NOTE: THIS IS A STUDY THAT I TOOK FROM THE MOODY HANDBOOK OF THEOLOGY.  ALL I DID  WAS TO REORGANIZE IT TO MAKE IT MORE OF AN OUTLINE FORM.          

I  Definition of Angels

A  There are a number of different words used in Scripture to define angelic beings.

 1 Angel. The Hebrew word malak simply means “messenger”; it may refer to a human messenger   (1 Kings 19:2) or a divine messenger (Gen. 28:12). The basic meaning of the word is “one who is sent.” As a divine messenger an angel is a “heavenly being charged by God with some commission.”^22-1 The word is found 103 times in the Old Testament. The Greek word angelos occurs 175 times in the New Testament; however, of men it is used only 6 times. The word angelos is similar to the Hebrew malak; it also means “messenger who speaks and acts in the place of the one who has sent him.”^22-2

 2 Sons of God. Angels are called “sons of God” in that in their unfallen estate they are God’s sons by His creation (Job 1:6; 38:7).^22-3

 3 Holy ones. Angels are also referred to as “holy ones” (Ps. 89:5, 7) in the sense that they are “set apart” by God and for God as attendants to His holiness.

 4 Host. Angels are referred to as the “host,” which can be understood to denote the armies of heaven  (Ps. 89:6, 8; 1 Sam. 17:45). The phrases used to describe the angels in this manner are “host of heaven” (1 Sam. 1:11), and as the millions of heavenly beings that surround God they are called “hosts” in the phrase “Lord of hosts” (Isa. 31:4).

         II  Existence of Angels

A The existence of angels is uniformly presented in Scripture.

 1 Thirty-four books of the Bible make reference to angels (seventeen in the Old Testament; seventeen in the New Testament).

 B Critical to the belief in angels is the relationship of angels to Christ.

 1 Christ was helped by angels following His temptation (Matt. 4:11); He referred to the resurrected state as comparable to angels (Matt. 22:29-30);

2 He taught that angels would regather the nation Israel at the time of His return (Matt. 25:31-32, 41).

3 The existence of angels is tied to the reliability of the testimony of Christ.

         III  Nature and Attributes of Angels

A Angels are spirit beings. Although angels may reveal themselves to mankind in the form of human bodies  (Gen. 18:3) they nonetheless are called “spirits”        (Heb. 1:14), suggesting they do not have corporeal bodies. Hence, they do not function as human beings in terms of marriage (Mark 12:25) nor are they subject to death (Luke 20:36).

 B Angels are created beings.

 1 The psalmist calls upon all nature to praise God for His creation.

2 Along with the celestial bodies the Lord created the angels by His word (Ps. 148:2-5).

3 Job was reminded that the angels sang praise to God when they were created (Job 38:6-7).

4 Christ created the angels that they might ultimately give praise to Him (Col. 1:16).

 C Angels were created simultaneously and innumerable in number.

 1 The statement of creation in Colossians 1:16 points to the creation of angels as a singular act; the act of creating angels does not continue.^22-4

2 Because the angels are incapable of reproducing (Matt. 22:30), their number remains static.

3 The number of their creation is “myriads” (Heb. 12:22). Although the term myriads (Gk. muriasin) literally means ten thousand, here it denotes “countless thousands” (cf. Rev. 5:11).^22-5 The repetition of myriads in Revelation 5:11 suggests the number of angels is countless.

 D Angels are a higher order than man .

 1 Mankind, including our incarnate Lord, is “lower than the angels” (Heb. 2:7).

2 Angels are not subject to the limitations of man, especially since they are incapable of death (Luke 20:36).

3 Angels have greater wisdom than man (2 Sam. 14:20), yet it is limited (Matt. 24:36).

4 Angels have greater power than man (Matt. 28:2; Acts 5:19; 2 Pet. 2:11), yet they are limited in power (Dan. 10:13).^22-6

E Angels, however, have limitations compared to man, particularly in future Relationships.

 1  Angels are not created in the image of God, therefore, they do not share man’s glorious destiny of redemption in Christ.

2 At the consummation of the age, redeemed man will be exalted above angels (1 Cor. 6:3).

         IV Classification of Angels

A  Angels who are governmental rulers .

1 Ephesians 6:12 refers to “ranking of fallen angels”:

a. rulers are “those who are first or high in rank”; powers are “those invested with authority”;

b. world-forcesofthisdarkness “expresses the power or authority which they exercise over the world”;

c. spiritualforcesofwickedness describes the wicked spirits, “expressing their character and nature.”^22-7 Daniel 10:13 refers to the “prince of the kingdom of Persia” opposing Michael. This was not the king of Persia but rather a fallen angel under Satan’s control; he was a demon “of high rank, assigned by the chief of demons, Satan, to Persia as his special area of activity”^22-8   (cf. Rev. 12:7).

 B  Angels who are highest ranking .

 1  Michael is called the archangel in Jude 9 and the great prince in Daniel 12:1. Michael is the only angel designated archangel, and may possibly be the only one of this rank.

2  The mission of the archangel is protector of Israel. (He is called “Michael your prince” in Dan. 10:21.)

3  There were chiefprinces (Dan. 10:13), of whom Michael was one, as the highest ranking angels of God.

4 Rulingangels (Eph. 3:10) are also mentioned, but no further details are given.

  C  Angels who are prominent individuals.

 1  Michael (Dan. 10:13; 12:1; Jude 9).

a. The name Michael means “who is like God?” and identifies the only one classified as an archangel in Scripture.

b. Michael is the defender of Israel who will wage war on behalf of Israel against Satan and his hordes in the Tribulation (Rev. 12:7-9).

c. Michael also disputed with Satan about the body of Moses, but Michael refrained from judgment, leaving that to God (Jude 9).

d. Jehovah’s Witnesses and some Christians identify Michael as Christ; this view, however, would suggest Christ has less authority than Satan, which is untenable.

 2  Gabriel (Dan. 9:21; Luke 1:26).

a. His name means “man of God” or “God is strong.”

b. “Gabriel seems to be God’s special messenger of His kingdom program in each of the four times he appears in the Bible record . . . .

c. He reveals and interprets God’s purpose and program concerning Messiah and His kingdom to the prophets and people of Israel.”^22-9

d. In a highly significant passage, Gabriel explained the events of the seventy weeks for Israel (Dan. 9:21-27).

e.  In Luke 1:26-27 Gabriel told Mary that the One born to her would be great and rule on the throne of David.

f.  In Daniel 8:15-16 Gabriel explained to Daniel the succeeding kingdoms of Medo-Persia and Greece as well as the untimely death of Alexander the Great.

g. Gabriel also announced the birth of John the Baptist to Zacharias (Luke 1:11-20).

 3  Lucifer (Isa. 14:12)

a.  Means “shining one” or “star of the morning.”

b. He may have been the wisest and most beautiful of all God’s created beings who was originally placed in a position of authority over the cherubim surrounding the throne of God.^22-10

  D  Angels who are divine attendants.

 1  Cherubim

a.  are “of the highest order or class, created with indescribable powers and beauty . . . .

b. Their main purpose and activity might be summarized in this way:

·  they are proclaimers and protectors of God’s glorious presence, His sovereignty, and His holiness.”^22-11

c.  They stood guard at the gate of the Garden of Eden, preventing sinful man from entering (Gen. 3:24);

d. were the golden figures covering the mercy seat above the ark in the Holy of Holies (Exod. 25:17-22);

e. and attended the glory of God in Ezekiel’s vision (Ezek. 1).

f.  Cherubim had an extraordinary appearance with four faces—that of a man, lion, ox, and eagle. They had four wings and feet like a calf, gleaming like burnished bronze.

g.  In Ezekiel 1 they attended the glory of God preparatory for judgment.

 2  Seraphim

a.  meaning “burning ones,” are pictured surrounding the throne of God in Isaiah 6:2.

b. They are described as each having six wings.

c.  In their threefold proclamation, “holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3), it means “to recognize God as extremely, perfectly holy. Therefore, they praise and proclaim the perfect holiness of God.

d. The seraphim also express the holiness of God in that they proclaim that man must be cleansed of sin’s moral defilement before he can stand before God and serve Him.”^22-12

         V   Ministry of Angels

A  Ministry to God. The cherubim have a ministry to God in defending the holiness of God; Seraphim have a ministry to God in surrounding the throne of God as they attend to His holiness.

 B  Ministry to Christ. Angels have a significant ministry to Christ from prior to His birth until His Second Advent. The fact that angels have this important ministry to Christ also emphasizes His deity; just as the angelic beings surround the throne of the Father so the angels attend to God the Son.

 1  Angels predicted His birth (Luke 1:26-38). Gabriel came to Mary explaining that her child would be called “Son of the Most High,” who would also rule on the throne of David, His father, having an eternal kingdom.

 2   Angels protected Him in infancy (Matt. 2:13). An angel warned Joseph of Herod’s intention and told Joseph to flee to Egypt until the death of Herod. An angel also instructed Joseph when it was safe to return to the land of Israel (Matt. 2:20).

 3   Angels ministered to Him after the temptation (Matt. 4:11). The ministry probably included encouragement following the exhaustion of forty days of temptation, as well as supplying him with food as an angel did to Elijah (1 Kings 19:5-7).

 4   Angels strengthened Him at Gethsemane (Luke 22:43). Just as Christ had a spiritual battle with Satan at His temptation, so Christ had a spiritual battle at Gethsemane concerning the cross. Angels strengthened Him as He wrestled in prayer in anticipation of His crucifixion.

 5   Angels announced His resurrection (Matt. 28:5-7; Mark 16:6-7; Luke 24:4-7; John 20:12-13). The angels invited the women to enter the empty tomb to see the empty wrappings that they might be certain of the resurrection and proclaim it to the world. The angels reminded the women of Jesus’ earlier promise that He would rise on the third day.

 6   Angels attended His ascension (Acts 1:10). As angels surround the throne of the Father, so angels attended the triumphal ascension of the Son into glory and reminded the onlookers of Jesus’ future triumphant return.

 7    Angels will attend His Second Coming (Matt. 25:31). Angels will prepare the world for the return of the Son by regathering Israel to the land preparatory for their Messiah’s return and rule (Matt. 24:31). As God the Son returns to earth He will be attended by a host of angels, adding to the splendor and glory of His triumphal return (Matt. 25:31).

 C   Ministry to believers . Angels are termed “ministering spirits” in Hebrews 1:14. The Greek term for “ministering” (leitourgika) does not convey the idea of slavery, but of official functioning. They have been duly commissioned and sent forth with the responsibility of aiding believers.”^22-13 The following responsibilities are carried out in angels’ ministry to believers.

 1   Physical protection.

a.  David experienced physical protection by the angel when he was forced to flee to the Philistines (Ps. 34:7).

b. Angels may frustrate the plans of the enemies of God’s people (Ps. 35:4-5).

c   Angels protect from physical harm those that seek refuge in the Lord (Ps. 91:11-13).

d. They released the apostles from prison (Acts 5:19) and Peter from prison (Acts 12:7-11).

e. They will protect the 144,000 in the Tribulation (Rev. 7:1-14).

 2  Physical provision. An angel brought physical nourishment for Elijah when he was weakened from a lengthy journey (1 Kings 19:5-7).

 3  Encouragement. During the storm at sea an angel encouraged Paul, reminding him he would arrive safely at Rome to bear witness for Christ  (Acts 27:23-25).

 4  Direction. An angel directed Philip to witness to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26); an angel arranged the meeting of Cornelius and Peter that brought the Gentiles into acceptance in the believing community (Acts 10:3, 22).

 5. Assist in answers to prayer. There seems to be a relationship between the prayer for Peter’s release from prison and the angel’s releasing him (Acts 12:1-11). Similarly, Daniel’s prayer was explained by the angel (Dan. 9:20-27; cf. 10:10–12:13).

 6  Carry believers home. Luke 16:22 describes the death of Lazarus and the angels carrying him to Abraham’s bosom. This may be the way God causes all His dying saints to be “absent from the body . . . at home with the Lord.”

 D  Relationship to unbelievers.

 1  Angels have been and will be involved in meting out judgment on unbelievers.

2  Angels announced the coming destruction of Sodom because of those people’s sin (Gen. 19:12-13); prior to the climactic bowl judgments angels will announce the destruction of the world powers along with those that worshiped the beast (Rev. 14:4, 7, 8-9, 15, 17-18).

3  Angels are seen judging the people of Jerusalem for their idolatry (Ezek. 9:1-11);

4  an angel struck Herod Agrippa I for his blasphemy so that he died (Acts 12:23).

5  Angels will also be instrumental in judgment at the end of the age when they cast unbelievers into the furnace of fire (Matt. 13:39-42);

6  angels will sound the trumpet judgments during the Tribulation (Rev. 8:2-12; 9:1, 13; 11:15);

7  angels pour out the bowl judgments upon the earth (Rev. 16:2-17).

 Taken from Moody Handbook of Theology