Special Topic: ANGELS IN THE BIBLE

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELS IN THE BIBLE

Introduction

The beings of the spiritual realm are never clearly discussed as to origin or purpose, except they were created by God and that they serve His purposes.
Their descriptions are influenced by ANE mythology and the depictions of their art work.
Surprisingly, they are often composite creatures (i.e. human, animal), which seems to go against Leviticus' "do not mix" rules.
Humans are uniquely created by God to live in the physical realm. Our vocabulary and sense of chronological time is rooted in this reality. Angels, demons, and other spiritual beings are able to enter the physcial realm, but not remain there permanently.
There seem to be ranks or types of spiritual beings related to their function. However, that function is never delineated in Scripture.
Special Topic: Angelic Beings in Paul's Writings

Old Testament

The term itself
1. The Hebrew malach (BDB 521). Here are some examples from Genesis.
  1. a messenger ‒ Gen. 32:3
  2. an angel ‒ Gen. 19:1,15; 28:12; 32:1
  3. a physical manifestation of YHWH ‒ Gen. 16:7,9,10,11; 21:17; 22:11,15; 31:11; 48;16
    Special Topic: The Angel of the Lord
2. The Greek is angelos. Both Greek and Hebrew can mean "messenger" or "angel."
3. They are a special creation of the Creator God (by the agency of Jesus. cf. Col. 1:16-17) to serve both God and humanity (cf. Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:6, 7,14). They can exist and manifest in both the spiritual realm and the physical realm. Apparently, they are multi-dimensional.
4. One of the best brief discussions of rabbinical thought related to the angelic world is Alfred Edersheim (a converted rabbi), The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, vol. 2, appendix XIII, pp. 749-863 and XVI, pp. 770-776.
The heavenly council ‒ It is possible the "Us" passages, such as Gen. 1:26; 3:22; 11:7, refer to a "heavenly council of angelic beings"; also note Ps. 82:1; 89:5,7 (see Special Topic: Heavenly Council of Angelic Beings
This spiritual realm has recently been highlighted by Michael Heiser, in his book, The Unseen Realm: Discovering the Supernatural World of the Bible. As a footnote, I must admit that I do not agree with all his theology or exegesis, particularly that related to Ps. 82, but I am very grateful for his bringing the discussion of this issue to the forefront.
Categories of angelic beings ‒ Angels come in a variety of forms and categories.
1. guardian angels (Special Topic: Guarding Angels, I. A.)
  1. cherubim (Special Topic: Cherubim)
    
    (1) of the Garden of Eden (Special Topic: Eden)
    
    (2) of the Holy of Holies (Special Topic: Ark of the Covenant)
  2. Seraphim ‒ the throne of YHWH (i.e. Isa. 6:1, Special Topic: Seraphim)
  3. warriors ‒ Michael, archangel protector of Israel (cf. Dan. 10:12,21; 12:1). See my exegetical notes of both texts online.
2. national angels (cf. LXX of Deut. 32:8)
  1. Michael, Prince of Israel, Dan. 10:21; 12:1
  2. Prince of Persia, Dan. 10:20
  3. Prince of Greece, Dan. 10:20
  4. See full note online in Dan. 10:13
3. messenger angels (see full note at I. A. 1.)
  1. to Abraham ‒ Gen. 22:11,15; 24:7
  2. to Hagar ‒ Gen. 16:7-11; 21:17
  3. to Lot ‒ Gen. 19:1,15
  4. to Jacob ‒ Gen. 28:12; 31:11; 32:1; 48:16
  5. to Moses ‒ Exod. 3:2; Acts 9:30-38
  6. to Gideon‒- Jdg. 6:11-22
  7. to Manoah ‒ Jdg. 13:3-21
  8. to David ‒ 1 Chr. 21:12-30
  9. to Elijah ‒ 1 Kgs. 19:5-7; 2 Kgs. 1:3,15
  10. to Zechariah ‒ Zech. 1:9-19; 3:1-6; 4:1-5; 5:5-10; 6:4-5
  11. possibly Balaam -‒Num. 22:31-35
4. guiding and guarding angels
  1. Abraham ‒ Gen. 24:7,40
  2. tribes of Israel ‒ Exod. 14:19; 23:20,21,23; Num. 20:16
  3. Joshua -‒Jdg. 2:1-4
  4. faithful followers ‒ Ps. 34:7; 91:11; Isa. 63:8-9
  5. David ‒ Ps. 35:1-8
  6. Ezekiel -‒Ezek. 8:2-3; 40:3-4
  7. Daniel ‒ Dan. 3:28; 6:22; 7:16; 8:16-17; 9:22; 10:18-21
  8. Zechariah ‒ Zech. 1:9,19; 2:3; 4:1,4,5; 5:5,10; 6:4
    Special Topic: Guardian Angels
5. destroying angels (usually called "The Angel of the Lord"; see Special Topic: The Angel of the Lord
  1. YHWH Himself in the Passover, Exod. 12:12-13; Num. 33:4
  2. in David's day ‒ 2 Sam. 24:16-17; 1 Chr. 21:12-30
  3. in Hezekiah's day ‒ 2 Kgs. 19:35; 2 Chr. 32:21; Isa. 37:36
  4. against Israel and Judah in general ‒ Ps. 78:49-50 (lit. "a band of angels of destruction")
    Special Topic: Death Angel
6. in some texts Elohim refers to angelic beings. See full note in Special Topic: Names for Deity, C. #4.
7. satan and his angels
  1. in OT
    Special Topic: Satan
    Special Topic: Devil
  2. his fall
    Special Topic: Demons (fallen angels)
    Special Topic: War In Heaven
    Special Topic: Fall of Satan and His Angels
  3. three special occasions (see exegetical notes online)
    
    (1) an evil spirit ‒ Jdg. 9:23
    
    (2) an evil spirit came upon Saul ‒ 1 Sam. 16:14,15,16; 18:10,11; 19:9
    
    (3) a spirit ‒ 1 Kgs. 22:21,22
Named angels
1. The Angel of the Lord (Special Topic: The Angel of the Lord)
2. Michael ‒ Dan. 10:13,21; 12:1; Jude v. 9; Rev. 12:7
3. Gabriel #8210; Dan. 8:15-16; 9:21-22; Luke 1:19,26
4. Apollyon ‒ Rev. 9:1,11 (Special Topic: Abaddon. . .Apollyon)
5. In 1 Enoch (an apocalyptic writing of the second temple period) there are several named angels (i.e. "the seven angels of the presence")
  1. Uriel
  2. Raphael
  3. Raguel
  4. Michael
  5. Saraqael
  6. Gabriel
  7. Remiel
    
    I Enoch, along with Jubilees and all interbiblical Jewish apocalyptic writings, were viewed as non-inspired, non-canonical by both the synagogue and the early church because they either
    ‒ added to the revelation of Jesus and the Apostles
    ‒ contradicted clear NT teachings
    
    We must not use them as a true source of reality. They were well known by first century Jews and Christians, but rejected by both.
Other ways and terms referring to angelic beings in the OT.
1. "Elohim ‒ Ps. 82:1; Special Topic: Names for Deity, C. #3 and esp. #4
2. "sons of God" ‒ Special Topic: "sons of God" in Genesis 6
3. "holy ones" ‒ Ps. 89:5,7, Special Topic: godly ones, holy ones and
  Special Topic: Heavenly Council of Angelic Beings
4. "an angelic watcher" ‒ Dan. 4:13,23 (concept expanded in 1 Enoch)
5. "ministers" ‒ Ps. 103:21
6. "commander" ‒ Josh. 5:14 (pre-incarnate Christ or the Angel of the Lord, similar to Exod. 3)
7. "heavenly host" ‒ Ps. 89:8; 103:21; Special Topic: Lord of Hosts
8. "a son of the gods" (Nebuchadnezzar) ‒ Dan. 3:25
9. "a spirit of the holy gods" (Nebuchadnezzar) ‒ Dan. 4:8,9,18

New Testament

There is spiritual conflict involving the angelic realm in both Testaments
1. the serpent in Genesis 3 (cf. Rev. 12:9, identifies him as Satan)
2. the "evil spirit from YHWH" mentioned in Jdg. 9:23 and 1 Kgs. 22:21,22
3. national angels trying to stop an angel of YHWH from his assigned task ‒ Daniel 10
4. Satan described as disguising himself as an angel of light, 2 Cor. 11:14
5. an angel preaching a different gospel, Gal. 1:8
6. the war in heaven, Rev. 12:7-9
  
  Special Topic: War in Heaven
  Special Topic: The Fall of Satan and His Angels
  All of these point toward a spiritual battle/conflict (cf. Matt. 4; Luke 4; Rom. 7; Eph.2:2; 4:14; 6:10-18; see Special Topic: Spiritual Warfare) in which the angelic world is fully involved. See Special Topic: Demons (fallen angels)
Angels appear often in the Gospels, less so in Acts and the NT Letters. However, many different angelic beings reappear in John's Revelation (i.e. typical of Jewish apocalyptic writings)
Special Topic: Apocalyptic Literature
There are many occurrences of messenger angels
1. in the Gospels to. . .
  1. Joseph ‒ Matt. 1:20-24; 2:13,14,19
  2. Zechariah ‒ Luke 1:11-19
  3. Mary ‒ Luke 1:26-38
  4. shepherds ‒ Luke 2:9-21
  5. Jesus ‒ Matt. 4:11; 26:53; Mark 1:13; Luke 22:43; John 12:29
  6. "Jesus' angels" (nomenclature which points toward His Deity) ‒ Matt. 13:41,49; 24:31,36; 25:31; Mark 8:38; 13:27,32; Luke 9:26; 12:8-9; 15:10; John 1:51
  7. Mary Magdalene ‒ Matt. 28:2-5; John 20:12
2. in Acts to. . .
  1. Peter ‒ Acts 5:19; 11:13; 12:11-15
  2. Philip ‒ Acts 8:21
  3. Cornelius ‒ Acts 10:3
  4. Paul ‒ Acts 23:8-9; 27:23
3. in the Letters
  1. good angels
    
    (1) new believers' guardian angels ‒ Matt. 18:10; Acts 12:15
    
    (2) angels in worship services (or possibly visitors) ‒ 1 Cor. 11:8
    
    (3) language of angels -‒1 Cor. 13:1 (possibly related to 2 Cor. 12:4)
    
    (4) Jesus' angels ‒ 2 Thess. 1:7; Rev. 22:6,16 (see II. C. 1. f.)
    
    (5) angels in heaven ‒ 1 Tim. 3:16; 1 Pet. 1:12
    
    (6) angels in God's creation ‒ Heb. 1:4-7; 2:5-9
  2. evil angels ‒ Matt. 25:41; 2 Cor. 11:14; Gal. 1:8; Col. 2:18; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude v. 6; Rev. 12:9 (i.e. I would also like to mention the angelic imagery of Rom. 8:38-39)
4. Revelation
  1. messenger angels ‒ Rev. 1:1
  2. the 7 stars are the 7 angels ‒ Rev. 1:16,20; 2:1; 3:1
  3. an angel for each of the 7 churches ‒ Rev. 2:1,8,12,18; 3:1,7,14
  4. the judgment angels of the seals, bowls, and trumpets ‒ Rev. 15:1,7; 16:1; 17:1
  5. Jesus' angel ‒ Rev. 22:8,16
    Special Topic: The Seven Spirits in Revelation
The spiritual orientation of angelic beings
1. There seems to be clear division within spiritual beings.
  1. holy angels (loyal servants of YHWH and Jesus)
  2. evil, fallen angels
    Special Topic: Demons (fallen angels)
    Special Topic: Personal Evil
2. Paul lists several terms that may refer to ranks of evil angels, but because of the historical setting of Gnosticism, they may refer to "eons."
  Special Topic: Gnosticism
  Special Topic: Angelic Levels in Paul's Writings
Much of the theological problems with discussing the spiritual realm is the Bible's reluctance to discuss this area in detail or systematic ways. Humans made in YHWH's image and likeness are to trust Him, worship Him, and not be drawn away into discussions about things they cannot understand or affect! Believers know all we need to know (i.e. Col. 2:18; see Special Topic: False Teachers)
Several books have recently become available that deal with this theological area
1. in connection to the Heavenly Council, see Michael S. Heiser, The Unseen Realm
2. in connection to the spiritual battle, see Clinton Anton, Three Crucial Questions About Spiritual Warfare
3. in connection with the demonic, see Merrill F. Unger, Biblical Demonology and Demons in the World Today
4. in connection to UFOs (see Special Topic: Demons [fallen angels]) see
  1. Gary Bates, Alien Intrusion (updated and expanded)
  2. Walter Martin's YouTube video entitled "UFO's ‒ Friend, Foe, or Fantasy"
  3. William M. Alnor, "UFO Cults and the New Millennium"
  4. William M. Alnor, "UFOs in the New Age: Extraterrestial Messages and the Truth of Scripture"
  5. William M. Alnor, "Aliens and Demonology: A Study Throughout History and Scripture"
  6. YouTube video by Michael Heiser entitled "Aliens and Demons" Evidence of an Unseen Realm"
  7. Joseph Jordan, "Piercing the Cosmic Veil," clearly reveals the UFS and abduction experience is a demonic activity