Angel

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Guardian Angel, German Postcard, 1900

An angel is a spiritual being, invisible to the human eye, and serves as a divine envoy who carries out the will of God—in essence, a messenger of God. Because of the pure and beautiful image often associated with angels, the term is sometimes used to describe an exceptionally good person.

However, angels are not perfect beings and are capable of sinning. Those who remain sinless travel between heaven and earth, fulfilling divine missions through the power granted by God. In contrast, angels who have sinned are cast down to earth in human form. All people living on earth were originally angels in heaven. Even those who have fallen and now live as mortals are given the chance to repent, be clothed once again in the garments of angels, and return to their heavenly home.

Meaning of Angel

The word angel is mal’akh (מַלְאָךְ)[1] in Hebrew and angelos (ἄγγελος)[2] in Greek. Both terms carry the core meaning of “one who is sent” or “messenger,” and convey the idea of a representative, envoy, or herald. The English word angel is derived from the Greek angelos. In the Bible, angels are frequently referred to as “messengers of God,”[3][4] “angels of the LORD,”[5][6] and “angels of the Lord.”[7][8] They are also described as the “heavenly host,”[9] “heavenly army,”[10][11] “righteous ones of heaven,”[12] and “living creatures.”[13][14]

Appearance and Attributes

The cherubim of the ark of the covenant are depicted with wings. This is part of a depiction by 18th-century French sculptor Jean Baptiste Liébaux, housed in the National Library of France.

In the Bible, angels are often described as wearing white, radiant clothing,[15][16] capable of flight,[17][18] and sometimes depicted with wings.[19][20] They possess designated ranks and dwelling places,[21][22] and they can appear in human form within the physical world.[23] Although they are granted wisdom and power by God to carry out His will,[24][25] angels are not to be worshiped by people.[26] They are not perfect beings[27][28]—if they sin, they can fall under God’s judgment and be cursed or even cast into hell.[29][30]

Angels are, by nature, created beings[31] formed from God’s breath of life.[32][33] This divine breath—often understood as life-giving energy—is composed of elements that flow from God’s fundamental power. Because of this, God is called the Father of all spirits,[34] and all angels and souls are regarded as sons of God.[35] Their number is vast beyond human comprehension.[36][37] Angels specifically mentioned in the Bible include Gabriel, the Seraphim, the Cherubim, and Lucifer.

In popular usage, the word angel is often used to describe a kind, gentle person. However, the Bible also speaks of fallen angels—those who rebelled against God. These include Satan (the devil) and the evil spirits under his command.[38][39] Even these servants of Satan can disguise themselves as “angels of light,” pretending to be servants of righteousness, in order to deceive.[40]

The Role of Angels

  • They serve God.[41]
  • They deliver God’s revelations to the prophets.[42]
  • They serve those who will receive salvation.[33]
  • They continually report to God.[43]
  • They help God’s people when they face difficulties.[44]
  • They ensure the safety of God’s people.[45]
  • They give wisdom and understanding to God’s people.[46]
  • They destroy the enemies of God’s people.[47]
  • They protect and guide God’s people as they walk their path.[48]
  • They strike down the proud.[49]
  • They pour out disasters upon the earth.[50]
  • They carry the prayers of the holy people to God.[51]
  • They bring success to those who spread the gospel.[52]
  • They lead those who fear God to meet prophets.[53]
  • They carry the souls of the dead to heaven.[54]
  • They cast the lawless and the wicked into the fiery furnace.[55][56]
  • They will come with God at the time of the final judgment.[57][58]

Ability

The Angel Appearing to Saint Peter Author unknown, held by National Trust, U.K.
  • They move without speed limits
When the prophet Daniel prayed to God, the angel Gabriel appeared before he even finished his prayer. Though Gabriel had been in the presence of God, he reached Daniel in mere moments. To understand the magnitude of this, consider that the Milky Way galaxy—where Earth is located—spans about 100,000 light-years across. That means it would take 100,000 years to travel this distance at the speed of light, which is 300,000 km per second[59]—fast enough to circle the Earth seven and a half times in just one second.[60] The Heavenly Jerusalem, God’s city, is said to be at the center of the vast universe filled with such galaxies. From there to Earth, an angel arrived in the blink of an eye while Daniel was still praying.[61]
  • They are unharmed by blazing fire
When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to an idol in Babylon, they were sentenced to death and thrown into a fiery furnace heated seven times hotter than normal—so hot it killed those who came near it. But God sent an angel to protect them. The angel was completely unharmed by the flames, and the three men came out without even a hair on their heads singed. This shows that angels are not affected by the physical forces that harm ordinary beings.[62]
  • Free from all bondage
Apostle Peter was imprisoned for preaching the gospel. He was bound in chains, guarded by four squads of soldiers, and held behind iron gates. Yet an angel of God appeared, freed Peter from his chains, caused the gates to open by themselves, and led him safely out. This account shows that angels are not confined by physical barriers or limitations. No prison can hold them, and no force—except God—can bind them.[63]

Angels and the Holy Spirit

Some people mistakenly believe that angels and the Holy Spirit are similar or even interchangeable. However, the Bible does not support this idea. It never describes angels as being the Holy Spirit, nor does it attribute to them the role of the Holy Spirit. In fact, Scripture makes it clear in many ways that angels and the Holy Spirit are fundamentally different.

First, angels are referred to in the plural, whereas the Holy Spirit is testified as being only one.

  • Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14)
  • There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called (Ephesians 4:4).

Second, angels are capable of sinning and can be cast into hell. They are also subject to judgment by God’s redeemed people. In contrast, there is no record in the Bible of the Holy Spirit ever sinning or being judged.

  • For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment (2 Peter 2:4)
  • Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! (1 Corinthians 6:3)

Third, angels do not fully understand the profound mysteries of God. In contrast, the Holy Spirit knows all things—even the deep and hidden things of God.

  • They spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. (1 Peter 1:12)
  • But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10)

Comparing these differences proves that there is a fundamental difference between angels and the Holy Spirit.

Relationship Between Angels and Humans

The Bible teaches that angels are spirits,[33] and that the breath of life God breathed into humans is also spirit.[64] Jesus said that in the resurrection, humans will be like the angels.[65] This reveals a close connection between angels and humans. To truly understand the administration of redemption, we must ask an important question: “Are we born first as humans and later become angels?” or “Were we once angels, now born as humans, and destined to return to our angelic state in heaven?” Jesus hinted at the mystery of the angelic world through the Parable of the Hundred Sheep.


“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

Luke 15:4–7


In the Parable of the Hundred Sheep, the shepherd who rejoices after finding the one lost sheep represents Jesus.[66][67] Since Jesus came down to earth from heaven, the ninety-nine sheep symbolize the angels who remained in heaven, while the one lost sheep represents the people living on this earth. Jesus compared the joy of finding the lost sheep to the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, revealing that the people of this world are sinners. In other words, angels who sinned in heaven were born into this world as humans.

To help us understand this truth, God used the King of Tyre and the King of Babylon as examples in the Bible, showing that people on earth are, in fact, angels who once sinned in heaven.[68][69] Furthermore, the Bible records that Job and Solomon existed before the creation of the world—evidence that humans first existed as angels in heaven before being born into the flesh.[70][71] Therefore, we are not born as humans and later become angels. Rather, angels who sinned were born as humans, and when they are saved, they are restored to their angelic form and return to heaven.

This world serves as a refuge for angels who sinned; their true home is heaven.[72] God proclaimed the gospel on this earth so that these fallen angels could repent and find their way back to their heavenly dwelling. The angels who remained in heaven and were never born into the flesh long to understand this gospel.[73] When the redeemed return to heaven, they will become heirs of God[74][75] and receive authority to judge even the angels who stayed in heaven.[76]

Glory of the Angelic World

The glory of the angelic world is beyond what the human brain can imagine. The image of the cluster Westerlund 2, released by NASA and the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope. View original image

The angelic world is not like the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve once lived. The Garden of Eden had the institution of marriage and was a place where people lived in the flesh.[77][78] However, the angelic world has no system of marriage and is inhabited by spiritual beings.[65][79] After the work of redemption is complete, God’s people will enter the angelic world—a realm without death[80]—so they cannot go there in a mortal body.

Even stepping outside Earth’s atmosphere requires a life-support system, such as a space suit. All the more, to reach the angelic world—located at the center of the vast universe, countless light-years away—one must be clothed in something far more extraordinary. The perishable body worn on this earth must be transformed into an imperishable one. This resurrection into a perfect body, not made of flesh and blood, is what it means to be clothed with a spiritual body—the angelic robe.


I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

1 Corinthians 15:50–52


The holy people who are clothed in the garments of angels and restored to the glory of the angelic world will enjoy royal authority forever, moving freely through the vast expanse.[81][82] In the angelic world, there is a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, and a tree of life that bears fruit every month.[83] This water and fruit of the tree of life are a mysterious nourishment made from God’s word. The holy people of the angelic world are blessed to dine with God at His table, eating this spiritual food that cannot be seen with human eyes.[84]

The Bible only briefly describes the glory of the angelic world. No matter how wise or intelligent a person may be, there are limits to how much a human can understand that glory.[85] The glory is so overwhelming that the angels give eternal thanks, glory, and worship to God.


All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

Revelation 7:11–12


People Who Met Angels

Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, there are many accounts of people who encountered angels. Angels who appeared in the human world sometimes showed themselves in their divine, spiritual form, and at other times appeared in the form of humans. The Bible advises us to be mindful of this teaching: “Do not forget to entertain strangers,” as angels may come to us in human form.[86]

Name Content Bible Verses
Hagar Then the angel of the LORD told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” Ge 16:9
Abraham, Lot The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men [the LORD and two angels] standing nearby. The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. Ge 18:1–2; Ge 19:1
Moses Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.

Ex 3:1–2
Balaam The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.” Nu 22:32
Gideon When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” Jdg 6:12
Mother of Samson The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, “You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son.” Jdg 13:3
Elijah The angel of the LORD said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king. 2 Ki 1:15
Zechariah I asked, “What are these, my lord?” The angel who was talking with me answered, “I will show you what they are.” Zec 1:9
Zechariah But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.” Lk 1:13
Shepherds And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Lk 2:8–10
Mary But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.” Lk 1:30–31
Mary Magdalene The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.” Mt 28:5
Cornelius Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” Ac 10:4
Peter Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Ac 12:8
Paul Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ Ac 27:23–24
John The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John. Rev 1:1

See also

Related videos

  • Sermon: Eternal Angelic World & the Heavenly Kingdom

References

  1. ↑ Strong's Hebrew: 4397. מַלְאָך, Bible Hub
  2. ↑ Strong's Greek: 32. ἄγγελος, Bible Hub
  3. ↑ "Genesis 32:1".
  4. ↑ "Acts 10:3".
  5. ↑ "2 Samuel 24:16".
  6. ↑ "1 Kings 19:5–7".
  7. ↑ "Luke 1:11".
  8. ↑ "Acts 12:23".
  9. ↑ "Psalms 148:1–2".
  10. ↑ "Luke 2:13".
  11. ↑ "Matthew 26:53".
  12. ↑ "Luke 15:7".
  13. ↑ "Ezekiel 10:15".
  14. ↑ "Revelation 4:6".
  15. ↑ "John 20:12".
  16. ↑ "Revelation 15:6".
  17. ↑ "Daniel 9:21".
  18. ↑ "Revelation 14:6".
  19. ↑ "Exodus 25:20".
  20. ↑ "Isaiah 6:2".
  21. ↑ "Jude 1:6".
  22. ↑ "1 Thessalonians 4:16".
  23. ↑ "Genesis 18:1–2, 19:1".
  24. ↑ "2 Samuel 14:17, 20".
  25. ↑ "2 Peter 2:11".
  26. ↑ "Revelation 19:10".
  27. ↑ "Job 4:18".
  28. ↑ "Matthew 24:36".
  29. ↑ "Galatians 1:8".
  30. ↑ "2 Peter 2:4".
  31. ↑ "Psalms 148:1, 5".
  32. ↑ "Genesis 2:7".
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 "Hebrews 1:14".
  34. ↑ "Hebrews 12:9".
  35. ↑ "Job 38:7".
  36. ↑ "Psalms 68:17".
  37. ↑ "Hebrews 12:22".
  38. ↑ "Ephesians 6:12".
  39. ↑ "Revelation 12:9".
  40. ↑ "2 Corinthians 11:14".
  41. ↑ "Matthew 4:11".
  42. ↑ "Revelation 1:1".
  43. ↑ "Matthew 18:10".
  44. ↑ "Psalms 34:7".
  45. ↑ "Genesis 19:15".
  46. ↑ "Daniel 9:21–22".
  47. ↑ "2 Kings 19:35".
  48. ↑ "Exodus 23:20".
  49. ↑ "Acts 12:23".
  50. ↑ "Psalms 78:49".
  51. ↑ "Revelation 8:3–4".
  52. ↑ "Acts 5:19–20".
  53. ↑ "Acts 10:2–5".
  54. ↑ "Luke 16:22".
  55. ↑ "Matthew 13:42–42".
  56. ↑ "Matthew 13:49–50".
  57. ↑ "Matthew 16:27".
  58. ↑ "2 Thessalonians 1:7".
  59. ↑ The Milky Way, NASA
  60. ↑ Light basics, Science Learning Hub
  61. ↑ "Daniel 9:21–23".
  62. ↑ "Daniel 3:25–27".
  63. ↑ "Acts 12:7".
  64. ↑ "Hebrews 12:23".
  65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 "Matthew 22:30".
  66. ↑ "Luke 19:10".
  67. ↑ "John 10:10–11".
  68. ↑ "Ezekiel 28:17".
  69. ↑ "Isaiah 14:4, 13-15".
  70. ↑ "Job 38:4, 21".
  71. ↑ "Proverbs 8:22–23".
  72. ↑ "Hebrews 11:16".
  73. ↑ "1 Peter 1:12".
  74. ↑ "Romans 8:17".
  75. ↑ "Ephesians 3:6".
  76. ↑ "1 Corinthians 6:3".
  77. ↑ "Genesis 2:18".
  78. ↑ "Genesis 2:7".
  79. ↑ "1 Corinthians 15:44".
  80. ↑ "Revelation 21:4".
  81. ↑ "John 14:2".
  82. ↑ "Revelation 22:5".
  83. ↑ "Revelation 22:1–2".
  84. ↑ "Luke 22:30".
  85. ↑ "1 Corinthians 2:9".
  86. ↑ "Hebrews 13:2".
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