Angels

BASIC BIBLE PRINCIPLES

ANGELS

“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Heb. 1:14).

From Genesis to Revelation, the Scriptures are full of the work of the angels. The first and last books of the Bible, in particular, show us angels dealing with individuals and nations; but they are featured throughout the whole of Scripture because this is the way God has chosen to work with His creation and to fulfil His purpose. This world is under the direction of the angels, who now receive their authority and power from Christ; and this will remain so until the Kingdom is established, when Christ and the saints will rule.

The work of the angels can be divided into three sections:

• Representing God (Ex. 3:1-6)
  
• Directing the nations (Dan. 4:35)
  
• Ministering to the saints (Heb. 1:14)
  

These have been their responsibilities since the Garden of Eden.

The Hebrew word (malak) and the Greek word (aggelos) for ’angel’ both mean ‘messenger’, ‘one sent’, and relate to the function and not the nature of the one involved. The context and event will identify whether Scripture is describing a messenger who is a Divine being or a human being. For example, Malachi 2:7; 3:1 and James 2:25 clearly use these words of human beings, and Judges 13:20 and Acts 12:7 clearly use them of Divine beings. Hence in the first case the translation ‘messenger’ is used, and in the second, ‘angel’.

Angels that excel in strength

These Divine beings that come from the presence of God and Christ have been involved with this earth since they created it on the instructions of God. They are immortal, not influenced by evil, and carry out the commands of God and Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit which has been given to them. They have the ability to appear and disappear at will, and can manifest themselves as human beings or glorious beings, as a burning bush or a hand that writes on a wall, or a pillar of cloud or fire. The Scripture shows us that they have names, for angels called Gabriel and Michael are mentioned, and that they have different ranks, for some are called archangels.

(Dan. 10:13,21; 12:1; 1 Thess. 4:16; Jude v. 9; Ex. 3:2; Judg. 13)

Representing God

In the Old Testament there is the Name-bearing angel that represents God. On occasions the angel is referred to as LORD (Yahweh), on other occasions as God. The word ‘God’ is often used of the angels; the plural Hebrew word elohim means ‘mighty ones’. It was the angels (‘God’; elohim) that said: “Let us make man in our image” (Gen. 1:26). It was an angel that spoke to Moses at the burning bush and said: “I am the God of thy father . . .”; and in the same passage we read: “And when the LORD [Yahweh] saw that he [Moses] turned aside . . .”, which teaches us that God was being represented by this angel. Jesus has now become the one who represents his Father, and the angels go forth under his command and in his power.

(Ex. 3:1-6; 23:20-23; Heb. 1:1-5; 1 Pet. 3:22; Rev. 1:1)