Angelic Beings
“And behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” (Genesis 28:12). To my knowledge this Scripture has never been explained except to be put in a song entitled Jacob’s Ladder. However, in my research of Scripture I find a curious verse in Ephesians 3:10 that explains the activity of these angels ascending and descending on the ladder. “To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in heavenly places.” Yes, they are communicating to heaven what man is doing on earth. They are the messengers bringing direction to earth and communicating our response back to heaven. In Revelation 1:20 it states, “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamp-stands which you saw are the seven churches.”
Therefore, angels play a great role in heaven and on earth. And, there are good angels and there are bad angels, and within the company of bad angels there are evil angels. Angels will be judged for their sin just as will man. “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved for judgement." (2 Peter 2:4). And 1Corintians 6:3 states that Christians will judge these angels.
The Bible specifically refers to angels some 294 times. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word translated as angel is mal’ak meaning to dispatch as a deputy, ambassador or messenger. In the New Testament the Greek word translated angel is angelos meaning a messenger. It is from this Greek word we get the English word angel. Scripture tells us that Angels are spiritual beings who can take on human form as the situation requires.Although they are angelic beings they are not to be worshipped. (Revelation 19:10).
Angels are created beings. Adam and Eve were created beings, but there is a difference. Angels were created by God in incorruptible bodies andas such can never die. Adam and Eve on the other hand were created in corruptible bodies destined to live for a specific period of time on earth before being translated into incorruptible bodies sometime in the future. Adam and Eve,the angels, and all of mankind were created to serve and worship God.“Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receivepower and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:‘Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!’”(Revelation 5:11-13). However, there are those that did not worship God. “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will be like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:12-14). “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.His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.” (Revelation 12:9 and 4 respectively).
Scripture states that we were created a little lower than the angels. Yet as the Bride of Christ in heaven we will higher than the angels, as we will judge them.Thus, in eternity all created beings and human beings will be the same as we will all be in incorruptible bodies and as such will never die. You know the rest of that story.
Characteristics of Angels
Dr. Grant Jeffery has compiled a list of the characteristics of angels, and is the most complete and comprehensivedescription of angelic beings I’ve ever read. These are derived from the various parts of Scripture as it relates to angelic beings and their role as messengers between earth and heaven.“Various places in Scripture tell about their physical features including heads, faces, eyes, mouths, hair, hands, and feet. Angels have emotions, appetites, passions, desires, willpower, language, intelligence, knowledge and wisdom. They also have patience, meekness and modesty. The Bible says the angels who serve God are holy. The fallen angels who rebelled with Satan display hate, anger, lust, pride and vengeance.” The Bible records 104 times when angels showed themselves to men. They also eat food as recorded in Genesis 18. Abraham fed them cakes made of meal, beef, butter and milk. Then in Genesis 19 Lot fed them a feast with unleavened bread. In Psalm 78 David tells us thatthe doors of heaven opened and had rained down manna on them to eat, and gave them the“the bread of heaven”, and that men ate angels’ food the “corn of heaven”. This proves that angels eat in heaven.
Angelic Organization
Angelshave a hierarchy, i.e. they are organized somewhat like an army. Each group has different roles. We are told that Michael is the archangel who contends with the Devil (Jude 9). He will also announce the Lord’s return. Then there are the cherubima special class unto themselves as they surround the throne of God in heaven. They also guarded the Tree of Life at the Garden of Eden, (Genesis 3:22), and the Mercy Seat (Exodus 25:20).Then there are the seraphim,aseparate but equal class of angels who proclaim God’s holiness (Isaiah 6:1-2).Next are the four living beasts who watch over the throne of God and worship Him saying day and night “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come” (Revelation 4:8).The Chief angel is Michael who fought for the passage of God’s word (Daniel 10:13), and is the prince and overseer of Israel (Daniel 10:21). Michael also contended with the Devil for Moses’ body. Next is Gabriel,“the mighty one of God”who served as a messenger to Daniel (Daniel 8:15-16; 9:21), to Zecharias, announcing the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:11-25), and to Mary announcing the birth of Jesus (Luke 1:27,31-32). Holy ones and watchers decree the downfall of nations (Daniel 4:13,23).Then we find there are the regular angels who communicate with the church and man (Revelation 1:20).
As we continue our search we findthose who put on battle armor and do justice on the earth.“Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:17). Then in Joshua 5:13Joshua looked up and saw a man oppositehim with a sword in his hand. He told Joshua that, “He was the commander of the army of the Lord.”
Next we come to those angels who followed Satan when he rebelled against God and was thrown down to earth. Some of these are tormenting angels as found in Revelation 9:3-6. And those who look like locusts (Revelation 9:7-10 and Joel 2:4-11). Then there are the demons from the bottomless pitthat Jude informs us of in Jude6. The demonic angels are also organized as well. Their king is called Abaddon in the Hebrew and Apollyon in the Greek (Revelation 9:11), which is translated as the destroying angel.
Angel Gender
Most commentaries say that the Bible states all angels are male, but I cannot find that statement in Scripture. Granted, the angels who appeared to Abraham are defined as men (Genesis 18:2), but not all angels in Scripture are provided a definitive description as these. Many times the gender of angels is not stated, as is the case of the angel that cooked a meal for Elijah (1Kings 19:5-7). Also, there are no references in the Old Testament where men cook for other men.So, is the statement that all angels are male open for debate? I think so!
Carleton Dowdle, 8-15-09
1