CHARACTERISTICS AND FUNCTION OF ANGELS

In this post we will begin to explore a bit more about the characteristics of angels. Angels are spirit beings that are most generally identified as servants of God in heaven.

Psalms 104:1–4 “Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty….Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:”

Hebrews 1:6–7 “…And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.”

Hebrews 1:13–14 “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

The only times I can recall fallen angels being referenced as “angels” are in connection with identifying the devil and his angels, as those who rebelled against God, and in Jude when he identifies those angels that “did not keep their first estate,” again emphasizing rebellion to their Creator. They are more often identified as “principalities…powers…the rulers of the darkness of this world…spiritual wickedness in high places” as referenced by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians (6:12).

We do not know how many angels God created, but scripture is clear that they exist in numbers beyond normal human expression.

Daniel 7:9–10 “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 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.”

Hebrews 12:22 “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….”

Revelation 5:6 & 11 “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth….And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands….”

Though angels are spirit beings, they clearly are able to make themselves visible to man and even take on the appearance of man. The men of Sodom thought the two angels that rescued Lot from Sodom were men.

Genesis 19:1 & 5 “And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground…. And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.”

Daniel referred to the angel Gabriel as a man.

Daniel 9:21 “Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.”

When the two Mary’s and Salome came to Jesus’ tomb to anoint His body with spices, they encountered a “young man” who told them that Jesus had risen from the grave. This seems to be an obvious reference to an angel.

Mark 16:5 “And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.”

The writer of the book of Hebrews encourages us to be hospitable because of the possibility of entertaining angels. This would imply that they often appear as normal human beings.

Hebrews 13:2 “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

Contrary to popular portrayals of angels in our culture, I could find no biblical support for female angels or angels that look like babies. I guess one could possibly infer angels of both genders from Luke’s account of the Lord’s answer to the Sadducees concerning a woman who had been married seven times and whose wife she would be in eternity.

Luke 20:34–36 “And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.”

After reading the three gospel accounts of this incident, it seems to me that the context is focused on what man will get to claim her as wife. The comparison seems to be directly comparing the angels and the men. It does seem clear from these accounts that family relationships established on earth will be different in heaven. I know that thought might disturb some people, but everything about our eternal future in the Lord’s presence will be wonderful and far beyond what we can imagine—so there is no reason for concern.

1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

Revelation 21:3–4 “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”