(3 minute 14 second read)
Can we all agree that the spiritual world is… strange?
Spiritual beings with wings, thousands of eyes, and 4-faced creatures with 4 wings guarding sacred places…
We know these beings to be angels.
But that term is waaaaaay too oversimplistic.
Surprisingly, not a lot is known about these beings.
It’s not that people don’t talk about them, it’s that our modern world either 1. explains the supernatural away or 2. the subject matter is too “weird” to research.
In the Hebrew Bible, the term “angel” (Hebrew mal’ak; Greek angelos) primarily denotes a function—messenger—rather than a specific type of being.
Any spiritual being who takes on the role of messenger would be considered an angel — because that’s what an angel is.
The word angel doesn’t describe what something is, but rather what something does, or the task it performs. (i.e. bringing a message).
If I were a spiritual being in the heavens, and I was tasked to take a message to someone else, I would be taking on the role of an angel.
This alone has a sizeable impact on how we view these spiritual beings in the heavens.
The Bible does talk about the nature and role of these angels, they:
Serve as intermediaries between God and humanity, and are described as “ministering spirits” sent to serve those who inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14)
Are a part of God’s heavenly assembly to participate in the governance of the cosmos (Psalm 82, Daniel 7, 1 Kings 22)
Are Mediators who intercede on our behalf (Job 33:23)
Guard and Execute God’s will — various angels are assigned to protect people or nations, oversee specific realms (Michael overseeing Israel), or carry out God’s judgment.
Like this list of what angels are and do, they also have a list of things they are not, and don’t do, such as:
Not being perfect — Job suggests that God does not place complete trust in them (Job 4:17; 15:15)
Not being Omnipotent or Omniscient — Unlike God, angels are not all-powerful or all-knowing.
What’s interesting about this whole situation with angels is that there is a distinction between the role of humans and angels in God’s plans.
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God has His spiritual family (angels), and He has his earthly family (humanity).
Humans, although “a little lower than the angels” (Psalm 8:5), are destined for a unique relationship with God…
Which includes being co-heirs with Christ and having authority over angels in the future (1 Corinthians 6:3).
So, where does this distinction between what is an angel (messenger) versus just an ordinary spiritual being?
Dr. Michael Heiser notes that in the heavenly realm, there’s a hierarchy:
The Most High (Yahweh)
Sons of God: High-ranking officials who are given authority over nations and aspects of the cosmos (Duet 32:8-9, some translations have “sons of Israel,” but Heiser disagrees as Israel wasn’t a nation yet, and the Dead Sea Scrolls say “sons of God.”)
Archangels: The term itself implies “chief” or “ruling” angels, such as Michael and Gabriel.
Cherubim & Seraphim: Guardians of sacred spaces, and are close to Yahweh.
Angels: Carrying out specific missions on behalf of God.
Angels are also sometimes described as having physical, human characteristics — and according to Hebrews 13:2…
You might even have encountered one yourself!
There’s more to the spiritual world than meets the eye.
And let’s not pretend like the Biblical writers viewed the supernatural world as secondary.
Thanks for reading!
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