Angelology

The word angel is a transliteration of the Greek word angelos, which in turn comes from the Hebrew word malak, meaning messenger (C. Fred Dickason, Angels Elect and Evil, Chicago: Moody Press, 58). In other words, in its simplest form, angels are messengers of God. However, according to the information provided to us in the Bible, the Word of God, angels are not only messengers, but also have different functions and are divided into ranks.

Functions

Both in the Old and New Testaments, angels are named as performing different functions, among which we can mention: a) To worship God (Isa. 6:2-3; Rev. 4:8); b) Executing God’s commands-whether of blessing or judgment (Ps. 103:20-21; Lk. 2:8-11; Rev. 8-9); c) Being God’s messengers (Dn. 10:12; Lk. 1:11-20, 26-38); d) After the fall of man, they protected the way to the tree of life (Gen. 3:24); e) They were present at the revelation of the Law (Acts 7:53 cp. Gal. 3:19; Heb. 2:2; Deut. 33:2); f) They are warriors who fight the forces of evil on behalf of God and His people (Lk. 2:13; Eph. 6:12; Rev. 12:7-9; 19:14); g) they watch over, perhaps the affairs of the earth or the universe on behalf of God and His people (Dan. 4:13, 17 cp. Rev. 4:8; Ps. 34:7); h) they announced the birth of Jesus (Matt. 1:20-21; Lk. 1:26-38; 2:8-15), attended Him during the temptation in the wilderness (Mt. 4:11), during His anguish near the hour of His passion (Lk. 22:43), and were present at both His resurrection (Mt. 28:2-7) and His ascension (Ac. 1:10-11); i) They alerted Joseph to escape with the child Jesus and His mother to Egypt and directed him to return when the time was right (Matt. 2:13, 19-20); j) They protected Jesus’ apostles (Acts. 12:7-10; 27:23-24); k) They assist and protect the believers in Christ (2 Kings 19:35; Dan. 6:22; Acts 5:19; Heb. 1:14); l) They will reap the souls of the “sons of the wicked” in the time of the end (Matt. 13:39, 41); m) They are agents of destruction according to God’s wisdom, love, patience and justice (Ex. 12:23; 34:6-7; 2 Sam. 24:16 cp. Isa. 37:36); n) They have control over the elements (Rev. 7:1-3); o) They will return together with Jesus at His second coming (2 Thess. 1:7-8); p) They will announce the second coming of Jesus (2 Thess. 1:7-8); p) They will announce the second coming of Jesus (2 Thess. 1:7-8). They will announce the second coming of Christ with a great sound of a trumpet and gather His elect “from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven” (Mt. 24:31; Mk. 13:27). As we can see, the ministry of angels is much more active than we usually think.

Origen

The Bible does not tell us exactly when angels were created, but we are told that they were present at the creation of the physical universe, thus apparently before the creation of matter as we know it (Job 38:4-7; Ps. 104).

Number

After Jesus’ birth, without specifying a number, there appeared “a multitude of the heavenly host” worshiping God (Lk. 2:13). When Jesus was arrested, He said He was able to call twelve legions of angels (Mt. 26:53). And in heavenly worship, John saw and heard the number of “ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” (Rev. 5:11) angels, or “millions and millions” (CEV) of them. Whereas in Satan’s rebellion, although he dragged many angels with him, it was only one third of them (Rev. 12:4), so that God’s angels are far more numerous than the evil angels.

Characteristics

The Bible expresses some particular characteristics of angels to orient our understanding of them. a) they are created (Ps. 33:6; 148:2, 5; Col. 1:16 cp. Ezek. 28:14-15), i.e. they do not have life in themselves; b) they are spirits, in other words, they do not have a physical body, yet they can take the form of human beings (Heb. 1:14 cp. Gen. 19:1-3), c) they cannot reproduce (Matt. 22:30), d) they have personality, in the sense that they have emotions, intelligence and will (Job 38:7; Lk. 2:13-14; 15:10; 1 Pet. 1:12; cp. 2 Cor. 11:3, 14; 2 Tim. 2:26; Jud 1:6); e) they are immortal (Lk. 20:36), f) they move swiftly (Dn. 9:21), g) they are very powerful (Ps. 103:20; 2 Pet. 2:11; Rev. 20:1-2), h) they are wise (2 Sam. 14:20 this is an inference but a very appropriate one, cp. Ezek. 28:12); i) they are holy (Ps. 89:5, 7), j) The Bible does not say so explicitly, however, starting from the fall of Lucifer and his hosts, we understand that they can also sin (Ez. 28:14-15Jud. 1:6) Can they sin now or in the future? We do not know, because it is not mentioned in the Bible. Nevertheless, to sin is simply to do that which is contrary to what God has commanded. But on the other hand, in heaven, there will be no more tempter, no more death, no more mourning, no more pain (Rev. 20:14; 21:4). So perhaps that possibility has been or will be annulled in heaven after the unprecedented event in the history of creation, the death and resurrection of Christ for His people. k) Although in heaven they are not given in marriage and angels are spirits (Matt. 22:30), in the Bible, angels are always described with masculine pronouns (e.g. Gen. 18:2, 16; Mark 16:5).

Bible Descriptors

The Bible refers to them using various descriptors. a) morning stars (Job 38:7), b) sons of God (Job 1:6; 2:1), c) heavenly hosts (Lk. 2:13), d) heavenly armies (Rev. 19:14); e) chariots of God (Ps. 68:17 cp. 2 Kings 2:11; 6:17), f) messengers and ministers “Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire” (Ps. 104:4 cp. Heb. 1:7). 2:11; 6:17), f) messengers and ministers “Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire” (Ps. 104:4 cp. Heb. 1:7), congregation of the saints (Ps. 89:5, 7), g) chosen angels (1 Tim. 5:21 cp. 2 Pet. 2:4).

Ranks

In the Bible angels are organized in different ranks, although their exact hierarchy is difficult to decipher. Nevertheless, starting from texts such as Colossians 1:16, 2:15; Romans 8:38; and Ephesians 1:21, 3:10, 6:12; which many theologians understand as referring to heavenly beings, we note: “Archangels, angels, seraphim, cherubim, principalities, principalities, authorities, powers, thrones, might and dominion” (Graham, Angels: God’s Secret Agents, 49). However, for the purposes of this study we will only mention the three best known types of angels:

Archangels: From the Greek: Archangelos (ἀρχάγγγέλος). This word is not mentioned in the Old Testament, but only in the New Testament (e.g., 1 Thess. 4:16) (W. E. Vine, Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1981, p. 36, s.v. “Archangel”). Which is only applied by name to the archangel Michael (Jud. 1:9), who in the book of Daniel is called “one of the chief princes,” “your prince” and “the great prince” (Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1). While in the book of Revelation, Michael is represented as leading the angelic hosts that fight against the “Dragon” or Devil and his angels (Rev. 12:7). Moreover, “The prefix ‘arch’ suggests a chief, principal or great angel. Thus, Michael is now the angel above all angels, recognized in rank to be the first prince of heaven” (Billy Graham, Angels: God’s Secret Agents, New York: Doubleday & Company, 1975, p. 50). Although Michael is the only archangel mentioned in the Bible, some think that Gabriel is also an archangel, but although he “stands in the presence of God”; Scripture never gives him that title (cp. Lk. 1:19; Dn. 8:16), he could, however, be one of the 7 angels described in the book of Revelation (Rev. 8:2). On the other hand, both in the Bible and in the popular imagination, Gabriel is represented as a messenger of good news, while Michael as a warrior or judgment angel.

Cherubim: The word “cherubim” is the plural of “cherub”, whose meaning is uncertain. They are described as creatures of the highest order. Cherubim were placed to guard the way to the tree of life (Gen. 3:24); also at either end of the mercy seat (lid of the ark of the covenant) were placed two cherubim, from between which God spoke to the high priest in the Tabernacle (Ex. 25:18-22); in the vision of the prophet Ezekiel, at least four cherubim carried the chariot throne of God (Ezek. 25:18-22). 25:18-22); in the vision of the prophet Ezekiel, at least four cherubim carried the chariot throne of God (Ezek. 10), and cherubim adorned the veil and curtains of the Tabernacle (Ex. 26:1, 31 cp. 1 Kings 6:23-28), as well as the walls of Solomon’s Temple (2 Chron. 3:7 cp. 1 Kings 6:29). So in the Bible they are described as formidable beings serving in proximity to the throne of God. In fact, before he sinned, Satan was a cherub (Ezek. 28:14-15). In other words, he was very close to the throne of God. A parallel can be made with Judas Iscariot, who despite being so close to Jesus the Messiah, betrayed him (Jn. 13:18, 26-27 cp. Ps. 41:9). However, Jesus, being God, eternal, and through whom the powers were made both in the heavens and on earth (Col. 1:16), can render Satan, a created being, powerless as one who disconnects a fan from a wall and in due time, either personally or through His mighty servants, the angels will “cast him into the lake of fire and brimstone… and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Rev. 20:10 cp. 2 Thess. 2:8).

Seraphim: Although their meaning is also uncertain, one possibility is that the Hebrew term “sarap” means “to burn up”. In that sense, seraphim may be “agents of purification by fire” (J.D. Douglas and N. Hillyer eds., New Bible Dictionary, 2nd. Ed., Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1982, p.1088, s.v. “Seraphim”). Seraphim are only mentioned in Isaiah’s vision of the Lord on His throne (Is. 6). In Isaiah’s vision, these beings presumably had human form, because of the way they are said to employ their six wings: two to cover their face, two to cover their feet, and two to fly. Since they “stood above” the throne, while the cherubim carry the throne-chariot of God in Ezekiel’s vision (Ezek. 10), some consider them to be first in rank even above the cherubim. Likewise, these beings are associated with the cherubim in the task of protecting God’s throne, although according to Isaiah’s vision, one of their ministries, evidently, is to worship God (Isa. 6:3 cp. Rev. 4:8). Inasmuch as the threefold repetition “Holy, Holy, Holy”, potently expressed by them, is not merely for emphasis, but based on the fullest revelation given to us in the New Testament, we understand it to be also a reference to the Holy Trinity. So these beings of the highest rank unceasingly worship Him who lives forever and ever, and we, following their example and recipients of His grace through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, should do the same.

As we have seen, angels are powerful beings, far superior in power to us human beings. For this reason, many people have great admiration for them, and even worship them (Col. 2:18). However, this is something that should not be done, since after all, they are creatures just like us, with functions and limitations.

Limitations:

1. However powerful they may be, angels have no life in themselves, for they are created beings (Job 38:4-7; Neh. 9:6; Ps. 148:2, 5).
2. They are not omniscient, omnipresent, nor omnipotent, as only God is (Ps. 139:4, 7-12; Isa. 14:27; 43:13; Mark 10:27).
3. They execute God’s commands, but they are not beings acting on their own. Their volition is always subject to God’s permission. They will not move unless God so directs or allows (Lk. 1:19, 26; cp. Daniel 8:16; 9:23). So it is unproductive and absurd to petition them for help in times of need. Since, all prayer should be addressed to the Father, in the name of His Son Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:13).
4. They cannot mediate for human beings, because that role belongs only to Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 2:5).
5. Angels are not to be worshiped nor receive worship from men (Rev. 22:8-9). The angels of God, who behold at all times the Glory of the Almighty, dare not usurp His glory by receiving worship from men. It is only the fallen angels who motivate and receive it, to whom, in due time, God will give their just reward (Matt. 8:29; 25:41; 2 Thess. 2:8; Rev. 20:10). Therefore, human beings should not be deceived by angelic apparitions or other beings (Saints, Mary, etc.), who claim to come from God and receive worship, because the angels of God know that the only one who deserves all worship is God.
6. In the Bible there is only one angel who did receive worship and even performed the same functions as God (Gen. 16:10, 13; Ex. 3:2-6; 23:21 cp. Lev. 11:45; Josh. 5:13-15; Judg. 2:1; 13:16-22). His name is the Angel of the Lord. Therefore, He is the only angel who did not have limitations like the other angels.

The study of angels is fascinating, and in a world where people seem to be fascinated with the world of occult deities, a return to the study of angels is very appropriate. On one occasion, a student shared with me a story of the appearance of certain ghosts in a certain place, to which I told him – not in the spirit of ignoring that reality – that instead of propagating the works of the devil we should exalt the works of God. Therefore, through the study of the angels, we should exalt the One who made them and exclaim with the Psalmist: “Praise Him, all you angels; praise Him, all you hosts. Praise the name of the Lord; for he commanded, and you were created” (Ps. 148:2, 5).