Angels

"The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place." (Psalm 68: 17 KJV)

"But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels..." (Hebrews 12: 22 KJV)

Who are the "angels" mentioned frequently in the bible, in both Old and New Testaments? What can we learn about angels from the bible? What precisely is their relation to man and to Lord God? Are all angels good? Are there such beings as "bad" or "evil angels"?

From the above words we learn that there are not a few angels, but millions of them, perhaps even billions, being as numerous, or more so, than human beings, or as the stars and planets of outer space.

Some of the other ways of describing angels in the Old Testament is by the terms "sons of God," and as "stars" and as "heavenly bodies," and as "heavenly host."

Angels are often spoken of in military terms, as if each belonged to an special order or rank, and then too there are clearly some angels that are more distinguised by their "holy orders," they being more involved in holy or priestly functions in the heavenly temple in heaven. It seems that those angels styled "cherubim" and "seraphim" (plural terms) refer to these non-military order of angels.

"Heavenly host refers in the Bible to an 'army' (Luke 2:13; Revelation 19:19) of good angels in Heaven. It is comparable and directly contrasts with the legions of Hell. Most descriptions of angels in the Bible describe them in military terms. For example in terms such as encampment (Genesis 32:1-2), command structure (Psalm 91:11-12; Matthew 13:41; Revelation 7:2), and combat (Judges 5:20; Job 19:12; Revelation 12:7). Its specific hierarchy differs slightly from the Hierarchy of Angels as it surrounds more military services, whereas the Hierarchy of angels is a division of angels into non-military services to God."

"The title Elohe Tzevaot, or Elohim Sabaoth, translated as "Lord of the Hosts", describes God as the master of the 'legions' (army) of angels." (wikipedia.com)

"But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (Jude 1: 9 NIV)

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first." (I Thessalonians 4: 16 NIV)

"Archangel" again calls our attention to the fact there are "orders" and "ranks" of angels, both in a militaristic and in a non-militaristic sense. "Michael" in Hebrew means "he who is as God."

Michael seems to always be associated with battle and war also in scripture, whereas the angel Gabriel is only associated with messages of peace and with redemption. Michael and Gabriel are two of few angels whose names are revealed in scripture. Most names of angels are kept secret by divine intent and for good reasons. "And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?" (Judges 13: 18 KJV) If this angel be a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus, as the Son of God, then his name was not yet fully revealed in the time of the Judges, nor till his incarnation.

"Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize." (Colossians 2: 18 NIV)

It has been an ancient practice to worship these heavenly beings and many still do it today as part of their religious devotions, but Christians are forbidden to so, it being idolatry. Christians believe in angels, and they are fascinated by angels, as they are of all God's creations, but they do not adore them in religious worship, or make icons out of them, nor seek their help and guidance, nor pray to them. Rather, they see in angels and their glorious being the greatness and glory of God.

"Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26: 53 KJV)

Again,notice the use of the word "legion" in regard to angels and the militaristic context. It is no doubt for this reason that the angels are called "the angels of his might" or "power."

"Micaiah continued, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD : I saw the LORD sitting on his throne with all the host of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left." (I Kings 22: 19 KJV)

"You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you." (Nehemiah 9: 6 KJV)

"By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth." (Psalm 33: 6 KJV)

"The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will." (Psalm 103: 19-21 KJV)

"Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars." (Psalm 148: 1-3 KJV)

"Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing." (Isaiah 40: 26 KJV)

"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2: 13, 14 KJV)

"Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure." (Psalm 103: 20, 21 KJV)

"For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour." (Psalm 8: 5 KJV)

"Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire..." (Psalm 104: 4 KJV)

"When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38: 7 KJV)

What do all these verses tell us about angels? Besides the fact that there are myriads of them? That their proper "place of habitation" is in the heavens, either in the "second heaven" or in the "third heaven." (See II Corinthians 12: 2)

They certainly do tell us that angels are superior to humans, though not greatly, just a "little," and that their proper reason for being created was to be servants and messengers, or errand runners, or perhaps we might call them spiritual waitors, for Lord God and the kingdom of heaven. They also tell us that angels were created before the Lord "laid the foundations of the earth," being created before he created earth or man.

"Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly: How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?" (Job 4: 17-19 KJV)

"...God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment..." (II Peter 2: 4 KJV)

"And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." (Jude 1: 6, 7 KJV)

"And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." (Luke 10: 18 KJV)

What do these verses indicate to us? They tell us that there were angels who "sinned" and were "cast out of heaven" and down to a place of imprisonment in Hades and in Tartarus. Whether this refers to one "fall" or to more than one is a matter of discussion among Christian bible students.

"When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God (angels) saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years." The Nephilim ("giants" KJV) were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown. The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. This is the account of Noah." (Genesis 6: 1-9 NIV)

This seems to be the particular sin mentioned by Jude, perhaps Peter too, and the particular falling and apostacy they are alluding to. Many bible students believe so. It is a very ancient and majority tradition within Christian circles. One writer observed on this passage in Genesis, and to which Jude and Peter seem to allude.

"The contrast made in Genesis 6:2 is not between the descendants of Seth and the descendants of Cain, but between the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men." If by "sons of God" is meant "sons of Seth," then only the sons of Seth engaged in mixed marriages, and not the daughters. And only the daughters of Cain were involved, and not the sons. And another strange assumption is implied: that only the sons of Seth were godly, and only the daughters of Cain were evil."

Some argue that angels cannot have sexual intercourse, since they are "spirits," and do not have bodies of flesh and blood, and therefore the view that identifies the "sin" of the angels as a sexual sin, and with what took place in Genesis 6, cannot be correct. But, each must decide for himself on this point. The only verse that seems to substantiate this is this verse:

"For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven." (Matthew 22: 30 KJV)

But, if we read "good angels" for "angels of God," then there is no ground for saying that angels, at least the evil fallen angels, in their superior powers, absolutely cannot mate with human beings. Many Christians who argue the impossibility of angels (sons of God) and humans (daughters of men) producing Nephilim (giants), but who nevertheless believe that the Anti-Christ will be both angelic (or demonic) and yet human, which is an inconsistency.

"I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels..." (I Timothy 5: 21 KJV)

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matthew 25: 41 KJV)

Thus, there are "elect angels" and "non-elect angels," and there are "holy angels" and "unholy angels." There are the angels who "kept their first estate," who remained faithful to Lord God, and then there are those who did "not keep their first estate," but who followed Lucifer, the angel who became Satan, the archangel of the Legions of fallen wicked angels and evil spirits.

"Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them." (Psalm 35: 5, 6 KJV)

"He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them." (Psalm 78: 49 KJV)

Even though there are now evil angels, yet they are still Lord God's "servants," although they are not willing servants, being imprisoned and made to do the bidding of the warden. Express scripture statements say this, and the book of Job illustrates it wonderfully.

"Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses." (Isaiah 37: 36 KJV)

"My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: ..." (Daniel 6: 22 KJV)

"And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it." (Matthew 28: 2 KJV)

Oh how powerful are the angels of Lord God!

"There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone." (Psalm 91: 10-12 KJV)

"The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." (Psalm 34: 7 KJV)

"Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him." (Matthew 4: 11 KJV)

"Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 18: 10 KJV)

Oh to be one of those whom the Father in Heaven sends his angels to help and to minister while they are here on earth! Sometimes Christians meet these angels and we do not even recognize them! (See Hebrews 13: 2)

"And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Matthew 24: 31 KJV)

"...the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13: 40-42 KJV)

"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." (Matthew 16: 27 KJV)

The angels are intimately connected not only with the present ongoings of our world, in its physical machinations, and in the social, political, and other areas of divine governance, but are also greatly involved in the affairs of the end time, and of the ages to come.

Are you ready for that day? Do you want the angels to minister to you as a child of God, or to have them gather you to be burned in the fires of Gehenna?