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I. What is an angel? Where did angels come from?
A. The word "angel" is derived from the Greek word angelos, meaning
"messenger." (See 1 Thessalonians 4:16.)
B. Angels are supernatural beings distinctly separate from the race of man.
1 Corinthians 6:3; 15:39-41
Hebrews 1:14
C. They were created by God (Psalms 148:2-5; Colossians 1:16) sometime
prior to the existence of man (Job 38:7).
D. They neither marry nor reproduce (Luke 20:34-36), but are "an innumerable
company."
Deuteronomy 33:2
Job 25:3
Psalms 68:17
Matthew 26:53
Luke 2:13
Hebrews 12:22
Jude 14 ("saints" = "holy ones")
Revelation 5:11
II. Why were angels created?
A. For ministry to God (worship).
Nehemiah 9:6
Psalms 148:2
Isaiah 6:2-4
Matthew 18:10
Luke 2:13
Hebrews 1:6
Revelation 5:11, 12; 7:11
B. For ministry to man (the "heirs of salvation").
Genesis 28:12
Psalms 104:4
Matthew 4:11 (Mark 1:13)
Hebrews 1:7, 14
III. Does each Christian really have a guardian angel?
A. Scripture speaks of those angels appointed by God to watch over the elect.
Psalms 91:11, 12
Matthew 18:10
B. The early church understood that each believer had a special angel.
Acts 12:15
IV. Specific duties have been assigned to angels.
A. Angels minister to the physical needs of God's people.
1. They provide protection and deliverance from danger.
Genesis 19:1, 11, 15
Psalms 91:11-21
Daniel 6:22
Matthew 26:53
Acts 5:18, 19
2. Angels can impart physical strength to man in his time of need.
Daniel 10:8-11, 16-19
Matthew 4:11 (Mark 1:13)
Luke 22:43
3. Sometimes they are even sent with man's supply of food for nourishment.
1 Kings 19:5-8
B. Gabriel imparted skill and understanding to Daniel concerning the vision
he had received from God.
Daniel 9:21-23; 10:14
C. Angels serve as a supernatural means of communication between God and man.
1. For the purpose of direction.
Luke 1:11, 19, 26, etc. (Matthew 1:20; 2:13, 19, 20; etc.)
Acts 8:26; 10:3-6, 22
2. For encouragement.
Genesis 21:17-19
Daniel 10:12
Acts 27:23, 24
3. For revelation.
Revelation 22:6, 16
a. The Law was delivered by angels.
Acts 7:53
Galatians 3:19
Hebrews 2:2
b. Visions have been interpreted by special messengers from God.
Daniel 7:16; 8:15, 16, 19; 9:21-23; 10:14
Zechariah 1:9, 13, 14, 19; 4:1-6, 11-14; 5:1-3
Revelation 17:7, etc.
D. God uses angels to execute His judgment on the unrighteous.
Genesis 19:1-25
2 Samuel 24:16, 17
2 Kings 19:35 (Isaiah 37:36)
1 Chronicles 21:15
2 Chronicles 32:21
Ezekiel 9:2, 5, 7
Matthew 13:41, 42, 49, 50; 24:30
Acts 12:23
Revelation 7:1, 2; 8:2-13; 9:15; 15:1; etc.
E. Angels have a role to fulfill even after the death of a believer.
(See Luke 16:22.)
V. What are angels like? Do they really have wings?
A. Angels are spirits (Hebrews 1:14), and a "spirit hath not flesh and
bones" (Luke 24:39). But angels can take on the "appearance of man."
(See Daniel 8:15; 10:16, 18.)
1. "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have
entertained angels unawares."
Hebrews 13:2
2. Angels have been mistaken for men and received by men of God
as guests in their own homes.
Genesis 18:2-6; 19:1-3
B. Scripture describes cherubim and seraphim as having wings.
Exodus 25:20, etc.
1 Chronicles 28:18
Isaiah 6:2, 6
Ezekiel 1:4-25; 10:1-22; 11:22
Revelation 4:6-8
C. When seen in their glory, angels may have a special brightness upon them.
Daniel 10:6
Matthew 28:2-5
Luke 24:4
Acts 1:10; 10:30
D. Angels have superhuman strength.
Genesis 19:1, 11
Psalms 103:20
Matthew 28:2-7, 20
Acts 5:19; 12:7, 23
2 Thessalonians 1:7
2 Peter 2:11
Revelation 5:2
E. Those angels that remained faithful to God (after the downfall
of Satan) are obedient to His commands.
Psalms 103:20
Luke 7:8
F. Angels have at times been fearful to look upon.
Judges 6:22, 23; 13:6
Daniel 8:16-18, 27
Luke 1:11, 12
Acts 10:3, 4
VI. From where did the "fallen angels" of which the Bible speaks come,
if nothing God created was evil?
A. All the angels were created good and holy.
Genesis 1:31, etc.
B. In fact, Lucifer (Satan) and his followers were once in heaven.
Isaiah 14:12
Ezekiel 28:13, 14
Luke 10:18
Revelation 12:8
C. However, they "kept not their first estate (or, principality), but left their
own habitation." They rebelled against God, and a war in heaven resulted.
Isaiah 14:12-15
Ezekiel 28:13-17
2 Peter 2:4
Jude 6, 7
Revelation 12:7-9
D. This spiritual warfare is still taking place between the powers of darkness
and light.
Daniel 10:13, 21
Ephesians 6:11-17
E. In the end, Satan and his angels will be cast into the lake of fire forever.
Matthew 25:41
Revelation 20:10
VII. What rank or place in God's creation do angels hold?
A. Angels are not greater than man.
1. They are ministering servants of the elect of God.
Psalms 104:4
Hebrews 1:7, 14
2. They will be judged by men.
1 Corinthians 6:3
3. Man was created a higher order than the angels.
Psalms 8:4-5 (Actually, the word here translated "angels" is the Hebrew
"Elohim" – meaning, "Godhead," as in Genesis 1:1.)
Hebrews 2:5-9
B. There are different ranks of angels, too. The Bible mentions two archangels
(or, "chief messengers," as in 1 Thessalonians 4:16) by name.
1. Michael.
Daniel 12:1, 2
Jude 9
Revelation 12:7
2. Gabriel.
Daniel 8:15-17; 9:21
Luke 1:11-13, 19, 26
C. Angels are subject to God.
1 Peter 3:22
1. They are wise (2 Samuel 14:17, 20), but they are not omniscient
(Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32; 1 Peter 1:12).
2. They are immortal (Luke 20:36), but they are created beings (Psalms
148:2-5; Colossians 1:16).
3. They are strong (Genesis 19:1, 11; Psalms 103:20; Matthew 28:2-7;
Acts 5:19; 12:7, 23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 2 Peter 2:11; Revelation 5:2),
but they are not omnipotent (Daniel 10:13).
4. They are not to be worshipped (Colossians 2:18; Hebrews 1:4, 5, 13;
Revelation 19:10; 22:8, 9) and do not accept sacrifices (Judges 13:15, 16).
5. God said that no man could see Him and still live (Exodus 33:20); but
seeing an angel will not make a person die (Judges 6:22, 23; 13:6, 19-23).
VIII. It is good to recognize the significance of angelic ministry, but any overemphasis
upon their service to man is not desirable.
Colossians 2:18
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