The Origin of Angels. Angels are a company--not a race. Human beings are a race. Adam, the first human being, was created. Then God made Eve from Adam and they were able to reproduce themselves. However, in the case of angels, each one is created by God (Colossians 1:16). Human beings do not become angels after death--Jesus said that we will be like the angels, not actually be angels:

For in the resurrected state neither do [men] marry nor are [women] given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven.
Matthew 22:30, AMP

There Are Good Angels.  There are different kinds of angels.  Michael, the protector of Israel, is an archangel.  Michael means "Who is like God?"  Gabriel may also be an archangel. Gabriel means "God's hero," and appears to be a special messenger.  Archangels are in charge of other angels.  The cherubim are an order of angels who guard the throne of God. The seraphim chiefly lead heaven in worship.  The living creatures worship God and direct the judgments of God (Revelation 6:1-17; 15:7).  The watchers may be a special class of angels who are sent by God to observe and to bring messages to humans.  Angels are also called "sons of God," in the sense that they are created by God. "Sons of God" includes both holy and evil angels.

God uses holy angels to protect Christians:

If you make the Most High your dwelling- even the LORD, who is my refuge-then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 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. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
Psalm 91:9-13, NIV

Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Psalm 103:20, NIV

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Hebrews 1:14, NIV

God commands the good angels through their own chain of command. However, they are eager to help believers according to the will of God. Human beings simply do not have enough facts, intelligence and wisdom to command superior spirit beings in their warfare against other evil spirit beings. However, there are circumstances in which the will of God is clear for us, such as protection and having our needs met. Angels are eager to obey the Father's will in ministering to human beings.

Jesus said that angels rejoice when a human being is saved:

"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Luke 15:8-10, NIV  

Since angels are spirit beings and one cannot see them, believers tend to forget them. However, angels filled important roles throughout the Bible and will continue to fill important roles in the end times. The following chart of the Old Testament word malak and its corresponding New Testament word aggelos gives the words the King James translators used to translate them and their frequency:  The Old Testament word malak is translated in the KJV:

Ambassador     4 times.
Angel            111 times.  
Messenger      98 times. 
Total             213
Young, 1969, S.v., "Malak "

The New Testament word aggelos is translated in the KJV:  

Angel            181 times.
Messenger        7 times.  
Total             188
Young, 1969, S.v., "Aggelos"

Grand Total: 401

Angels are superior to human beings in intelligence and strength (Strong 1907, 445). While the Bible does not tell the number of angels in existence, it is very high (Strong 1907, 447). 

The Nature of Angels. Because angels are spirit beings, they cannot die. They do not have bodies like human beings. However, as God wills, they are able to manifest themselves in human form. Also, they are superior to humans in intellect and strength.  They exist in a spiritual dimension, yet they can manipulate material objects, including weather.

Good angels were employed by God in both the Old and New Testaments.  They are at work now and they will play an important role in last-time events (Read the book of Revelation). They usually work behind the scenes, since human nature would be to worship them if they worked as visible beings.  Good angels will not allow people to worship them. 

God sends angels to protect and deliver his people, to guide, to encourage, to interpret God's will, to physically strengthen, possibly to heal the sick and they will carry us home to glory.  The writer believes that God commands the good angels through their own chain of command.  However, they are eager to help believers as God commands. Human beings simply do not have enough facts, intelligence, and wisdom to command superior spirit beings in their warfare against other evil spirit beings. Does the Bible support the idea of each of us having a specific guardian angel? Jesus said,

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.
Matthew 18:10, KJV

Jesus also said that the Father would send him more than twelve legions of angels if he asked him.  A Roman legion consisted of 3,000-6,000 soldiers (Matthew 26:53).  The Bible speaks of "myriads of angels." (A myriad is 10,000.)  If there are not enough angels to provide one per person, God could create more than enough! At times, a person might need more than one angel. Please keep in mind that God himself indwells us. His Spirit can minister to us directly or through angels.

There Are Fallen Angels. One-third of the angels fell (Revelation 12:14). That is, all the angels were created holy, and one-third of them chose to sin.  Some of the fallen angels are in a special prison called Tartarus (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6).  Others are free to wreak havoc in God's creation.  Satan is a fallen angel, probably an archangel.  He commands other angels in war against human beings and good angels. Those who channel so-called masters are really being manipulated by demons.  One should avoid the occult like the bubonic plague. 

Satan will give people the desire of the eyes, the desire of the flesh and cater to the pride of life-E.g.: wealth, sex, position:

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 John 2:16, KJV

Then when Satan is finished using people, he will probably destroy them. Jesus said that Satan is a murderer and a liar:

Ye [apostate religious leaders] are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
John 8:44, KJV

Satan or other fallen angels can appear as an "angels of light," that is, as good angels.  It is important to know the Bible and trust the Holy Spirit in order to recognize the good from the bad angels. If Satan has captured you, there is hope. You can be delivered through the power of Christ.

Especially in the book of Daniel, we learn that Satan assigned a ruling evil angel to wicked human governments to influence them to do evil.

Billy Graham's book, Angels: God's Secret Agents, gives more details on the angels, and he includes present-day illustrations.  Run the reference on angels in the Bible for an accurate understanding of angels.  Do not depend on movies or TV series for your understanding of this important and fascinating area of study.                               

 Copyright © John E, Russell 2013, 2018

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