Reference: Angel
American
The original word, both in Hebrew and Greek, means messenger, and is so translated, Mt 11:10; Lu 7:24. It is often applied to an ordinary messenger, Job 1:14; 1Sa 11:3; Lu 9:52; to prophets, Isa 42:19; Hag 1:13; to priests, Ec 5:6; Mal 2:7; and even to inanimate objects, Ps 78:49; 104:4; 2Co 12:7. Under the general sense of messenger, the term, angel is properly applied also to Christ, as the great Angel or Messenger of the covenant, Mal 3:1, and to the ministers of his gospel, the overseers or angels of the churches, Re 2:1,8,12, etc. In 1Co 11:10, the best interpreters understand by the term "angels" the holy angels, who were present in an especial sense in the Christian assemblies; and from reverence to them it was proper that the women should have power (veils, as a sign of their being in subjection to a higher power) on their heads. See under VEIL.
But generally in the Bible the word is applied to a race of intelligent beings, of a higher order than man, who surround the Deity, and whom he employs as his messengers or agents in administering the affairs of the world, and in promoting the welfare of individuals, as well as of the whole human race,
Mt 1:20; 22:30; Ac 7:30. Whether pure spirits, or having spiritual bodies, they have no bodily organization like ours, and are not distinguished in sex, Mt 22:30. They were doubtless created long before our present world was made, Job 38:7.
The Bible represents them as exceedingly numerous, Da 7:10; Mt 26:53; Lu 2:13; Heb 12:22-23; as remarkable for strength, Ps 103:20; 2Pe 2:11; Re 5:2; 18:21; 19:17; and for activity, Jg 13:20; Isa 6:2-6; Da 9:21-23; Mt 13:49; 26:53; Ac 27:23; Re 8:13. They appear to be of divers orders, Isa 6:2-6; Eze 10:1; Col 1:16; Re 12:7. Their name indicates their agency in the dispensations of Providence towards man, and the Bible abounds in narratives of events in which they have borne a visible part. Yet in this employment they act as the mere instruments of God, and in fulfilment of his commands, Ps 91:11; 103:20; Heb 1:14. We are not therefore to put trust in them, pay them adoration, or pray in their name, Re 19:10; 22:8-9. Though Scripture does not warrant us to believe that each individual has his particular guardian angel, it teaches very explicitly that the angels minister to every Christian, Mt 18:10; Lu 16:22; Heb 1:14. They are intensely concerned in the salvation of men, Lu 2:10-12; 15:7,10; 1Pe 1:12; and will share with saints the blessedness of heaven forever, Heb 12:22.
Those angels "who kept not their first estate," but fell and rebelled against God, are called the angels of Satan or the devil, Mt 25:41; Re 12:9. These are represented as being "cast down to hell, and reserved unto judgment," 2Pe 2:4. See SYNAGOGUE, ARCHANGEL.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But while he was thinking of doing this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said, "Joseph, descendant of David, do not fear to take Mary, your wife, to your home, for it is through the influence of the holy Spirit that she is to become a mother.
This is the man of whom the Scripture says, " 'Here I send my messenger on before you; He will prepare the road ahead of you.'
That is what will happen at the close of the age. The angels will go out and remove the wicked from among the upright,
"Beware of feeling scornful of one single little child, for I tell you that in heaven their angels have continual access to my Father in heaven.
For after the resurrection there is no marrying or being married, but they live as angels do in heaven.
For after the resurrection there is no marrying or being married, but they live as angels do in heaven.
Then he will say to those at his left, 'Begone, you accursed people, to the everlasting fire destined for the devil and his angels!
Do you suppose I cannot appeal to my Father, and he would at once furnish me more than twelve legions of angels?
Do you suppose I cannot appeal to my Father, and he would at once furnish me more than twelve legions of angels?
The angel said to them, "Do not be frightened, for I bring you good news of a great joy that is to be felt by all the people, for today, in the town of David, a Savior for you has been born who is your Messiah and Lord. read more. And this will prove it to you: You will find a baby wrapped up and lying in a manger." Suddenly there appeared with the angel a throng of the heavenly army, praising God, saying,
When John's messengers were gone, he began to speak to the crowds about John. "What was it that you went out into the desert to look at? A reed swaying in the wind?
and sent messengers before him. They started out and went into a Samaritan village, to make preparations for him.
I tell you, in just that way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinful person who repents, than over ninety-nine upright people who do not need any repentance.
In just that way, I tell you, there is joy among the angels of God over one sinful person who repents!"
And it came about that the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to the companionship of Abraham, and the rich man too died and was buried.
When forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the desert of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush.
For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood before me,
That is why she ought to wear upon her head something to symbolize her subjection, out of respect to the angels, if to nobody else.
for it was through him that everything was created in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen, angelic thrones, dominions, principalities, authorities??ll things were created through him and for him.
Are not the angels all spirits in service, whom he sends on his errands for the good of those who are destined to possess salvation?
Are not the angels all spirits in service, whom he sends on his errands for the good of those who are destined to possess salvation?
But you have come up to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to countless angels,
But you have come up to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to countless angels, to the solemn gathering of all God's elder sons, enrolled as citizens in heaven, to a judge who is the God of all, to the spirits of upright men now at last enjoying the fulfilment of their hopes,
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but plunged them into Tartarus, and committed them to dark dungeons to await their doom,
"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: " 'He who holds the seven stars in his right hand and goes about among the seven gold lampstands speaks thus:
"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: " 'The first and the last, who died and came to life again, speaks thus:
"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: " 'He who wields the sharp, double-edged sword speaks thus:
And I saw a mighty angel announcing in a loud voice, "Who is fit to open the roll and break its seals?"
Then in my vision I heard an eagle flying in midair say in a loud voice, "Alas! Alas! Alas for the inhabitants of the earth, because of the other blasts of the three angels who are going to blow their trumpets!"
Then war broke out in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting with the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought
So the great dragon, the ancient serpent who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world, was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.
Then a mighty angel caught up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "With such violence will Babylon the great city be hurled to destruction and never be seen again!
I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that. I am only a fellow-slave of yours and of your brothers who have accepted the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is what inspires prophecy."
Then I saw an angel standing on the sun, and shouting in a loud voice to all the birds that fly in midair, "Come! Gather for God's great banquet,
It was I, John, who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, to worship him. But he said to me, "You must not do that. I am only a fellow-slave of yours and of your brothers the prophets and the men who heed the words of this book. Worship God!
Easton
a word signifying, both in the Hebrew and Greek, a "messenger," and hence employed to denote any agent God sends forth to execute his purposes. It is used of an ordinary messenger (Job 1:14; 1Sa 11:3; Lu 7:24; 9:52), of prophets (Isa 42:19; Hag 1:13), of priests (Mal 2:7), and ministers of the New Testament (Re 1:20).
It is also applied to such impersonal agents as the pestilence (2Sa 24:16-17; 2Ki 19:35), the wind (Ps 104:4).
But its distinctive application is to certain heavenly intelligences whom God employs in carrying on his government of the world. The name does not denote their nature but their office as messengers. The appearances to Abraham at Mamre (Ge 18:2,22. Comp. Ge 19:1), to Jacob at Peniel (Ge 32:24,30), to Joshua at Gilgal (Jos 5:13,15), of the Angel of the Lord, were doubtless manifestations of the Divine presence, "foreshadowings of the incarnation," revelations before the "fulness of the time" of the Son of God.
(1.) The existence and orders of angelic beings can only be discovered from the Scriptures. Although the Bible does not treat of this subject specially, yet there are numerous incidental details that furnish us with ample information. Their personal existence is plainly implied in such passages as Ge 16:7,10-11; Jg 13:1-21; Mt 28:2-5; Heb 1:4, etc.
These superior beings are very numerous. "Thousand thousands," etc. (Da 7:10; Mt 26:53; Lu 2:13; Heb 12:22-23). They are also spoken of as of different ranks in dignity and power (Zec 1:9,11; Da 10:13; 12:1; 1Th 4:16; Jude 1:9; Eph 1:21; Col 1:16).
(2.) As to their nature, they are spirits (Heb 1:14), like the soul of man, but not incorporeal. Such expressions as "like the angels" (Lu 20:36), and the fact that whenever angels appeared to man it was always in a human form (Ge 18:2; 19:1,10; Lu 24:4; Ac 1:10), and the titles that are applied to them ("sons of God," Job 1:6; 38:7; Da 3:25; comp. Da 3:28) and to men (Lu 3:38), seem all to indicate some resemblance between them and the human race. Imperfection is ascribed to them as creatures (Job 4:18; Mt 24:36; 1Pe 1:12). As finite creatures they may fall under temptation; and accordingly we read of "fallen angels." Of the cause and manner of their "fall" we are wholly ignorant. We know only that "they left their first estate" (Mt 25:41; Re 12:7,9), and that they are "reserved unto judgement" (2Pe 2:4). When the manna is called "angels' food," this is merely to denote its excellence (Ps 78:25). Angels never die (Lu 20:36). They are possessed of superhuman intelligence and power (Mr 13:32; 2Th 1:7; Ps 103:20). They are called "holy" (Lu 9:26), "elect" (1Ti 5:21). The redeemed in glory are "like unto the angels" (Lu 20:36). They are not to be worshipped (Col 2:18; Re 19:10).
(3.) Their functions are manifold. (a) In the widest sense they are agents of God's providence (Ex 12:23; Ps 104:4; Heb 11:28; 1Co 10:10; 2Sa 24:16; 1Ch 21:16; 2Ki 19:35; Ac 12:23). (b) They are specially God's agents in carrying on his great work of redemption. There is no notice of angelic appearances to man till after the call of Abraham. From that time onward there are frequent references to their ministry on earth (Gen 18; 19; Ge 24:7,40; 28:12; 32:1). They appear to rebuke idolatry (Jg 2:1-4), to call Gideon (Jg 6:11-12), and to consecrate Samson (Jg 13:3). In the days of the prophets, from Samuel downward, the angels appear only in their behalf (1Ki 19:5; 2Ki 6:17; Zech 1-6; 13/type/goodspeed'>Da 4:13,23; 10:10,13,20-21).
The Incarnation introduces a new era in the ministrations of angels. They come with their Lord to earth to do him service while here. They predict his advent (Mt 1:20; Lu 1:26-38), minister to him after his temptation and agony (Mt 4:11; Lu 22:43), and declare his resurrection and ascension (Mt 28:2-8; Joh 20:12-13; Ac 1:10-11). They are now ministering spirits to the people of God (Heb 1:14; Ps 34:7; 91:11; Mt 18:10; Ac 5:19; 8:26; 10:3; 12:7; 27:23). They rejoice over a penitent sinner (Lu 15:10). They bear the souls of the redeemed to paradise (Lu 16:22); and they will be the ministers of judgement hereafter on the great day (Mt 13:39,41,49; 16:27; 24:31). The passages (Ps 34:7; Mt 18:10) usually referred to in support of the idea that every individual has a particular guardian angel have no such meaning. They merely indicate that God employs the ministry of angels to deliver his people from affliction and danger, and that the angels do not think it below their dignity to minister even to children and to the least among Christ's disciples.
The "angel of his presence" (Isa 63:9. Comp. Ex 23:20-21; 32:34; 33:2; Nu 20:16) is probably rightly interpreted of the Messiah as the guide of his people. Others have supposed the expression to refer to Gabriel (Lu 1:19).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But while he was thinking of doing this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said, "Joseph, descendant of David, do not fear to take Mary, your wife, to your home, for it is through the influence of the holy Spirit that she is to become a mother.
Then the devil left him, and angels came and waited on him.
The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels.
the Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather up out of his kingdom all the causes of sin and the wrongdoers
That is what will happen at the close of the age. The angels will go out and remove the wicked from among the upright,
For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in his Father's glory, and then he will repay everyone for what he has done.
"Beware of feeling scornful of one single little child, for I tell you that in heaven their angels have continual access to my Father in heaven.
"Beware of feeling scornful of one single little child, for I tell you that in heaven their angels have continual access to my Father in heaven.
And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet-call, and they will gather his chosen people from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father.
Then he will say to those at his left, 'Begone, you accursed people, to the everlasting fire destined for the devil and his angels!
Do you suppose I cannot appeal to my Father, and he would at once furnish me more than twelve legions of angels?
And there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and went and rolled the stone back and sat upon it.
And there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and went and rolled the stone back and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was as white as snow.
His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was as white as snow. The men on guard trembled with fear of him, and became like dead men.
The men on guard trembled with fear of him, and became like dead men. And the angel said to the women, "You need not be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.
And the angel said to the women, "You need not be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, he has risen, as he said he would do. Come and see the place where he was lying. read more. Now go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has risen from the dead, and is going back to Galilee before you. You will see him there.' Now I have given you my message." And they hurried away from the tomb frightened and yet overjoyed, and ran to tell the news to his disciples.
But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son; only the Father.
The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the very presence of God. I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a maiden there who was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden's name was Mary. read more. And the angel went into the town and said to her, "Good morning, favored woman! The Lord be with you!" But she was startled at what he said, and wondered what this greeting meant. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have gained God's approval. You are to become a mother and you will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his forefather David, and he will reign over Jacob's house forever; his reign will have no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, when I have no husband?" The angel answered, "The holy Spirit will come over you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. For that reason your child will be called holy, and the Son of God. And your relative, Elizabeth, although she is old, is going to give birth to a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was said to be barren. For nothing is ever impossible for God." And Mary said, "I am the Lord's slave. Let it be as you say." Then the angel left her.
Suddenly there appeared with the angel a throng of the heavenly army, praising God, saying,
the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
When John's messengers were gone, he began to speak to the crowds about John. "What was it that you went out into the desert to look at? A reed swaying in the wind?
For if anyone is ashamed of me and my teaching the Son of Man will be ashamed of him, when he comes with all the glory of his Father and of the holy angels.
and sent messengers before him. They started out and went into a Samaritan village, to make preparations for him.
In just that way, I tell you, there is joy among the angels of God over one sinful person who repents!"
And it came about that the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to the companionship of Abraham, and the rich man too died and was buried.
For they cannot die again; they are like the angels, and through sharing in the resurrection, they are sons of God.
For they cannot die again; they are like the angels, and through sharing in the resurrection, they are sons of God.
For they cannot die again; they are like the angels, and through sharing in the resurrection, they are sons of God.
OMITTED TEXT
They were in great perplexity over this, when suddenly two men in dazzling clothing stood beside them.
and saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus' body had been, one at his head and one at his feet. And they said to her, "Why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken my Master away, and I do not know where they have put him."
And while they were gazing after him into the sky, two men dressed in white suddenly stood beside them,
And while they were gazing after him into the sky, two men dressed in white suddenly stood beside them, and said to them, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into the sky? This very Jesus who has been caught up from you into heaven will come in just the way that you have seen him go up to heaven."
But an angel of the Lord opened the jail doors in the night and let them out, and said to them,
But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go south, by the road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza." (The town is now deserted.)
One afternoon, about three o'clock, he had a vision, and distinctly saw an angel of God come into his room and say to him, "Cornelius!"
when an angel of the Lord stood at his side, and a light shone in the room, and striking Peter on the side, he woke him, and said to him, "Get up quickly!" The chains dropped from his hands,
But the angel of the Lord struck him down immediately, because he did not give the honor to God; and he was eaten by worms and died.
For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood before me,
far above all hierarchies, authorities, powers, and dominions, and all titles that can be bestowed not only in this world but in the world to come.
for it was through him that everything was created in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen, angelic thrones, dominions, principalities, authorities??ll things were created through him and for him.
No one can put you in the wrong by persisting in studied humility and the worship of angels, being absorbed in the visions he has seen, and groundlessly conceited over his mere human mind.
I charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels to observe these rules without any discrimination, and to be perfectly impartial.
showing himself to be as much greater than the angels as his title is superior to theirs.
Are not the angels all spirits in service, whom he sends on his errands for the good of those who are destined to possess salvation?
Are not the angels all spirits in service, whom he sends on his errands for the good of those who are destined to possess salvation?
Faith made him institute the Passover and splash the blood upon the door-posts, to keep the angel that destroyed the firstborn from touching them.
But you have come up to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to countless angels, to the solemn gathering of all God's elder sons, enrolled as citizens in heaven, to a judge who is the God of all, to the spirits of upright men now at last enjoying the fulfilment of their hopes,
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but plunged them into Tartarus, and committed them to dark dungeons to await their doom,
The archangel Michael himself, when he had the dispute with the devil about Moses' body, did not venture to condemn him for blasphemy; he only said, "May the Lord rebuke you!"
The secret meaning of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and of the seven gold lampstands is this: The seven stars are the guardian angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Then war broke out in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting with the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought
So the great dragon, the ancient serpent who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world, was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.
I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that. I am only a fellow-slave of yours and of your brothers who have accepted the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is what inspires prophecy."
Hastings
ANGEL
1. Old Testament.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But while he was thinking of doing this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said, "Joseph, descendant of David, do not fear to take Mary, your wife, to your home, for it is through the influence of the holy Spirit that she is to become a mother.
When they saw the star, they were very glad,
Then the devil left him, and angels came and waited on him.
The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels.
For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in his Father's glory, and then he will repay everyone for what he has done.
"Beware of feeling scornful of one single little child, for I tell you that in heaven their angels have continual access to my Father in heaven.
"Beware of feeling scornful of one single little child, for I tell you that in heaven their angels have continual access to my Father in heaven.
For after the resurrection there is no marrying or being married, but they live as angels do in heaven.
And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet-call, and they will gather his chosen people from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father.
"When the Son of Man comes in his splendor, with all his angels with him, he will take his seat on his glorious throne,
Then he will say to those at his left, 'Begone, you accursed people, to the everlasting fire destined for the devil and his angels!
Do you suppose I cannot appeal to my Father, and he would at once furnish me more than twelve legions of angels?
And the angel said to the women, "You need not be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.
And he remained in the desert for forty days, and Satan tried to tempt him there; and he was among the wild animals; but the angels waited on him.
For if anyone is ashamed of me and my teachings in this unfaithful and sinful age, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of him, when he comes back in his Father's glory, with the holy angels."
And the angel went into the town and said to her, "Good morning, favored woman! The Lord be with you!"
When the devil had tried every kind of temptation he left him till another time.
For if anyone is ashamed of me and my teaching the Son of Man will be ashamed of him, when he comes with all the glory of his Father and of the holy angels.
I tell you, everyone who will acknowledge me before men, the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God, but anyone who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.
In just that way, I tell you, there is joy among the angels of God over one sinful person who repents!"
And it came about that the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to the companionship of Abraham, and the rich man too died and was buried.
For they cannot die again; they are like the angels, and through sharing in the resurrection, they are sons of God.
and could not find his body, but came back and said that they had actually seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.
But an angel of the Lord opened the jail doors in the night and let them out, and said to them,
But an angel of the Lord opened the jail doors in the night and let them out, and said to them, "Go, take your stand in the Temple, and tell the people all about this new life."
When forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the desert of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush.
But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go south, by the road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza." (The town is now deserted.)
"Who are you, sir?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," said the voice.
One afternoon, about three o'clock, he had a vision, and distinctly saw an angel of God come into his room and say to him, "Cornelius!"
Then he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa for a man named Simon who is also called Peter,
when an angel of the Lord stood at his side, and a light shone in the room, and striking Peter on the side, he woke him, and said to him, "Get up quickly!" The chains dropped from his hands, and the angel said to him, "Put on your belt and your sandals!" And he did so. Then he said to him, "Put on your coat and follow me!"
But they said to her, "You are crazy!" But she insisted that it was so. Then they said, "Then it is his guardian angel!"
But the angel of the Lord struck him down immediately, because he did not give the honor to God; and he was eaten by worms and died.
For the Sadducees hold that there is no resurrection and that there are no angels or spirits, while the Pharisees believe in all three. So there was a great uproar, and some scribes of the Pharisees' party got up and insisted, "We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose some spirit or angel really spoke to him!"
For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood before me, and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before the emperor, and see! God has given you the lives of all the people who are on the ship with you.'
For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor their hierarchies nor the present nor the future
For it seems to me, God has exhibited us apostles at the very end of the procession, like the men condemned to die in the arena. For we have become a spectacle to the whole universe, angels as well as men.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot eat at the table of the Lord and at the table of demons.
That is why she ought to wear upon her head something to symbolize her subjection, out of respect to the angels, if to nobody else.
I did not receive it from any man, and I was not taught it, but it came to me through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
for it was through him that everything was created in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen, angelic thrones, dominions, principalities, authorities??ll things were created through him and for him.
No one can put you in the wrong by persisting in studied humility and the worship of angels, being absorbed in the visions he has seen, and groundlessly conceited over his mere human mind.
No one can put you in the wrong by persisting in studied humility and the worship of angels, being absorbed in the visions he has seen, and groundlessly conceited over his mere human mind.
and to give rest to you who are suffering and to us, when our Lord Jesus appears from heaven, with his mighty angels
The archangel Michael himself, when he had the dispute with the devil about Moses' body, did not venture to condemn him for blasphemy; he only said, "May the Lord rebuke you!"
It was I, John, who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, to worship him. But he said to me, "You must not do that. I am only a fellow-slave of yours and of your brothers the prophets and the men who heed the words of this book. Worship God!
Watsons
ANGEL, a spiritual, intelligent substance, the first in rank and dignity among created beings The word angel, ???????, is not properly a denomination of nature but of office; denoting as much as nuncius, messenger, a person employed to carry one's orders, or declare his will. Thus it is St. Paul represents angels, Heb 1:14, where he calls them "ministering spirits;" and yet custom has prevailed so much, that angel is now commonly taken for the denomination of a particular order of spiritual beings, of great understanding and power, superior to the souls or spirits of men. Some of these are spoken of in Scripture in such a manner as plainly to signify that they are real beings, of a spiritual nature, of high power, perfection, dignity, and happiness. Others of them are distinguished as not having kept their first station, Jude 1:6. These are represented as evil spirits, enemies of God, and intent on mischief. The devil as the head of them, and they as his angels, are represented as the rulers of the darkness of this world, or spiritual wickednesses, or wicked spirits, ?? ?????????? ??? ???????? ?? ???? ???????????, Eph 6:12; which may not be unfitly rendered, "the spiritual managers of opposition to the kingdom of God." The existence of angels is supposed in all religions, though it is incapable of being proved a priori. Indeed, the ancient Sadducees are represented as denying all spirits; and yet the Samaritans, and Caraites, who are reputed Sadducees, openly allowed them: witness Abusaid, the author of an Arabic version of the Pentateuch; and Aaron, a Caraite Jew, in his comment on the Pentateuch; both extant in manuscript in the king of France's library. In the Alcoran we find frequent mention of angels. The Mussulmen believe them of different orders or degrees, and to be destined for different employments both in heaven and on earth. They attribute exceedingly great power to the angel Gabriel, as that he is able to descend in the space of an hour from heaven to earth; to overturn a mountain with a single feather of his wing, &c. The angel Asrael, they suppose, is appointed to take the souls of such as die; and another angel, named Esraphil, they tell us, stands with a trumpet ready in his mouth to proclaim the day of judgment.
The Heathen philosophers and poets were also agreed as to the existence of intelligent beings, superior to man; as is shown by St. Cyprian in his treatise of the vanity of idols; from the testimonies of Plato, Socrates, Trismegistus, &c. They were acknowledged under different appellations; the Greeks calling them daemons, and the Romans genii, or lares. Epicurus seems to have been the only one among the old philosophers who absolutely rejected them.
Authors are not so unanimous about the nature as about the existence of angels. Clemens Alexandrinus believed they had bodies; which was also the opinion of Origen, Caesarius, Tertullian, and several others. Athanasius, St. Basil, St. Gregory Nicene, St. Cyril, St. Chrysostom, &c, held them to be mere spirits. It has been the more current opinion, especially in later times, that they are substances entirely spiritual, who can, at any time, assume bodies, and appear in human or other shapes. Ecclesiastical writers make a hierarchy of nine orders of angels. Others have distributed angels into nine orders, according to the names by which they are called in Scripture, and reduced these orders into three hierarchies; to the first of which belong seraphim, cherubim, and thrones; to the second, dominions, virtues, and powers; and to the third, principalities, archangels, and angels. The Jews reckon four orders or companies of angels, each headed by an archangel; the first order being that of Michael; the second, of Gabriel; the third, of Uriel; and the fourth, of Raphael. Following the Scripture account, we shall find mention made of different orders of these superior beings; for such a distinction of orders seems intimated in the names given to different classes. Thus we have thrones, dominions, principalities, or princedoms, powers, authorities, living ones, cherubim and seraphim. That some of these titles may indicate the same class of angels is probable; but that they all should be but different appellations of one common and equal order is improbable. We learn also from Scripture, that they dwell in the immediate presence of God; that they "excel in strength;" that they are immortal; and that they are the agents through which God very often accomplishes his special purposes of judgment and mercy. Nothing is more frequent in Scripture than the missions and appearances of good and bad angels, whom God employed to declare his will; to correct, teach, reprove, and comfort. God gave the law to Moses, and appeared to the old patriarchs, by the mediation of angels, who represented him, and spoke in his name, Ac 7:30,35; Ga 3:19; Heb 13:2.
Though the Jews, in general, believed the existence of angels, there was a sect among them, namely, the Sadducees, who denied the existence of all spirits whatever, God only excepted, Ac 23:8. Before the Babylonish captivity, the Hebrews seem not to have known the names of any angel. The Talmudists say they brought the names of angels from Babylon. Tobit, who is thought to have resided in Nineveh some time before the captivity, mentions the angel Raphael, Tob. 3:17; 11:2, 7; and Daniel, who lived at Babylon some time after Tobit, has taught us the names of Michael and Gabriel, Da 8:16; 9:21; 10:21. In the New Testament, we find only the two latter mentioned by name.
There are various opinions as to the time when the angels were created. Some think this took place when our heavens and the earth were made. For this opinion, however, there is no just foundation in the Mosaic account. Others think that angels existed long before the formation of our solar system; and Scripture seems to favour this opinion, Job 38:4,7, where God says, "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Do you suppose I cannot appeal to my Father, and he would at once furnish me more than twelve legions of angels?
When forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the desert of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush.
The Moses whom they had refused, saying to him, 'Who made you our ruler and judge?' God sent both to rule and to deliver them, with the help of the angel who had appeared to him in the bush.
But they said to her, "You are crazy!" But she insisted that it was so. Then they said, "Then it is his guardian angel!"
For the Sadducees hold that there is no resurrection and that there are no angels or spirits, while the Pharisees believe in all three.
Then what about the Law? It was a later addition, designed to produce transgressions, until the descendant to which the promise was made should come, and it was enacted by means of angels, through an intermediary;
For we have to struggle, not with enemies of flesh and blood, but with the hierarchies, the authorities, the master-spirits of this dark world, the spirit-forces of evil on high.
Are not the angels all spirits in service, whom he sends on his errands for the good of those who are destined to possess salvation?
Do not forget to be hospitable to strangers, for by being so some, without knowing it, have had angels as their guests.
and the angels who neglected their responsibilities and abandoned their homes he has put in everlasting chains to be kept in darkness for the judgment of the great Day,
and the angels who neglected their responsibilities and abandoned their homes he has put in everlasting chains to be kept in darkness for the judgment of the great Day,