“Angels”
(Nehemiah 9:6)
I. Introduction.
A. When the term “angel” is used, it conjures up different mental
pictures for different people. Since angels are spiritual beings,
with no visible, physical form (except when God has made it
possible for them to assume a form that could be seen by
human eyes), we really don’t know what they look like. What
we know is how they’ve been portrayed over the centuries.
(Reminds one of apparitions of “Christ” or “Mary” people
claim to see. Whose portrayal of these people do they see –
since we don’t know exactly what they looked like?)
B. When it comes to matters of a spiritual nature, that involves
the spiritual world, we human beings are truly limited in what
we can know and understand.
1. What we know comes solely from God’s Word – what
He has chosen to reveal to us.
2. What we can understand depends upon our own
development, maturity, and experiences. (Example:
Know from Bible that God is a “Father” to His people,
those who obey Him. But, only when we have
children of our own can we more fully understand the
nature of the love of this relationship).
C. What we know about angels must come from the Bible.
Probably safe to say is a great deal more we don’t know
about them than we do know. Probably also safe to say that
more “wrong” is taught, and thought, about angels than that
which is correct.
1. “Angelology” is the term applied to systematic study
of angels. Over the past few years, there has been a
great deal of interest in subject, and the number of
books on it has multiplied.
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2. Word “angel”, or “angels” occurs about 300 times in
English translations of scriptures. Some are inclined to
discount idea of the existence of any type of spiritual
beings, but evidence from Bible, if you accept it, is
undeniable and overwhelming.
3. Greek word “angelos” means, literally: “a messenger.”
Used in Bible to describe one sent from God, by Satan,
or by one person to another.
a. Vast majority of times word is found, it refers
to the created, spiritual beings we call “angels”,
but also used in connection with a physical
messenger, as in Mark 1:2: “As it is written in
the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger
before your face, which shall prepare your way
before you.” Reference here is to John the
Baptist; term “messenger” is Greek, “angelos.”
b. Can also be defined as “guardian” or
“representative” as in Revelation 1:20:
“. . . The seven stars are the angels of the seven
churches:. . .” (used as “guardians”). Or, in
Matthew 18:10: “Take heed that you do not
despise one of these little ones; for I say to you,
That in heaven their angels always see the face
of my Father who is in heaven.” (used as
“representatives”.)
c. Word “angelos” is even translated as “ghost” or
“spirit” – as in Acts 12:15: “They said to her,
‘You are beside yourself.’ Yet she insisted that
it was so. So they said, ‘It is his angel’” (where
Peter was released from prison by an angel, and
came to house where disciples were praying for
him).
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d. Also note that angels are always referred to by
the masculine gender designation. Feminine
form of word does not appear anywhere in
Bible.
II. The Number, Attributes, And Origin of Angels.
A. In Nehemiah 9:6 it says: (RE-READ) How many angels are
there? What is the angel population? No one can accurately
answer question; no specific figure given in Bible. All we
know is there are “hosts” of angels, as mentioned here and
elsewhere (e.g. Luke 2:13: “And suddenly there was with the
angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, . . .”
(What Judean shepherds saw when Jesus was born into
world.)
1. This “multitude serves God in Heaven, but, apparently,
they have a “free will”, as we do, because some chose
to disobey God and sin. The “angels that sinned”,
were “cast down” to Hadean world “. . .and
delivered . . . into chains of darkness, to be reserved for
judgment.” (II Peter 2:4).
2. Also, in Jude v.6: “And the angels who did not keep
their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has
reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the
judgment of the great day.”
3. These angels that sinned are also of great number.
When confronted by Jesus, in possession of the
Gadarene demoniac, and asked: “What is your
name?, “ the unclean spirit” replied: “My name is
Legion: for we are many.” (Mark 5:8-9).
B. Angels populate the spiritual world, and have a definite place
in God’s care of, and concern for, human beings.
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1. They provide encouragement and strength as ministers
from God; Luke 22:43: “And there appeared an angel
to him [Christ] from heaven , strengthening him.”
(Refers to Christ at Gethsemane, as He prayed).
2. They are created beings, whose origins pre-date
creation of physical world and human race.
a. Look at Job 38:4-7 (READ). “Sons of God”
mentioned in verse 7 were present, existed
when God “laid the foundations of the earth”
(verse 4). When we read account of world’s
creation (Genesis 1 and 2), can plainly see
Adam, first human being, was not made until
sixth (6th) day. So, who were these “sons of
God” referred to here? Others of God’s
creatures already in existence – the angels.
b. But, they are not eternal, like the Godhead.
(Father, Son, Holy Spirit). Psalm 148:2-5,
(READ). (Among those things “created”
were “his angels” and “all His hosts.”) In
Colossians 1, Paul says: “For by Him [Christ]
were all things created, that are in heaven, and
that are in earth, visible and invisible. . .”
(verse 16). At the end of verse, says” “. . .all
things were created by Him, and for Him.”
3. As created beings, angels are subject to the authority of
God. Are to be obedient to God, His commands, His
Will, and must give account to Him.
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C. Among attributes of angels is intelligence. As with all to
whom God gave this quality, angels operate as free moral
agents, and exercise freedom of will. They can choose
whether they will obey, or disobey, God. To delineate their
choices, they were placed under law. (Psalm 103:20-21:
“Bless the Lord, you His angels, and excel in strength, who
do His word, heeding the voice of His word. Bless the Lord,
all you his hosts; you ministers of His, who do His pleasures.”.
1. As created beings with intelligence and free will,
angels are like human beings. But, are also different,
being of a higher order of creation than humanity.
2. But, angels are not just superior human beings, nor are
they lesser gods.
a. As to their relationship to humanity, in God’s
hierarchy of creation, here’s what Hebrew
writer says, referring to Jesus, incarnated in a
physical form: “You have made Him a little
lower than the angels; . . .” (Hebrews 2:7).
b. Same reference is found in Psalm 8:5.
c. Jesus, as divine Son of God was above the
angels, superior to them, as, in His human
form, He was made “lower” than the angels,
inferior to them.
3. Angels are a distinct order of creation; not God, not
human.
III. The Form Of Angels.
A. Brings us back to question: “What do angels look like?”
1. Common conception is of angels looking like people
dressed in white robe, with wings on their backs.
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2. But, is really no description of angels (in their
incorporeal, or spiritual, form) in Bible.
3. Most likely concept of angels as winged beings comes
from descriptions of Cherubim and Seraphim and, also,
from passages that describe them as “flying”
(Daniel 9:21; Revelation 14:6).
B. Angels are invisible to the unaided human sight. Key word
here is “unaided.”
1. God, on a variety of occasions, did make it possible for
angels to be seen by people. (example of Balaam,
Numbers 22:31: “Then the Lord opened the eyes of
Balaam and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in
the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: . . .”).
2. It would appear the angels are capable of assuming any
form God desires them to take.
a. Frequently, in both Old and New Testaments,
angels have appeared to people in human
likeness.
b. Jacob “wrestled with a man”, an angel, in
Genesis 32:22-28. (see Hosea 12:4).
c. Manoah’s wife saw an angel as a man.
(Judges 13:9-11).
d. When the women entered empty tomb on first
day of week, saw “ . . .a young man sitting on
the right side, clothed in a long white
garment; . . .” (Mark 16:5).
e. As apostles looked up as Jesus ascended into
heaven, “. . .two men stood by them in white
apparel.” (Acts 1:10).
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C. Add one additional point: Angels were not created to
reproduce themselves; they are immortal beings. As we’ve
already seen, scriptures speak of angels as a “host” or
“company”, not as a “race.” This, too, distinguishes them
from human beings. They do not marry and procreate
(as Jesus pointed out in talking about the spiritual world;
e.g. Matthew 22:30: “For in the resurrection they neither
marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of
God in Heaven.”.
IV. Conclusion.
A. In sum, then, what can we say about angels?
1. They have no gender.
2. They are personal agents of God. They belong to Him
and were created to do His bidding. (When John “fell
down to worship before the feet of the angel. . .,” the
angel responded, “’See that you do not do that: for I
am your fellowservant’. . .” (Revelation 22:9).
3. They have super-human intelligence (II Samuel 14:20:
“. . .the wisdom of an angel of God, . . .”). But, they
are omniscient (all-knowing), as is God. Some
knowledge withheld from them (Matthew 24:36: “But
of that day and hour no one knows not even the angels
of heaven, but My Father only.”).
4. They have curiosity. I Peter 1:12 says they were
curious about gospel scheme for redeeming mankind.
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5. They have super-human power. Stronger than people;
not as strong as God. (II Peter 2:11). Angel shut up
lions’ mouths to keep Daniel safe (Daniel 6:22), and
II Thessalonians 1:7 says Jesus shall return “. . .with
His mighty angels.” John, the revelator, saw an angel
powerful enough to bind Satan for “a thousand years.”
(Revelation 20:2).
6. They are holy and happy.
B. One last thing: angels have an interest in humanity’s
salvation.
1. Rejoiced, and praised God, when long-awaited
redeemer came into world (Luke 2:13-14).
2. Rejoice when one sinner is redeemed
(Luke 15:7;10).
C. In Hebrew, word for angel is “Malakh”. Also title of last
book of Old Testament. As “one who is sent,” angels have
a purpose and work from God. (Psalm 34:7: “The angel of
the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and
delivers them.”).