What Does the Bible Say About Angels?

What does the Bible say about angels?

The Bible has a lot to say about angels, and they play significant roles in both the Old and New Testaments. Here are some key points:

1. Nature of Angels

• Created Beings: Angels are created by God (Colossians 1:16) and are spiritual beings (Hebrews 1:14).
• Immortal: Angels do not experience death like humans (Luke 20:36).
• Numerous and Organized: The Bible describes a vast number of angels organized into ranks or orders (Revelation 5:11, Colossians 1:16).

2. Roles of Angels

• Messengers: The word “angel” means “messenger,” and they often serve as God’s messengers to humans. For example, Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38).
• Worshipers: Angels are depicted worshiping God continually (Revelation 7:11-12).
• Protectors: Angels are sometimes seen protecting or delivering God’s people. For instance, an angel rescued Peter from prison (Acts 12:6-11).
• Warriors: Angels engage in spiritual warfare, battling against evil forces. Michael, the archangel, is often associated with this role (Revelation 12:7-9).

3. Angels in the Life of Jesus

• Angels were present at significant events in Jesus’ life, such as His birth (Luke 2:13-14), His temptation (Matthew 4:11), and His resurrection (Matthew 28:2-7).

4. Interaction with Humans

• Appearances: Angels often appear in human form, as seen when they visited Abraham (Genesis 18) or appeared to the women at Jesus’ tomb (Matthew 28:2-5).
• Guidance and Instruction: Angels sometimes provide guidance, such as when an angel directed Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26).

5. Angelic Hierarchy

• The Bible mentions different types of angels, such as archangels (Jude 1:9), cherubim, and seraphim (Isaiah 6:2-3).

6. Warnings Against Angel Worship

• The Bible warns against the worship of angels, emphasizing that worship should be directed only to God (Colossians 2:18, Revelation 19:10).

7. Fallen Angels

• The Bible also speaks of angels who rebelled against God, led by Satan. These fallen angels, or demons, oppose God and His people (2 Peter 2:4, Revelation 12:7-9).

Angels are a fascinating and important part of biblical teaching, reflecting God’s majesty, power, and care for humanity.

Angels Today

1. Biblical Evidence for Ongoing Angelic Activity

• General Principle: The Bible does not explicitly state that angelic interventions have ceased. Hebrews 1:14 describes angels as “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation,” which many interpret as an ongoing role.
• Guardian Angels: Some passages, like Psalm 91:11-12 and Matthew 18:10, suggest that angels may have protective roles over individuals, which could imply ongoing intervention.
• New Testament Examples: In the New Testament, angels intervened in the lives of early Christians, such as rescuing Peter from prison (Acts 12:6-11) and providing guidance to Philip (Acts 8:26-29). These examples indicate that angelic activity continued after Christ’s ascension.

2. Theological Perspectives

• Continuationist View: Many Christians, especially those in charismatic and Pentecostal traditions, believe that angels continue to intervene in the lives of believers today. They cite personal testimonies of protection, guidance, or miraculous events that they attribute to angelic activity.
• Cessationist View: Some Christians, particularly in Reformed and evangelical traditions, believe that while angels exist, their direct intervention in human affairs may be less common or more subtle today. They argue that with the completed revelation of Scripture, God primarily guides and protects through the Holy Spirit and His Word, rather than through angelic visitations.

Guardian Angels

The concept of guardian angels is a popular belief in Christian theology, based on certain biblical passages that suggest angels are assigned to protect and guide individuals. Here’s what the Bible says about guardian angels:

1. Biblical Basis for Guardian Angels

• Psalm 91:11-12: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” This passage suggests that angels are tasked with protecting God’s people, often interpreted as a form of guardianship.
• Matthew 18:10: Jesus says, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” This verse is often cited to support the idea that children (and by extension, all believers) have specific angels assigned to them, who are always in the presence of God.
• Acts 12:15: When Peter was miraculously freed from prison and appeared at the door, those inside said, “It must be his angel.” This reflects a belief among early Christians that people had personal angels.

2. Theological Interpretations

• Guardian Angels for All Believers: Many Christians believe that every person has a guardian angel assigned by God to protect and guide them. This view is supported by the general idea that angels are ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14).
• Specific vs. General Guardianship: Some theologians believe that while angels do guard and protect believers, the Bible does not necessarily support the idea of one specific angel being assigned to each person. Instead, it could mean that God uses His angels as needed to protect and guide His people.
• Protection and Guidance: The role of guardian angels is often seen as one of both physical protection and spiritual guidance. They may intervene in dangerous situations, provide comfort, or guide individuals according to God’s will.

3. Church Tradition and Beliefs

• Catholic Doctrine: The Catholic Church strongly supports the belief in guardian angels. The Feast of the Guardian Angels, celebrated on October 2, reflects the importance of this belief. Catholic teaching holds that every baptized person has a guardian angel assigned to them.
• Protestant Views: Among Protestants, beliefs about guardian angels vary. Some accept the concept, while others focus more on the general idea of angelic protection rather than specific, personal guardian angels.

In summary, the concept of guardian angels is rooted in biblical passages that suggest God’s angels protect and guide believers. While interpretations vary, the belief in guardian angels continues to be a source of comfort and encouragement for many Christians.