There are many myths about angels, and there is much about angels which we cannot know. The Bible is our only reliable source of knowledge and this study only focuses on what the Bible reveals and will not get into wild speculation. Colossians 2:18 – “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen…”
Angels are mentioned 108 times in the Old Testament and 186 times in the New Testament. They are mentioned in 17 Old Testament books and 17 New Testament books.
The word “angel” is translated from the Hebrew MALAWK which appears some 211 times in the Old Testament. In the New Testament it is from the Greek ANGELOS and appears 188 times.
The basic meaning of the word “angel” whether in the Old or New Testament, is “messenger.”
BIBLICAL FACTS ABOUT ANGELS
ANGELS ARE INNUMERABLE
Matthew 26:53 – Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than 12 legions of angels?
Revelation 5:11 – And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.
Hebrews 12:22 – But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels…
ANGELS NEVER MARRY
Matthew 22:30 – For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
Luke 20:34-36 – And Jesus said to them, “The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: 35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
Since they never marry, they do not reproduce, and Luke 20:36 teaches us that angels never die. Thus, the number of angels will always remain the same.
ANGELS HAVE STRENGTH BUT ARE NOT OMNIPOTENT
They are stronger than man but not as strong as God.
2 Peter 2:11 – “…whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.”
I Peter 3:22 – Who is gone to heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
ANGELS DO NOT KNOW ALL – NOT OMNISCIENT
Matthew 24:36 – But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
ANGELS ARE SUBJECT TO GOD’S WORD
Galatians 1:8 – But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
Psalm 103:20 – Bless the Lord, you his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, harkening unto the voice of his word.
I Peter 3:22 – Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
ANGELS APPEARED IN BODIES OF MEN
Genesis 18:2 – And he (Abraham) lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground.
Genesis 19:1 – And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground…
• Angels never appear in the Bible as women or children—only as men.
• A common idea is that angels have wings, but they never appeared in Scripture with wings, unless the Seraphim and the Cherubim were angels. Possibly, the Scripture references to their “swift flight” gave birth to this concept.
SOME ANGELS SINNED AND WERE CAST OUT OF HEAVEN
2 Peter 2:4 – For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment…
Jude 6 – And the angels which did not keep their first estate, but left their own habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Revelation 12:7-12 – And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they did not love their lives unto death. 12 Therefore, you heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.
God gave angels the power to choose between right and wrong. They chose to sin and rebel. As a result of their sin, they will go to hell with Satan. Matthew 25:41 – Then he shall say to them on the left hand, depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
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