Where do we go to find out the truth about angels? Well, God tells us that He created them through Christ.
(Col.
1:15, 16.
) So it makes the most sense to ask God for the truth.
The word 'angel' is translated from the Hebrew word malak and the Greek word aggelos - both meaning 'messenger of God.
' We first encounter an angel in the Bible just after God removes Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.
The angel was placed in the Garden as a demonstration of God's love for us, in that its task was to preserve Paradise for when we return to eternity, and, it kept Adam and Eve from reappearing in that place, and becoming eternally flawed.
The first time that we see a human / angel encounter, is when Hagar, Abraham's house servant and the pregnant mother of his first child, is fleeing across the desert to escape the scorn of Abraham's wife Sarah.
The angel tells Hagar to return to Abraham's household, and he informed her that she was going to bear a son, named Ishmael (who would be the father of the Arab nations.
) So, this angel was guiding her back into the path that God had set for her, and brought her comfort and a compelling and encouraging vision of her future.
Another indication of God's love.
When God was going to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for their unrepentant depravity, He sent two angels to accomplish His task.
But before they did, they delivered Abraham's nephew and his family from the impending destruction, because only they, of all the people in those cities, remained faithful to God and His ways.
Thus we witness more love if God's love.
How so? It's because He removed the darkness from the land to protect those who chose to remain children of God...
Where do the angels fit within the heavenly hierarchy? What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels...
Ps..
8:4, 5.
NKJV It goes like this: God is the Creator and Ruler of the entire universe.
Next in line is His Son and the Holy Spirit which both reflect His very nature.
Then there are the archangels, the angels, and then us.
However, Jesus tells us that that hierarchy will change when we enter into our immortal state - whereupon we will become equal to the angels.
(And, we might even gain a higher status, as the Bible tells us that we will 'judge' angels.
) What kind of power do the angels have? We know that they can freely travel between heaven and earth as the Bible shows when God gives Jacob a vision of the angels doing just that.
And God imbues them with powers that they need to accomplish His tasks.
(For example, ridding the world of 'dark pockets,' as we saw above.
) Their power can manifest as a glorified presence: I saw still another mighty angel...
clothed with a cloud.
And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.
Rev.
10:1 NKJV Or they can walk among us, taking the shape of humans.
Why are the angels here? One reason is to show you how to walk in the way that God has prepared for you, so that you can live at your highest and best, and be guaranteed an eternal future of complete love.
In fact, you have many angels guiding and protecting you.
(But this protection is contingent upon you doing your best to stay right with God.
) Angels are also sent to strengthen you - both physically and spiritually.
And, they can communicate with you.
When they do, they speak for God Himself - many times telling you of things to come.
Finally, God enlists the angels to deliver the wonder of His love to the entire planet: And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people...
Rev.
14:6 NASB But, we have to keep angels in their proper perspective.
One way the angels serve God is by serving us.
However, we must never worship them.
To worship an angel is a violation of the first and greatest commandment of God - which states that we must worship Him alone.
Angels are our servants and our spiritual brothers.
So, does God love you or what? He surrounds you with angels to let you know what He wants from you and for you; and then He sends those same angels to guide you along the way to complete His will.
God sends angels to protect you, comfort you, and strengthen you.
And He does all this because He loves you so much.
You are so blessed.
Supporting scripture: Gen.
3:25 & 16:5 -12; Luke 20:35, 36; 1 Cor.
6:3; Gen.
28:12; Heb.
13:2; Ex.
23:20; Ps.
91:11 & 34:7; Matt.
4:11; Luke 2:10; Rev.
22:8, 9.
(Col.
1:15, 16.
) So it makes the most sense to ask God for the truth.
The word 'angel' is translated from the Hebrew word malak and the Greek word aggelos - both meaning 'messenger of God.
' We first encounter an angel in the Bible just after God removes Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.
The angel was placed in the Garden as a demonstration of God's love for us, in that its task was to preserve Paradise for when we return to eternity, and, it kept Adam and Eve from reappearing in that place, and becoming eternally flawed.
The first time that we see a human / angel encounter, is when Hagar, Abraham's house servant and the pregnant mother of his first child, is fleeing across the desert to escape the scorn of Abraham's wife Sarah.
The angel tells Hagar to return to Abraham's household, and he informed her that she was going to bear a son, named Ishmael (who would be the father of the Arab nations.
) So, this angel was guiding her back into the path that God had set for her, and brought her comfort and a compelling and encouraging vision of her future.
Another indication of God's love.
When God was going to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for their unrepentant depravity, He sent two angels to accomplish His task.
But before they did, they delivered Abraham's nephew and his family from the impending destruction, because only they, of all the people in those cities, remained faithful to God and His ways.
Thus we witness more love if God's love.
How so? It's because He removed the darkness from the land to protect those who chose to remain children of God...
Where do the angels fit within the heavenly hierarchy? What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels...
Ps..
8:4, 5.
NKJV It goes like this: God is the Creator and Ruler of the entire universe.
Next in line is His Son and the Holy Spirit which both reflect His very nature.
Then there are the archangels, the angels, and then us.
However, Jesus tells us that that hierarchy will change when we enter into our immortal state - whereupon we will become equal to the angels.
(And, we might even gain a higher status, as the Bible tells us that we will 'judge' angels.
) What kind of power do the angels have? We know that they can freely travel between heaven and earth as the Bible shows when God gives Jacob a vision of the angels doing just that.
And God imbues them with powers that they need to accomplish His tasks.
(For example, ridding the world of 'dark pockets,' as we saw above.
) Their power can manifest as a glorified presence: I saw still another mighty angel...
clothed with a cloud.
And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.
Rev.
10:1 NKJV Or they can walk among us, taking the shape of humans.
Why are the angels here? One reason is to show you how to walk in the way that God has prepared for you, so that you can live at your highest and best, and be guaranteed an eternal future of complete love.
In fact, you have many angels guiding and protecting you.
(But this protection is contingent upon you doing your best to stay right with God.
) Angels are also sent to strengthen you - both physically and spiritually.
And, they can communicate with you.
When they do, they speak for God Himself - many times telling you of things to come.
Finally, God enlists the angels to deliver the wonder of His love to the entire planet: And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people...
Rev.
14:6 NASB But, we have to keep angels in their proper perspective.
One way the angels serve God is by serving us.
However, we must never worship them.
To worship an angel is a violation of the first and greatest commandment of God - which states that we must worship Him alone.
Angels are our servants and our spiritual brothers.
So, does God love you or what? He surrounds you with angels to let you know what He wants from you and for you; and then He sends those same angels to guide you along the way to complete His will.
God sends angels to protect you, comfort you, and strengthen you.
And He does all this because He loves you so much.
You are so blessed.
Supporting scripture: Gen.
3:25 & 16:5 -12; Luke 20:35, 36; 1 Cor.
6:3; Gen.
28:12; Heb.
13:2; Ex.
23:20; Ps.
91:11 & 34:7; Matt.
4:11; Luke 2:10; Rev.
22:8, 9.