This post is written by Katie Orr as a companion for Unit 32, Session 4 of The Gospel Project for Adults, Volume 11: From One Nation to All Nations (Spring 2024).
The topic of angels is fascinating for most. The reality that there are other sentient beings besides humans is exciting on many levels. However, because there is much conflicting and sometimes false information that swirls around angelic beings, it can be difficult to understand what exactly angels are and why they exist. So, what does the Bible say about angels? Though we can hardly explore the topic fully in one little blog post, here are a few facts to consider about angels.
Angels Exist
From Genesis to Revelation, angels are clearly presented as real. However, they do not exist apart from the creation and providence of God. In other words, they are not self-existent. Nor are they simple human beings who have evolved into some sort of angelic state. They were each individually created by God, and they exist for the same reason we do: to glorify God and serve His purposes. The Bible presents these created beings as having emotions, intelligence, and free-will. All the angels originally dwelt in the heavens with God before the cosmic coup carried out by fallen angels—the evil one and his minions who rebelled against the rule of God.
Angels Are Distinct from Humans
Though every human being and every heavenly being shares a Creator, possesses individual identity and intelligence, and holds the same ultimate reason for existence, angels are distinct from humans in several ways. While we currently exist as both body and spirit, heavenly beings have a spirit only. They are not embodied. However, they can appear to humans in bodily form, and evil spirits can possess a human or an animal’s body (Mark 5:6-13). This points to another of their unique characteristics: they possess powers we do not have, as many biblical stories demonstrate. Furthermore, these bodiless beings dwell in a realm that we are unable to see (Matthew 12:43).
Angels Are Messengers
Though most commonly referred to as angels, the term angel actually better represents one of their roles, not their primary essence. God has tasked these immaterial heavenly beings with various roles, one of which is that of a divine messenger (angel means messenger). Beyond this, God sends some to deliver His servants in miraculous ways, others to guard (seraphim and cherubim), watch, protect, and minister to humans in various ways. Demons, or evil spirits, have rejected their call to do God’s bidding and give Him glory, but they all at one time had a job to do.
To understand the distinction of the term angel as role instead of being, consider the following comparison.
- Our local mailman, Mike, regularly delivers mail to our mailbox. Postal worker is Mike’s job title, and delivering mail is his job. Mike is his name, and human being is his basic identity.
- The archangel Gabriel was sent to earth by God to announce to Zechariah the coming birth of his son, John. Angel is Gabriel’s job title, and delivering the messages of God is his job. Gabriel is his name, and heavenly being is his basic identity.
Angels Serve for God’s Glory
There is much more to say about angels, but one bottom-line truth exists that we can take with us today: God created heavenly beings for His glory.
“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. They said with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’ I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say, ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!’ The four living creatures said, ‘Amen,’ and the elders fell down and worshiped” (Revelation 5:11-14).
Katie Orr is the author of Secrets of the Happy Soul, seven FOCUSed15 Bible studies, and is the creator of the Bible Study Hub community, where women can receive training, encouragement, and accountability to enjoy God’s Word. Katie holds an MA in Discipleship from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. She and her husband, Chris, along with their three children, live in Central Florida.
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