Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. (Hebrews 13:2 (NKJV))
There are many misconceptions about angels in our culture. So, let’s go to the source of all truth to learn about them. Here are 11 things the Bible teaches us about angels.
1. The word angel means messenger.
The Hebrew and Greek words translated as angel in English mean “a messenger of or from God.” And the Bible shows us angels performing that function. For example, an angel told Zacharias that his wife, Elizabeth, would bear him a son who they should name John (Luke 1:13); an angel told the shepherds about Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:8–12); and an angel told the women who went to Jesus’ tomb that He had risen from the dead (Matthew 28:5–7).
2. They’re not human.
Angels are spiritual beings created by God to serve Him (Psalm 104:4; Hebrews 1:7). Humans don’t become angels when they die. Instead, the Bible says that one day we will judge angels (1 Corinthians 6:3). I don’t know how that will work. But it’s an interesting thought.
3. There are different types.
The Bible reveals that angels include seraphim (Isaiah 6:2–3), cherubim (Genesis 3:24; Ezekiel 10:20–22), and an archangel (1 Thessalonians 4:16; Jude 1:9).
4. A cherub isn’t a baby.
A cherub (the singular form of cherubim) doesn’t look like a baby with a bow, waiting to launch an arrow at you so you’ll fall in love. Rather, a cherub has four faces, four wings, “and the likeness of the hands of a man” under its wings (Ezekiel 10:21 (NKJV)). The four faces include the face of a man, the face of a lion, the face of an ox, and the face of an eagle (Ezekiel 1:10). Its legs are straight, the soles of its feet are like the soles of calves’ feet, and it sparkles “like the color of burnished bronze” (Ezekiel 1:7 (NKJV)).
5. At least some of them have names.
Two angel names are revealed in the Bible. There’s Michael, the archangel (Jude 1:9). And there’s Gabriel (Daniel 8:16; Luke 1:19).
6. We’re not supposed to worship them.
When John was overcome by a vision, he “fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed” it to him (Revelation 22:8 (NKJV)). The angel rebuked John, saying, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God” (Revelation 22:9 (NKJV)). As we saw, angels were also created by God. Our worship should be for God and God alone.
7. They live in the spiritual realm.
Most of the time we can’t see angels, but they can appear to us. Angels can become visible in the semblance of human form (Genesis 19:1). For example, an angel appeared to Mary (Luke 1:26), to Joseph in a dream (Matthew 1:20), and to Zacharias in the temple (Luke 1:11).
8. There are a lot of them.
As John reported in Revelation 5:11 (NKJV), “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.” As the IVP Bible Background Commentary states, “‘Ten thousand’ was the largest single number used in the Greek, so ‘ten thousands of ten thousands’ (myriads of myriads) is the author’s way of calling them innumerable.”
9. They are powerful.
God has given angels great power. For example, when God sent an angel to save His people from the Assyrians, the angel killed 185,000 men in one night (2 Kings 19:35).
10. They ministered to Jesus at least twice.
After Jesus spent 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness and was tempted by the devil, the Bible tells us, “Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him” (Matthew 4:11 (NKJV)). And the night before Jesus was crucified on the cross when He was in “agony,” praying earnestly and sweating “great drops of blood,” “an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him” (Luke 22:43–44 (NKJV)).
11. God uses angels in our lives.
The Bible reveals that there are angels that protect us (Psalm 91:10–11); guide us (Matthew 2:19–20); help us (Acts 12:7–11); fight in the spiritual realm on our behalf (Daniel 10:12–13); and escort those who believe in Jesus into heaven (Luke 16:22). The Bible even suggests that believers have guardian angels (Matthew 18:10).
All of God’s creation – including angels – is amazing. But that’s only because our Creator is awesome. So, let’s keep a proper perspective of angels. Look up these passages this week and learn what the Bible says about them. Then, worship God for all He has done as you walk by faith with Him.
Photo by Gabriel Lamza on Unsplash
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