Have you ever met an Angel? What do they look like? When were they created? How many are named in the Bible? Man has always been fascinated with Angels.
Artists have painted them for centuries; musicians sing songs about them; books, television shows and movies depict them. However, most of these are devoid of God's revelation, The Bible. Did you know there are 273 references to Angels in the Bible?
WHAT IS AN ANGEL?
Angels are spiritual beings created by God to serve Him, though created a little higher than man. There are the good angels, who have remained obedient to Him to carry out His will, while others, fallen angels, disobeyed, fell from their holy position, and now stand in active opposition to the work and plan of God.
WHAT DO ANGELS REALLY LOOK LIKE?
1. Angels often appear like men.
- "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it." — Hebrews 13:2
In Genesis 19:1 two angels came to Sodom in the evening. Lot was sitting in the gate and invited them into his house to spend the night.
- "And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.”" — Genesis 19:5
2. Angels often appeared in an awe inspiring presence.
- "I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze..." — Daniel 10:5-6
- "So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength." — Daniel 10:8
3. Angels often appeared with the appearance of light.
- "And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell." — Acts 12:7
In Matthew 28, an angel of the Lord descended from Heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
- "His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. " — Matthew 28:3
4. The Seraphim order of Angels have 6 wings.
- "Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew." — Isaiah 6:2
WHEN WERE ANGELS CREATED?
Now in Colossians 1, Paul writes, “By Him were all things created that are in heaven, that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created by Him.”
In this verse the words "thrones, dominions, principalities and powers" is referring to titles for the angels. It says there in Colossians 1:16 that God created angels. All the angels were created at the same time by a direct act of God.
We also know by reading Genesis 1:1 that God created the heavens and the earth on the first day of the creation week.
- "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."—Genesis 1:1
- "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" — Job 38:4-7
The "sons of God shouted for joy” in response to God’s wonderful creative work!
The "sons of God" were the angels who sang together in celebration of God's creation. We know these are the angels because in Job 1:6, the "sons of God" who included Satan, came to report to God on his throne.
- "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them." — Job 1:6
These verses tell us that the angels rejoiced when God laid the foundations of the earth. This could be a reference to day 1, when God made the earth; or it could be a reference to day 3, when God made the dry land. Either way, the angels were in existence before day 4 of the Creation Week.
- "You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you." — Ezekiel 28:13-15
HOW MANY ANGELS ARE NAMED IN THE BIBLE?
Only 3 Angels have names in the Bible.
1. Micheal — The Archangel
- "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia." — Daniel 10:13
Michael is the defender of Israel who will wage war on behalf of Israel against Satan and his hordes in the Tribulation in Revelations 12:7-8
- "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven." — Rev 12:7-8
- "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee." — Jude 1:9
2. Gabriel — God's Special Messenger
Gabriel name means “man of God” or “God is strong.” Gabriel seems to be God’s special messenger of His kingdom program in each of the four times he appears in the Bible record … He reveals and interprets God’s purpose and program concerning Messiah and His kingdom to the prophets and people of Israel.In a highly significant passage, Gabriel explained the events of the seventy weeks for Israel in Daniel 9:21–27.
- "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." — Dan 9:21
Gabriel explained to Daniel the succeeding kingdoms of Medo-Persia and Greece as well as the untimely death of Alexander the Great in Daniel 8.
- "And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision." — Dan 8:16
Gabriel also announced the birth of John the Baptist to Zacharias (Luke 1:11–20).
- “I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.” — Luke 1:19
Gabriel told Mary that the One born to her would be great and rule on the throne of David.
- “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin . . . and the virgin’s name was Mary” (Luke 1:26–27).
3. Lucifer — The Fallen Angel
- He is mentioned in Isaiah 14:12 "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
- He is mentioned in several places including Matthew 4:10 "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."
Apollyon/Abaddon, is another name given to him which means "destroyer"
- He is mentioned in Revelations 9:11 "They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon."
7 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ANGELS
1. There are too many angels to be counted.
2. Angels have rank and order.
3. Cherubim are the highest order of angels.
- Cherubim are mentioned in several places throughout Scripture:
- They guarded the entrance to the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24).
- God is enthroned above them (Ezekiel 10:1–22).
- God rides on them (Psalm 18:10)
- Two golden figures of cherubim sit above the Ark of the Covenant, where God promised to dwell among his people (Exodus 25:22, see also verses 18–21).
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