THE ANGELS IN THE BIBLE (1)

Angels appear in the Bible from the beginning of the Book of Genesis to the Book of Revelation (Psalm 91:11; Matthew 18:10; Acts 12:15).

The word "Angelo" in Greek means "messenger", and angels are purely spiritual beings that do the Lord God's will. They may appear as men, and never as women or cute babies flying in the air. Angels are often depicted as ultra, extraordinary spirits that often carry out God's commands without fail, swiftly and successfully. They never question God's authority and quickly and efficiently carry out His instructions. I do believe they are not depicted as women because they must have super strong force to fight with the sly and cunning evil spirits. Women are more docile and gentle and probably no match for Satan and his cohorts. They do not marry but live to glorify and exhalt the almighty God.

Jesus in Matthew 13:41 said that, "The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity."

Jesus mentioned that there would be legions of angels. Legion is the division of the ancient Roman army, varying from 3,000 to 6,000 men during different times. This shows the enormity and strength of the angels in heaven to do God's bidding.

Psalms 103:20

• Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Acts 12: 23

• And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

Three angels appeared as men before Abraham and prophesied that Sarah would have a son when Sarah was old and beyond the child bearing age. The destruction of Sodom was revealed to Abraham (Genesis 18).

The angel of the Lord appeared to Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt from captivity (Exodus 3:2) which he refused at first, giving excuses. God was extremely angry with David and was going to punish King David and the Israelites when David numbered the people, but stopped from destroying Jerusalem after David repented and offered sacrifices (2 Samuel 24). David already knew of God's commandment, but he still went ahead of the numbering of the Israelites.

Exodus 3:2

• And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him (Moses) in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

Angels appeared to Lot before the destruction of Sodom. They must have looked like men for the inhabitants of Sodom wanted to have sex with them. Lot who first saw them made no comment whether he knew they were angels or not. He bowed himself with his face toward the ground. Probably, Lot knew that they were special people or he would not bow himself low to them.

Genesis 19: 5 states: "Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them."

Genesis 19:1

• And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.

II Samuel 24:16; I Chronicles 21: 15

• And when the angel stretched out his hand to destroy it, the Lord repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand.

II Chronicles 32:21

• And the Lord sent an angel which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king in Assyria.

Isaiah 37:36

• Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand.

I Kings 19:5

• An angel touched Elijah as he slept under a juniper tree.

The New Testament continued the story of the angels and their work in the new period of Jesus Christ as High Priest and sacrificial lamb. The angels continued the work of God as requested. Peter was freed from prison upon the prayers of the church (Acts 12:7-11). The angel stood by Paul when the ship wrecked on the way to Rome (Acts 27:23). All children have angels in heaven who keep watch over them in heaven. The angel smote King Herod because he gave not the glory to God (Acts 12:23). Those believers of Christ also have angels who minister to them (Hebrews 1:14).

In the last book of the New Testament, the angel of the Lord was sent to Apostle John to reveal the prophecies which would befall upon the earth (Rev. 1:1).

Matthew 18:10

• That in heaven their angels (the little ones) do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Act 12:23

• And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

I Peter 3:22

• Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subjects unto him.

Luke 15:10

• Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Acts 27:23

• The angel of the Lord stood by Paul during the shipwreck on the way to Rome.

Hebrews 1:14

• Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

The book of Psalms definitely confirmed that the angels were created by the Lord. Ezekiel spoke of their being created perfect until iniquity was found in them, and the angels were in Eden before the creation of man.

Psalms 148:2,5

• Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all ye stars of light.
• Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created.

Ezekiel 28:15, 13,14

• Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created, till iniquity was found in thee.
• Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God (v.13).
• Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. (v.14).

Colossians 1:16

• 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 (Jesus), and for him.

Genesis 3:1

• Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which God had made.

Two angels were named Michael (Daniel 10:13; Jude 9) and Gabriel (Daniel 9:21; Luke 1:19, 26). They are the major angels who were named.

Michael called one of the chief princes, first appeared in Daniel 10:13 and later in chapter 12:1, he would deliver Israel from trouble. In Jude 9, Michael was called the archangel and contended with the devil disputing about the body Moses. Michael also played a major role in Revelation 12:7 when he and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels.

Gabriel also appeared to Daniel in chapter 8:16 and 9:21. God called out to Gabriel to make Daniel understand his vision in the first instance. Gabriel was described as "flying swiftly" and touching Daniel during the evening prayer in the latter verse..

• Cherubim (Gen 3:2; Eze 11:32).
• Seraphim (Isa 6:2,6).
• The Angels of the Lord (Ps 34:7; Dan 6:22).
• The Angel (Ac 12:7,8).
• The saints (Ps 89:5-7; Jude 14).
• The holy ones (Dan 4:13).
• The hosts of heaven: the armies which were in heaven (1 King 22:19;
• Rev 19:14).
• The heavenly host (Lk 2:13).
• The ministering spirits (Heb 1:14).

The angels are the inhabitants of heaven and behold the face of God, standing on the right and left side of the almighty Lord. They are spiritual beings and do not marry or give birth to children, but serve God and man.

• They are called the heavenly messengers because they live in heaven (Matthew 22:30).

• The angels return to heaven after completion of their mission (Luke 2:13-15)

• The host of heaven were standing on the right and on his left (1 King 22:19). Thousand thousands ministered unto the Lord (Daniel 7:10).

• An innumerable company of angels live in the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:23).