Angel of Arca di San Domenico in Basilica of San Domenico in Bologna, Italy
The Doctrine of Angels (Angeology)
Recent books and Hollywood movies have given rise to a new round of speculation as to the nature and employment of angels. Do they exist? Can they appear to us? To what degree do they reflect the humanity and passions of mankind? Of course, we cannot draw our conclusions from those who don't even purport to know God, much less from those who have never given the Bible a fair hearing. Below is a summary of the biblical teaching on angels.
Their Nature
- Created beings The Bible makes it clear that God created the angels, along with all other aspects of creation.
- Immaterial Angels do not possess a body like humans do, though at times God may send them in the form of a body for temporary purposes (see Heb. 13:2). Additionally, God can give humans the ability to see angels (2 Kings 6:17).
- Great intelligence That God has endowed these beings with great intelligence is clear from all the human interactions with them in the Bible. They never misspeak, read a situation falsely, or make mistakes. Of course, their intelligence is derived, i.e, they get it from God.
- Great power
- They have limitations
- Cannot create
- Cannot search our hearts
- Do not know everything (1 Pet. 1:12)
- Do not marry (Matt. 22:30 cf. Luke 20:34-36)
- Innumerable (Deut. 33:2; Psalm 68:17; Heb. 12:22; Rev. 5:11)
- Can only be at one place at one time (Dan. 10:12-14)
"You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you" (Neh. 9:6).
"Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts!, Let them praise the name of the LORD!
For he commanded and they were created" (Psalm 148:2, 5).
"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him" (Col. 1:16).
"Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!" (Psalm 103:20).
". . .whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord" (2 Pet. 2:11).
Thus their supernatural strength is dependant on God; they do not possess it on their own. They must fulfill the commands of God and do not have freedom of choice as to what they will or won't do.
Their State
Created holy and apparently with a period of probation after which some rebelled, not keeping their original state, angels are now confirmed (they cannot hope to change) their status before God (as good or evil). Good angels can no longer become evil, and vice versa. They appear to have rank and order among them (see Michael the "archangel," Jude 9, and "chief princes," Dan. 10:13).
Their Employment
- They worship God
- They perform the will of God In the Old Testament they were present at the giving of the law at Mount Sinai and appeared to various individuals. They predicted and were present at the birth of Christ (Matt. 1:20-24; Luke 1:11-20). They ministered to Christ at His temptation (Matt. 4:11), during His sufferings (Luke 22:43), and proclaimed His resurrection and ascension into heaven (Matt. 28:2; John 20:12; Acts 1:10, 11).
- They are sent to help believers (Heb. 1:14), children (Matt. 18:10), escort believers to heaven (Luke 16:22), and protect them (Psalm 91:11, 12; 34:7).
Guardian Angels?
Though it has long been assumed by many Christians that every child of God has a "guardian angel" (i.e., an angel specifically designated to each believer), the Bible does not specify this with any degree of certainty. Matt. 18:10 speaks of little ones and "their angels" and Acts 12:15 refers to Peter's angel. But these and similar verses are not conclusive. What we can know is God more than takes care of His children, sometimes by employing angels to help them.