types of angels and their duties

Good angels, Satan, and demons demonstrate that they have wills (Luke 8:28-31; 2 Tim. Worship God!, We also should be alert to how God may use his messengers, the holy angels, to send us messages. When Christ returns, an archangel will proclaim his coming (1 Thessalonians 4:16, see also Revelation 18:12, 21, 19:1718, and other passages). Certain things are basic to a discussion of this issue. 1:14). So along came three friends who sought to counsel him, but with friends like these, who needs enemies? For more on this whole issue as it applies to todays fascination with angels, see the study, Angels, Gods Ministering Spirits on our web page in the theology section. The tragedy is that our culture continues to pursue this independently of Gods revelation, the Bible. Angels, though spirit beings and very powerful, are not omnipotent, omniscient, nor omnipresent. The Dominations/Dominions receive Seraphim and Cherubims orders then pass those orders onto the lower angel classes for execution.They are like the upper management of the angel order/angel choir. Jesus Christ would be born a human baby and grow with his adult human hands to bless the world and deliver the New Testament through his holy disciples. 8 Will you really annul My judgment? The book of Revelation speaks of several beasts. Just as nothing displays the splendor of a diamond in the light more than a backdrop of black velvet, so nothing could display the glory of Gods mercy, goodness, grace, and love as much as the blackness of mans sin. 8:15-26 and 9:21-27. 1:14; 2:7). Several mentions of angels in the BIble even depict them as objects or mere rays of light. These are the elect angels (1 Tim. Angel Michael Second, it calls our attention to angels as a multitude of heavenly beings who surround and serve God as seen in the phrase Lord of hosts (Isa. 2:11; Eph. Ruling angels (Eph. CARM |P.O. NEW Upcoming horror movies here! 12:7). 5. Behind the occult and idolatry is the work of Satan, the rebel of rebels. Significantly, a number of passages speak of the angels as observers. The Powers or Authorities are closely related to the Holy Ghost. Hebrews 12:22, for instance, describes thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly.. 6:3; Ps. However, due to the ministry and abilities given to them in the service of God, they have access to the entire universe. = Angels also model worship. Rulers or principalities. Three other classification of angels remain: 1. Newsweek is right; modern society, so seemingly secular and hopelessly materialistic, desperately searches for some spiritual and supernatural meaning. Through the four faces, they may also anticipate what God would do to bring salvation to man through His Son: (a) The face of the man suggests wisdom, compassion, intelligence and pictures Christs humanity as the Son of man, the special focus found in the gospel of Luke; (b) the face of a lion speaks of kingly appearance and pictures Christ as King which is Matthews emphasis; (c) the face of a bull or ox portrays a servant, the emphasis seen in Mark; and (d) the face of an eagle speaks of heavenly action and portrays the deity Christ, which is Johns emphasis. Though angels did appear to people at various times in Scripture, the people apparently never sought those appearances. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, so I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia and came to make you understand what is to befall your people in the latter days. Daniel 10:1214. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions (NIV). 31 James Oliver Bushwell Jr., A Systematic Theology of the Christian Religion, Vol. Though they are never spoken of as created in the image of God, they may also be called sons of God because they possess personality like God. Paul Enns provides us with an excellent overview of most of the various rankings or classifications of the organized angelic world. 3:6-7). The angels as well as the celestial heavens are declared to be created by God. They are certainly greater in might and power than humans (2 Peter 2:11, see also Matthew 28:2). Angels are referred to as the host, which calls our attention to two ideas. Therefore, they can be said to be persons. The most basic characteristic of the good angels is seen in the way they are described in Hebrews 1:14 as ministering spirits and in the accounts of their many and varied activities of ministry as described in Scripture. These are the angels who work on Earth and are our guides, protectors, and messengers from God. Then in chapter 5:8-14, angels, accompanied by the twenty-four elders (representatives of the church), direct their praise toward Gods gracious work of salvation through the Lamb in view of His worthiness to open the seven seals. These angelic beings are seen as rays of light. This article will talk about the different types of angels as depicted in sacred scripture, as well as what the Word of God really reveals about these beings. We greatly appreciate your consideration! They Joined in Praise When the Earth Was Created (Job 38:6-7), B. From celebrating worship in heaven to responding to peoples prayers on earth, angels are constantly working on diverse assignments from God. 2:3). But apparently such manifestations only occurred by way of a vision or special revelation from God. Angels are spiritual beings who worship God in heaven (Revelation 4:8, Hebrews 1:6) and whom God sends to Earth to serve those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14). Angels and their duties In the past, society had swung from the gross mystical speculations of the middle ages to the rationalism of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Consequently, the church becomes a means of unveiling both the manifold wisdom and grace of God to angels, for in Ephesians 2:4-7 Paul wrote: But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. Nevertheless, the believer recognizes that it is the Lord who does these things whether directly through using angels (notice Peters testimony that the Lord delivered him from the prison though God actually used an angel to accomplish it, Acts 12:7-10 compared with vv. Jude 1:6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day. They are normally invisible but can manifest themselves to us (Num. On the other hand, Michael the archangel seems to be a warrior angel (Rev. WebMost angels fall between 29-34% spiritual level. In a passage that refers to angels (the host or armies of heaven), we read, You are the Lord, you alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host . It was after Isaiah saw the holy seraphim in worship and humility (suggested by the covering of their feet) exalting the Lord, that he then saw and confessed his own sinfulness and became a willing servant. 42 For more details on Satan, his origin, titles, etc., see the doctrine of Satanology on our web site. 10:1-3), and ministering spirits, which is perhaps more of a description than a name (Heb. In Relation to New Epochs: Ryrie points out that angels appear to be unusually active when God institutes a new epoch in the sweep of history and then outlines this for us: A. 25:41). Another group of angels only mentioned in Isaiah 6 is the seraphim. In view of this ever present danger, Paul warned against selecting a new convert to a position of authority, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. As created beings, they are of course mere creatures. 4:6), which shows that even Gods most marvelous promises can be foolishly applied.36. In Ezekiel 1 they attended the glory of God preparatory for judgment. So John was told to worship God. The worship of angels (as with any other object of worship) distracts from the worship of God and attributes godlike powers to the object of worship. As suggested by the fellowship that can be observed in the Trinity between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Gods very being necessitated that He bring forth creatures for fellowship, but He did not create these creatures as robots who have no choice. 4 Kindred Spirit, a quarterly publication of Dallas Theological Seminary, Summer 1995, pp. and Lot (Gen. 1. They sing praises to God and dance around him. They are defined as rays of light given the job of overseeing all things on Earth. But the Bible has some important words of warning regarding such a response and the story of Job, his trials, the activity of Satan and the good angels as mentioned in Job are instructive here. 12:7), and of a king over the demon-locusts (9:11). . (Revelation 20:13). Now our culture takes angels seriously, if not accurately. 2:7-9). 19:1ff. Their delight is to be Gods humble servants, faithfully performing their assigned tasks, great or small. 37 The main point of verse 10 is that there is great joy in heaven (cf. Jehovahs Witnesses and some Christians identify Michael as Christ; this view, however, would suggest Christ has less authority than Satan, which is untenable. In the first sphere of angels, there are the Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones choirs. Some, the good angels, have remained obedient to Him and carry out His will, while others, fallen angels, disobeyed, fell from their holy position, and now stand in active opposition to the work and plan of God. These facts will help us learn a lot about the angels in the Bible: what they are, why God created them, how their hierarchy works, and much more. As the glorified and exalted God-man He became the last Adam. Used by permission. 14 Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, Moody Press, Chicago, 1996, electronic media. Ezekiel 10:15, 20 reveal them as cherubim. Though Gods Power Be Sufficient to Govern Us, The fallen ones await an ultimate and final judgment, 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 Pet. if ( notice ) 1:2-4, 13). Created by God, these types of angels These wings consist of 2 to cover their faces, 2 to cover their feet, and 2 to make them fly. The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. 5:11; 8:1f), as worshippers in praise of Him (Isa. Much of what we see or hear about angels in culture is based on speculation, non-biblical sources, or just plain fantasy. Though sometimes the instrument of aid or deliverance was an angel, New Testament believers recognized it was the Lord who delivered them (see Acts 12:11). Apparently some fallen angels are in bondage while others are unbound and active among mankind as demons.13. They consist of the Dominions, Virtues, and Powers. It might be hard to believe that only two names of angels are actually mentioned in the Bible. Certainly they are more cheerful and brighter than our long-standing infatuation with movies about demons and evil spirits, along with endless Dracula revivals5, The bookstores abound with books on angels and many claim encounters with angels. A question that naturally arises is why are angels so deeply interested and observant of what is happening on this earth? The four wings that cover their face and feet probably demonstrate their great honor and reverence for Gods holiness and glory (Ex 3:5). Angels are organized; demons are organized; yet Christians, individually and in groups, often feel that it is unnecessary that they be organized. So certainly, due to the inspired and inerrant character of Scripture, we can trust completely in the Bibles teaching on angels and, with a perhaps lesser degree of certainty, consider the personal accounts of reputable Christians.6. In the New Testament, Paul tells us that God created all things visible and invisible, and specifically includes the angelic world with the phrase whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities (Colossians 1:16). and the virgins name was Mary (Luke 1:2627). To seek such appearances would seem to indicate an unhealthy curiosity or a desire for some kind of spectacular event rather than a love for God and devotion to him and his work. By Christs death, burial, resurrection, and ascension He became far superior to angels as the last Adam and the second man (cf. His high position and beauty, of course, were the products of Gods grace and creative powers, not Satans. It is believed that angels are not visible or human beings, but rather, spirits in being. Michael is the only angel designated archangel, and may possibly be the only one of this rank. (1) Michael (Dan. vs. 7) when a sinner repents. When Christ was born in Bethlehem, a multitude of angels praised God and said, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased! (Luke 2:14, see also Hebrews 1:6). In August of 2001 he was diagnosed with lung cancer and on August 29th, 2002 he went home to be with the Lord. Some were elected by God not to fall (1 Timothy 5:21). Micheal is said to be the only Archangel because he is the only one mentioned in the Bible, but some also believe that Gabriel is also an Archangel, while others believe there are 3 or even 7 Archangels. When asking for angelic help, though, we should go directly to God with our requests rather than praying to angels. Authorities or powers. First, there is always a bent in man for the miraculous or supernatural, for that which lifts him out of the mundane and pain of life, even if for a moment, but there is more to this issue. That angels have greater strength than man is evident from at least two considerations: (1) Specific Statements in Scripture: Scripture specifically speaks of their greater power. He is the omniscient One in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 10 Angels of God and Their Tasks The names of angels that must be known include: 1. var notice = document.getElementById("cptch_time_limit_notice_56"); 7:10; Matt. The angel is identified as God, speaks as God, and claims to exercise the prerogatives of God. 9:5. display: none !important; They have a hierarchy based on their closeness to God and humans, as well as their duties. Some would argue that the text does not say that angels rejoice, only that there is joy in their presence. Unlike humans, angels do not have to study the past; they have experienced it. Your form could not be submitted. There are different types of angels in the Bible and they are a far cry from what society has made us believe they look like. If so, then the verse is stating that the good angels are more powerful than the evil ones. First John 1:7 says, But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. However, apparently, God allows these angels to at times participate in the process of cleansing his people. 2:11), yet they are limited in power (Dan. 2 MacArthur, J., & Mayhue, R. Scripture mentions three types: cherubim, seraphim, and living creatures. They are referred to in this way because they approach the deceased in a way that has never been witnessed before. His majestic splendor fills the entire earth! (v. 3). Archangels appear in human form with huge wings set on their backs. There is a verse that explains it in Al-Quran surah Al-Baqarah verse 97. Chafer quotes Otto Von Gerlach who pointed out: By the revelation of Himself in Christ, by the institution of the Christian Church on earth, God after a manner hitherto unknown glorifies Himself before the heavenly principalities. However, they still give us free will and leave it up to us to make decisions. In the study of this moral problem certain facts emerge. The context must determine if a human messenger is in view, or one of the celestial beings called angels, or if it is being used of the second Person of the Trinity as will be discussed below. Cherubim are typically represented with wings, feet, and hands, but are also described in different forms as having two faces (Ezek. He is the author of more than a dozen books including the bestselling. Because, as will be discussed in more detail later, angels are servants of God, described by the author of Hebrews as, ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation. See also Psalm 91:11 and Matthew 4:11. They are also known to leave signs for faithful Christians, and can even perform miracles. Their primary purpose is healing and they're also messengers of hope. 3:21-26; Col. 2:10-15; Heb. The glory of Gods holy angels can inspire us to praise God for the wonders of his creation. Their job is to rule over Earth and preside over the lower hierarchy of angels. The seraphim also express the holiness of God in that they proclaim that man must be cleansed of sins moral defilement before he can stand before God and serve Him.26. 7 For an excellent discussion and support for this view, see Deffinbaughs study on Genesis 6 in his study of the book of Genesis on our web site. As indicated previously, they observed Gods creation and rejoiced (Ps. The term, devil, as used so often of Satan, means, slanderer, defamer, one who accuses falsely.40 This name reveals him in one of his key characterizations in Scripture. Your email address will not be published. Angels It is also true when it comes to promoting good. The good angels (elect angels) worship and serve God, while also having a role in the world that the Lord created. Even after sin entered the world, Gods good angels, who did not rebel against Him, are called holy (Mark 8:38). To emphasize the seriousness of particular commands, Paul reminds us that our actions are carried out in the presence of angelic witnesses: In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without favor, doing nothing from partiality (1 Timothy 5:21, see also 1 Corinthians 4:9). There are three main types of angels in the Bible: Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones. The four faces of the lion, ox, man, and eagle represent some of the mightiest representatives of Gods creation. Moreover, Scripture gives us no warrant to seek appearances of angels. 32:21; Acts 12:7-11; and the many references to angelic activities in Revelation). Ephesians 3:8-11 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; 10 in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. There is the angel who has power over fire (Rev. 4:4). The Virtues are shaped like sparks of light, focusing on maintaining the natural world and inspiring living things in things like science. Representations of the cherubim will also be a part of the millennial temple (Ezek. Regardless, it is vital for faith and practice that we come to the point where we not only recognize our thoughts and ways are far different from His, but that in faith we accept what He has revealed. The Bible clearly tells us that God sends angels to protect people: He will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. Archangel Gabriel, on the other hand, is mentioned in Daniel 8:16, 9:21, and Luke 1. They usually take their Earthly forms as musicians, artists, healers, and scientists who work with the power of love/physics. One was placed in the Garden of Eden to guard the tree of life; two were placed in the holy of holies to guard the presence of God. Seraphims are the highest class of angel. Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth (pp. It may also be that there are powers and principalities which further describe rank in the angelic realm, butthis is debated. (3) Finally, there are numerous references to angels by the Lord Jesus, who is declared to be the Creator of all things, which includes the angelic beings. In "Revelation Unveiled," Tim LaHaye writes: "The fact that Satan is once and for all cast from the throne of God along with his evil hosts will be cause for great rejoicing in heaven.". As they cry out to one another in praise, Scripture says we should do the same. There are 9 different kinds of angels mentioned in the Bible. This is why Michael is one of the most prayed to guardian angels to combat evil and other supernatural beings by human beings for immediate help. Its always about God sending an angel, such as Gabriel being sent from God to a city of Galilee called Nazareth. . Michael leads the holy angels in battles for good to win over evil. Coming from the Greek meaning chief angel, archangels seem to be at the top of the angelic hierarchy in terms of power. Seraphim Seraphim angels are described in Biblical texts as having a passion for God that causes 10:21.) They are known to help humans overcome temptations from Satan. List of angels in theology - Wikipedia Still, in some passages He distinguishes Himself from Yahweh (Gen. 16:7-14; 21:17-18; 22:11-18; 31:11-13, Ex. The church at Colossae had been invaded by false teachers who were teaching a false humility and the worship of angels as a part of the means to spirituality.