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.
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but while he was revolving this in his mind, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, the off-spring of David, don't make any difficulty of taking Mary for thy wife: for her pregnancy is from the holy Spirit.
for it is he that is meant in that passage, "behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee."
so it shall be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and after they have separated the wicked from the just,
take care not to despise one of such an humble disposition: for I tell you, that in heaven their angels are continually attending the presence of my father who is in heaven:
for in the other life after this, there will be no such thing as marriage; but they will be as the angels of God in heaven.
for in the other life after this, there will be no such thing as marriage; but they will be as the angels of God in heaven.
then will he say to those on the left, depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
do you think my father, if I should now desire it of him, would not instantly send me more than twelve legions of angels?
do you think my father, if I should now desire it of him, would not instantly send me more than twelve legions of angels?
but the angel said to them, be not afraid, I am only come to bring you great news, which will be matter of joy to you and to the whole world. for the Lord Messiah your saviour is this day born, in the city of David: read more. and by this sign shall you know him; you will find the babe swathed, lying in a manger. All of a sudden an army of celestial beings join'd the angel, singing praises to God, and saying,
When the messengers of John were departed, he address'd himself to the people, and said with relation to John, what did you go to see in the desart? a reed shaken with the wind?
and he sent messengers before, who went to a town of the Samaritans, to prepare a lodging for him.
I tell you, that there shall likewise be greater joy in heaven for one sinner that repents, than for ninety nine just persons, that need no repentance.
even so, I assure you, the angels in heaven rejoice, when any one sinner becomes a penitent.
at length the beggar died: and was conveyed by the angels to Abraham's bower. the rich man died too, and was buried.
when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina, an angel of the Lord in a flaming bush.
for an angel of that God, whose minister I am, and whom I serve, this night appear'd to me, and said, Paul, be not afraid:
therefore the woman ought to be veil'd, out of regard to the angels.
for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are on earth, both visible and invisible, the thrones, and the sovereigntys, the principalitys, and the powers: all were created by him, and for him: he is before all things,
are not all those spirits dispatch'd as ministers to take care of those who shall belong to the christian church.
are not all those spirits dispatch'd as ministers to take care of those who shall belong to the christian church.
but you are come to mount Sion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable congress of angels, to the general assembly,
but you are come to mount Sion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable congress of angels, to the general assembly, the church of the first-born who are enroll'd in heaven, to God the judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,
for since God did not spare the angels, who had sinned, but having precipitated them to hell, confin'd them to chains of darkness, where they are reserv'd for judgment:
To the angel of the church of Ephesus, write, "HE that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, says thus,
And to the angel of the church in Smyrna, write, "THESE things saith the first and last, who was dead, and is alive."
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos, write, "THESE things, saith he, who hath the sharp sword with two edges,
and I saw a powerful angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof."
then I beheld, and heard an eagle flying thro' the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, wo, wo, wo to the inhabitants of the earth, by reason of the sound of the trumpets which the other three angels are yet to sound.
Then there was war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; on the other side fought the dragon with his angels: but these were defeated,
the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, call'd the devil or satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were precipitated with him.
Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great milstone, and threw it into the sea, saying, "thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, never to be found any more.
then I fell at his seet to worship him: but he said to me, "forbear: I am the servant of God, as you and your brethren are, that bear testimony to Jesus: worship God: for to give testimony to Jesus, is the very design of prophecy."
I saw likewise an angel standing upon the sun; and he cryed with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, "come and gather your selves together to the supper of the great God;
I John saw these things, and heard them. and when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel, who shewed me these things. but he said to me, "forbear, I am the servant of God, as you are, and your brethren the prophets, and those who observe 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/mace'>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).
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but while he was revolving this in his mind, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, the off-spring of David, don't make any difficulty of taking Mary for thy wife: for her pregnancy is from the holy Spirit.
whereupon the devil left him, and immediately angels came and ministred unto him.
the enemy that sowed them is the devil: the harvest is the conclusion of the age: and the reapers are the angels.
the son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all that make others offend, and those who do iniquity;
so it shall be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and after they have separated the wicked from the just,
for the son of man shall come in the glory of his father, with his angels; and then shall be make retribution to every man according to his works.
take care not to despise one of such an humble disposition: for I tell you, that in heaven their angels are continually attending the presence of my father who is in heaven:
take care not to despise one of such an humble disposition: for I tell you, that in heaven their angels are continually attending the presence of my father who is in heaven:
and he shall send his messengers, who with the shrill sound of a trumpet, shall gather together his select from the four winds, from one end of the heaven to the other.
As to the day and hour, that no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but the father only.
then will he say to those on the left, depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
do you think my father, if I should now desire it of him, would not instantly send me more than twelve legions of angels?
now there had been a great earthquake; for an angel of the lord descending from heaven, was come, and had rolled away the stone from the door, and was sitting upon it.
now there had been a great earthquake; for an angel of the lord descending from heaven, was come, and had rolled away the stone from the door, and was sitting upon it. his aspect was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow.
his aspect was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. for fear of whom the keepers shook, and were almost struck dead.
for fear of whom the keepers shook, and were almost struck dead. but the angel spoke to the woman, and said, don't be frighted, I know you are seeking Jesus, who was crucified.
but the angel spoke to the woman, and said, don't be frighted, I know you are seeking Jesus, who was crucified. he is not here: he is risen according to his word: come, see the place where the Lord was laid. read more. then go immediately to tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and that, he goes before you into Galilee, there shall ye see it is him; 'tis I that say it. And they instantly left the sepulchre, with fear and joy, and ran to carry his disciples this good news.
as to the day and hour, that no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor even the son; but the father only.
the angel replied, I am Gabriel, who attend in the presence of God, and am sent to communicate to you this agreeable message.
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin contracted to a man; whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. and the virgin's name was Mary. read more. the angel, upon his arrival, said to her; "Hail, favorite of heaven, the Lord is with thee: thou happiest of thy sex." Mary was surpriz'd at the voice of such an appearance, and wonder'd what the meaning of this salutation should be. but the angel said to her, "Mary, be not afraid: for you are the object of divine favour. you shall be now pregnant, and be delivered of a son, whom you shall name JESUS. he shall be great, he shall be the son of the most high. the Lord God shall give him the throne of his father David. he shall reign over the house of Jacob, and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Then said Mary to the angel, what shall this be without any intercourse with man? the angel answered her, "the holy spirit shall descend upon thee, and the power of the most high shall over-shadow thee: wherefore thy holy offspring shall be called the son of God. even your cousin Elizabeth, as old as she is, is become pregnant with a son: she, who was stiled barren, is now in her sixth month; for nothing is impossible to God." then said Mary, "behold the servant of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word." upon which the angel disappeared.
All of a sudden an army of celestial beings join'd the angel, singing praises to God, and saying,
son of Cainan, son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, the son of God.
When the messengers of John were departed, he address'd himself to the people, and said with relation to John, what did you go to see in the desart? a reed shaken with the wind?
for whoever shall be ashamed of me, and of my doctrine, of him shall the son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in the glory of his father, and of the holy angels.
and he sent messengers before, who went to a town of the Samaritans, to prepare a lodging for him.
even so, I assure you, the angels in heaven rejoice, when any one sinner becomes a penitent.
at length the beggar died: and was conveyed by the angels to Abraham's bower. the rich man died too, and was buried.
for by the resurrection they will inherit a nature truely angelical and divine.
for by the resurrection they will inherit a nature truely angelical and divine.
for by the resurrection they will inherit a nature truely angelical and divine.
then an angel from heaven appear'd to him, and comforted him.
whilst they were in great perplexity about it, all of a sudden, two men appear'd before them in robes of light.
and saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, the one at the head, the other at the feet. and they said to her, woman, why do you weep? "because, said she, they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him."
and as they were looking stedfastly toward heaven, as he mounted up, on a sudden, two men appear'd before them robed in white, who said,
and as they were looking stedfastly toward heaven, as he mounted up, on a sudden, two men appear'd before them robed in white, who said, "ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up to heaven? this same Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall descend in the same manner as ye have seen him ascend thither."
but an angel of the Lord opened the prison-doors by night, and having brought them out, said to them,
Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, arise, and go toward the south, by the way that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza, in the desart.
one day about the ninth hour, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God, who addrest himself to him, and said, Cornelius!
the Lord suddenly appear'd and fill'd the room with light, and touching Peter on the side, awak'd him, saying, rise, be quick. and immediately his chains fell from his hands.
but at the instant an angel of the Lord smote him, because he did not glorify God: so that he became a prey to worms and died. In the mean time, the
for an angel of that God, whose minister I am, and whom I serve, this night appear'd to me, and said, Paul, be not afraid:
far above all the principalities, all the powers, all the potentates, all the dominations, and whatever order can be named, not only in this age, but also in the age to come:
for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are on earth, both visible and invisible, the thrones, and the sovereigntys, the principalitys, and the powers: all were created by him, and for him: he is before all things,
Let no man condemn you, from an affectation of humility, in worshipping of Angels, boldly prying into matters which he knows nothing of, being vainly puft up with his Jewish conceits:
I conjure you before God, before our Lord Jesus Christ, and his chosen angels, to observe these rules without prepossession and partiality.
He is so much superiour to the angels, as the authority he possesses is more excellent than theirs.
are not all those spirits dispatch'd as ministers to take care of those who shall belong to the christian church.
are not all those spirits dispatch'd as ministers to take care of those who shall belong to the christian church.
through faith he celebrated the passover, and sprinkled blood, that the destroying angel might pass by the first-born.
but you are come to mount Sion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable congress of angels, to the general assembly, the church of the first-born who are enroll'd in heaven, to God the judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,
for since God did not spare the angels, who had sinned, but having precipitated them to hell, confin'd them to chains of darkness, where they are reserv'd for judgment:
whereas Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses, did not take the liberty to inveigh against him, but said, "the Lord rebuke thee."
the conceal'd meaning of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and of the seven golden candlesticks, is this: the seven stars signify the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which you saw, signify the seven churches.
Then there was war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; on the other side fought the dragon with his angels: but these were defeated,
the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, call'd the devil or satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were precipitated with him.
then I fell at his seet to worship him: but he said to me, "forbear: I am the servant of God, as you and your brethren are, that bear testimony to Jesus: worship God: for to give testimony to Jesus, is the very design of prophecy."
Hastings
ANGEL
1. Old Testament.
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but while he was revolving this in his mind, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, the off-spring of David, don't make any difficulty of taking Mary for thy wife: for her pregnancy is from the holy Spirit.
when they observ'd this of the star, they were extreamly well pleas'd.
whereupon the devil left him, and immediately angels came and ministred unto him.
the enemy that sowed them is the devil: the harvest is the conclusion of the age: and the reapers are the angels.
for the son of man shall come in the glory of his father, with his angels; and then shall be make retribution to every man according to his works.
take care not to despise one of such an humble disposition: for I tell you, that in heaven their angels are continually attending the presence of my father who is in heaven:
take care not to despise one of such an humble disposition: for I tell you, that in heaven their angels are continually attending the presence of my father who is in heaven:
for in the other life after this, there will be no such thing as marriage; but they will be as the angels of God in heaven.
and he shall send his messengers, who with the shrill sound of a trumpet, shall gather together his select from the four winds, from one end of the heaven to the other.
As to the day and hour, that no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but the father only.
When the son of man shall come in his majesty, accompanied with all his holy angels, he shall sit upon the throne of his glory.
then will he say to those on the left, depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
do you think my father, if I should now desire it of him, would not instantly send me more than twelve legions of angels?
but the angel spoke to the woman, and said, don't be frighted, I know you are seeking Jesus, who was crucified.
where he continued forty days, being tempted by Satan: and when he was among the wild beasts, angels ministred unto him.
whosoever therefore shall be asham'd of me, and of my doctrine in this degenerate and corrupted age, of him likewise shall the son of man be asham'd, when he shall come with the glory of his father, accompanied with holy angels.
the angel, upon his arrival, said to her; "Hail, favorite of heaven, the Lord is with thee: thou happiest of thy sex."
and when the whole temptation was ended, the devil left him for a time.
for whoever shall be ashamed of me, and of my doctrine, of him shall the son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in the glory of his father, and of the holy angels.
moreover I declare unto you, whoever shall acknowledge me before men, him shall the son of man also own before the angels of God. but whoever shall renounce me before men, he shall be renounc'd before the angels of God.
even so, I assure you, the angels in heaven rejoice, when any one sinner becomes a penitent.
at length the beggar died: and was conveyed by the angels to Abraham's bower. the rich man died too, and was buried.
for by the resurrection they will inherit a nature truely angelical and divine.
and not finding his body there, they came to tell us, that they had seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.
and he said to him, I declare unto you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending, and descending upon the son of man.
and he said to him, I declare unto you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending, and descending upon the son of man.
but an angel of the Lord opened the prison-doors by night, and having brought them out, said to them,
but an angel of the Lord opened the prison-doors by night, and having brought them out, said to them, go, stand in the temple, and declare to the people, the whole doctrine of life.
when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina, an angel of the Lord in a flaming bush.
Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, arise, and go toward the south, by the way that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza, in the desart.
and he said, who art thou, Lord? and the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: [it is hard for thee to kick against the goad. Then trembling with the fright Saul said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? and the Lord said to him,]
one day about the ninth hour, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God, who addrest himself to him, and said, Cornelius!
he told us how he had seen an angel, who had presented himself to him, and had said, send to Joppa, to fetch Simon, surnam'd Peter:
the Lord suddenly appear'd and fill'd the room with light, and touching Peter on the side, awak'd him, saying, rise, be quick. and immediately his chains fell from his hands. put on your girdle, continu'd the angel, and bind on your sandals: which he did. throw your cloak over you, said the angel, and follow me.
are you mad? said they. but she persisting that it was even so, they reply'd, it is then his angel.
but at the instant an angel of the Lord smote him, because he did not glorify God: so that he became a prey to worms and died. In the mean time, the
for the Sadducees maintain, there is neither resurrection, nor angel, or spirit, whereas the Pharisees acknowledge both: the clamour was great, and the Scribes taking part with the Pharisees, grew warm in the debate, and said, "we find no harm in this man; perhaps a spirit or an angel has spoke to him."
for an angel of that God, whose minister I am, and whom I serve, this night appear'd to me, and said, Paul, be not afraid: you must be brought before Cesar: and upon your account, the whole company now with you, will God preserve.
for I am fully persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
for it seems as if God had exposed us apostles the last upon the stage, as persons appointed to death. for we are made a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.
you should not drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: you should not be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of demons.
therefore the woman ought to be veil'd, out of regard to the angels.
for I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are on earth, both visible and invisible, the thrones, and the sovereigntys, the principalitys, and the powers: all were created by him, and for him: he is before all things,
Let no man condemn you, from an affectation of humility, in worshipping of Angels, boldly prying into matters which he knows nothing of, being vainly puft up with his Jewish conceits:
Let no man condemn you, from an affectation of humility, in worshipping of Angels, boldly prying into matters which he knows nothing of, being vainly puft up with his Jewish conceits:
and that you, who are distress'd, should obtain your repose, together with us, when the Lord Jesus, with his angels, the ministers of his power, shall descend from heaven,
whereas Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses, did not take the liberty to inveigh against him, but said, "the Lord rebuke thee."
I John saw these things, and heard them. and when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel, who shewed me these things. but he said to me, "forbear, I am the servant of God, as you are, and your brethren the prophets, and those who observe 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 think my father, if I should now desire it of him, would not instantly send me more than twelve legions of angels?
when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina, an angel of the Lord in a flaming bush.
this Moses whom they refused, saying, who made thee a ruler and a judge? the very same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hands of the angel that appeared to him in the bush.
are you mad? said they. but she persisting that it was even so, they reply'd, it is then his angel.
for the Sadducees maintain, there is neither resurrection, nor angel, or spirit, whereas the Pharisees acknowledge both: the clamour was great,
"To what purpose then was the law?" it was added as a check to transgressors, till the offspring should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels with the intervention of a mediator.
for our conflict is not barely with men, but with principalities, with potentates, with the princes of darkness, with wicked aereal spirits.
are not all those spirits dispatch'd as ministers to take care of those who shall belong to the christian church.
be not unmindful of hospitality: for thereby some have unknowingly entertained angels.
and the angels which kept not their original dignity, but deserted their proper abode, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, to the judgment of the great day.
and the angels which kept not their original dignity, but deserted their proper abode, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, to the judgment of the great day.