So angels are often a popular topic of conversation when Christianity or the Bible are mentioned. They are the most popular outside the topic of Christ and usually the most misunderstood. The word "angel," in its singular, possessive and
plural cases, appears "angels" are mentioned in thirty-four different
books of the Bible. 305 times in the Bible. The word "angel" implies
"I dispatch, I send." Angels are, therefore, so called not to
indicate their intrinsic nature, but to designate their official character, capacity
and task designated by God. In very special ways, they are employed as the messengers
of God, to the saved and sinners alike. They are always spirits, but when they
are sent, they are called Angels."
The Bible applies the word "angel" in various
ways. First: It is used of God. "The Angel of God" or
"Lord" usually signifies a theophanic appearance of Christ (a
pre-incarnation appearance of Christ in the Old Testament)—the presence of
Deity in angelic form (Genesis 16:7,9, 10; 22:11; Zechariah 1:11).
Second, angel is used of men. The words "angels"
and "messengers," as we have seen, are equivalents, as passages like
Genesis 32:3; Deuteronomy 2:26; Malachi 3:1; Luke 7:24; 9:52 and Revelation
22:16 clearly prove. The original word is also used to describe God's created
messengers, such as: Israel (Isaiah 42:19), Haggai (Haggai 1:13), John the
Baptist (Malachi 2:7; 3:1), The Priesthood (Ecclesiastes 5:6), Pastors or
Bishops of the Church (Revelation 1:20)
Third: It is used of celestial beings. In most cases
"angel," in the Bible, is used of the unseen hierarchy of heaven,
each with their particular office to fulfill and talent/skill/purpose to use,
and all employed in numberless ways as the messengers of God to needy men. The
faithful angels are pure spirits and assume corporeal forms only on particular
occasions. The Bible alone supplies us with an authentic revelation of the
existence and nature of angels, described. First up, the big boys…
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Gabriel
The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the
presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good
news." Luke 1:19
The name of this principal angel means "the strength of
God." Gabriel was employed on several important missions. He is not
mentioned as having contact with the devil. He seems to be the angelic prophet,
an interpreter of the prophetic Word, and a re- vealer of the purposes of God.
It was Gabriel who flew swiftly to Daniel to inform him and to give him skill
and understanding of things to come. He expounded to the prophet the whole
course of Gentile history (Daniel 8:16-27; 9:21). It was Gabriel who revealed
to Zechariah that he was to be the father of John, the forerunner of Christ
(Luke 1:19). It was Gabriel who revealed to Mary that she was to be the virgin
mother of the Savior of mankind (Luke 1:26-35).
Bible References to Gabriel:
And I heard a man's voice from the Ulai calling,
"Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision." Daniel 8:16
... while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen
in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening
sacrifice. Daniel 9:21
The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news...." Luke 1:19
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth,
a town in Galilee. Luke 1:26
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Michael
But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with
the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous
accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" Jude 9
Michael is the only angel to be named "The
Archangel." We are not told who the archangel is whose voice will be heard
at the resurrection of the dead in Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Because of
his prominent tasks Michael should be classed among the chief angels.
Michael means "who is like unto God," a name of
self-oblation, of self-obliteration. He did not glorify himself. In the Book of
Enoch his meekness is extolled: "the merciful, the patient, the holy
Michael." Some writers have identified this angel of great dignity and
glory in the court of heaven as Christ the Messiah. This theory is to be
rejected, however, seeing Daniel calls Michael one of the chief or capital
princes (Daniel 10:13; 12:1). In the Old Testament he appears as the guardian
or patron angel of Daniel and of the people of Israel. In the New Testament he
is mentioned by Jude (verse 9) as contending with the devil and by John as the
archangel victorious over the archenemy, the dragon (Revelation 12:7). Michael
overcame the evil Satanic prince of Persia, who hindered Gabriel's visit to
Daniel, and it will be Michael and his great celestial, militant host who will
successfully war against the devil and his angels. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16 the
dead will be raised and the church caught up at the "voice of the
archangel-it must be
Bible References to the Archangel Michael:
But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one
days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me because I was
detained there with the king of Persia. Daniel 10:13
"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects
your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened
from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people-everyone
whose name is found written in the book-will be delivered. Daniel 12:1
But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with
the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous
accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" Jude 9
And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought
against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. Revelation
12:7
There is more to follow in the second three posts coming up next. From this point forward things get a little strange...because the Bible's description of the other angels is, well, strange. They solicit awe and at times...fear.
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