Angel’s are incorporeal, real beings of a higher power, perfection, and dignity. Spirit creatures, intelligent, first in both rank, and dignity among God’s created beings; representing, and fulfilling their offices as the messengers of God; and declaring His will. Nothing in Scripture states weather they are male or female. Their names appear to be masculine, as in Michael and Gabriel.
Hebrews 1:14, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
There are nine listed orders.
Seraphim, Cherubim, and thrones. dominions, virtues, powers, principalities, archangels, and angels. Some may apply to the same class?
They excel in strength, immortal; agents through which God accomplishes His special purposes. Angels may declare God’s will, correct, teach, reprove, and comfort, also to enact judgments on persons, armies, or nations.
Fallen angels are spoken of as, Jude 6, “Not having kept their first estate,” evil, rulers of the darkness, working spiritual wickedness, the enemies of God.
Ephesians 6:12, “For we (man) 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.”
How do they appear to men?
In dreams, visions, human forum, and various other forms, as in tongues of fire, a dove, etc.
Matthew 22:30, “The angels of God in heaven, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage.”
Acts 7:30, as to their numbers? Heb.12:22, they are an, “Innumerable company.”
Revelation 5:11, “The number of them was, ten thousand times ten thousand,” in Hebrew it means an innumerable number.
What about fallen angels?
2 Peter 2:4, “God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, = (tartarus) and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.”
Jude 6, “The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He = (God) hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”
2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul said, “There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me.”
Revelation 12:9, “Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.”
Revelation 9:11, “The angel of the bottomless pit,” or angel of Tartarus, a destroying angel.
Men are also called messengers (angels) of God.
Matthew 11:10, “Behold, I send my messenger = (John the Baptist.)”
Galatians 4:14, Paul said to the Galatians, “Ye — received me as an angel of God, even as Jesus Christ.”
Malachi 2:7, “The priest, — he is the messenger = (angel) of the LORD.”
Revelation 1:20, the angels of the seven churches, are probably the bishops or pastors of these churches, who were the delegates, messengers, of the churches to God in the offering of prayer, etc. Others refer to some as, guardian angels.
Abaddon in Hebrew; Apollyon In Greek. There came out of the bottomless pit, locusts upon the earth,
Revelation 9:11, “They had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon,” the destroyer of both soul, and body.
Abaddon means to kill, slay, murder, be lost, ruined, undone, to separate, go astray, become vain, proud, independent, deceitful also the angel of death.
Exodus 12:23, “The Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer = (Abaddon) to come in unto your houses to smite you.”
In the O.T. Jesus is called, “The Angel of the LORD,” or Angel of Jehovah; this when the definite article “The,” is present. Example, Moses at the burning bush,
Exodus 3:2, “The angel of the LORD appeared unto him = (Moses) in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush.” Verse 4, now the angel of the LORD calls himself, “The LORD.” Then Scriptures reveal, “God called unto him = (Moses) out of the midst of the bush.”
The voice said in,
Verse 5, “I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.”
Verse 7, “The LORD (Jesus) said.”
Verse 8, “I am come down.”
Verse 14, “God said unto Moses, I Am that I Am.” Read through chapter 4.
To summarize; at the burning bush, “The angel is called; The angel of the LORD; the LORD, God; and, I Am, that I Am. These are all offices, titles, and attributes of our Lord Jesus.
Moses and his wife came face to face with Jesus Christ.
Exodus 4:24, “By the way in the inn, that the LORD met him = (Moses) , and sought to kill him.” Moses wife Zipporah took a sharp stone, cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at His = (the LORD’S) feet.”
Genesis 32:24, Jacob, when he wrestled with a man, Ver.27, the man now gives Jacob a new name, calling him Israel. Jacob now asks the man for His name.
Verse 29, Jacob said, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
The LORD appeared to Abram many times. In Genesis 21, Hagar the mother of Ishmael heard the voice of the angel of God, who said, “I will make him = (Ishmael) a great nation.” Judges 13:3, Zorah the mother of Sampson, had an encounter with the angel of the LORD.
Also, Judges 13:11-13-22-23, “Manoah (the father of Sampson) said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.” Then his wife said, “if the LORD were pleased to kill us, He would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands.” See ver.19, where the angel of the LORD ate their offering with them. These are only a few examples of those who had physical, up close encounters with Jesus, who is, “The angel (messenger) of the LORD (Father,)” in the O.T.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com
Comment from reader,
In regards to your statement the, “angels” of the seven Churches were probably Bishops is correct. Within the Church structure as it was first instituted by the Apostles, the term “angel” referred to a specific rank of Bishop.
The Bishops in question were;
Ephesus-Timothy
Smyna-Polycarp
Pergamos-Kerios
Thyatira-Irenaeus
Sardis-Melito
Philadelphia-Codranos
Laodicea-Eurelius(also known as Sepharios)
Comment from reader, “The names of the individual Bishops can be established through the many letters and documents of the early Church. Such as, Ignatius makes specific references to Polycarp being the bishop of Smyrna. All we must then do is match the time periods to the time the Book of Revelations was written and we have their names.
In regards to men being referred to as “Angels”, the scriptures themselves confirm these were not “Angels” of the spiritual being kind as they are instructed to repent. As this is not an option to the fallen angels in the spiritual sense then this verse must refer to a human.
Revelation 2:5, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place; unless you repent.”
The terms used to describe the priesthood of the early Church when translated into english are Vicars, Ambassadors, Angels (messenger), Shepherds, Fathers, Teachers, Guides, rulers and priests. These are also further defined into four groups being Apostles, Bishops, Priests and deacons.
If you would like to know more, such as how these writings can be tested as to their source and authenticity etc. then please visit my website where I have given a more detailed account.
Reader wrote, “In regards to your statement the the “angels” of the seven Churches were probably Bishops is correct.”
I’m not so sure I really go along with that…. I mean, from what I read… and understand… this is how I see it…
I know that some have argued that the “angels” in Revelation 2-3 represent individual pastors of the seven churches. The message to each church is addressed to an “angel” (singular). “Angel” (aggelos) may be translated “messenger,” a fitting designation for the pastor… they say…
However, shouldn’t the reference here be understood as literal angels and not human “messengers” ? I mean, the term aggelos is used often throughout Revelation and always in the sense of literaly spirit beings… not super humans who carry out the judgements. Not to mention, no where else in the entire New Testiment this term used to mean literal human pastors, elders or bishop.
Well… like I said, I’m still studying up on the topic… but find it hard to stay away from here!!!
Blessings! prays4u
Comment from reader,
May I begin with point of simple logic, why would God use a man, in this case the apostle John, to communicate a message written on paper with ink to the Lord’s spiritual messengers being the Angels that are present before Him in His spiritual realm. This is particularly relevant when we consider that John was receiving much of his revelations from an angel. To extend upon this point, how would John have delivered this letter to the spiritual realm or did the Angels physically manifest that they might receive it.
As for proof of the actual identity and nature of the angels in question it is of cause necessary to establish this scripturally, rather than rely upon carnal logic. Although what was mentioned in these messages pertains to the state of churches in every age and to every believer they were specifically addressing the individual problems within the Churches to which they are addressed. It is therefore consistent that the Lord would deliver His call to repentance through His anointed apostle John to the relevant Bishop ascribing their pastoral responsibility, forcing them to carry their people’s weaknesses, and care for the development of those under their influence. At the same time He inspires the people to accept God’s guidance and commandments through His bishops and priests.
If we then examine the messages themselves, we can see that they can only be applied to mortal men, rather than a spiritual angel.
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works; or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent” Revelation 2:5.
This verse call for repentance as after one “falls”, all we can do is turn from our sins and embrace the Lord and His ways. As this is not applicable to spiritual Angels, we know it is an instruction directed towards the people.
This principle is consistent throughout these messages. When we apply them to a spiritual angel, the words most often fail to have any spiritual meaning or simply are not applicable such as the following directed to the “angel” of the Church at Smyrna,
“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be you faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life”. Revelation 2:10
As a spiritual “angel” has nothing to fear from being cast into prison, nor must they be fruitful until death as they are immortal and they do not live in faith and hope that they may receive the crown of life, then this must be directed to a mortal being. This would also apply to the next verse as an angel fears no death,
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death” Revelation 2:11
In the message to the “Angel” of Pergamos we read again of repentance, but also that those that overcome shall be given some of the hidden manna to eat,
“Repent or else I will come to you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth”. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it” Revelation 2:16-17
If we then consider Christ’s own words, we know that the manna referred to is the Eucharist (Communion) which again is not partaken of by angels, rather by mortal members of the Church
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6:47-51
These are just some examples, however if we read the messages to the Churches then it is clear that they can only apply to mortal humans that by the grace of God can repent of their sins, that can be cast into prison and tested, persecuted etc. that can receive the “crown of life”, that can receive both the first and second death and that can partake of the Eucharist.
The one verse that convinces me more than all the others is the following,
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Revelation 3:5
This covers two points, the Book of life does not apply to spiritual angels and that Christ declares that He will confess the name of they that overcome before the angels indicating He was not referring to the same.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com