Study 21: Angels
Angels are spiritual beings that God created. The word “angel” means messenger. Hebrews 1:14 describes angels “ministering spirits” who are sent to serve. Angels are not eternal like God, nor are they humans who have died. They are servants and messengers of God.
The Strong’s Concordance defines angels as: “angel” (Greek: angelos, Hebrew: mal’akh; Strong’s H4397/G32) primarily means a messenger, referring to both divine heavenly beings who carry out God’s will and human messengers/representatives (like prophets or priests). Concordances highlight this duality, showing angelos used for God’s envoys (Acts 5:19, Luke 9:52) and also for human figures, emphasizing their role as agents of God or Satan, or even abstract.
The focus in the Bible is not on angels, but on God and His Son Jesus Christ, and their relationship with humanity. Angels point out God’s power, holiness, and care for humanity as servants of God.
Types of Angels
The Bible mentions several types of angels that exist in different forms:
- Archangel: Michael is called an archangel, a chief angel.
- Cherubim: Associated with guarding and God’s holiness, as described in Genesis.
- Seraphim: Described in Isaiah chapter 6 as worshiping around God’s throne.
Some angels rebelled against God and are fallen angels, are often associated with Satan. Revelation 12 describes one such rebellion.
What Angels Do
Angels can have many different jobs.
- Deliver messages. One of the most well-known angels is Gabriel, who announces the birth of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke.
- Protect and help. In the book of Daniel, angels protect and strengthen God’s people.
- Carry out God’s judgments. In Revelation, angels play major roles in God’s final judgments.
- Worship God. Angels are described as constantly worshiping God, as in Isaiah chapter 6.
What Angels Are Not
- Not equal to God.
- Do not act independently from God’s authority.
- They are not to be worshiped. See Revelation 22:8–9.
Study 21: Angels
Psalm 103:19-22 – The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything. Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will! Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom. Let all that I am praise the Lord.
The following scriptures show examples of angels in their roles and capacities as servants and messengers.
Angels protecting
Exodus 23:20 – See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you. NLT
Psalm 91:11-12 – For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. NLT
Daniel 6:20-23 – When he (King Darius the Mede) got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.” The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.
Acts 5:17-23 – The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them, “Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!”
Matthew 18:10 – Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father. NLT
Hebrews 1:14 – Therefore, angels are servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation. NLT Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” KJV
Praising Angels
Isaiah 6:1-7 – It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke. Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”
Revelation 5:11-12 – Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” NLT
Angels as Messengers
Acts 10:3-8 – One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said. Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel. And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.” As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants. He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.
Angels as Executors
- Zechariah 1:10-11
- Matthew 16:27
Angels as carriers of Judgment
- Acts 12:23
- Revelation 12:7-8
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