There seem to be different types of beings that we frequently call “angels”. Since the Bible is mainly concerned with how God is dealing with mankind, it does not give us all the information we might wish it did about angels. We have no way of knowing if the types of beings described in Scripture is exhaustive; I would assume it is far from it. At least three main categories of “angels” appear:

1. Malachim or “messengers” look like men. Some texts alternately refer to the same being as an “angel” and a “man”. The messengers are always described as male, and are never described as having wings.
2. The cherubim are described in Ezekiel 1:4-21 as having four faces, four wings, a multitude of “eyes”, and “wheels” within wheels.
3. The seraphim are described in Isaiah 6 as having six wings — two to cover their faces, two to cover their feet, and two to fly with. They constantly praise God. The same word seems to describe the “fiery serpents” encountered by the Israelites in the wilderness.

1. Possibly in Genesis 1:26, in the phrase “let us make man”, there is a reference to a “Divine council” consisting of God and some ruling angels.
2. After Man sinned, some cherubim were appointed to take Adam’s place in guarding the Garden and the way to the Tree of Life (Genesis 3:22-24). This speaks to the loss of Man’s priestly function. The human race now awaits a high priest to restore access to the Tree of Life.

1. Usually angels are hidden. For example, in Genesis 24, Abraham tells his servant that God’s angel will go before him for his mission. The servant is sucessful, with evidence of miraculous help, but we never actually see an angel.
2. Sometimes angels appear in dreams. In Genesis 28:11-17, Jacob dreamed of a ladder between heaven and earth, with angels going up and down on it. Jesus said this represented Him (John 1:51), indicating He will reconcile heaven and earth.
3. Sometimes angels appear openly. In Genesis 32:1-2, Jacob meets with a camp of angels!
4. Sometimes angels share mealswith people!
   • In Genesis 18, Abraham eats with 3 “men”. We learn that one is the Lord Himself.
   • In Genesis 19:1-3, Lot received the other 2, who we learn are angels. Yet they too share a meal with Lot.
   • In Heb. 13:2, we are encouraged to show hospitality to strangers, with the encouragement that by so doing, “some have entertained angels unaware”.

Frequently angels are seen like men, and narratives call the same person a man or an angel interchangeably.

Do angels have physical bodies? Historically the church has taught they do not, but why? Jesus ate to prove he was physical; why is this not seen as proof that angels are physical too?

The Bible does not teach that angels are the spirits of people who died!

• Job 1:6-12 describes a meeting of the “sons of God”. This phase could be like “sons of the prophet”, to refer to followers of a prophet in a school; the meaning would be to descibe a “council” of angels who are following God. Or it could be like Luke 3:38, where Adam is called the “son of God” because he was created, not born. This latter meaning would suggest that angels are directly created, not born. Jesus also taught that angels do not marry.
• This passage also shows us “Satan”, the “adversary”. He seems to both be an intruder to this meeting, and to have some plausible reason to be there. Perhaps he is an outcast from this council?
• The lesson in Job goes on to teach is that Satan, while powerful (able to stir up bad weather and bring bands of attackers), is constrained within limits set by God.

• We know that Satan was created by a good God for (ultimately) good ends (Romans 8:28).
• Satan seems to be an angel who sinned, but we do not have details.
• 1 Timothy 3:6-7 suggests that pride and conceit led to Satan’s condemnation. Let these sins be far from us!
• Revelation 12:7-9tells of a great dragon, “the serpent”, “the devil”, or Satan. Along with a great many angels, he will fight in heaven against “Michael and his angels”, but will not prevail.The allusion to a serpent is interesting – could Satan have originally been a seraph?
• Ezekiel 28:11-19 tells of a cherub cast out of Eden for pride — is this Satan, or some other evil power?
• Jude 6 speaks of angels who sinned who currently wait in chains in gloomy darkness, awaiting final judgment.
• The Bible also tells of “demons”, evil spirits lacking bodies.
  • Maybe these are also fallen angels?
  • Idol worship is essentially demon worship – 1 Corinthians 6:20

1. Satan is powerful in this world
   • John 12:31 – “Now is the prince of this world judged”.
   • Ephesians 2:1-2 – Satan is called the “Prince of the power of the air”.
   • 2 Corinthians 4:4 – Satan is called “te god of this world”
2. Gabriel is one of only two angels given names in the Bible.
   • Daniel 9:21 – Gabriel flew swiftly with a message to Daniel – this was his second visit.
   • In Luke 1, Gabriel announced the coming births of both John the Baptist and Jesus.
3. Michael is called an “archangel”, a ruling angel. He fights with Satan and watches over Israel. In Daniel 10:2-21, angelic powers rule over nations.
4. Ephesians 6:12 tells us that we participate in a spiritual war:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over
this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in
the heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:12