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 thought on these things, lo! an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take to thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit.
For this is he of whom it is written: "Lo! I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee."
So will it be at the end of the world. The angels will come forth, and separate the wicked from among the righteous,
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
Then will he say also to those on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the everlasting fire, which is prepared for the Devil and his angels.
Dost thou think that I cannot pray to my Father, and he will now give me more than twelve legions of angels?
Dost thou think that I cannot pray to my Father, and he will now give me more than twelve legions of angels?
And the angel said to them, Fear not; for lo! I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to the whole people; for to you hath been born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, who is the Christ, the Lord. read more. And this shall be the sign to you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swathingclothes, [lying] in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
And when the messengers of John had departed, he began to say to the multitudes concerning John, What have ye gone out into the wilderness to see? the reeds shaken by the wind?
And he sent messengers before him; and they went and entered a city of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
I say to you, that in like manner there will be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninetynine righteous men who have no need of repentance.
I say to you, that thus there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.
And when forty years were completed, there appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai an angel in the flaming fire of a bush.
For there stood by me this night an angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
For this cause the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.
for in him were created all things, those in the heavens, and those on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers, all things have been created through him and for him;
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
but ye have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem; and to myriads, the general assembly of angels;
but ye have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem; and to myriads, the general assembly of angels; and to the church of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven; and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect;
For if God spared not angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them over to chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:
And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and lived again:
And to the angel of the church in Pergamus write: These things saith he that hath the sharp twoedged sword:
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose its seals?
And I saw, and heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to those who dwell on the earth, by reason of the remaining voices of the trumpet of the three angels who are yet to sound!
And there was war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.
And a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall Babylon the great city be thrown down, and shall never more be found.
And I fell at his feet to worship him; and he saith to me, See thou do it not; I am a fellowservant of thee, and of thy brethren who maintain the testimony to Jesus; worship God. For the testimony to Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in midheaven, Come, gather yourselves together to the great supper of God;
And I John am he who heard and saw these things; and when I had heard and when I had seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. And he saith to me, See thou do it not; I am a fellowservant of thee, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of those who keep 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/noyes'>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 thought on these things, lo! an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take to thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit.
Then the Devil leaveth him; and lo! angels came and ministered to him.
the enemy that sowed them is the Devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels.
The Son of man will send forth his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all the stumblingblocks, and those who do iniquity,
So will it be at the end of the world. The angels will come forth, and separate the wicked from among the righteous,
For the Son of man is to come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then will he render to every one according to his works.
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
And he will send forth his angels with a great trumpet, and they will gather his chosen from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
But that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
Then will he say also to those on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the everlasting fire, which is prepared for the Devil and his angels.
Dost thou think that I cannot pray to my Father, and he will now give me more than twelve legions of angels?
And, lo! there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.
And, lo! there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow.
His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the keepers shook, and became as dead men.
And for fear of him the keepers shook, and became as dead men. And the angel answering said to the women, Fear ye not; for I know that ye are seeking Jesus, who was crucified.
And the angel answering said to the women, Fear ye not; for I know that ye are seeking Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; for he hath risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. read more. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he hath risen from the dead, and, lo! he is going before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him. Lo! I have told you. And they went away quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
But that day or hour knoweth no one, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father.
And the angel answering said to him, I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to thee, and to tell thee these glad tidings.
And in her sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgins name was Mary. read more. And the angel came in to her and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored! the Lord is with thee. And she was troubled at the words, and was considering what this salutation could mean. And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favor with God. And lo! thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and hear a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary to the angel, How shall this be, since I know not a man? And the angel answering said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the Most High will overshadow thee; wherefore the holy one that is to be born will be called the Son of God. And lo! Elizabeth, thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who is called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God. And Mary said, Lo, the handmaid of the Lord! May it be to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
who was the son of Enos, who was the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of God.
And when the messengers of John had departed, he began to say to the multitudes concerning John, What have ye gone out into the wilderness to see? the reeds shaken by the wind?
For whoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed, when be cometh in his glory, and that of his Father, and of the holy angels.
And he sent messengers before him; and they went and entered a city of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
I say to you, that thus there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.
for they cannot die any more; for they are like the angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
for they cannot die any more; for they are like the angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
for they cannot die any more; for they are like the angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed about this, lo! two men stood by them in glittering apparel;
and beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say to her, Woman, why dost thou weep? She saith to them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
And while they were looking earnestly into heaven as he went up, lo! two men stood by them in white apparel,
And while they were looking earnestly into heaven as he went up, lo! two men stood by them in white apparel, who said, Men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This Jesus, who hath been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same manner in which ye beheld him going into heaven.
But an angel of the Lord in the night opened the prisondoors, and brought them forth and said,
But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise, and go towards the south, to the way that goeth down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert way.
saw in a vision plainly, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him, and saying to him, Cornelius!
And lo! an angel of the Lord came to him, and a light shone in the room; and he smote Peter on the side, and roused him, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell from his hands.
But immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory, and he was eaten by worms, and expired.
For there stood by me this night an angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come;
for in him were created all things, those in the heavens, and those on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers, all things have been created through him and for him;
Let no one defraud you of the prize, desiring to do it in humiliation and worshipping of the angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, puffed up without reason by the mind of his own flesh,
I charge thee before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudging, doing nothing with partiality.
having become so much superior to the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they.
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that he who destroyed the firstborn might not touch them.
but ye have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem; and to myriads, the general assembly of angels; and to the church of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven; and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect;
For if God spared not angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them over to chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the Devil he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a railing accusation, but said: The Lord rebuke thee.
the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven candlesticks are the seven churches.
And there was war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.
And I fell at his feet to worship him; and he saith to me, See thou do it not; I am a fellowservant of thee, and of thy brethren who maintain the testimony to Jesus; worship God. For the testimony to Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Hastings
ANGEL
1. Old Testament.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But while he thought on these things, lo! an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take to thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy;
Then the Devil leaveth him; and lo! angels came and ministered to him.
the enemy that sowed them is the Devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels.
For the Son of man is to come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then will he render to every one according to his works.
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
And he will send forth his angels with a great trumpet, and they will gather his chosen from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
But that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
And when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then will he sit on the throne of his glory,
Then will he say also to those on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the everlasting fire, which is prepared for the Devil and his angels.
Dost thou think that I cannot pray to my Father, and he will now give me more than twelve legions of angels?
And the angel answering said to the women, Fear ye not; for I know that ye are seeking Jesus, who was crucified.
And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him.
For whoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will also the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
And the angel came in to her and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored! the Lord is with thee.
And when he had brought every temptation to an end, the Devil departed from him for a season.
For whoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed, when be cometh in his glory, and that of his Father, and of the holy angels.
And I say to you, Every one that acknowledgeth me before men, him will the Son of man also acknowledge before the angels of God. But he that hath denied me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God.
I say to you, that thus there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.
for they cannot die any more; for they are like the angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
they did not find his body, and came, saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.
And he saith to him, Truly, truly do I say to you, Ye will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
And he saith to him, Truly, truly do I say to you, Ye will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
But an angel of the Lord in the night opened the prisondoors, and brought them forth and said,
But an angel of the Lord in the night opened the prisondoors, and brought them forth and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
And when forty years were completed, there appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai an angel in the flaming fire of a bush.
But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise, and go towards the south, to the way that goeth down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert way.
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he answered, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
saw in a vision plainly, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him, and saying to him, Cornelius!
And he told us how he had seen the angel in his house, standing and saying to him, Send to Joppa, and call for Simon, surnamed Peter;
And lo! an angel of the Lord came to him, and a light shone in the room; and he smote Peter on the side, and roused him, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell from his hands. And the angel said to him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals; and he did so. And he saith to him, Throw thy garment round thee, and follow me.
And they said to her, Thou art mad. But she positively affirmed that it was even so. Then they said, It is his angel.
But immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory, and he was eaten by worms, and expired.
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees affirm both. And there arose a great clamor; and scribes of the party of the Pharisees arose, and contended, saying, We find nothing amiss in this man; but if a spirit hath spoken to him or an angel
For there stood by me this night an angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul! Thou must stand before Caesar; and lo, God hath given thee all those that sail with thee.
For I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles as lowest, as men sentenced to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.
Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons; ye cannot be partakers of the Lords table, and the table of demons.
For this cause the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.
for I did not receive it from man nor was I taught it by any man, but it was revealed to me by Jesus Christ.
for in him were created all things, those in the heavens, and those on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers, all things have been created through him and for him;
Let no one defraud you of the prize, desiring to do it in humiliation and worshipping of the angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, puffed up without reason by the mind of his own flesh,
Let no one defraud you of the prize, desiring to do it in humiliation and worshipping of the angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, puffed up without reason by the mind of his own flesh,
and to you the distressed rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be manifested from heaven, with the angels of his might,
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the Devil he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a railing accusation, but said: The Lord rebuke thee.
And I John am he who heard and saw these things; and when I had heard and when I had seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. And he saith to me, See thou do it not; I am a fellowservant of thee, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of those who keep 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
Dost thou think that I cannot pray to my Father, and he will now give me more than twelve legions of angels?
And when forty years were completed, there appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai an angel in the flaming fire of a bush.
This Moses, whom they denied, saying, "Who made thee a ruler and a judge?" this very man did God send both as a ruler and a redeemer with the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
And they said to her, Thou art mad. But she positively affirmed that it was even so. Then they said, It is his angel.
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees affirm both.
To what end then was the Law? It was added because of transgressions, till the offspring should come to whom the promise belongeth, having been ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.
for our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the worldrulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of evil in the heavenly regions.
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
and the angels which kept not their principality, but left their own dwellingplace, he hath kept in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day;
and the angels which kept not their principality, but left their own dwellingplace, he hath kept in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day;