Topic(s): Bible Study, Philosophy

Bob Prichard

The current fascination with angels and the work of angels is good, since increased interest in any biblical subject is good. It is unfortunate, however, that most of what people “know” about angels comes from motion pictures, television, works of art, and fanciful writings, rather than from the Bible. For instance, most believe that the heavenly host of angels that appeared to the shepherds to announce the birth of Christ sang “Glory to Go in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). The preceding verse says, however, that the heavenly host were “saying,” not singing the words (Luke 2:13).

The word “angel,” means “messenger, or one who is sent.” The angels are spiritual beings created by God to carry out His purposes. “Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. . . . Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created” (Psalms 148:2, 5). “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him” (Colossians 1:16).

Although angels are created as spiritual beings, they often appeared as human beings to men and women of the Bible. The Lord sent “three men” (Genesis 18:2) to be dinner guests for Abraham, two of whom entered Sodom as “angels” (Genesis 19:1). Likely referring to this incident, the writer of Hebrews advises, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2). Just before Joshua attacked Jericho, “there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand” (Joshua 5:13). This man was the “captain of the host of the LORD” (Joshua 5:14), an important angel. The women at the tomb of Christ saw angels and reported “two men stood by them in shining garments” (Luke 24:4). In these and many other occasions, angels did not appear as heavenly beings with wings, but instead appeared as human beings.

However, Isaiah describes a heavenly scene around the throne of God: “Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:2-3). Thus the seraphim, a particular kind of angel, appear to have six wings.

When God cast Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, He “placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24). The cherubim were another kind of angels in the heavenly host. Although the cherubim may have wings, the Bible does not tell us that they do. We should remember, “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them” (Psalms 34:7).