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A topical review of the appearance of holy angels in scripture
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Angels are a common topic in this century. Many authors, including Billy Graham, have written books on the subject. Touched by an Angel was a popular prime-time CBS drama which treated the concept of angels in a reverent and relatively-scriptural manner.
There are several misconceptions regarding angels in the Bible.
There is no record of angels having wings. If you do a computer search of the entire text of the Bible, looking for angel and wing, there will be no hits. Angels have great speed but their power of locomotion does not come from something as antiquated as wings. Maybe something like Star Trek's beaming but never wings!
Second, angels are neither male nor female. They are totally asexual! I always visualize angels as male superheros!
The term cherub appears several times in the Bible but it should not be confused with angel. Angels have distinct personalities, duties, and functions. While cherubs are supernatural heavenly beings, they are largely ornamental and symbolic. Their job descriptions do not come close to those of angels.
The term angel appears from Genesis to Revelation. This site will list many references to angels in the Bible, but will be limited to holy angels. To learn about evil [fallen] angels, click the following link maintained by J. F. Cogan: Demon Possession Handbook.
The term Dragon referes specifically to Satan and Bible references are limited to the Book of Revelation. See chapters 12, 13, 16, 17, and 20.
Angels fulfill different functions in the Bible. The scripture references will include the following categories: Guardians, Messengers, Servants, and Terminators. These designations are mine and should not be viewed as scriptural. In my opinion, the text and context describes these four roles. In some cases, an angel could fulfill two or more roles.
Guardians:
The first appearance of the
word angel is in Genesis 16 regarding the flight of Hagar from the home of Abraham
and Sarah and this is a guardian angel. However, many people think of guardian
angels in connection with children. This comes from a statement by Jesus in Matthew:
Matthew 18:10: Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Beware child-abusers, pedophiles, and all manner of persons who are guilty of mentally, sexually, and physically hurting children. You may be able to escape the reach of the law in this life but you don't want to tangle with an angry guardian angel! And remember, there is no statute of limitation in eternity!
Many people think of angels in a positive role as guardians of their way. PS 91:11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
Messengers:
The
classic example of a messenger angel is the announcement to the Virgin Mary that
she is to be the mother of the Messiah: Luke 1:35.
Servants:
My
favorite chapter in the book of Revelation is Chapter 5. Here
we see angels as servants and their task is that of praise and worship
Terminators:
The most fearsome role of
angels is that of terminators. When the need presents itself, angels are available
to be God's strike force, His SWAT team, His early response team. Angels as terminators
appear throughout the book of Revelation. However, this role is best illustrated
in Chapter 20 of Revelation:
When it comes time to put Satan away, God won't need to do it. He won't even send Jesus to do it. He'll just snap His finger and deputize a holy angel.
The scripture references listed below are many (not all) of the instances angels are mentioned in the Bible. The four categories and the comments given with some of the verses, are my own. They should not be considered scriptural. Comments are shown in bold, blue type.
Index
to the Listed Books of the Bible
with Angel References
| Old Testament Genesis Exodus Numbers Judges Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles Psalms Isaiah Daniel | New
Testament Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2Thessalonians 1 Timothy Hebrews 1 Peter Revelation |
Top of Page
Guardian-Messenger
Genesis 16:7: And the angel
of the Lord found her [Hagar] by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the
fountain in the way to Shur.
= = = = =
Messenger-Terminator
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;
= = = = =
These
angels are used here as messengers and are on recon. Later, they may have been
part of the strike force that burned Sodom and Gomorrah to the ground.
= = = = =
Messenger-Terminator
Genesis 19:15: And when
the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife,
and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of
the city.
= = = = =
Guardian
Genesis 21:17: And God
heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven,
and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice
of the lad where he is.
= = = = =
Messenger
Genesis 22:11: And the
angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and
he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do
thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast
not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
= = = = =
God's
Plan
of Salvation always involved sacrifice. First animal
sacrifice, then Jesus, the Lamb of God, but never human sacrifice.
= = = = =
Messenger
Genesis 24:7: The Lord
God of heaven, which took me from my fathers house, and from the land of my kindred,
and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I
give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife
unto my son from thence.
= = = = =
Servant
Genesis 28:12: And he dreamed,
and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven:
and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
= = = = =
Messenger
Genesis 31:11: And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream,
saying, Jacob: and I said, Here am I.
= = = = =
Messenger
Exodus 3:2:
And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst
of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush
was not consumed.
= = = = =
This
is another classic example of an angel in the role of messenger.
= = = = =
Messenger
Exodus 14:19: And the angel
of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and
the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
= = = = =
Guardian
Exodus 23:20: Behold, I
send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the
place which I have prepared.
= = = = =
Guardian
Exodus 23:23: For mine
Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites,
and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I
will cut them off.
= = = = =
Guardian
Numbers 20:16: And when we
cried unto the Lord, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us
forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of
thy border:
= = = = =
Messenger
Numbers 22:22: And Gods
anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Lord stood in the way
for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants
were with him.
= = = = =
This
story shows an angel and a donkey collaborating to get a message to Balaam --
who is the dullest of the three.
= = = = =
Return
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Messenger
Judges 2:1: And an angel
of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of
Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and
I said, I will never break my covenant with you.
= = = = =
Messenger
Judges 2:4: And it came
to pass, when the angel of the Lord spake these words unto all the children of
Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
=
= = = =
Messenger
Judges 6:11: And there
came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained
unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress,
to hide it from the Midianites.
= = = = =
Messenger
Judges 13:3: And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman,
and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt
conceive, and bear a son.
= = = = =
This
is the promise of the birth of the great judge, Samuel.
= = = = =
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Terminator
2 Samuel 24:16: And when
the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord repented
him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough:
stay now thine hand.
= = = = =
Messenger
1 Kings 13:18: He said
unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word
of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat
bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.
= = = = =
Guardian
1 Kings 19:5: And as he
lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said
unto him, Arise and eat.
= = = = =
Return
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Messenger
2 Kings 1:15: And the angel
of the Lord said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose,
and went down with him unto the king.
= = = = =
Terminator
2 Kings 19:35: And it came
to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp
of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early
in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
= = = =
=
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Messenger:
1 Chronicles 21:18:
Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go
up, and set up an altar unto the Lord in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
= = = = =
Guardian
Psalms 34:7: The angel
of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
= = = = =
Terminator
Psalms 35:5: Let them be
as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the Lord chase them.
= = = = =
Guardian
PS 91:11 For he will command
his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up
in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
God has promised to take such good care
of us that His angels will keep us from stubbing our toe on the pathway of life!
= = = = =
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Guardian
Isaiah 63:9: In all their
affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his
love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all
the days of old.
= = = = =
Return
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Guardian
Daniel 3:28: Then Nebuchadnezzar
spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath
sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed
the kings word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship
any god, except their own God.
= = = = =
Guardian
Daniel 6:22: My God hath
sent his angel, and hath shut the lions mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch
as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I
done no hurt.
= = = = =
Daniel was safe
in the lion's den because God found an angel who had experience as a lion tamer.
= = = = =
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Messenger
Matthew 1:20: But while
he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in
a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy
wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
The
angel took a load off Joseph's mind!
= = = = =
Messenger
Matthew 1:24: Then Joseph
being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took
unto him his wife:
= = = = =
Messenger-Guardian
Matthew 2: 13: And when
they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream,
saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and
be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to
destroy him.
= = = = =
Guardian
Matthew 4:11: Then the
devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
= = = = =
Angels
help Jesus recover from the 40 days of tempting by Satan.
= = = = =
Terminator
Matthew 16:27: For the
Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he
shall reward every man according to his works.
= = = = =
Guardian
Matthew
18:10: Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto
you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which
is in heaven.
Beware child-abusers,
pedophiles, and all manner of persons who are guilty of mentally, sexually, and
physically hurting children. You may be able to escape the reach of the law in
this life but you don't want to tangle with an angry guardian angel! And remember,
there is no statute of limitation in eternity!
= = = = =
Servant
Matthew 24:31: And he shall
send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together
his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
= = = = =
Messenger
Matthew 24:36: But of that
day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
= = = = =
Terminator
Matthew 25:31: When the
Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall
he sit upon the throne of his glory:
= = = = =
Terminator
Matthew 26:53: Thinkest
thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more
than twelve legions of angels?
= = = = =
The
Jews and Romans didn't execute Jesus. He voluntarily surrendered himself to be
sacrificed as the Lamb of God. See Rev. 20:1
= = = = =
Terminator-Messenger
Matthew 28:2: And, behold,
there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven,
and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
= = = = =
What
a magnificent assignment!
= = = =
=
Messenger
Matthew 28:5-6: And the
angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus,
which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see
the place where the Lord lay.
= = = = =
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Terminator
Mark 8:38: Whosoever therefore
shall be ashamed of me and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation;
of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his
Father with the holy angels.
= = = = =
Messenger
Mark 13:32: But of that
day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither
the Son, but the Father.
= = = = =
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Messenger
Luke 1:19: And the angel
answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and
am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
= = = = =
The
father of John the Baptist is learning he's about to become a father in his old
age.
= = = = =
Messenger
Luke 1:26: And in the sixth
month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David;
and the virgins name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail,
thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind
what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear
not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.
35
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,
and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing
which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
= = = = =
Gabriel
is a busy (and important) angel!
=
= = = =
Messenger
Luke 2:9: And, lo, the
angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about
them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for,
behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
= = = = =
Messenger
Luke 2:13: And suddenly
there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
= = = = =
Messenger
Luke 2:15: And it came
to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said
one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is
come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
= = =
= =
Servant
Luke 15:10: Likewise, I
say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner
that repenteth.
= = = = =
Servant
Luke 16:22: And it came
to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abrahams bosom:
the rich man also died, and was buried;
= = = = =
Guardian
Luke 22:43: And there appeared
an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
= = = = =
Jesus has
just told His father that he is willing to complete the Plan
of Salvation. The spiritual stress of contemplating
the burden of the guilt of the whole world is enormous. and He needs spiritual
and physical assistance.
=
= = = =
Messenger
Luke 24:6: He is not here,
but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
= = = = =
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Servant
John 1:51
And he saith
unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open,
and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
=
= = = =
Terminator-Messenger
John 20:12: And seeth two
angels in white sitting, the one at the head and the other at the feet, where
the body of Jesus had lain.
= = = = =
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Terminator
Acts 5:19: But the angel
of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
= = = = =
The
evangelism and healing of Peter and the apostles is interrupted by a jail term
ordered by the church leaders, but an angel restores the work they are doing.
Messenger
Acts 8:26: And the angel
of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south, unto the
way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
= = = = =
Messenger
Acts 10:7: And when the
angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household
= = = = =
Guardian
Acts 12:7: And, behold,
the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he
smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his
chains fell off from his hands.
= = = = =
Terminator
Acts 12:23: And immediately
the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was
eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
= = = = =
King
Herod accepts the praise of the people instead of giving it to God.
= = = = =
Guardian
Acts 27:23: For there stood
by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
= = = = =
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Servant
Romans 8:38: For I am persuaded,
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor
things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
= = = = =
The
Apostle Paul's famous testimony.
=
= = = =
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Servant
1 Corinthians 4:9: For
I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to
death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
= = = = =
Servant
1 Corinthians 6:3: Know
ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
= = = = =
Servant
1 Corinthians 13:1: Though
I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become
as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
= = = = =
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Terminator
2 Thessalonians 1:7: And
to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from
heaven with his mighty angels,
= = = = =
Servant
1 Timothy 3:16: And without
controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh,
justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed
on in the world, received up into glory.
= = = = =
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Guardian
Hebrews 1:14: Are they
not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs
of salvation?
= = = = =
Servant
Hebrews 2:9: But we see
Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death,
crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death
for every man.
= = = = =
Servant
Hebrews 2:16: For verily
he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
= = = = =
Servant
Hebrews 13:2: Be not forgetful
to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
= = = = =
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Servant
1 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.
= = = = =
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Messenger
Revelation 1:1: The Revelation
of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which
must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his
servant John:
= = = = =
Servant
Revelation 5:2: And I saw
a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book,
and to loose the seals thereof?
= = = = =
Servant
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;
= = = = =
Terminator
Revelation 7:1: And after
these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding
the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on
the sea, nor on any tree.
= = = = =
This
is one of the many references to angels as Terminators in the book of Revelation.
= = = = =
Terminator
Revelation 12:7: 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 deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the
earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
= = = = =
Many Bible
scholars believe this war in Heaven caused demons to come into existence as the
"fallen angels".
= = = =
=
Terminator
Revelation
20:1: And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless
pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old
serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And
cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that
he should deceive the nations no more,
= = = = =
Messenger-Terminator
Revelation 21:9: And there
came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven
last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride,
the Lambs wife.
= = = = =
Servant
Revelation 21:12: And had
a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and
names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children
of Israel:
= = = = =
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