top of page
Search

Angels: who are they?


Ohayou gozaimasu light ! Sawasdee (วัสดี) disciple of CHRIST !

All problems have their solutions in GOD. Do not let anyone convince you otherwise. Maturity is revealed in what we say, but also in what we refrain from doing. The scribes and Pharisees asked JESUS for a miracle (Matthew 12:38-39). He didn't do anything. GOD's will is greater and better than people's expectations. Walk in righteousness and the LORD's blessing will be with you.

  1. Angel: a title and/or function

  2. Angels: spirits serving GOD

  3. Fallen angels: Satan and his angels



ree


❖ " And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.” (Hebrews 1:7, NKJV)


❖ " Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? " (Hebrews 1:14, NKJV).



❖ " And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought,  but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.  So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." (Revelation 12: 7-9, NKJV)




The word angel, in Hebrew Mal’ak (Strong's No. 4397) and in Greek aggelos (Strong's No. 32), means messenger or sent. Angels are therefore persons sent by GOD to either convey a message, perform an action, or render services on His behalf. In the Bible, the word angel is used sometimes to refer to angels (spiritual beings in the service of GOD), sometimes to JESUS, church leaders, intercessors, brothers, prophets, or more generally any person charged by GOD to do or say something. Thus, the word angel refers to a type of person (angels), a title (JESUS), or a function (men).




  1. Angel: a title and/or function



  • JESUS is called the angel of the LORD or chief of the LORD's army in the Old Testament (Zechariah 3:1-5, Joshua 5:13-15).

    • The SON (JESUS) is the servant of the FATHER (John 6:38, Acts 4:27). => The SON can therefore be called the angel of his FATHER. => GOD being the LORD, the SON can therefore be called the angel of the LORD.

    • Only the SON can take away sin from human beings because only the SON has conquered sin, only the SON gave his life for human beings, only the SON is worthy to open the sealed book (Revelation 5:1:14, John 10:18, John 3:16, Ephesians 1:2).

    • Only GOD can receive worship. No angel of GOD will accept a man bowing down before him and calling him LORD.

    • Only GOD can multiply a person's posterity and make it so numerous that it cannot be counted (Genesis 16:7-12).

    • Generally speaking, in the Old Testament, when it says ‘the angel of the LORD’ (definite article), it refers to JESUS. For example, JESUS is the angel of the LORD whom Moses saw in the burning bush (Exodus 3:2-4). As we saw in the article, JESUS CHRIST: eternal, angel of the LORD and GOD the LORD, he was already the SON before a physical body was formed for him by the HOLY SPIRIT.



  • The leaders of the seven churches of Revelation (Revelation 2:1-29).

    • Angels (spiritual beings) cannot repent. They do not need to test liars. They do not suffer for the name of JESUS, they are not poor, etc.

    • The angels of the seven churches are first and foremost men (the leaders or heads of the churches). Secondly, they are the angels working alongside them. JESUS asks the apostle John to write to the leaders of the churches. At the same time, He asks the angels assigned to their ministry (tasked with helping them) to ensure that the message reaches them.

    • In contemporary language, the angel of a church, ministry or Christian association is the person responsible for ensuring its smooth running.



  • Intercessors (Job 33:23), brothers (Hebrews 13:2, 1 Timothy 5:21), prophets (Chariot of Israel) (2 Kings 2:12).

    • This does not mean that all brothers are angels (people sent by GOD). Let us exercise discernment.



  • In view of the different names and roles of the HOLY SPIRIT in the Bible, he functions as an angel of JESUS.

    • The Holy Spirit is also called the Spirit of GOD, the Spirit of the LORD, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, the HOLY SPIRIT the Spirit of CHRIST, the Spirit of JESUS, the Spirit of Grace, the Holy Spirit of GOD (Genesis 1:2, John 16:13, Romans 8:9, Hebrews 10:29, Ephesians 4:30).



  1. Angels: spirits serving GOD


Angels are spirits created by GOD to accomplish His will. They have various functions. They exercise their functions with GOD and/or with men. Although angels come to our aid, we must never forget that they are serving GOD. GOD is the one who sends them to us. They don't decide to come to us on their own.


  • They are not the souls of deceased persons. The dead do not watch over the living. See the article No, dead people don't watch over the living.

  • They are creatures of GOD (Colossians 1:16; Psalms 148:2-5).

  • They can appear physically and take on human form (Genesis 19:1-17, Luke 24:4; Acts 1:10, Daniel 1:21).

  • They are endowed with supernatural and superhuman abilities (2 Peter 2:11; Psalms 103:20).

  • They each have a personality (intelligence, emotions, will, ability to express themselves) (1 Peter 1:12, Luke 2:13).

    • One third of the angels rebelled with the devil (Hebrews 12:22, Revelation 12:3-9). They made a choice. This means that they each have a personality, the ability to think, express themselves and choose.

  • They can communicate in different ways. In spirit, audibly, through visions, dreams and physical movements. Angels have communicated with me in these different ways on several occasions.


The Bible does not give us the exact number of angels. However, it does tell us that there are many of them.

  • More than 12 legions of angels (Matthew 26:53. A legion consists of about 6,000 people.

  • The myriads of the choir of angels (Hebrews 12:22).

  • Myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands (Revelation 5:11).

  • Ten thousand million (Daniel 7:10).

  • The multitude of the heavenly army (Luke 2:13).



Several words and expressions refer to angels in the Bible. Notably:

  • Sons of GOD (Psalms 89:7; Job 1:6, Job 38:4-7).

  • Morning stars (Job 38:7).

  • The multitude of the heavenly army (Luke 2:13).

  • The army of heaven (Deuteronomy 4:19, Psalms 103:21).

  • Chariots, horsemen or cavalry or horses (rekeb strong no. 7393, Hebrew): Psalms 68:17, 2 Kings 2:11, 2 Kings 6:17. Also refers to the army of GOD.

  • The saints, holy myriads (Psalms 89:6-8, Deuteronomy 33:1-2, Jude 1:14)

  • Watchmen or those who watch (Daniel 4:10,14)

  • Men (appearance in human form) (Genesis 19:1-17, Luke 24:4; Acts 1:10, Daniel 1:21).

  • Servants, flames of fire, winds (Psalms 103:20, Psalms 104:3). These expressions can also refer to men.

  • Prince or leader (Daniel 10:13, Daniel 10:20).

  • Living beings with many faces (Ezekiel 1:12, Ezekiel 10:10).

  • Cherubim (Exodus 25:18, Exodus 37:7, Ezekiel 10:2, Ezekiel 10:7-8, Ezekiel 10:15-16, Ezekiel 41:18, Psalms 99:1, 1 Kings 6:25, 1 Kings 8:7, 2 Chronicles 3:14, etc.).

  • Seraphim (Isaiah 6:2; Isaiah 6:-6)

  • Archangels (Jude 1:9, 1 Thessalonians 4:16)



Three categories of angels and two categories of heavenly beings are mentioned in the Bible: cherubim, seraphim, archangels, the four living creatures, and the twenty-four elders.


  • Cherubim (keruwb in Hebrew, Strong's 3742) are guardians.

    • They closed off the path to the tree of life to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:24). Two sculptures of cherubim made of gold (cherubim of glory) were placed on the lid of the ark (Exodus 25:17-20; Exodus 26:31, Hebrews 9:5). They were depicted on the veil separating the holy place from the most holy place (Exodus 26:31).


  • Seraphim (Saraph in Hebrew, Strong 8314), mentioned only in Isaiah 6:2-3 and Isaiah 6:6. These angels praise the LORD and sanctify the mouths of the prophets. The word Saraph is also translated as burning serpent, flying dragon, venomous serpent (the venom having a burning effect). References: Numbers 21:6; Numbers 21:8; Deuteronomy 8:15; Isaiah 14:29.


  • The archangels or principal angels or chief angels (archaggelos in Greek, Strong 743). The word archangel refers to a rank and not a type in itself. They fight the devil (Jude 1:9, Jude 9; Revelation 12:7) and they proclaim the return of JESUS CHRIST (1 Thessalonians 4:16). They are not the only ones who fight, proclaim and deliver messages. But there are battles (against the devil and principalities) and proclamations that only they can make. There are messages that only they can deliver.

    • Only two names of angels, both archangels, are mentioned in the Bible: Gabriel (Daniel 8:16; Daniel 9:21; Luke 1:19, Luke 1:26) and Michael (Daniel 10:13, Daniel 10:21; Daniel 12:1; Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:7). Michael and Gabriel are not the only archangels. They are the only ones whose names are mentioned in the Bible.

    • Before his rebellion, Satan was an archangel, a protective cherub (Ezekiel 28:14). It is not explicitly written that he was an archangel, but it is explicitly written that he and his angels fought against Michael and his angels (Revelation 12:7-9).



  • Ordinary angels: if there are archangels (angelic leaders), then there must also be angels who are not archangels. We can say that those who are not archangels are ordinary angels. They are the ones who are most often with us. (Hebrews 1:14)


  • The four living creatures, each with six wings (Revelation 4:6-11). Some teachers consider them to be a category of angels. Others consider them to be a different category from angels. ‘They never stop saying, day and night: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD GOD, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come!”’ (Revelation 4:8)


  • The twenty-four elders (Revelation 4:10-11). Some teachers consider them to be a category of angels. Others consider them to be a different category from angels. They worship GOD.

    • (Revelation 4:9-11, NKJV) : 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “You are worthy, O LORD,To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”



  1. Fallen angels: Satan and his angels


Fallen angels are those who have lost their status as angels of GOD. One third of the angels joined Lucifer's rebellion (Hebrews 12:22, Revelation 12:3-9). After their rebellion, they (including Satan) were cast out of the Kingdom of Heaven. They are the fallen angels. Those who joined Satan's rebellion are called his angels.


Before his rebellion, Satan was called Lucifer, a name that means ‘morning star,’ ‘son of the dawn,’ ‘star of the day,’ or ‘bright star’ (Isaiah 14:12). He was a protective cherubim archangel (Ezekiel 28:14, Revelation 12:7-9). Since his rebellion, he has been called by several names that describe his different facets. He speaks, thinks, acts, moves, has emotions, feelings and a will. He appears to some and presents himself in different ways. One of his tricks is to disguise himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).



** Ohayō (おはよう) / Ohayou gozaimasu/Ohayou = Good morning in Japanese

** Sawasdee (วัสดี) = Good morning in thaï



Comments

Newsletter / receive  news by email.

  • Facebook Social Icône
  • Twitter Icône sociale

© 2020 Simone-Christelle (Simtelle) NgoMakon

bottom of page