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What blessed thoughts fill our minds at the mere mention of the word angels. The word itself seems mystical and angels' attributes
seem almost magical. Are they real or only imaginary beings? If they are real, how can we know what they are like? It is the purpose of
this study to pursue a better understanding of what the Bible teaches about angels, by endeavoring to answer four basic questions which
are often asked about them.
(1) Do angels really exist? According to the Bible we must answer an emphatic "yes". Angels are mentioned approximately two hundred
and eighty-four times in various books of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. There are seventeen Old Testament and seventeen New
Testament books which refer to angels; therefore more than half the books of the Bible validate their existence. For those who base their
beliefs upon biblical teaching, there is no doubt that they exist.
Not only do angels exist, but they are quite numerous. Daniel referred to angels as an army (Dan. 4:35). David numbered them at
above twenty thousand (Ps. 68: 17). In the New Testament, a multitude of angels appeared at the announcement of the birth of Christ (Luke
2: 13). During the time of agony and betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus referred to the availability of more than twelve
legions of angels (Mt. 26:53). A legion was a division of the Roman army consisting of from three to six thousand soldiers, so Jesus could
have called more than thirty-six thousand angels at one time. However, the most astounding number mentioned in the Bible with
regard to angels is found in the Book of Revelation. While we cannot know the exact number of angels, we do know that they exist and
that there are more than one hundred million of them according to Revelation 5:11.
Not only do we have biblical evidence of their existence, but there have been recorded accounts of angelic visitations. In Elder V.F.
Agan's book WALK OF FAITH, chapter seven gives accounts of such visitations. Other books and religious periodicals have related
similar accounts. There are some who have associated angelic visits with ESP, and still others believe that perhaps UFO's may in fact
be angels in the skies. Regardless of whether or not you see any validity in these last two suppositions, it should not affect our belief in the
presence of angels as real beings. According to the Bible they certainly have existed in the past and we have no conclusive evidence
that they have all simply disappeared.
(2) What are angels? Let us first state what they are not. Angels are not people who have died and gone to heaven. This is a general
misconception in our present day world. When people die, they are often depicted as angels with wings on their backs, floating around
among the clouds and playing harps; however, the words of Jesus should enlighten us. Jesus said that the resurrected will be "as angels
of God in heaven" (Mt. 22:30). They will not actually become angels, but will have some qualities and powers, similar to those of angels.
The simplest answer to this question is that angels are created beings. In the beginning God alone existed, so when He created this earth
and all its life forms, He must also have created angels for heaven. Paul was inspired of God to write, "For by him were all things created,
that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things
were created by him, and for him" (Col. 1:16). The "all things ...in heaven" which God created most surely included angels.
It is also my opinion that God at that time created all the angels that have ever existed. God created one man and made one woman
and from them all humanity descended. When God created human beings, He commanded them to be fruitful and multiply (Gen. 1:27-28);
angels were never given such a commandment, for they do not die or need to reproduce. Angels do not marry (Mt. 22:30) for there is
no need of marriage, neither do they need individual family units. The belief that these heavenly beings never die is supported by the
fact that two who are designated by name are mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. Gabriel is mentioned four times in the Bible
and Michael is mentioned five times and the references to both are separated by hundreds of years. Gabriel was the angel who brought
God's messages to both Daniel and Mary, the mother of Jesus (Dan. 8:16, Luke 1:26). Michael is the archangel believed by some to be
the chief angel or angel administrator. He was present at the birth of Moses and contended with Satan for the body of Moses Jude 9),
yet he will also be present at the second coming of Jesus (l Thess. 4: 16). These appearances of Michael will be separated by thousands
of years. Therefore, we may conclude that angels are created beings and that they exist now and will forever.
(3) What can we know about the nature and characteristics of angels? Many people have portrayed angels as beings with wings
on their backs. Since, there is no language in the Scriptures which declares the existence of wings on angels, I personally do not believe
that they have them. If they did, I believe that the Scriptures would have made some references to them. I once talked with a person who
had experienced the presence of angels. She could not recall having seen any wings on them, but the experience had taken place many
years before our conversation and she could not recall with certainty all the details of the incident. Perhaps one reason they are depicted
with wings is that Daniel described Gabriel as flying swiftly (Dan. 9:21). Since they are said to fly or move through the air as a bird,
wings are naturally attributed to them. In spite of such ideas about angels' flight, I prefer to attribute their ability to fly to special powers
endowed by their Creator.
One fact about which we can be certain is that angels do have greater powers than do mortals. They are a higher form of life, for man is
plainly declared to be "lower than the angels" (Heb. 2:7~8).When Jesus took the flesh of humanity, He also became lower than the angels.
There are some things which clearly reveal that we are inferior to angels. For example, consider the fact that angels may appear or
remain invisible; we certainly cannot. There was a time when Elisha the prophet prayed that a young man might have opportunity to see
the army of God. Angels appeared and he saw the surrounding mountains full of them (2 Kings 6:17). Usually angels are invisible, yet on
some occasions they have become visible and appeared to human eyes. Jacob had such an experience, as described in Genesis 32:1~2.At the
resurrection of our Lord, an angel ascended and became visible both to those who secured the tomb and to the women who visited (Mt.
28:3-5). Not only in ancient biblical times but also in more recent years, similar incidents have from time to time been repeated.
Angels have the ability not only to appear or disappear but also to travel in a rather remarkable way. They travel from heaven to earth
and back again unassisted by any mechanical devices (Mt. 28:2, John 1:51). They are capable of miraculous things because they are spiritual
beings, not physical. After the resurrection of our Lord, He retained a body; but it was a spiritual body, as evidenced by the fact that He
passed through doors that were closed and locked. In this miraculous way He entered the room where His disciples had assembled John
20:19). No doubt this is what our Lord intended when He declared that the resurrected shall be "as the angels of God in heaven" (Mt.
22:30).
(4) What is the purpose or work of angels? They are referred to at times as the "army of heaven" (Dan. 4:35); usually, however,
the word angel means messenger (Rev. 2:1). God commands and angels obey, carrying His messages to various mortals. They carried
messages to Lot (Gen. 19:15), to Joseph (Mt. 2: 13), and to countless others throughout the ages. Perhaps this work has been one of their
principle duties.
Another very important work that God has imparted to angels is the duty of ministering to the saints (Heb. 1:7, 14). They do this by
watching over and protecting us. David said, "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them"
(Ps. 34:7). What blessed reassurance we receive in the words "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" (Ps. 91:11-12). We should be happy in the knowledge that
the angels of God keep us and daily watch over our children (Mt. 18:10). Daniel declared, "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut
the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me" (Dan. 6:22). How wonderfully they care for us! Even though we do not see them, they
watch our every step and keep us in their care. We shall never know how often they have delivered us from danger or warned us just in
time to prevent tragedy. Even though we do not see them, they are no doubt with us even now. Perhaps they are all about us, and, if
God were to lift the veil, we would be amazed at their holy presence. Now their duty is to keep silent vigil, but one wonderful day we shall
in glory enjoy the company of these heavenly associates.
In conclusion, I reaffirm my belief in the existence of angels. Some have been privileged to see them, while most of us have not.
Nevertheless, we have learned that by faith the unseen does have substance and reality (Heb. 11:1). There have been many strange and remarkable
happenings that might well be explained by an angelic visit. They do exist and are like many other of our sovereign God's glorious and
mysterious works that cannot be fully understood or explained. In my soul I find a sense of joy in the knowledge that angels still exist
in this present time and world.
Let us thank God for His Word which informs us of the existence of angels and for faith to believe. Let us worship God now, for one
day in heaven we shall join with the host of angels to praise and worship Him forever.
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