There was a raging debate over the question “How many angels
can fit on the head of a pin?” back in the middle ages. I do not know how it
was resolved, nor do I care.
There is a
renewed interest in angels today. Writers of fiction have found a lot of fuel
for interesting and sometimes bizarre plot lines for books, television and
movies. I do not doubt that for many people, their only source of
(mis)information about angels so far has been these works of fiction. There
have even been some rather wild theories masquerading as non fiction, such as
the speculation that Biblical encounters with angels were really encounters
with extra terrestrial life forms that visited our planet.
But the
fact of the matter is that not all angels are not fictional. What the
Scriptures actually say about angels is quite different from what many believe
about them. Speaking of God's protection of those who trust in Him, the
Psalmist says, “For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you
in all your ways, They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your
foot against the stone.” (Psalm 91:11,12).
A Defining Moment
“Or do you
think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal
more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53).
The word
“angel” comes from the Greek word “angelos” which means “messenger”.The corresponding Hebrew word is “Malakh”.
Sometimes, in the Scripture, these terms are used to denote merely human
messengers, but most often refer to supernatural, celestial, spiritual beings a
step above man in the order of created beings.
From Where Do Angels Come?
“Praise Him
all His angels, praise Him all His hosts!... Let them praise the name of the
Lord, for He commanded and they were created.” (Psalm 148:2,5).
Everything
in the universe, both physical and spiritual, was created by God (Colossians
1:16). They are majestic beings created to serve God and perform according to
His will.
We are not
told in the creation account of Genesis exactly when they were created. Genesis
is concerned more with the creation of the physical universe and mankind.
However, we do know that angels were already created by the time God created
the world (Job 38:4-7).
Do The Saved Become Angels When
We Die?
“For in the
resurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels
in heaven.” (Matthew 22:30).
No, there
is not another angel in heaven when a righteous man or woman dies. Angels are
not humans in heaven. Angels were created as angels in the beginning. However,
the Bible does say that the saved become like angels in some respects when they
die and go to heaven. For example, angels are spiritual beings, and the righteous
are changed from mortal to immortal; from flesh to spirit when they go to
heaven (Luke 20:34-38; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44).
What Do Angels Look Like?
“Saraphim
stood above Him, each having six wings...” (Isaiah 6:2).
We are all
familiar with the common portrayal of angels in paintings and cartoons. They
look as if they are part man and part bird. The passage above gives them six
wings instead of two.
But the
fact is that angels seem to appear in whatever form suits their purpose for
that occasion. Sometimes they have appeared to be ordinary men (Genesis
19:1,5,8,10; 18:2,6; see Hebrews 13:2) and at other times as something far
above men (Luke 1:11,12). Remember that angels are spiritual beings and not
flesh and blood creatures (Luke 24:39). And yes, some of God's heavenly
creatures are depicted as having wings in earthly visions of them, but nothing
suggests we know what their spiritual forms are like.
Do People Have Guardian Angels?
“See that
you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say unto you, that their
angels in heaven continually behold the face of My Father who is in heaven.”
(Matthew 18:10).
If any
passage teaches that each soul has a specific angel assigned to it, then this
is it. However, that might be reading too much into the verse. While angels
have been assigned to serve individual human beings (Genesis 22:10-12) this
does not necessarily mean that a special angel is assigned to each one of us
throughout our lives. One thing is for sure, on that final day, it will be
angels dispensing God's justice and vengeance upon those who have mistreated
His believers on earth (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9).
Is There A Death Angel?
“... and
when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two door posts, the Lord will
pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come to your houses to
smite you.” (Exodus 12:23).
While there
were times that angels were assigned by God to the task of bringing pestilence
and even death, there is nothing to suggest that it was the same angel all the
time; nothing to suggest that death is the special job of a single angel (see
also Psalm 78:43-51; 2 Kings 19:35; Acts 12:23).
Are angles
still active today? The Bible indicates they are (Hebrews 1:7,14). And they
have always been intensely interested in things pertaining to our salvation (1
Peter 1:10-12; Luke 15:10). When Jesus comes again, angels will be with Him. We
had best be on their good side when we learn by sight the answer to the
question, “What does an angel look like?” (Matthew 13:41).
Reprinted From the Bradley Banner
Bradley Church of Christ
Bradley, Illinois
April 19, 1998
