Angels, angels and more angels
The angelic host of heaven has always held a fascination for earth-bound humans and yet not all our beliefs about angels conform to the authoritative text on the matter - the Bible.
An interest in angels is not a bad thing - after all they were created as God's messengers and so do help us to look to God - but it is important that our interest does not obscure the more important issue of our relationship with their Creator and ours.

First lets look at a definition for the word. The Compact Dictionary of Doctrinal Words tells us that the word "angel" is from the Greek angelos meaning literally a "messenger". The word usually refers to a created spiritual or supernatural being whose purpose is to serve God as His messenger or ambassador. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words adds that the word also can carry the meaning of guardian or representative. Here's an angelic fact file based on some of the many Scripture verses pertaining to angels:

Angels were present at creation - Job 38:4,6-7 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?... On what were its footings set or who laid its cornerstone - while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy."

Angels are ranked in hierarchy and some are called archangels - 1 Thess 4:16 "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first." Note - Michael is the only named archangel in the Bible (Jude 9). Gabriel is only referred to as an angel (Luke 1:19,26).

Angels were present at the birth of Jesus - "An angel of the Lord appeared to them [the shepherds]..." (Luke 2:9). "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.'" (Luke 2:13,14).

Angels were also present at Christ's resurrection - Matt 28:2 "There was a violent earthquake for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it."

God's angels are holy - Mark 8:38 "If anyone is ashamed of me... the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

Some angels who "fell" from heaven have been imprisoned by God for the final judgement - 2 Peter 2:4 "For if God did not spare angels when they sinned but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgement..."  Other fallen angels (including satan) are still active on earth and in the heavenly realm - Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil and his schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm." This verse also indicates that satan's host of fallen angels - demons or evil spirits - are also organised in some form of hierarchy. Note - the Bible does not make it clear  why some fallen angels were imprisoned and others were not.

Most commentators agree that angels are spirits and so do not possess material bodies in the same way humans do. However they are able to take human form when they need to, including appearing to wear clothes - Mark 16:5 "As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white rob sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed". Matthew's gospel identifies this young man as an angel (Matt 28:2-4).

The question of whether angels ever appear with wings is a difficult one. In Daniel 9:21 the angel Gabriel comes to Daniel in "swift flight" which may pre-suppose wings. Also the references to Cherubim and Seraphim in  Ezekial and Revelation makes for interesting reading - they were winged creatures associated with God's throne and his glory. Whether or not these creatures are angels or some other order of being is unclear although no doubt some of the books on the topic of angels may address this point more fully.

The point to keep in mind is that angels are spiritual beings and as such their taking any particular form is different to our understanding of a body. For example God is often referred to as having a variety of human bodily characteristics even though we know He is spirit. As Billy Graham once said "there's a mystery to it..."

The issue of our relevant importance when compared to angels is addressed in Hebrews. Firstly we are told that Jesus is "the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." (Heb 1:3). This makes it clear that Jesus is "much superior to the angels" (Heb 1:4). Then we are told that angels are "ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation..." - that is, humans who in faith turn their lives over to Jesus. Heb 2:7 talks of Jesus being made a little lower than the angels when he took on human flesh and blood. This infers humans are a little lower than the angels even though they are sent to serve us. The meaning here could be that humans are a little lower in strength and power but in God's eyes we are a precious inheritance for whom his son died - a mystery of salvation that "even the angels long to look into..." (1 Peter 1:12).
As humans, our primary call is to worship God and likewise for angels - Heb 1:6 "Let all God's angels worship Him [the Son]."

Other angel references
For more information on angels: a) consult a Bible concordance and read through the many verses pertaining to angels. b) Look for books such as The Angels of God  by Arno C Gaebelein (Zondervan), The Mystery and Ministry of Angels by Herbert Lockyer (Eerdmans), Billy Graham's book on angels and others available from your Christian book store. c) For a fictional look at the world of angels read Frank Peretti's This Present Darkness and Piercing The Darkness which provide some sanctified imagination about what the ministry of angels may involve.   

And remember - "Do not forget to entertain strangers for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2

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