The Angels Of God.

"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"
Hebrews 1:14.


The Angels are in ministry, today that ministry is of course the ministry of Jesus Christ as with man their ministries would be manifold. The difference being as I understand they are sent to minister for us, not to us but for us, to see or aid Gods plan for our lives and the lives of fellow believers fulfilled as we pursue that plan or will of God in prayer.

A hopefully short and as accurate as humanly possible purely personal layman's look into the different heavenly beings we all know as Angels, the different kinds, their purpose and appearance. The Bible KJV aided with the Strongs Greek and Hebrew dictionaries used as sources of information.

As beautifully presented as they are, images of Angels similar to this adorn many of the Christian webpage's
I come across. I do feel at times I am actually looking at something that belongs to or is straight out of Swan Lake.

Are all the Angels female in appearance or as some depict, small cuddly baby like beings short a dyper but having a pare of wings to get around with? I suppose they paint an image of a loving, caring, carefree and genteel atmosphere in these images to give us an impression of the way our God Himself loves us, but how does the Bible portray the Angels.


1. The Seraphims of Isaiah.
2. The Cherubim or Living Creatures of Ezekiel.
3. The Zao or Four Beasts of Revelation 4.
4. The Chief Princes or Arch Angels.
5. The Angels Of God or Common Andels.


  Isaiah. 6.
6:1. In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.
6:2. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
 
6:3. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.

6:4. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
6:5. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
6:6. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
6:7. And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
In this vision Isaiah was in the very throne room of God Himself, apart from being an almost unbelievable privilege for a man it is interesting the description he gives of the Angelic beings he saw around the throne. The seraphims or saraphs, each having six wings two of which covered their face, two covering their feet with the remaining two used to fly. Isaiah was as many Bible scholars state a highly educated man in Jewish matters of his day and well acquainted with all aspects of The Law, capable of accurately describing what he saw in the vision.

The seraphims seem to be responding to revelations of Gods glory as they continually call out to one another "holy, holy, holy He is holy". Isaiah also gives a very strong impression though their faces are hidden by two of their wings that they are male in appearance as in verses 7 and 8. "Which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: - And he laid it upon my mouth." I could not even begin to imagine just what these Angelic beings may look like, to think that there is possibly millions if not billions of them all crying out to one another the Lord God is holy, holy He is holy. Little wonder the posts of the door moved. V. 4.


 The Living Creatures Of Ezekiel.

Ezekiel like Isaiah has been described as a devout and highly educated man in Jewish religious maters of the day as would be evident being giving this vision on more that one occasion. He also was more than capable of relating accurately what he witnessed on that day beside the river Chebar.

 Ezekiel. 1.
1:5. Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.
1:6. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.
1:7. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.
1:8. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
1:9. Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
 
1:10. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
 
1:11. Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.
1:15. Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.
 
1:16. The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.
1:17. When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went.
1:18. As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four.
1:19. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.
1:23. And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.
1:24. And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.
1:25. And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.
1:26. And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
1:27. And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.
These "living creatures" are identified as Cherubim by some. It appears they have to do with presence and worship of God their position being below the throne. The living creatures or Cherubim differ considerably in appearance from the seraphim having only four wings, two pointing upwards above their heads and two covering their bodies. The description of their faces given by Ezekiel of which each has four, two on each side of their head. On the right side the face of a man and the face of a lion, and having the face of an ox and an eagle on the left. V.10. All of which are looking up as are the two of their wings in worship of Him who sits on the throne. V.11. The description of their appearance is also quite colourful or awesome may be a better word for their appearance. They are also have the appearance of a man although nothing like any I know. V. 8. - V.10.


  The Zao Or Four Beasts of Revelation 4.

The Apostle John like Isaiah, Ezekiel and the many prophets that preceded him was presumably a very well educated man also, if the Gospel penned by him is any indication. The things he saw when caught up to heaven I can imagine would have been beyond a human mind to comprehend. John though through the many questions he asked while there I believe was able to write down as accurately as any man could what he came to understand and saw in this very symbolised book. The word revelation after all dose mean to reveal and had John not been up to the task I am sure God would have chosen another from the early Church for the task.

Revelation 4.
4:6. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
4:7. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
 
4:8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
4:9. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
4:10. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
4:11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
The Zoa or Living Beings of Revelation 4 have similarities to both the Seraphims and Cherubim yet they are uniquely different from both, Just what Angelic office they hold compared to other two of course is unknown. Their main similarity to Seraphim is in the number of wings each having six along with their proximity to the throne of God but that is where it seems to end. The Seraphim continually call out to one another "holy, holy, holy He is holy" Isa. 6:3. Where as the Zoa who need no rest continuarlly call out to God day and night You are "holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." Rev. 4:8.

What the Seraphims facial appearance is like is unknown being covered by two of their wings whereas the four Zoa facial features are given in detail, one having the face of a lion another the face of calf the third the face of a man and the fourth the face of an eagle. The wings of the Zoa are also covered on the inner side with eyes which would seem to indicate that they see everything that is going on, well acquainted with the daily events as they unfold even on this earth as with all of Gods endless created Realm. The Zoa like both the Seraphim and Cherubim seem to be confined to the heavenly realm of Gods presence giving Him endless praise and worship.

Other similarities the Zoa share with the Cherubim of Ezekiel. 1. would appear to be the eyes, with the Cherubim its is the circumferences of their wheels, rings or rims according to Strongs "a hollow or curve" located by their sides and so high that they were dreadful or awesome in appearance that are covered with eyes, Eze 1:16-19 indicating they also are extremely knowledgeable of earthly events. The faces of the Cherubim and Zoa are also well documented by Ezekiel and the Apostle John, but that is where the similarities appear to end. I can't help wonder at times how many other like Angelic beings there are in the heavenly realm, knowing I will have to wait a while for an answer to that one.

 
The Chief Princes or Arch Angels.
Gabriel and Michael.

The Book of Daniel.

If any book of the Bible was more than just a read to me it would have to be this one, its prophetic value dealing in particular with the time we live in when read in context with the book of Revelation along with the writings of the many other prophets of the Old Testament and the prophetic teachings of Jesus Himself. This Old Testament book, the book of Daniel in my personal opinion stands alone in its period.

Daniel. 8.

8:15. And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
 
8:16. And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
8:17. So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
8:18. Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.
8:19. And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.

Luke. 1.

1:18. And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
 
1:19. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
1:26. And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
1:27. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
1:28. And the angel came in unto her, and said, hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
1:29. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
1:30. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
 
Luke. 1:31. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
1:32. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
1:33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
1 Thessalonians. 4.
 
4:16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
4:17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

The voice commanding the angel Gabriel to give the message to Daniel could have been none other than that of God Himself, as no one has the power to command the angels but God. Dan. 8:16. Gabriel the Arch Angel who stand in the presence of God has announced himself on a number of accasions as in Luke. 1:19. He was sent to announce the birth of John the Baptist Luke. 1:11, and coming of the Messiah Luke. 1:31. He not only stands in presence of God but also announces to man the coming of the Messiah, Jesus and will do so again when He comes for the Church at the time of the Rapture. 1Thess. 4:16.

 
Isaiah. 14.
14:13. For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14:14. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
14:15. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
4:16. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
14:17. That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?
 
Ezekiel. 28.
28:15. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
28:16. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Daniel. 10.

10:11. And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
10:12. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
 
10:13. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
10:14. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
10:15. And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.
10:16. And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.
Daniel. 12.
12:1. And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Jude.1.
 
1:9. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

 Revelation. 12.

12:7. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
12:8. And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
12:9. 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 Angel Michael a Chief Prince or Arch Angel as is Gabriel, is the Prince or the guardian angel of the Nation of Israel Rev. 12:7. There where three of these angels, the third who was actually of a higher rank or office now an unemployable fallen angel who of course was Lucifer now satan.  "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations". Isah. 14:12. Lucifer not only held the office of Arch Angel he also held the office of a Cherubim, "Thou art the anointed Cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire." Ezek. 28:14. His office made him responsible for this entire planet, Earth and possibly for our entire little corner of the universe, just looking at the pop marked mess our surrounding planets are in. That's enough on him me thinks.

Little is given as to their appearance other than Daniel referring to Michael as one of the chief princes and the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people. Gabriela as "He", and the appearance of a man. They both are heavily involved in warfare with the fallen angles as seen in Dan. 10:13, Jude.1:9 and Rev. 12:7. There is no indication that they are in anyway of female likeness quite the opposite would seem to be the case and there is no mention of wings in any of the verses I have looked into concerning these two Angles.

 
The Angels Of God or Common Angels.

There are over three hundred references to the Angles in the Bible.
I naturally have had to limited the number of verses in line with the subjuct matter of this page.

Genesis. 19.

19:15. And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
19:16. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
 
19:22. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

2 Kings. 19.
19:32. Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.
19:33. By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the Lord.
19:34. For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
 
19:35. And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
19:36. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.
1 Chronicles. 21.
21:15. And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the Lord beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
 
21:16. And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.
21:17. And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.

2 Samual. 14.
14:16. For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.
 
14:17. Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the Lord thy God will be with thee.
14:18. Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.

 Jeremiah. 33.
33:22. As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
Pslam. 103.
103:20. Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Zechariah. 1.
 
1:8. I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.
1:9. Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.
1:10. And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
1:11. And they answered the angel of the Lord that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
 
1:12. Then the angel of the Lord answered and said, O Lord of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?
 
1:13. And the Lord answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.
1:14. So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
1:15. And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
1:16. Therefore thus saith the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
The above verses give us a small slice of insight into the nature and number as well as other characteristics of these angles, they firstly are innumerable as the stars of heaven or the sand of the sea which can not be numbered. The office of Arch Angle of which there were three now two would appear to be over these angles as Rev. 12:7 would confirm, it is therefore not unacceptable to assume that two thirds of the original number of angles are still in heavenly obedience and service to God. Being described as innumerable or as sand of the sea their number would run into the billions of billions. Jer. 33:22. They like the Arch Angles over them are also involved in warfare both against the fallen angles Rev. 12. 7, and boastful, sinful man as King Hezekiah gratefully I am sure would discover. 2 Kings. 19:35, and a sinful Jerusalem 1 Chr. 21:16. If only one angel is capable of killing one hundred and eighty five thousand men just imagine what two or three could do, something King David obviously was well aware of.

Their response to the commands and will of God is in absolute obedience regarding the daily events on earth and of man of which they know every minute detail as the scriptures tells us they are wise, all seeing 2 Sam. 14:17, not of future events other than what has been written but their wisdom allows them to see the probable results of our present at times not so wise actions and spoken words which they record and for which we will be held accountable. Many of the scriptures we have so far looked into give their appearance as being like that of "A man", "A man riding upon a red horse" Zech. 1: 8-9. Their appearance is also described as fearful or more in line with the Hebrew, "Awesome in appearance", as many of the patriarchs to whom they appeared fell on their face in fear.

We tend associate their main office as that of affording protection for the saints as Guardian Angles of which there are many examples but correction is well depicted also, what may be seen by some as harsh. Yet they demonstrate the ability to feel sorrow or compassion toward us when going through difficult times brought about namely by our own disobedience. The angel who was speaking with Zechariah demonstrated this felling of sorrow when he asked the Lord, "O Lord of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these past seventy years?" Zech. 1:12. He seemed distressed enough to call on Zechariah to cry out to God, "you pray, you call out Zecharia" for mercy for the captives of Israel. God had to console this angel in his obvious distress telling him the prophecy concerning the freeing of Israel and Judah would soon be fulfilled. Zech. 1:13-16.

Joshua. 5:13.
5:13.  And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
5:14. And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant?
5:15. And the captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

The angel in the above verses can be none other than God Himself as He describes Himself as the "Captain of the host of the Lord". Joshua fell on his face and worshiped this angel acknowledging who He actually was, as with Moses in Exodus. 3:5, Joshua was also commanded to remove his shoes from his feet, for the place where he was standing was holy ground, he was in the presence of the Lord. The overriding proof though being in His acceptance of worship from Joshua, this verse as with Dan. 3:25 and many other verses demonstrates the willing ability of the Christ Spirit, Jesus to appear to mortal man in a time of need as with the angles on His command in the form of a man in the sight of ungodly men as with Nebuchadnezzar with out the need of wings.

Was it a time of need in Joshua leadership? Jos 4:13. About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the Lord unto battle, to the plains of Jericho. I try to imagine being ex army what the war council discussions may have gone like. What is the battel plan Joshua, what method will we employ in storming these walls so high and thick around this city Jericho? Ah, Well, we are all just going to walk around the city for seven days! Oh, right, right!! What an exercise of faith on Joshua's part this day would have been.  

Genesis. 18.
18:23. And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
18:24. Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
 
18:25. That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
18:26. And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
8:27. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
18:28. Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
18:29. And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
Genesis. 19.
 
19:29. And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

Pslam. 34.
34:7. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
Pslam. 103.
103:20. Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word.

Isaiah. 63:9.
63:9. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

The story of Lots rescue from Sodom is one of the better known examples of the protection afforded us by the angels, there are a few interesting insights into this protection revelled in the above verses. When it was revealed to Abraham by God that He intended to bring judgment down on the sinful inhabitants of the cities of the plain, Abraham went into prayer mode as seen in Gen. 18:23-32 He obviously knew the heart of God going by his prayer Gen.18:25. knowing God would not judge the righteous with the wicked, He would not destroy His people along with thoes in the world. Abraham's prayer as we know went from fifty down to ten righteous before God went His way Gen.18:33. Abraham would have known Lot and his family, well part of his family were the only ones in the city that could have been considered as saveable. There are two things that stand out in these verses firstly as a result of Abraham's prayer the angels who again are described as men could not carry out Gods command to destroy the cities until Lot was out Gen.19:22. "Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar." Secondly it was only as a result of Abraham's prayer that Lot was spared. Gen.19:29.

Lot like Noah before him were spared before judgment fell on the sinful inhabitants in Noahs case the entire world but only as a result of prayer. Who prayed for Noah? That is indeed a $64 question! Plasm. 103:20 enforces the angel response to prayer they "hearken unto the voice of His word." They move on our behalf as we pray Gods word into a situation or need, their actions are totally restricted to the extent we use the word of God in prayer. As with Lot and Noah, the Church likewise will be rescued before judgment falls on this present earth, the reason Jesus told those who would form the early Church to pray that they may be counted worthy to escape this soon coming judgment. Luke. 21:36. "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." This applies to the Church today more than ever and reading the preceding verses of Luke.21, Luke.17 and Matthew 24, I don't think I personally would want to be here. The Church, the Body of Christ, the salt of the earth rescue I have mentioned above commonly known as the Rapture or catching away 1Thess. 4:13-18, I Cor. 15 and 1John. 3:2-3. We are actually told that if we hope to see this day we purify ourselves. 1John. 3:3. "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure." The angles will also be heavily involved in this coming event.

Exodus. 23.
23:20. Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
23:21. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for My Name is in him.
23:22. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

Ecclesiastes. 5:6.
5:6. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
Hebrews. 3.

3:15. While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
3:16. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
3:17. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
3:18. And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that believed not?

Just as the word of God motivates the angles on our behalf as individuals or the Church as a corporate body to which they are servants, speaking the opposite to Gods word or negative words it would appear will have very undesirable consequences. Ecclesiastes. 5:6. "neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?" If you want to see everything you may have worked for go down the drain this would appear one sure way of achieving it.
Obviously a junior angel, loosing its nappy "dyper", wings still not quite developed.
Just like a grub becoming a butterfly! Ho, learing to play ball "cricket" also.

Before I wonder off into other subjects, like the Rapture which is a deep and intriguing study in itself or the scroll bar on this page disappears I had better finish up. There are many more scriptures that could have been added but what has been covered I feel gives us/me a clearer picture of these heavenly beings.

One last example of the protection afforded us by the angles I thought I would throw in before winding up is found in 2Kings 6. This example again shows the very important roll prayer plays in our protection, how they are moved into action by the words of our mouth in prayer and the awesome power of these mighty servants of our God.

2Kings 6.

6:11. Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
6:12. And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
6:13. And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
6:14. Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
6:15. And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
6:16. And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
6:17. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
6:18. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And He smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

A quick summery of what the scriptures reveal about the Angles.
1. There are three Angelic officers that are confined to the realm of heave, the presence and praise of God, being the Seraphim, Cherubim and Zao. Though one of the Cherubim was sent to guard the entrance of the garden of Eden with a flaming sword after Adams fall. These angels do have wings but I am sure not bird like of the feathered verity.
2. Two Angelic offices, the Arch Angels and the common Angel are the two offices that have interacted with mankind serving as messengers, affording protection and from time to time executing Godly discipline toward the disobedience of man.
3. In all scriptures in which these two Angels are mentioned they are described as men by those who communed with them, not that they would be of the male gender as we know it, of wings there is not one mention in any of the verses indicating they neither have or require any.
4. They are servants to Gods people, today the Church and not only aid in but are also egger to see prophecy concerning the Church fulfilled.
5. Although absolutely obedient to the will of God they also like us have free will, if that were not the case as some in the past have stated satan nor his angels could have chosen to rebel against God.
6. They have a high intellect as stated by the woman when speaking with King David in 2 Samuel under the unction of the Holy Spirit, "for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad." As  again unfortunately displayed by satan in the cunning he demonstrated in deceiving Eve and the deception that is rampant on this earth today.
7. They "Hearkening unto the voice of His word." Their acts of obedience are prompt, so that they are ever ready to hear, and know, and follow implicitly His declared word. That also includes the words of our mouth as Ecclesiastes. 5:6 makes quite clear, "neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error, wherefore should God be angry at thy voice." As stated in Proverbs, life and death are in the power of the tongue. They hear us as well, should what we say or even pray at times be seen to be opposing Gods word the results may not be pleasing. " and destroy the work of thine hands."

8. Their appearance has been a fearful experience for many of the Patriarchs to whom they appeared and talked, many have been seen with drawn swords painting a picture of them as awesome beings that, "excel in strength." Yet on other occasions as in Acts 1:10 just as ordinary men, "And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel."
9. We like children of Israel before us are also not to provoke the angels as they did Exod. 23:21, lest we suffer the same consequences they did as there is no forgiveness in them and not enter His rest. How do we provoke them? By the ungodly way we at times may live in their sight, the sometimes undesirable things that can at times come out of our mouths and by disobedience, possibly even prayerlessness that we can all suffer from at times. Praise God for the Blood of Jesus we have the right of repentance, we have a mediator between God and ourselves, "The man Christ Jesus." I Tim. 2:5. "But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." Heb. 10:39.
10. We are not to worship or pray to them at any time or under any circumstances as those who fell down before them where quickly stood back up on their feet and told quite firmly to see they didn't do that as John discovered in Rev. 19:10. "And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"

The Angels are sent to war on our behalf, but we have a roll in this war to play also. I have heard a number of teachings on this very subject, some a little off key but others could not have given a clearer message other than God Himself. Our roll is in prayer, we strengthen the Angels arms when we join ours in prayer. Ephesians. 6:12. "For we 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." We war in the flesh, in prayer, Eph. 6:18, the Angels war in the spirit against spiritual wickedness in high places, in the spiritual realm.

Bob Haughey.
September. 2006.

One of the most talked
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