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Angels have captivated the human imagination since ancient times. One of the most fascinating aspects of angels is their occasional departure from the unseen spiritual realm to assume human form and engage with us. Angels intrigue humans for various reasons. They are distinct from us; as unique creations of God, they can currently only be truly understood through the teachings of Scripture.
The terms for “angel” in Hebrew and Greek mean “messenger,” highlighting the role or official duty of these beings. Angels were designed to be messengers of God, dispatched to carry out His will. In some aspects, angels resemble humans. They are superior beings crafted by God with intellect, morality, and spirituality. They worship God and execute His commands on earth “Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, That do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.”, (Psalm 103:20). Similar to humans, angels have limited knowledge “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”, (Matthew 24:36), although the Bible suggests that angels possess greater knowledge and a higher status than humans (Hebrews 2:7-9;Mark 13:32). One of the roles of angels is to serve God’s people “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”, (Hebrews 1:14). God assigns angels to safeguard His people (Psalm 91:11-12), rescue them from harm “An
And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. », (2 Kings 19:35), transmit divine messages «For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; », (Hebrews 2:2), give guidance «Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. », (Exodus 23:20), and encourage believers (1 Kings 19:5-7).
The Bible reveals a host of ways angels are different from humans. Angels are spirit beings «Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?», (Hebrews 1:14), meaning they do not have a physical body. Humans are set apart from all other created beings because they have both a material body and an immaterial soul or spirit. Since angels are immaterial and incorporeal, they do not experience physical suffering and harm like human beings do, nor do they experience physical death «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 20:36).
God is also a Spirit being, but His nature is infinite, while angels are finite spirit beings. The spiritual nature of angels does not prevent them from making their presence known to humans; usually, when they appear, they bring messages of comfort, guidance, or warning.
Appearances of angels to people are depicted as human men (Daniel 8:16; Daniel 9:21). They have been seen by individuals in visions and dreams (Matthew 1:20; Isaiah 6:1-8) and in a conscious, awakened state (Genesis 19:1-8; Mark 16:5; Luke 2:13).
The Bible often attributes superhuman characteristics to angels, distinct from those of ordinary people. In different instances, specific types of angels are described as having “eyes like flaming torches,” legs “like fiery pillars,” and “six wings” (Daniel 10:5-7; Isaiah 6:2; Revelation 10:1-3; 15:6; 18:1). Angels are “far greater in power and strength” than humans (2 Peter 2:11; NLT; see also 2 Thessalonians 1:7). Angels engage in spiritual warfare «For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. », (Ephesians 6:12).
The author of Hebrews emphasizes angels’ swift and subtle nature as they carry out God’s will: “He sends his angels like the winds, his servants like flames of fire” «And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, And his ministers a flame of fire. », (Hebrews 1:7, NLT). In Peter’s dramatic escape from prison, a brightly lit angel appeared out of nowhere, passed unnoticed by several guards, released chains, and led Peter out.
Through heavy iron gates, the angel set the apostle free before he realized what had happened. Suddenly, the angel disappeared (Acts 12:6-10).
Unlike humans, who are born with a sinful nature “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”, (Romans 5:12), all angels were originally created as holy beings (Jude 1:6; see also Ezekiel 28:15). Some were known as “the elect angels” who remained faithful to God (1 Timothy 5:21), while others chose to rebel against God and sinned “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;”, (2 Peter 2:4). Christian theology suggests that angels underwent a probationary test where they had the chance to maintain their original holiness. The elect—those who passed the test without rebelling—were confirmed in holiness forever. Those who failed became “unclean spirits” or “demons” (Mark 1:23; Luke 8:2; Luke 11:24) and are now entrenched in their evil, rebellious state.
Angels differ from humans as they are not the recipients of God’s salvation (1 Peter 1:10-12). While they cannot partake in God’s saving grace themselves, angels are deeply interested in its impact on humans (Luke 15:10; 1 Corinthians 4:9; Ephesians 3:10).
Ephesians 3:10). Only humans are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27) to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ «For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. », (Romans 8:29). The rebellious angels were not given an opportunity for their sins to be forgiven. Instead, they are awaiting “the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” «Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: », (Matthew 25:41). Humans, however, can be forgiven of their sins and redeemed by God’s grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9;Romans 10:9-10). Humans were made “a little lower than the angels” «Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honour, And didst set him over the works of thy hands: », (Hebrews 2:7,9) «But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. », (Hebrews 2:7,9). Yet, once saved, resurrected, and glorified, believers will judge the angels «Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? », (1 Corinthians 6:3).
Angels and humans are distinctly different, tThough they share some similarities, angels are not our dearly departed loved ones. They are not people who have died, nor are they glorified humans (Hebrews 12:22-23). Jesus taught that angels do not marry or procreate as humans do: “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven” (Matthew 22:30). Angels (and not humans) were present when the earth was created, and they shouted joyfully to God (Job 38:4-7). Although angels are special and unique creations of their own, only humans are recipients of God’s redeeming love, as demonstrated through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
