What does the Bible tell us about Angels?

The Bible often refers to the fact of a spiritual world as well as our physical world, reminding us that this spiritual world is inhabited, both by God and His angels fighting for good and also other forces which are fighting against the powers and will of God, dark forces, satanic forces, out to bring harm to the people of God. Scripture talks about a fight between the world of flesh and spiritual world, for example "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)" 2 Cor 10:3,4. "11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;" 1 Peter 2:11 In the letters of Paul he often refers to "fighting" or the position and action of "soldiers," 2 Tim 2:3; Phil 2:25;

The word "Angel" has the meaning "Messenger", both in the Hebrew and Greek, and is therefore indicating an agent that God sends to carry out His instructions and purpose. The name does not signify their nature just their tasks and duties. References to the title "the Angel of the Lord," are referring to appearances of the divine Lord Jesus as the Son of God before his appearance on the earth as Jesus in human form.

There is a spiritual world and a real world, we are very conscious of the real world as we are part of it but the spiritual world is apparently hidden from our senses. In the spiritual world we find God and angels, good and evil angels. The Bible refers to angels nearly 300 times, these are created beings who appear to be immortal, there is no reference to an angel dieing, though Satan and his followers will one day be put into punishment for eternity, Rev 20:1-10.

The angels were created to serve God and worship Him, their tasks are to carry out His instructions and desires in the operation of His creation and universe, they are his messengers, workers and soldiers, but their main task is the worship of God. Angels are also there to protect true Believers, Heb 1:14.

There is no obvious appearance of angels to Mankind until after the call of Abraham. After that event there are frequent references to their ministry on earth, See for example Genesis 18:1ff; Genesis 24:7,; Genesis 28:12; Genesis 32:1; Judges 13:1-21.

Angels as worshippers.

Heb 1:6; Col 1:16.
Though the angels may have the ability to travel throughout the universe their main situation is at the throne of God, Job 38:4-7, "Morning Stars" are the angels, created by God with the universe. One day we will join with the angels to worship God. Angels are spirits but it is interesting that whenever angels appeared to man it was always in a human form, It is possible that there is some resemblance between them and the human race.
In Isaiah 5:1 - the writer has a vision of the throne of God with various angels, the Seraphim are described with six wings and flying with two of these wings, so we describe angels having wings and able to fly yet other Biblical references seems to indicate they are human in form. Note that the Seraphim in the Bible passage were referring to the Holiness of God, "Holy,Holy,Holy"

Bad Angels.

When God created the angels He gave each of them a free will, they could decide how to serve God, just like He gave Mankind when He created Adam and Eve, but just like man their pride took over and as a result there was a revolt against God.

Satan

Down through history Lucifer, who became Satan, has been shown in Mankind writing etc. as a man-goat with tail and horns, dressed in red and often holding a pitchfork which was used by him to feed the fires of hell. Today we still have a similar image of Satan being displayed in books and entertainment sources, an image which does not bother the world and so most do not believe in the actual existance of Satan as a physical being. Unfortunately, even some Christians doubt his existance and power. The truth is that at sometime Satan was a very powerful Cherub angel, apparently this was a very high position as an angel of God, he was perfect, beautiful and powerful, Ezekiel 28:11-19. As Cherubs are the highest class of angelic beings it suggest that Lucifer could have been the highest angelic creation. We are not told much about the reason for the fall other than pride, neither why other angelic beings decided to follow him from their positions.
This is confirmed in Isaiah 14:1ff, the writer is initially referring to the King of Babylon, but in verses 12-14 the words cannot be referring to the King of Babylon but to a fallen angel of God. We are told that this fallen angel has the name of Lucifer who wanted the praise for God for himself, and he took one-third of the angelic beings from heaven with him.
"12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. "

Satan has the name "Adversary," or "accuser" Job 1:6-12; Job 2:1-7. In the New Testament the word "Diabolos" is translated as "the devil," more than thirty times.
Satan is also called:-

• "The dragon," "the old serpent," Rev 12:9; Rev 20:2;
• "The prince of this world," John 12:31; John 14:30;
• "The prince of the power of the air," Eph. 2:2;
• "The god of this world," 2 Cor. 4:4;
• "The spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience," Eph. 2:2;
• "Beelzebub, Lord of the flies; The prince of the devils," Matt 10:25; Matt 12:24.
• "Belial," or "the false god" 2 Cor 6:15.

Lucifer, a wonderful God created being, was given all you could ask for, but with great personal pride he threw it all away, he was created to lead the universe in worship of God but he then desired the universe to worship him, and it all started with "I want, I will "

As a result of this amazing state of pride, God threw Lucifer out of power, out of his position in heaven, then out of heaven, as a result Satan’s anger and rage against God began, from the moment Lucifer said "I Will" he was doomed for disappointment and ultimate punishment, Mankind did the same in the Garden of Eden and so is also doomed to an eternity of pain.

Satan is a constant enemy of God and Christ and the kingdom of God. He is in total rebellion against God and out to destroy God’s creation, the universe and Mankind. His main aim throughout the centuries is to make human hearts rebel against God. When Jesus, the Son of God, became a man, as part of the plan by God to offer a way of salvation, one of Satan’s acts was to tempted Jesus in the wilderness in an attempt to get the human side of Jesus to worship him, Matt 4:1-11.

The Bible is full of warnings for true Believers concerning Satan:-

1 Peter 5:8;

8 Be sober, vigilant, because your opponent the devil, as a roaring lion, doth walk about, seeking whom he may swallow up,

2 Tim 2:26;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

2 Cor. 2:11;

11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

James 4:7;

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Heb. 2:14;

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Christ redeems his people from "him that had the power of death, that is, the devil". Satan has the "power of death," not as lord, but simply as executioner.

Many people have a deeply ingrained sense of right and wrong and would not worship Satan as he desires but he is partially satisfied if a person puts "What about me?" as the centre of their life and ignores any worship of God or calls from God.

There are only three records of actual words by Satan, In Genesis 3:1-5 he convinces Eve that God is not telling her all the facts, "eat of the forbidden tree and you will be better off. In other word, Dis-obey God!"

The second time we find a record of Satan speaking is in the book of Job, in this event Satan wants to prove Job’s heart is really for himself and not for God, Job 1 and 2.

The final time was directly to Jesus when Satan attempted to make Jesus ignore the plans of God and take the easy way, "the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. "Matt 4:8,9.

How many angels are there?

Daniel 7:10; "A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. "An infinite number of angels! Luke 2:13;

The power and abilities of angels.

God regularly uses the power of His angels to carry out His instructions:-
1) An angel guards the garden of Eden. Gen 3:24, "So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life."
2) At Sodom and Gomorrah. Gen 19:1ff. The angels made the men blind because of their evil desires.
3) Angel of Death in Egypt. Exodus 12:23 "For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. "
4) Punishment, 2 Thess 1:7,8, "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:"
5) The tribulation period, God used single angels to carry out His punishment on the earth: For example, Rev 14:6-11; Rev 14:14-20.

Angels have emotions, 1 Kings 19:5-8.
Angels have names, for example, Michael and Gabriel.
Angels have a free will, Is 14:12-14.
Angels will never die, Luke 20:36.
They have been given superhuman intelligence and power, Mark 13:32; 2 Thess. 1:7; Psalm 103:20.
They are called "holy" Luke 9:26,
They are called "elect" 1 Tim. 5:21.
They are not to be worshipped, Col 2:18; Rev 19:10.

They have different ranks of position and power, Daniel 10:10-13; Daniel 12:1; 1 Thess 4:16; Jude 9; Eph 1:21; Col 1:16.

Following the Incarnation of Jesus a new area of administration for the angels appears, they are on earth to serve Jesus:-

• Angels provided the information on his coming appearance, Matt 1:20; Luke 1:26-38.
• Angels ministered to Jesus following the temptation, Matt. 4:11; and period before the cross, Luke 22:43.
• The angels had the task to tell the disciples about the resurrection, Matt. 28:2-8; John 20:12,13;
• The ascension, Acts 1:10,11.
• Today, they are now ministering spirits to the people of God, Heb 1:14; Matt 18:10; Acts 5:19; Acts 8:26; Acts 10:3; Acts 12:7; Acts 27:23.
• They rejoice over a sinner who turns to Christ, Luke 15:10.
• They carry the souls of those who are redeemed in to heaven, Luke 16:22.
• Angels will be involved on the Day of Judgement, Matt 13:39,41,49; Matt 16:27; Matt 24:31.

Some people believe that the Biblical text in Psalm 34:7 and Matt 18:10 indicates that every individual has a particular angel guarding them, it is possible, but it more likely means that God employs the angels to guard and deliver his people from affliction and danger. Note that the angels do not think it is below their position to minister to children or to any true follower of Jesus Christ.