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Download Notes ANGELS Angels are mentioned 320 times in the Bible (NIV). What do angels look like? Why were they created? And what do angels do? Humans have always held a fascination for angels and angelic beings. For centuries artists have tried to capture images of angels on canvas. It may surprise you to know that the Bible describes angels nothing at all like they are typically depicted in paintings. (You know, those cute little chubby babies with wings?) 1 1 https://www.learnreligions.com/what-does-the-bible-say-about-angels-701965 ANGELS Angels were created by God. Ps 148:2-5 (NIV) Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts… Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command they were created… This was done in the person of Christ. Col 1:16 (NIV) For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. Angels were present when God created the world. Job 38:1-7 (NIV) …“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?… while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” ANGELS There are millions of angels. John hears “the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads [Greek: myriades myriadōn] and thousands of thousands” (Rev 5:11, ESV). 1 They were created to live for eternity and do not die. Luke 20:36 (NIV) “… and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels.” Unlike humans, they do not need to marry or procreate to sustain their numbers. Matt 22:30 (NIV) “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.” 1 Thousands of thousands = million. Myriads = ten thousand. The largest number named in Ancient Greek was the myriad myriad or hundred million. ANGELS Are there any female angels? The Bible normally refers to angels as masculine but some interpret the two-winged women in Zechariah 5 as female angels. 1 1 Zech 5:9 (ESV) Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, two women coming forward! The wind was in their wings. They had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven. ANGELS Do angels eat? Psalm 78:24-25 speaks of manna as “the grain of heaven” and “the bread of the angels”. When angels appear as men to Abraham, they share a meal (Gen 18:8). Do angels have their own language? 1 Cor 1:13 refers to “the tongues of men and of angels”. Do angels sleep? The living creatures “do not rest day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy…’” (Rev 4:8). ANGELS Angels sing, shout for joy, feel longing, and show many emotions. They worship God in heaven. 1 They rejoice and sing when they witness the creation of the world (Job 38:7). They praise God when the Messiah is born. 2 1 Ps 148:2 (NIV) Praise him, all his angels… [cf. Rev 7:11, Neh 9:6] 2 Luke 2:13-14 (NIV) Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest…” CLASSES OF ANGELS A number of supernatural creatures subordinate to God appear through the Hebrew Bible including: The Malach (messenger) Irinim (Watchers/High Angels) Bene Elohim (sons of God) / Watchers) Elohim (gods) Cherubim (Mighty Ones) Sarim (Princes) Seraphim (Fiery Ones) Chayot (Living Creatures) Ofanim (Wheels) CLASSES OF ANGELS Maimonides, one of the most prolific and influential Torah scholars of the Middle Ages listed ten ranks of angels in his Mishneh Torah, beginning from the highest: 1. Chayot Ha Kodesh 6. Malakim 2. Ophanim 7. Elohim 3. Erelim 8. Bene Elohim 4. Hashmallim 9. Cherubim 5. Seraphim 10. Ishim But we’ll see that many of these are not necessarily distinct classes of angels, but simply different descriptive names for the same beings. SEVEN ARCHANGELS Some also attempt to classify angels based on the NT references to principalities, powers, rulers, authorities, thrones and dominions (Eph 6:12, 1:21; Col 1:16, Rom 8:38). But again these are simply descriptive terms and not likely to be a reference to some sort of angelic ranks. The only clear Biblical reference to angelic hierarchy is the term archangel. An archangel is a superior or higher- ranking angel. The word “archangel” derives from the Greek arche (ruler or source) and angelos (messenger). Only one angel is identified in the NT as an archangel, namely Michael (Jude 9). However in the OT, Daniel 12:1 calls Michael the “the great prince” which is a similar term. As he is also called “one of the chief princes” (Daniel 10:13) this seems to imply there are other archangels. SEVEN ARCHANGELS The idea of seven archangels is found in some early Jewish literature. E.g. The Book of Tobit (considered canonical by the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, but not by Protestants) refers to “the seven angels who stand in the glorious presence of the Lord, ready to serve him” (Tobit 12:15). While not taught explicitly in canonical Scripture this is consistent with what we see in Revelation: Rev 8:2 (ESV) “Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.” Rev 1:4 (ESV) … Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne [cf. Rev 4:5;5:6] SEVEN ARCHANGELS According to 1 Enoch 20:7, Gabriel “presides over the seraphim … and over the cherubim”, implying that he too is an archangel. The Book of Enoch mentions seven angels who appear to be chief angels wielding great authority. These angels listed in 1 Enoch 20:1-8 1 are (1) Michael, (2) Gabriel, (3) Raphael, (4) Uriel, (5) Raguel, (6) Sarakiel and (7) Remiel. 2 Only 2 of these angels are mentioned by name in Protestant canonical scripture – Michael and Gabriel. 1 https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Enoch_(Charles) SEVEN ARCHANGELS God says of his angel sent to lead Israel that “my Name is in him” (Ex 23:20). All of the archangels have God’s name (El) in their name. 1. Michael “Who is like God” 2. Gabriel “God is my strength” 3. Raphael “God heals” 4. Uriel “Fire of God” 5. Raguel “Friend of God” 6. Sarakiel “Prince of God” 7. Remiel “Thunder of God” possibly replaced by: Phanuel “Face of God” MINISTRY OF ANGELS Angels minister to God’s people. Heb 1:14 (NIV) Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? An angel provides Elijah with some baked bread and a jar of water so that he is strengthened on his journey to Horeb (1 Kings 19). An angel assists Hagar and reveals a well of water when her son Ishmael is about to perish in the wilderness (Gen 21). Gabriel is also a ministering spirit and strengthens Daniel by simply touching him (Dan 10:10). MINISTRY OF ANGELS Jesus in the After Jesus was tempted wilderness in the wilderness “the devil left him, and angels came and attended him” (Matt 4:11, NIV). Jesus in the Garden When Jesus was in distress in the Garden of Gethsemane “an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him” (Luke 22:43, NIV). MINISTRY OF ANGELS They assist the righteous in their passage after death. Luke 16:22 (ESV) “The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side.” MALACHIM One of the primary functions of angels in Scripture is to deliver messages from God. Ps 103:20 (NIV) Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Both malach (Hebrew) and angelos (Greek) mean messenger e.g. the angel proclaims the birth of the Messiah to the Bethlehem shepherds. Thus malach and angelos are not titles, but functions. MINISTRY OF ANGELS Angels offer prophetic insight. Hagar, Manoah, Gideon, Zechariah and Mary all have predictive prophecies given to them by angels. They are wise and intelligent and can discern good and evil and give insight and understanding. 1 Daniel 9:22 (NIV) He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding.” 1 2 Sam 14:17 (NIV) “… May the word of my lord the king secure my inheritance, for my lord the king is like an angel of God in discerning good and evil…” MINISTRY OF ANGELS Joseph has his mind set at ease regarding his upcoming marriage to Mary and is told “do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Matt 1:19-24). They offer godly guidance to: Hagar – she is instructed by an angel to “Go back to your mistress and submit to her” along with the promise to greatly increase her descendants (Gen 16:9-10). MINISTRY OF ANGELS Abraham – when he is about to offer Abraham Isaac, an angel & Isaac calls to him saying, “Do not lay a hand on the boy” (Gen 22:11-12). Abraham’s servant (probably Eliezer) – he is told by Abraham that God “will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son” (Gen 24:6-7). Jacob - regarding breeding his flocks (Gen 31:11-12).
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