Bible facts about angels

Most men and women today when  asked  about Angels  would give a vague description of spirit-like, winged creatures, decked with halos, inhabiting  heaven. Many would also believe that the angelic state is a reward for those human beings who devote their mortal life to "doing good".

But  do  we  have  any  definite  information available on angels?  Or do we have to rely on these misty ideas passed down from one generation to another?

WHAT ARE ANGELS?

As our title suggests, we believe that the Bible contains authentic information about angels and so, as angels are undeniably connected with God in heaven and the Bible is His wholly inspired word, it seems logical to turn to its pages to find out  more about them.  In so doing, we discover the following facts:

"But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Hebrews 1:13-14

The Psalmist says,

 "Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that  excel in strength,  that do his (God's) commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.  Bless ye the LORD,  all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure".  Psalm 103.:20-21

The Greek word translated 'angels' in the English New Testament is angelos, which means simply a 'messenger' and is in fact used several times in the Bible to denote a person sent on an errand.  For example:

"And when the messengers (angelos) of John were departed, he (Jesus) began to speak unto the people concerning John..." Luke 7:24

As "ministers" or messengers of God we find throughout the Bible that their function is to superintend the outworking of God's purpose on earth.

Whilst invisibly supervising various developments in the earth, the angels have a specific duty to guard and guide those men and women who "fear" God (Psalm 34:7), the supreme example of which was  the Lord  Jesus Christ, of whom is was said that God would,

 “give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all  thy  ways". Psalm 91:11

DO ANGELS HAVE WINGS?

To many this would seem a strange question to ask as it is almost uniformly accepted that these celestial beings have dazzling white wings to transport them through the realms of  space.  But what does the Bible say? The evidence of the scriptures shows that angels appeared,  and were described, as "men" on several occasions. Consider the following passages.

"And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted." Mark 16:5
"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...And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them." Genesis 19:1, 5

As such they have been mistaken for mere humans by those to whom they were sent.   So much so that the apostle gave the following warning to believers.

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained Angels unawares." Hebrews 13:2

What is the Purpose of the Work of Angels?

It is obvious that God, through the ministration of  His angels,  is very much concerned with affairs on this earth as is evidenced by the above quotations from Mark 16:5 and Genesis 19:1. 5.   Jesus promised that "the meek shall inherit the earth"

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth". Matthew 5:5

and those whom  he accounts  worthy  of this inheritance, will then become "equal unto the angels". 

"...they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 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". Luke 20:35-36

The Bible has much to say on  the subject of  salvation, which consists of a far more concrete hope than the vague pictures of heavenly, angelic existence commonly  taught today.  We have to turn to its pages to unearth the facts and not rely on mere tradition which, as we have seen, can be far from Biblical truth.