • Though angels have wills, they are subject to the will of God.
  • Good angels are sent by God to help believers: “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14).
  • Satan, though most powerful and cunning in carrying out his purposes in this world, is limited by the will of God (Job 2:6).  Demons too have to be subject to the will of Christ (Luke 8:28-31).
  • We are told that children have angels: “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” ( Matthew 18:10)

Other aspects of angels:

  • Angels do not obey the law of gravity. "Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber." (Ezekiel 8:2)
  • Angels can take human form. All examples of angels in the Bible were in the image of man. "Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:" (Daniel 10:5)
  • In scripture, when people are confronted by angels they are afraid. Angels are constantly shown as telling humans not to be afraid before they speak the words of God to the humans. "And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. " (Daniel 10:11-12)
  • We don’t know if Angels play harps around the throne of God. (Psalm 103:20, 21 and Luke 1:19).
  • Angels keep records and execute judgments for God (Ezekiel 8-9). In fact there are apparently angels whose sole work is to record human deeds in great detail. Ezekiel saw them as scribes with parchment, pens and ink. Angels, acting for God, reduced the mighty world-conqueror Nebachadnezzar to seven years of psychotic wanderings to humble him so that he would come to see who was really running the universe (see Daniel 4).
  • The Bible doesn't explicitly state that an Angel will take us to heaven when we die, as with Lazarus. "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;" (Luke 16:22) However, I do believe so. I believe an Angel will hold our spiritual hand as our soul leaves our body and will take us to heaven.
  • God created a sinless world including His servants the angels. Some time later Satan rebelled and one-third of the angels went with him. Since the Bible states one-third were bad and were expelled from heaven, I don't feel that percentage will change over time. "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;" (2 Peter 2:4). "And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born." (Rev. 12:4)
  • While the scriptures give no definite figures, we are told that the number of angels is very great, "A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." (Daniel 7:10). "But ye are come unto mountSion, and unto the city of the living God,
    the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels" (Heb. 12:22)
  • Angels don't have wings! Of the 90 scriptural references to the words Wing, Wings and Winged, 45 of them specifically refer to cherubim.
  • You might have met an angel in human form. "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." (Hebrews 13:2).
  • Angels are wise but they don’t know all. "To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth. (II Samuel 14:20, Mark 13:32).
  • Angels cannot die, "But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:  Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection." (Luke 20:35-36).
  • Angels might not sing! The Bible never states that angels sing (Luke 2:13, Revelation 5:12, 13).
  • Angels are not people (humans) who have died.
  • All references to angels are in the masculine form; You can't find one single feminine reference to an angel at all. "And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them." (Genesis 19:4-5)
  • Good angels refuse to be worshipped: “And I, John, saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. Then saith he unto me, "See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.” (Revelation 22:8-9).
  • God says don't praise angels. "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind," (Colossians 2:18-19)
  • Adult children of God also have ministering  angels too. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14) "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." (Psalms 24:7)
  • Seraphim and Cherubim are not Angels. Cherubim (or cherub), is a whole new creature entirely. They are mentioned in scripture 57 times in various places in a role of guarding and protecting. A good description of a cherub can be found in Ezekiel 1:5-28.

"And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them,
in the two ends of the mercy seat. And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub
on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.
And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings,
and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be."
(Exodus 25:18-20)

  • Seraphim, called "The Burning Ones", only appear in one place in the Bible - Isaiah 6:2-6. Not much is said about them; but one important thing is mentioned: They speak and also have wings; six to be exact. They cover their feet with two, their head with two and they fly with two. They are of a higher level than angels in that they are only in the temple of the Lord.



"Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face,
and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another,
and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.  
And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips,
and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 
Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:"
(Isaiah 6:2-6)

Angels Have a Purpose

"For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." (Psalm 91:11).

We don't know whether every angel carries out the same tasks, or whether some of them specialize in certain areas.

The unnamed angels who appear most often in Scripture carry out a variety of tasks - all designed to serve God...

  • Worship and praise - This is the main activity portrayed in heaven (Isaiah 6:1-3; Revelation 4-5).
  • Revealing - They serve as messengers to communicate God's will to men. They helped reveal the law to Moses (Acts 7:52-53), and served as the carriers of much of the material in Daniel, and Revelation.
  • Guiding - Angels gave instructions to Joseph about the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1-2), to the women at the tomb, to Philip (Acts 8:26), and to Cornelius (Acts 10:1-8).
  • Providing - God has used angels to provide physical needs such as food for Hagar (Genesis 21:17-20), Elijah (1 Kings 19:6), and Christ after His temptation (Matthew 4:11).
  • Protecting - Keeping God's people out of physical danger, as in the cases of Daniel and the lions, and his three friends in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3 and 6).
  • Delivering - Getting God's people out of danger once they're in it. Angels released the apostles from prison in Acts 5, and repeated the process for Peter in Acts 12.
  • Strengthening and encouraging - Angels strengthened Jesus after His temptation (Matt 4:11), encouraged the apostles to keep preaching after releasing them from prison (Acts 5:19-20), and told Paul that everyone on his ship would survive the impending shipwreck (Acts 27:23-25).
  • Answering prayer - God often uses angels as His means of answering the prayers of His people (Daniel 9:20-24; 10:10-12; Acts 12:1-17).
  • Caring for believers at the moment of death - In the story of Lazarus and the rich man, we read that angels carried the spirit of Lazarus to "Abraham's bosom" when he died (Luke 16:22).

Trying to "contact" an angel or who you think may be an angel is dangerous for two reasons (Revelation 22:8-9, Colossians 2:18):

  1. Not all angels are good. Satan can appear as an angel of light. (II Corinthians 11:14).
  2. God strongly warns us to stay away from anyone who even claims to talk with spirits and the spirit world (Leviticus 19:31).

 

Remember that He controls the angels that do His Will. Fallen angels or demons are still subject to His will, but they choose to disobey.

If you are involved in a serious accident where a miracle seems to occur and maybe you think you see an angel helping folks, saving them from death. Then remember that angels are sent to do God's will, it is He who should receive your thanks and praise and worship.