In many religions, angels act as a bridge between the human world and the spiritual world. It is believed angels deliver messages from God, offering comfort, guidance, and hope, particularly during challenging times. The Bible offers a variety of insights about angels, 18 of which we explore here:
Created By God
Colossians 1:16 tells us that God created angels. The passage says:
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him.”
Spiritual Beings
In Matthew 22:30, the Bible reads:
“For in the resurrection people neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.” Matthew 22:30.
He explains that angels are not human spirits and don’t experience human emotions like marriage. Jesus essentially says that in the resurrected state, people won’t be focused on earthly concerns like marriage but will exist in a different state similar to angels.
Worship and Praise
In the Bible, angels are portrayed as celestial beings whose primary function is to glorify and praise God. A primary function of angels is to worship and praise God, according to Revelation 5:11. The full passage is:
“Then I looked around the throne and heard the voice of many angels numbering thousands upon thousands, millions upon millions.”
Messengers
Angels often act as messengers from God, delivering divine pronouncements or instructions. We learn this in Luke 1:26-38 which includes:
“Mary asked the angel, ‘How can this be since I have no husband?’ The angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. ‘
This extract, in which the angel Gabriel delivers news to Mary about her upcoming birth of Jesus, is a pivotal event in the Christian faith, and the angel acts as God’s messenger to announce it.
Powerful Beings
In 2 Kings 19:35, angels are depicted as powerful beings, surpassing human strength. It says:
“And that night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning, there they were—all dead bodies!”
Carry Out God’s Will
Angels execute God’s will and judgments according to Psalms 103:20, where says:
“Bless the Lord, all his angels, mighty in strength, who carry out his word, who hearken to the voice of his command.”
This highlights the power angels possess, which they use to fulfill God’s purposes.
Warfare
Some angels are described as warriors fighting against evil. One example of this is in Revelation 12:7, which says:
“Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.”
Ministering Spirits
In a survey carried out by PBS, over half of Americans believe they had angels watching over them. The Bible tells us that Angels can also provide help and protection to believers in Hebrews 1:14, asking:
“Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?”
Not to be Worshiped
Colossians 2:18 tells us that while they are revered, angels should not be worshiped, and we should not fall into the trap of false teachings/ The passage tells us:
“Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his fleshly mind.
The Can Take Human Form
Genesis 19:1-5 tells us that, on occasion, angels appear in human form. The reading includes the following:
“The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting at the gate of Sodom. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. ‘My lords,’ he said, ‘please turn aside to your servant’s house and stay overnight.”
Assuming a human form made the angels seem less intimidating or frightening, allowing for easier interaction with Lot.
Deliver Messages
7 in 10 Americans believe in angels, with many looking for signs of angels delivering messages to us. Throughout the Bible, angels delivering messages to people is a theme, including in the prophets from Zechariah 4:1-6 and in the following passage from judges 6:11-16
“The angel of the Lord comes to Gideon and addresses him with a powerful statement: “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
Guide and Protect
According to those who follow religion, you must be a believer so guardian angels can watch over you. This is shown in Matthew 18:10, which says:
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.”
Role in Second Coming
For true believers, angels will play a role in the second coming of Christ, according to Matthew 24:3. The passage explains:
“As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’”
Separate the Righteous and Wicked
It is also believed that angels may be involved in the separation of the righteous and the wicked (Matthew 13:49). The Bible reads:
“So will it be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the evil from the righteous…”
Here, we see that the angels are not just observers but actively involved in the separation process of the final judgment.
Ranks of Angels
There are mentions of different types of angels and even angelic leaders; the Bible mentions different ranks of angels, for example, the archangels in Jude 1:9. The reading explains:
“But even Michael, the archangel, when he was disputing with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce a slanderous judgment, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’”
Number of Angels
The Bible uses vast numbers to describe angels, suggesting there are a multitude. Revelation 5:11 tells us more when it says:
“Then I looked around the throne and heard the voice of many angels numbering thousands upon thousands, millions upon millions.”
The immense number of angels reinforces the concept of God’s majesty and dominion. It portrays him as ruler over a vast angelic host.
They May Not Always Be Good
While most angels are portrayed as benevolent, there are references to fallen angels or demons. Isaiah 14:12 specifically uses the phrase “morning star,” which some interpret as a reference to a powerful angel who rebelled against God. The full expert reads:
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”
Invisible vs Visible
Several passages suggest angels are spiritual beings without a physical body of their own. Hebrews 13:2 says that angels can be invisible or choose to appear visibly when it tells us:
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”
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