A Biblical Study of Angels
WHAT ARE ANGELS?
We live in an age in which people, Christians included, are fascinated with angels. However, such fascination often lacks a biblical perspective or understanding of the question: “What are angels?” Consider:
Angels are REAL. So many argue that since we have not seen angels and since angels are spiritual beings, angels are not real. Consequently, it is argued that angels are either figures of speech or figments of our imagination. There are 108 references to angels in seventeen Old Testament books, and 165 references to angels in seventeen New Testament books. Angels are real!
Angels are in ABUNDANCE. How many angels are there? No one knows; however, the Bible lists a large number of angels. The Bible speaks of “twenty thousand, even thousands of angels” (Psalm 68:17). The birth of Jesus was greeted by a “multitude of heavenly hosts” (Luke 2:13). Paul speaks “an innumerable company of angels” (Hebrews 12:22). John speaks of “ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” of angels (Revelation 5:11). Angels are in abundance!
Angels were CREATED by God. Angels are not eternal in nature; i.e., they have not always existed, but angels were created by God. Only the Godhead is without beginning and end. David writes that angels praise God (Psalm 148:5). Paul says, “All things were created by him, and for him” (Colossians 1:16). John writes that “all things were made by him; without him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:3). We are not told with exactness the time of their creation; however, by implication we argue they existed before Earth’s creation. God asked Job where he was when He created the Earth (Job 38:4). Job was not there! God then told Job that “the sons of God” were there and “shouted for joy” (Job 38:7). In the Bible, the phrase “sons of God” often refers to angels (Job 1:6, 2:1; 38:7), though not always. Angels were CREATED by God!
Angels are SPIRITUAL BEINGS. The Bible reveals that angels often appear with great brightness. When the women brought spices to the tomb of Jesus, they saw two angels “in shining garments” (Luke 24:4). The NIV says, “gleamed like lightning.” Cornelius said the angel, that appeared to him, did so “in bright clothing” (Acts 10:30). John saw an angel whose “face was as it were the sun” (Revelation 10:1). Some Bible students reason that angels appear with brightness because they reflect the glory of God; however, there is no such biblical evidence. Angels are SPIRITUAL BEINGS!
We are also informed that Satan attempts to conceal his identity by transforming himself “into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). While angels do not have material bodies; that is, bodies like men, they have time and again been sent by God to appear before man in the form of man. Two angels who came to Sodom to deliver Lot appeared to him as men (Genesis 19).
ANGELS AND MEN
There are a number of similarities between angels and men. Likewise, there are a number of dissimilarities. Neither section which follows is complete. Consider the following thoughts drawn from the Bible.
Similarities Between Angels and Men as Stated in the Bible.
Both created by God. Angels—John 38:4, 7: Colossians 1:16. Men—Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6.
Both created sinless and good. God created “all things” and when He was done, He pronounced all as “good” (Genesis 1:31).
Both sinned. Angels—Jude 6; Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4). Men were made like God—Genesis 1:26-27, and God is without sin or iniquity—Deuteronomy 32:4), but sinned—Genesis 3; Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 3:9-10, 23; 5:12.
Both are to worship God. Angels—Psalm 148:2, 5; Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 5:11-13. Men—John 4:24; 1 Chronicles 16:29; Psalm 29:2; Revelation 19:10.
Both are to serve God. Angels—Hebrews 1:7, 14. Men—John 12:26; Romans 6:16-17: Revelation 19:10.
Dissimilarities Between Angels and Men as Stated in the Bible.
Angels are of a higher order or creation than man. Paul writes that Jesus “was made a little lower than the angels” in order that He “should taste death for every man” (Hebrews 2:9). Man on the creative scale is lower than the angels.
Men are made in the image and after the likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). The Bible never speaks or intimates that angels are made in the image and likeness of God.
Men reproduce and angels do not. God’s creation of man was followed by the command of reproduction. “Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth” (Genesis 1:28; 8:17; 35:11). No such command is given to angels. Apparently, angels do not die and therefore have no need to reproduce; thus, each angel was the result of God’s direct creation and their number, however many God created, is static or unchanging.
Men, not angels, are the recipients of God’s salvation. Though both angels and men have sinned, the Bible nowhere suggests that Jesus is the Savior and Redeemer of fallen angels. When Jesus came to Earth to redeem man, He took on Himself “flesh and blood” (Hebrews 2:14); i.e., He was “made in the likeness of men” (Hebrews 2:7). Paul is clear when he writes, “For verily he took not on him the nature of angels” (Hebrews 2:16, emp. added). These texts and many others, suggest that there is no plan of salvation for the angels who sinned (Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4); whereas, angels are ministering servants to “the heirs of salvation” (Hebrews 1:14) and Jesus serves as the “One mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).
THE PERSONALITY OF ANGELS
The word angel comes from the Greek word Aggelos. The word means, “a messenger” (Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament 4). While angels are spirit beings without material bodies, they have personality. By personality we mean those elements essential for personality. It may be difficult for us to understand how we can have spiritual beings or persons without material bodies. Consider four of the elements of the angel’s personality—emotion, intellect, power, and spatial.
Angels have Emotion. Emotions of personality vary. The Bible teaches that angels have emotions of: 1) praise or worship—they are commanded to worship or praise God (Psalm 148:2, 5). At the birth of Jesus the angels “praising God . . . saying . . . Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:13-14). 2) Joy or rejoicing—the angels “shouted for joy” (Job 38:7) at God’s creating the world!
Angels have Intelligence. Angels, like men, are not omniscient; i.e., they do not possess unlimited knowledge. We read of “the wisdom of the angel of God” (2 Samuel 14:20). Peter speaks of God’s great Scheme of Redemption and informs us that “the angels desired to look into” (1 Peter 1:12) the salvation of man. The word desire refers to a strong interest or craving. The words look into literally means “to bend over” so as to examine more closely. The angels are portrayed as attempting to comprehend (this requires intelligence) the divine mystery of man’s salvation. It is interesting that the faithful angels to whom the gospel never was/is applicable have more interest in it than many men to whom the gospel is applicable. The angels observe but do not fully comprehend man’s salvation.
Angels have Power. Their power as well as our power is limited; i.e., they are not omnipotent or all-powerful. Angels “excel in strength” (Psalm 103:20). Yet, in comparison with man’s power, the power of the angels is “greater in power and might” (2 Peter 2:11). Twice in the great book of Daniel, we read of the strength of the angels: 1) in delivering Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace (Danial 3:28). And 2) shutting the mouth of the lion preventing Daniel from being hurt (Daniel 6:22). Their strength is evident in that we are told an “angel . . . rolled back the stone from the door” (Matthew 28:2) of the tomb of Jesus.
Angels are Spatial in Limitation. The Godhead is omnipresent, that is, the Godhead is everywhere at all times. On the other hand, the angels have spatial limitations. By spatial we mean that angels appear and disappear suddenly. Angels are not omnipresent or everywhere at all times. The angels appeared and left the shepherds suddenly at the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:13, 15). The angels appeared at the end of the temptation of Jesus and strengthened Him (Matthew 4:11). Two angels appeared suddenly at the tomb of Jesus in Luke 24:4. Two angels appeared suddenly at the ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:10).