ANGELS AND OTHER HEAVENLY BEINGS www.godswordtooyou.com
The OT word “mal’ak” S# 4397 is used 213 times in the OT and is translated “angel or angels” 104 times and as messenger or messengers 109 times. The word is used in describing messengers of God, Kings, and rulers and Individuals.
Vines defines it as;
OT:4397 The noun mal’ak appears 213 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. Its frequency is especially great in the historical books, where it usually means “messenger”: Judges (31 times), 2 Kings (20 times), 1 Samuel (19 times), and 2 Samuel (18 times). The prophetical works are very moderate in their usage of mal’ak, with the outstanding exception of the Book of Zechariah, where the angel of the Lord communicates God’s message to Zechariah. For example: “Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked to me, ‘What are these, my lord?’ And the angel answered and said unto me, ‘These are the four spirits
56 times it is used as “the angel of the LORD in the OT.
It was first used in Gen. 16: 7 when the LORD sent an angel to Haggar after she fled from an angry Sarai.
It is last used in Zech. 12: 8 where the prophet said “In that day the LORD will defend Jerusalem with angels.
The word is used as “messenger” in 1st. Sam.23:27 where a messenger came to Saul to warn him of the Philistines. And last in Mal. 3:1 where the prophet described the coming of John the Baptist as being “the messenger of the LORD”.
ANGEL: A member of an order of heavenly beings who are superior to man in power and intelligence. By nature angels are spiritual beings (Heb 1:14). Their nature is superior to human nature (Heb 2:7), and they have superhuman power and knowledge (2 Sam 14:17,20; 2 Peter 2:11). They are not, however, all-powerful and all-knowing (Ps 103:20; 2 Thess 1:7).
(from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Psalm 148: 2-5 tells us angels were created by the LORD.
There were at least three “Arch- Angels”, Gabriel. Michael and Lucifer and it appears that there was another named Abaddon that ruled the “bottomless pit” of Revelation 9:11.
John tells a story in Rev. 12: about a woman [Israel] bringing forth a “man child” [Jesus] that would rule all nations with a “rod of iron” and about another wonder about a “red dragon” [Roman Empire] that sought to devour the child as soon as it was born.
These two powers represent the two major forces that were together long before in Heaven when Lucifer sought to usurp the throne of God that resulted in war with the dragon that was called the Devil and Satan being “cast out” to earth with one third of the angels of Heaven.
Psalm 78: 49 reminds us that there are “evil angels”
Ezekiel in chapter # 28: 1-19 describes the prince or king of Tyrus” as “Satan” as a being an “anointed cherub” perfect in beauty with great wisdom and had been upon the “holy mountain of God” and had been “perfect” in his ways and had been in the in Eden the garden of God until iniquity was found in him. His heart was “lifted up” because of his beauty and this corrupted him and because of this he would be cast down to the ground.
Tyrus or Tyre was a wicked Phoenician city on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and this prince or king was the “strong power” over the city.
There are two other Hebrew words used in connection with the word “angel” that add to the definition of the word. They are S# 47 “abbiyr”; mighty or valiant; and S# 8136 “shin’an”; multiple thousands or myriads. These words tell us of the quality and number of the angels of God.
This brings us to other “heavenly beings”; Cherub, [Cherubim plural] and Seraphims.
Cherubim were first used of God to guard Eden after Adam and Eve were driven out.
In Exodus chapter # 25 Moses was directed by God to “forge” two Cherubim out of “beaten gold” and place them on each end of the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant with their wings meeting in the middle.
In 1st Kings 6: Solomon in building the Temple in Jerusalem made two Cherubim of olive wood overlaid with gold ten cubits high with wings five cubits long and place them in the “Inner house” [Holy of Holies] and their wings reached from wall to wall. The cherubim in the Temple were 15 ft. tall with a wing-span of 15 ft.
From the time of Moses building the first Ark for the Covenant until the destruction of the Temple in 586 BC the LORD dwelt between the Cherubs.
These “hewn” Cherubim were designed as images of the “heavenly creatures” that were around the Throne.
Beginning in Eze. Ch. # 40:1 -41: 26 the prophet is shown a vision of the land of Israel and of a Temple there that was adorned with cherubims.
Cherubims are named 19 times in the book of Ezekiel.
The writer of Hebrews describes the Tabernacle in the wilderness as having cherubim overshadowing the mercy seat.
Now we examine the “creatures” that are called “seraphims” OT:8314 saraph —
1) a serpent, a fiery serpent; a poisonous serpent (fiery from burning effect of poison)
2) seraph, seraphim; majestic beings with six wings, human hands or voices in attendance upon God
Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Copyright © 1993
This word is used 7 times in the OT first in Numbers 2: 6-8 where God sent “fiery serpents” that “bit the people and the people died”; because Israel murmured and complained against God.
Deut.8:15 describes the same instance.
The same word is used in Isa.6: 2-6in a much different setting; There Isaiah sees the “Lord sitting on his throne, high and lifted up. And above the throne stood a number of “seraphims”: Each with 6 wings with two wings their faces were covered and with two they covered their feet and they used two wings to fly with. These creatures were able to speak and cried to each other “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory”.
. After seeing this event, Isaiah called out; Woe is me! I am unclean and a man with unclean lips. Then one of the seraphim flew to him with a “live coal” in his hands that he had taken with tongs from off the altar and placed it upon his mouth and said, Lo this has touched thy lips and your iniquity is taken away.
Again in Isa. 14:29 a warning is sent to Palistina and a “fiery flying serpent” [S# 8314 seraphim] is sent to bring judgment to on the people.
Isaiah 30:6 Israel a rebellious people desire to return to Egypt and “fiery serpents” are sent to the rebellious nation.
Ezekiel the pries in Babylonian captivity begins in ch.1:5 to report a “vision” in which he saw four “living creatures” coming out of a whirlwind from the north. These creatures had the “likeness” of a man; But they each had “four faces” and “four wings” with feet like a calf’s foot and hands like a man beneath their wings. These are described in verse 10 has having faces as a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle. In chapter # nine these creatures seem to be identified as cherubim.
John in Revelation 4:6-8 sees in a vision four “beasts” that have a similar description, but these “beasts” had six wings” each.
It is my opinion that these “creatures” with various descriptions represent different powers and forces that are used by both God and Satan as tools in performing their work and purpose
NEW TESTAMENT STUDY
Angels: S# 32 “angelos” A messenger, Envoy, one sent is used 80 times in the NT.
Angels are Heavenly Creatures that are recognized by both Christians and Jews as that are in Heaven continually offering praise and worship to God the father and Jesus Christ the Son. # 1: They are as “servants” to serve the Godhead..
They are also dispatched to earth to act as messengers of the LORD. They represent the divine power of Jesus and assist him in discharging his office. Luke 2:9-16 and Heb. 1:13-14.
John 1:51; Jesus said “Here after you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. These were special attendants at the command of Jesus. See Matt. 13:38-43 and 24:31.
# 2: They escort the souls of “departed Saints” to their rest in Heaven. Luke 16:19-31
# 3: Although Angels are “super human” they are also capable of sin 2nd. Pet.2:4 and Jude : 6.
# 4 There are guardian angels dispatched to “watch over” and protect saints of God. Matt. 18:10, Acts 12: 14-15.
# 5: There were large numbers of Angels that rebelled with Lucifer and were “cast out” of Heaven. Matt.25: 41 and Rev. 12: 9.
These are still servants of Satan that serve in opposition to Jesus and Christians; See 2nd. Cor. 12:1-10, Job 2:1-7, Luke 13:11-16.
Not all Angels are “winged beings” but are unseen “spirits”; see below and
Heb 1:13-14 “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
In Rev. 3: 5 Jesus acknowledges Christians to the Father and “before his angels”.
In chapter’s # 5-11 and 13- 22 there are a number of groups of angels that have a part in the end time tribulation and the Judgments of God upon this sinful world.
In verse # 9 one angel shows John the Church of the Living God and introduces it as the “Bride, the Lambs Wife. And in verse # 12 there are 12 angels guarding the 12 gates to prevent intruders from entering the Holy City.
Now we examine in some detail the NT teaching of “angels”.
Matt. 13:1-50; Jesus gives a parable to explain the “kingdom of heaven”; [another misunderstood subject] A sower [Jesus] went forth to sow, he sowed good seed but the seed fell on different grades of soil that determined the grade of harvest. The devil sowed evil [bad] seed on the same ground.
At harvest time the Lord sent “his angels” and gathered out of “his kingdom” all things that offend and cast them in a furnace of fire. [Hell]
Matt. 18:3-10 little children have “angels” representing them before the Father.
Matt. 22:29-32 Christians are equal to angels at the resurrection.
Matt. 24:29-25: 46; The teaching of the second coming of Jesus; Angels will have a major part in gathering the saints from the uttermost part of earth to them uttermost part of heaven. [the elements above the earth]
Matt. 26:53 Jesus had 12 legions [72,000] of angels at his command to avoid the cross if he had called for them.
Acts 7: Stephen before is martyrdom declared that, “the law came by disposition of angels”. [Messengers, prophets]
Rom. 8:38 Paul was persuaded that not even “angels” could separate Christians from the love of God.
1st. Cor. 6:3 Paul writes that Christians will judge “angels”, see also Jude : 6 and 2nd. Peter2:4. [Fallen angels]
1st. Cor. 13:1 Christians may speak the tongues of “angels”. [Language of]
Heb.1:4-8 Jesus was made “much better than angels” and obtained by inheritance a name more excellent than they. These angels “worship him”. And he “made them spirits” and his ministers a flame of fire.
Heb.2:2-16; In spite of his “being God” he humbled himself lower than angels to become “a man” to die at Calvary for the sin of mankind.
1st. Pet.1:12 Angels desire to “look into” the Gospel and the gift of the Holy Ghost that was sent down from heaven.
2nd. Pet. 2:4 the “angels that sinned” were cast down to “hell” [S# 5020 “tartaros”; the deepest abyss of “hades” to be reserved for judgment at the end of the world. See Jude: 4-15.
Jude writes of the “angels” S#32 that certain angels “kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation” [Heaven] See “Rev 12:7-9 “And there was war in heaven : Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not, neither was their place found anymore in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him”. 
The word “angel or angels” are used 73 times in the book of Revelation; 1st. in 1:1 “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John”: and 2nd. In Rev 22:16 “ I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star”.
There is “one Devil or Satan”; but many demon or evil spirits; Just as there is “one God” that works through the “seven spirits of God” Rev. 3:1, 4:5, 5:6.
The “Jehovah God” “LORD” appeared to the Apostle John on the island of Patmos and commanded him to write seven letters addressed to seven angels of seven churches that were located in Asia. The Greek word for angel was S# 32 “NT:32 “<START GREEK>”aggelos”
<END GREEK> aggelos (ang’-el-os); from aggello [probably derived from NT:71; compare NT:34] (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an “angel”; by implication, a pastor:
- angel, messenger.
(Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
So ”angels” may be both “spirit beings” or a minister of God with an anointed gift or calling.
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