The Holy & Unholy Spirits

03. Angels

     If someone should ask "Why study angels?," we should have an answer and Victor Knowles^[1] has provided seven good reasons for such a study.  First, angels are a topic discussed in the Bible.  Second, the numerous times angels are mentioned demands that they deserve "equal time" in our study of the Scriptures.  Third, the Bible says that angels are interested in us (Luke 15:7,10; 1Corinthians 4:9; 11:10; 1Timothy 5:21; 1Peter 1:12).  Fourth, we will be similar to them someday in one way (Luke 20:36).  Fifth, angels minister to us (Hebrews 1:14).  Sixth, some people have entertained angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2; cf. Genesis 18:1-16; 19:1).  Finally, angels are our source of transport to the heavenly realm (Luke 16:22; Matthew 13:41; 25:31).

What is an "Angel"?

     In the Old Testament, we find the word malak used about 100 times and it means "to dispatch as a deputy or messenger."  In the New Testament, the Greek term angelos is used for the same concept 165 times.  The nature and role of angels is noted in Hebrews 1:14,

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

The term is applied in Scripture seven different ways: to human messengers, human messengers with a divine message, impersonal providences, bishops, the beings who revolted with Satan, heavenly beings, and the being of pre-eminent excellence known as the "Angel of the Lord."^[2]

     Angels are spiritual beings (Hebrews 1:14) and, as such, they do not have flesh and bones (Luke 24:39), although they have often appeared in human form.^[3]  They are also "holy" in character since they are in the service of God (Matthew 25:31), although they are capable of rebellion (2Peter 2:4; Jude 6).  Spoken of always in the masculine gender (with the possible exception of Zechariah 5:9), they do not "marry" (Matthew 22:30) and they exist in large numbers (Deuteronomy 33:2; Psalms 68:17; Matthew 26:53; Revelation 5:11).  They are described as much more powerful than humans (Psalms 103:20; Daniel 6:22) and appear to be involved in a struggle on their own level (Daniel 10; Revelation 12:7-9).  Someday, redeemed humanity will have a part in judging them (1Corinthians 6:3).

The Origin of Angels

     Angels are not eternal, for they were created by God and are not on the same level with Jesus (Hebrews 1).  They were part of the invisible creation, the spiritual realm that came into being when God created the visible realm (Colossians 1:15-17).

The Archangel Michael

     Above the ranks of angels, but below the Godhead, stands one "archangel" named Michael ("Who is like God?").  We find him mentioned in five major Biblical situations.  First, he disputed with Satan over the body of Moses (Jude 9).  Second, Michael intervened when another angel had problems getting a message to Daniel (Daniel 10:1-14).  Third, Michael is labeled the “prince” over the Israelite nation (Daniel 10:21) and stood up to aid Israel as the first coming of Christ approached (Daniel 12:1).  Fourth, he and his forces fought with and ejected Satan's forces from heaven (Revelation 12:7-9).  Finally, Michael will co-announce the return of Christ (1Thessalonians 4:16).

The Angel Gabriel

     One other named angel appears in special circumstances - Gabriel ("man of God").  In the first two appearances of this angelic being, it is to explain the visions of the ram and Goat (Daniel 8:16) and to deliver to Daniel the "seventy sevens" prophecy (Daniel 9:21ff).  In both passages he is spoken of as a "man."  The other two appearances are found in connection with the announcement of John the baptizer's birth (Luke 1:19) and the miraculous conception of Jesus (Luke 1:26).  None of these passages identify this messenger as an "archangel."

The "Angel of the Lord"

     While we find numerous references to angels in Scripture, it is common to find them speaking for God, in the third person "The Lord says...," but not as God in the first person.  Also, they regularly refuse worship (Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9) from humans.  However, we repeatedly encounter one "angel" that seems different in function and character from the others - the "Angel of the Lord."

     The "Angel of YHWH" appeared to Hagar twice and both times he spoke in the first person as God.  First of all, he promised Hagar descendants (Genesis 16:7-13) in the same kind of language as Abraham was promised descendants (Genesis 12:2; 17:6; 18:18).  Later, we find "God" and "Angel of YHWH" used interchangeably in Genesis 21:17-19.

     The Scriptures indicate that "The LORD appeared to Abraham" (Genesis 18:1), although Abraham saw three men (Genesis 18:2) approaching and two of these are later said to be angels (Genesis 18:22; 19:1).  The third being repeatedly communicated with Abraham in the first person as God (Genesis 18:10,13,17).  Later on, Abraham spoke with the Angel on Mt. Moriah as though he were speaking directly with God (Genesis 22:11-12).

     Jacob saw an angel in a dream who claimed to be the "God of Bethel" (Genesis 31:11,13).  Later, Jacob wrestled with a man (Genesis 32:1-2), which Hosea 12:4 identified as an angel and the Genesis account says he "wrestled with God" (32:28) and "saw God face to face" (32:30).  Towards the end of his life, Jacob referred to God as his shepherd throughout life and, in parallel, as the angel who had delivered him from harm (Genesis 48:15-16).

     Moses was the fourth person to be blessed by an appearance from this angel.  As he approached the "burning bush," he was told to remove his sandals because he was on "holy ground" (Exodus 3:5).  The voice from the bush was that of the Angel of the Lord (Exodus 3:2), but it was also "God" who spoke from the bush (Exodus 3:4) and, in the first person, identified himself as "I AM" (Exodus 3:14).  Apparently, the being that spoke with Moses from the bush was, in some way, both “God” and “the Angel of YHWH”!

     In their wilderness wandering, Israel was led by the divine presence in the form of a "pillar of fire and cloud" (Exodus 13:17-22), although Exodus 14:19 identifies this presence as "the angel of God."  While still at Mt. Sinai, God promised Israel that they would be accompanied in their exodus and wilderness wandering by "an angel" who was to be obeyed and "had God's Name IN HIM" (Exodus 23:20-23).  The leaders of Israel, upon the confirmation of the Sinaitic Covenant, went up and "saw the God of Israel... beheld God, and ate and drank" (Exodus 24:9-11).  Isaiah later referred to this guardian as "the Angel of His presence" (Isaiah 63:9).  In later OT history, we again find close associations between God and the "Angel of the Lord" in Judges 1:1,5 and 2:1-5.  In Judges 5:23, the Angel of YHWH uttered a curse against those not coming to help the Lord.

     The fifth individual to encounter the Angel of YHWH was Balaam, the heathen prophet hired to curse Israel.  The Angel of YHWH opposed him on the road (Numbers 22:22).  The angel told Balaam to speak only what he commanded him (Numbers 22:35) and Balaam soon described this as saying "only what God puts in my mouth" (Numbers 22:38).

     Joshua was the sixth individual to encounter this being as he prepared for the conquest of Jericho (Joshua 5:13 - 6:2).  He saw a "man" (5:13), but was told the same thing Moses heard about being on "holy ground."  The one who spoke to him was also the "commander of the Lord's host" (5:14) and it was “the LORD” (6:2).

     Seventh, we find Gideon speaking with the Angel of YHWH (Judges 6:11-24) as he was called to deliver Israel from the Midianites.  The Angel of YHWH appeared to Gideon (6:11-12), but "the LORD looked at him and said" (6:14), Gideon addressed him as Lord (6:15), and the Lord responded verbally to his comment (6:16).  Gideon offered sacrifice to the Angel of YHWH and it was accepted (6:17-23), whereas angels do not accept worship (Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9).

     The eighth individuals to encounter this being were Samson's parents.  Although they saw the Angel of YHWH (Judges 13:3,9,13,15) and knew him to be the Angel of YHWH (13:21), they concluded that they had seen God (13:22).  When asked his name (13:17), the angel of YHWH responded that it was "wonderful" (13:18), which immediately makes one think of Isaiah 9:6-7.

     The angel of YHWH also took a major hand in judging Assyria when they threatened Jerusalem and the Messianic lineage apart from God's timing and purpose for them (cf. Isaiah 10:5-16).  Accordingly, the Angel of YHWH destroyed a large part of the Assyrian army in one night (2Kings 19:34-35).

     While John (John 1:18) and Paul (1Timothy 6:15-16) later say that no man has EVER seen God, the best way to handle these statements in balance with their comments about the deity of Jesus is to assume that they were referring to seeing God in His glorious fullness as opposed to the de-glorified theophanies of the OT and the incarnation wherein visible forms of deity appeared minus their "glory" (Exodus 33:20-23; John 17:5; Philippians 2:6-7).  As we consider OT references to the "Word of God coming" to people (1Samuel 15:10-11) and, later, John tells us that the "Word of God became flesh" (John 1:1,14), it seems like a fair inference to believe that the portion of the Godhead which directly communicated with mankind "in the flesh" in Jesus may also be the same being who, prior to the incarnation, appeared many times as the unique "Angel of YHWH" and had characteristics of deity.

The Ministry of the Angels

     Angels have worshipped God since creation (Job 38:7; Revelation 8:1-4).  They are interested in the plan of salvation (1Peter 1:10-12) and rejoice when people turn from their sins and enter salvation (Luke 15:7,10).  Accordingly, they minister to the needs of the saved (Hebrews 1:14).  Daniel and his three friends were rescued while in the Babylonian/Persian captivity (Daniel 3:28; 6:22).  The angel Gabriel brought messages that had to do with the coming of Messiah (Daniel 9:20-27; Luke 1:11-20,26-38).  Peter was released from prison by an angel (Acts 12).  When God separates the righteous from the unrighteous, it will be angels who do it (Matthew 13:41-42).  Angels even ministered to Jesus after the wilderness temptations (Matthew 4:11) and as he agonized in the garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:43).  The Bible says that angels sometimes provide protection (Psalms 34:7; Matthew 18:10) for humans, but they have also brought judgments upon the sinful (Acts 12:23; 1Corinthians 10:10).  The same angels that rescued and protected Lot brought destruction upon the people of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19).

     Guardian Angels - There is a great deal of interest in angels these days, but most of it is disconnected with Biblical material.  One topic that has developed a "life of its own," is that of "Guardian Angels."  Once generally confined to angels watching over children, the popular belief is growing to be that everyone has a "guardian" angel watching over them throughout their life and protecting them from time to time.  As for the notion that children have "guardian angels," the passage which would most likely be used to support this idea would be Matthew 18:10,

See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you, that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of My Father who is in heaven.

However, if the popular "guardian angel" notion is correct, then one has to wonder why they do not intervene and “guard” more often in view of the unspeakable crimes and abuses perpetrated against some children.  Assuming that Jesus’ comment was correct, it might be that the "intervention/protection" notion is where this idea has gone wrong.  Jesus didn't say that "their angels" were guarding/protecting, but that they "continually behold the face of My Father" which suggests that His threat was that all crimes and abuses against the "little ones" are known and recorded for later judgment.  This view seems to better reflect what the passage actually says and also allows for the reality of the abuses that certainly occur.

     Angels Minister to the Saints - Aside from accounts of angelic ministry to selected individuals intimately connected with the unfolding of the redemption story, the passage which best supports the idea of angels assisting people would be the following statement in the book of Hebrews,

Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?  (Hebrews 1:14)

Certainly, the extent or conditions under which such "rendered service" occurs is beyond our ability to recognize or know with any certainty, but we know that it is only stated as applying to "those who will inherit salvation."  An angel “strengthened” Jesus in the garden (Luke 22:43) and rescued Peter from prison (Acts 12:7-11), but little Biblical information is dedicated to explaining when, where, and how such aid is parceled out for most of us.  Perhaps we should accept the fact that such does occur and let God sort out when and where it should/does occur.  As long as God is continually glorified, it is probably not our duty to focus too much energy on trying to figure out or "recognize" when and where we received angelic rescue (some times angelic contact has occurred without human awareness - Hebrews 13:2) as opposed to those times when things "just turned out OK."  While there is a proper place for recognizing the existence and ministry of angels, we must be careful that "angel-hunting" does not come to be of more importance to us than focusing on the God who created and rules over both them and us!  Paul warned the Colossians that “worshipping angels” (focusing too much attention upon them) is one way to get off-track (Colossians 2:18-19).  John was reminded twice that he was not to focus his devotion on the angel assisting him (Revelation 1:1; 19:10; 22:8-9).  We should acknowledge the existence of angels, but our worship and spiritual focus is to be upon God!