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 these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit,
For this is he of whom it is written; Behold, I send my messenger before your face, to prepare your way before you.
So shall it be at the consummation of the world. The angels shall come forth and separate the evil from the midst of the good,
See that you despise not one of these little ones; for I tell you that their angels always behold the face of my Father in heaven.
For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are married, but are as angels in heaven.
For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are married, but are as angels in heaven.
Then shall he say to those on his left hand, Depart from me accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Do you think that I could not ask my Father, and he would furnish me more than twelve legions of angels?
Do you think that I could not ask my Father, and he would furnish me more than twelve legions of angels?
And the angel said to them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good news of a great joy, which shall be for all people. For to you was born to-day in the city of David, a Saviour who is the anointed Lord. read more. And this shall be a sign to you. You shall find the babe wrapped in bandages, 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 gone away, he said to the multitudes concerning John, What went you out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with a wind?
And he sent messengers before him; and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for him.
So, I tell you, there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that changes his mind, more than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need a change of mind.
So, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner that changes his mind.
And the poor man died, and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died, and was buried;
And forty years being completed there appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire, in a bush.
For an angel of the God whose I am, and whom I serve, came to me this night
For this reason ought the woman to have a power [veil] on her head because of the angels.
for by him were all things created which are in heaven and on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or principalities, or powers. All things were created through him and for him,
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to serve on account of those who are about to inherit salvation?
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to serve on account of those who are about to inherit salvation?
and to the church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a judge the God of all, and to spirits of the righteous made perfect,
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but plunging them into Tartarus delivered them up in chains to be kept in darkness till the judgment,
To the angel of the church in Ephesus write, These things says he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks,
And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, These things says the first and the last, who was dead and lived,
And to the angel of the church in Pergamus write, These things says he that has the two-edged sharp sword,
And I saw a mighty angel proclaim with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seven seals?
And I saw, and heard an eagle flying in the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to those who live on the earth on account of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound.
And there was a war in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting with the dragon. And the dragon fought and his angels,
And the great dragon, the old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, and who deceives all the world, was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast [to the earth] with him.
And a mighty 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 cast down, and shall be found no more.
And I fell before his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See [that you do it] not; I am your fellow-servant and of your brothers who have the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
And I saw an angel standing on the sun, and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid-heaven, Come, assemble yourselves to the great supper of God,
And I am John who heard and saw these thing; and when I heard and when I saw I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel that showed me these things. And he said to me, See [that you do it] not; for I am your fellow servant and of your brothers the prophets and of those that 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/sawyer'>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 these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit,
Then the devil left him; and behold angels came and waited on him.
the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the consummation of the world; and the reapers are angels.
The Son of man will send his angels, and they shall collect out of his kingdom all offenses, and all that commit wickedness,
So shall it be at the consummation of the world. The angels shall come forth and separate the evil from the midst of the good,
For the Son of man is about to come in the glory of his Father, with his angels, and then shall he render to every one according to his doing.
See that you despise not one of these little ones; for I tell you that their angels always behold the face of my Father in heaven.
See that you despise not one of these little ones; for I tell you that their angels always behold the face of my Father in heaven.
And he shall send his angels with a loud sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather his elect from the four winds, from the one end of heaven to the other.
But of that day and hour no man knows, nor the angels of heaven; but my Father only.
Then shall he say to those on his left hand, Depart from me accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Do you think that I could not ask my Father, and he would furnish me more than twelve legions of angels?
And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.
And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow;
And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow; and from fear of him the keepers shook and became like dead men.
and from fear of him the keepers shook and became like dead men. And the angel answered and said to the women, Fear not, for I know that you seek Jesus the crucified.
And the angel answered and said to the women, Fear not, for I know that you seek Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he is raised, as he said. Come and see the place where the Lord lay, read more. and go immediately and tell his disciples that he is raised from the dead; and behold, he will go before you into Galilee; there shall you see him. Behold, I have told you. And going out immediately from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples.
But of that day, and hour, knows no man, not an angel in heaven, nor the Son; but the Father.
And the angel answered and said to him, I am Gabriel, who stand before God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to tell you this good news.
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee, by the name of Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary. read more. And coming in to her, he said, Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you! And she was troubled at his word, and doubted what this salutation meant. And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold you shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said to the angel, How shall this be, since I know not a man? And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you; and on that account the holy child shall be called the Son of God. And behold Elizabeth, your relative, even she is pregnant with a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month to her called barren; for nothing is impossible with God. And Mary said, Behold, I am the servant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying,
the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the Son of God.
And when the messengers of John had gone away, he said to the multitudes concerning John, What went you out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with a wind?
For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in his glory, and that of the Father, and of the holy angels.
And he sent messengers before him; and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for him.
So, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner that changes his mind.
And the poor man died, and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died, and was buried;
neither can they die any more; for they are equal to the angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
neither can they die any more; for they are equal to the angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
neither can they die any more; for they are equal to the angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
And an angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him.
And while they were in doubt about this, behold, two men stood by them in shining clothing.
and saw two angels in white sitting one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they said to her, Woman, why do you weep? She said to them, Because they have taken my Lord and I know not where they have laid him.
And as they looked steadily to heaven while he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing;
And as they looked steadily to heaven while he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing; and they said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking at heaven? This Jesus taken up from you to heaven shall so come in the manner in which you have seen him go to heaven.
But an angel of the Lord opening the prison doors by night led them out and said,
And an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise and go to the south, by the way that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza; this is a wilderness.
saw clearly in a vision, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, Cornelius.
And behold, an angel of the Lord came, and a light shone in the building; and striking Peter on the side he awoke him saying, Arise quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
And an angel of the Lord instantly smote him because he gave not glory to God, and being eaten with worms he expired.
For an angel of the God whose I am, and whom I serve, came to me this night
above every principality and authority and power and lordship, and every name that is named, not only in this life but also in that to come,
for by him were all things created which are in heaven and on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or principalities, or powers. All things were created through him and for him,
Let no one wishing [it] deprive you of your reward by humility and a worship of angels, intruding into what he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his carnal mind,
I charge you before God, and Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that you keep these things without prejudice, doing nothing from partiality.
being made as much greater than the angels as he has inherited a more excellent name than they.
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to serve on account of those who are about to inherit salvation?
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to serve on account of those who are about to inherit salvation?
By faith he observed the passover and the pouring out of blood, that the destroyer of the first-born might not touch them.
and to the church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a judge the God of all, and to spirits of the righteous made perfect,
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but plunging them into Tartarus delivered them up in chains to be kept in darkness till the judgment,
But Michael the arch-angel, when disputing with the devil he reasoned about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a charge of blasphemy, but said, The Lord rebuke you.
the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are angels of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks the seven churches.
And there was a war in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting with the dragon. And the dragon fought and his angels,
And the great dragon, the old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, and who deceives all the world, was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast [to the earth] with him.
And I fell before his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See [that you do it] not; I am your fellow-servant and of your brothers who have the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Hastings
ANGEL
1. Old Testament.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But while he was thinking of these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit,
And seeing the star they rejoiced with great joy;
Then the devil left him; and behold angels came and waited on him.
the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the consummation of the world; and the reapers are angels.
For the Son of man is about to come in the glory of his Father, with his angels, and then shall he render to every one according to his doing.
See that you despise not one of these little ones; for I tell you that their angels always behold the face of my Father in heaven.
See that you despise not one of these little ones; for I tell you that their angels always behold the face of my Father in heaven.
For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are married, but are as angels in heaven.
And he shall send his angels with a loud sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather his elect from the four winds, from the one end of heaven to the other.
But of that day and hour no man knows, nor the angels of heaven; but my Father only.
But when the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory,
Then shall he say to those on his left hand, Depart from me accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Do you think that I could not ask my Father, and he would furnish me more than twelve legions of angels?
And the angel answered and said to the women, Fear not, for I know that you seek Jesus the crucified.
and he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the beasts; and the angels waited on him.
For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels.
And coming in to her, he said, Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you!
And the devil having finished all the temptation, departed from him for a time.
For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in his glory, and that of the Father, and of the holy angels.
And I tell you, that whoever shall confess me before men, him will the Son of man confess before the angels of God; but he that has denied me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God.
So, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner that changes his mind.
And the poor man died, and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died, and was buried;
neither can they die any more; for they are equal to the angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
and not finding his body, came, saying that they had seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.
And he said to him, I tell you most truly, you shall see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
And he said to him, I tell you most truly, you shall see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
But an angel of the Lord opening the prison doors by night led them out and said,
But an angel of the Lord opening the prison doors by night led them out and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
And forty years being completed there appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire, in a bush.
And an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise and go to the south, by the way that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza; this is a wilderness.
And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom you persecute.
saw clearly in a vision, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming 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 Simon who is called Peter,
And behold, an angel of the Lord came, and a light shone in the building; and striking Peter on the side he awoke him saying, Arise quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said to him, Gird yourself, and tie on your sandals. And he did so. And he said to him, Put your cloak about you, and follow me.
But they said to her, You are mad. But she asserted strongly that it was so. And they said, It is his angel.
And an angel of the Lord instantly smote him because he gave not glory to God, and being eaten with worms he expired.
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees confess both. And there was a great cry, and the scribes of the party of the Pharisees rising up contended, saying, We find no evil in this man; but [what] if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?
For an angel of the God whose I am, and whom I serve, came to me this night and said, Fear not, Paul; you must stand before Caesar, and behold, God has given you all that sail with you.
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 has shown us the apostles last, as devoted to death, for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men.
You cannot drink the Lord's cup and the cup of demons; you cannot partake at the Lord's table and the table of demons.
For this reason ought the woman to have a power [veil] on her head because of the angels.
for I neither received it from man nor was I taught it, but by a revelation of Jesus Christ.
for by him were all things created which are in heaven and on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or principalities, or powers. All things were created through him and for him,
Let no one wishing [it] deprive you of your reward by humility and a worship of angels, intruding into what he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his carnal mind,
Let no one wishing [it] deprive you of your reward by humility and a worship of angels, intruding into what he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his carnal mind,
and to you who are afflicted rest with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his mighty angels
But Michael the arch-angel, when disputing with the devil he reasoned about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a charge of blasphemy, but said, The Lord rebuke you.
And I am John who heard and saw these thing; and when I heard and when I saw I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel that showed me these things. And he said to me, See [that you do it] not; for I am your fellow servant and of your brothers the prophets and of those that 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?
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Do you think that I could not ask my Father, and he would furnish me more than twelve legions of angels?
And forty years being completed there appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire, in a bush.
This is the Moses whom they denied, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge? Him did God send to be a ruler and a redeemer by the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush.
But they said to her, You are mad. But she asserted strongly that it was so. And they said, It is his angel.
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees confess both.
What then? The law was added on account of transgressions, till the offspring should come to which the promise was made, being appointed by angels by the hand of a mediator.
for our conflict is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the potentates of the darkness of this world, against the spiritual [hosts] of evil in the heavenly [worlds].
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to serve on account of those who are about to inherit salvation?
Forget not hospitality; for by this some without knowing it have entertained angels.
and the angels who kept not their own province, but left their habitation, he has kept under darkness in eternal chains, for the judgment of the great day;
and the angels who kept not their own province, but left their habitation, he has kept under darkness in eternal chains, for the judgment of the great day;