Angels 101

Information about angels is scattered throughout the Bible - angels are mentioned hundreds of times. However, an organized description of what angels are all about is never given to us. The Bible is more concerned with telling us what angels do, instead of what they are. Putting together what information we have, drawing small details from prophets and gospels, we can assemble the basic facts about these mysterious heavenly beings.

1. Where does the word “angel” come from? In Hebrew, the word for a messenger is “mal’ak”. This word is used to describe those whom God sends to do his will, whether they are human or heavenly. In the Greek translation, the word “aggelos” was used instead. Then, in Latin, the heavenly type of messengers were called “angelus”. From that we get our word “angel”. So, angels are named for one thing they do – act as messengers for God. There are too many examples of this activity to mention; everyone will recall the visit of the angel Gabriel as a messenger to Mary (Luke 1:26-38).

2. What do angels look like? Biblical descriptions of angels are often vague. In the passage of Luke just mentioned, Gabriel is not described. Popular culture, left to its own devices, sometimes portrays them as cute flying babies or white robed women with bird wings. In the Bible, angels may appear as normal human men (Genesis 18:2; 19:1,5; Acts 1:10; Luke 24:4) without wings. In most passages featuring angels, wings are not mentioned at all. A few passages do describe them with wings and the ability to fly swiftly (Isaiah 6:2,6; Daniel 9:21). In any case, angels are basically unlike humans. They are beings of spirit (Hebrews 1:14), so it is no wonder they can have different appearances and forms. As spirits, they do not die (Luke 20:36).

3. Are there different kinds of angels? The Bible mentions a few different types. Archangels are leaders among angels. One named Michael is mentioned in Jude 1:9. Others assumed to be Archangels are named Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel (the last two are named in the Apocrypha). Seraphs, or Seraphim, are fiery angels mentioned in Isaiah 6, attending the Lord on his throne. They are described as having six wings, and they call out the familiar words, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts.” Cherubs, or Cherubim, are animal-human hybrids mentioned in Ezekiel 1 and 10. They are described as having four wings and four faces, and they support a dome, above which is the throne of the Lord. Images of the Cherubs adorned the Ark of the Covenant. Revelation 4:6-9 describes angels quite similar to those of Isaiah and Ezekiel. Finally, some of Paul’s writings (Ephesians 1:21; Colossians 1:16) suggest to Catholics that there are even more ranks of different kinds of angels, known as Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Dominations, and Thrones.

4. What do angels do for God and humans? The roles of angels are as diverse as their physical descriptions. The Cherubim and the Seraphim worship and praise God constantly. But many angels seem to work to help mankind. Angels often bring people information and reveal the meaning or significance of it, as when an angel told Daniel about future rulers (Daniel 10). They might be sent to protect people from harm, as when Daniel was saved from lions (Daniel 6:22). Angels may be sent to answer prayers, as when Peter’s congregation prayed for his release from prison and an angel came to free him (Acts 12:5-7). They can appear to offer instructions to people, as when an angel told Joseph what to do about Mary (Matthew 1:20). Angels can come to people to provide things they need, as when an angel brought food to a despairing Elijah (1 Kings 19:5-8). Angels ministered to Jesus during his earthly life (Matthew 4:11; Luke 22:43). There are many, many more references to the work of angels in the Bible. Overall, angels are ministering agents who help to bring us God’s providence and redemption.

5. Who were the Fallen angels? The Bible indicates that angels are holy (Luke 9:26), but warns that they are not to be worshipped (Colossians 2:18; Revelation 19:10), with good reason. In fact, like us, angels are God’s creations, however awe-inspiring they might be. Like us, they can sin and fall. One book written between the Testaments takes the very brief story of Genesis 6:1-4 and expands on it, revealing a story of angels who were tempted by human women. The “Book of the Watchers” in 1 Enoch explains that “the watchers” (angels) came down to Earth to choose human wives and have children. They revealed forbidden magical knowledge to humans and also impregnated them. Their offspring were murderous giants who ate people and destroyed everything around them. All this sin and chaos was part of the reason God decided to send a flood to cleanse the Earth of the children of the angels. The rebellious angels were then imprisoned in chains and darkness as punishment (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6). As stories of fallen angels developed over time, various other reasons were given for their fall. Besides the lust described in Enoch, pride was given as another cause. The angel Lucifer wanted to raise his throne to the same level as God’s, and so Lucifer was cast out of Heaven. A third reason is found in the book “Life of Adam and Eve”. There, the Devil is described as unwilling to bow down before man, refusing to worship mankind as made in the image of God. He and all those who also refused were cast out of Heaven.

Angels are an integral part of the biblical story, but ultimately, we cannot get a detailed or comprehensive description of them from the Bible. Beyond the basics, the study of angels has fascinated many people, and writings outside the Bible reflect this interest. One can explore other writings to learn about the names of angels, their organization in Heaven, their powers, and all sorts of mystical information. But perhaps all we really need to know about them is that they are on our side. In Hebrews 1:14, it says, “Are not all angels spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?”