Renewalists (Pentecostals, Charismatics and Neo-Charismatics) believe that angels appear to people in their dreams or in person, even today. It is God’s ongoing ministry to us. But we must get our biblical doctrine straight, or we can stray.
Let’s start with a basic definition and description, as noted in other posts.
Angels:
(a) Are messengers (in Hebrew mal’ak and in Greek angelos);
(b) Are created spirit beings;
(c) Have a beginning at their creation (not eternal);
(d) Have a beginning, but they are immortal (deathless).
(e) Have moral judgment;
(f) Have a certain measure of free will;
(g) Have high intelligence;
(h) Do not have physical bodies;
(i) But can manifest with immortal bodies before humans;
(j) They can show the emotion of joy.
With those basics, let’s get started with the Bible study.
If you would like to see the verses in many translations, please go to biblegateway.com.
1.. They are called spirits.
Heb. 1:14 says that they are ministering spirits who serve the people who will inherit salvation. Theologically this means that they are invisible to us, unless God wills to manifest them. But personally, angels are nudging and assisting your loved ones who have not yet been saved. But please don’t pray to them or command them. They are God’s messenger, not yours (Ps. 91:11)
2.. Their manifested bodies are immortal and incorruptible.
In Ex. 3:4, the Angel of Lord called from within the burning bush, but he was not burned. And in Judg. 13:20, the Angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of a burnt offering and was unharmed.
This shows that earthly things cannot harm them.
Incidentally, the same will be true when you receive your resurrected body at the Lord’s return. It will be transformed to such a degree that no earthly thing can harm it.
Luke 20:35-36 is a wonderful passage that says at the resurrection believers will not marry or be given in marriage, and they can no longer die, for they will be like angels.
3.. God created them early in creation.
Job 38:6-7 teaches us that when God laid the foundation of the world, while the morning stars sang together, then the angels shouted for joy, because he was making the world.
Ps. 148:2-5 orders all the angels to praise the LORD, for they and other things were created at his command.
Col. 1:16: here is my translation: “Because by him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether rulers or authorities; all things were created through him and for him.” Angels are included in “all things,” and I get the sense that the “thrones and dominions …. rulers and authorities” may be earthly governments, but they could also be spiritual beings—probably all of the above, earthly and spiritual. God is the originator of everything, after all.
4.. They were created good.
Gen. 1:31 says that all of God’s creation was good, and angels are included in “all.”
5.. They have a beginning because they were created.
Neh. 9:6 says that the multitudes of heaven worship the LORD who made them
Ps. 148:2, as noted above, angels were commanded to praise the LORD who made them.
Ps. 148:5, and verse 5 here is included in the majestic scene.
Theologically they are not eternal because there was a time when they did not exist. Only God is eternal. But since their creation, angels who know their place will now last forever.
6.. They live in heaven.
Matt. 18:10 says they live in heaven and look at the face of the Father of the little children. “Face” means God’s presence.
Matt. 22:30 teaches that at the resurrection people will neither marry or be given in marriage, but will be like the angels in heaven.
Luke 1:19 tells us that Gabriel said he continuously stands in the presence of God. And God lives in heaven.
Rev. 5:11-12 reveals a wonderful panorama of many angels, thousands and thousands, myriads and myriads who encircle the throne and the creates near it and praise God.
Let’s take some time to discuss what the Bible says about heaven.
Heaven is another dimension, not a distant planet or star within our universe. God did not move his throne room to a corrupt star or planet. If so, where did he live before he made the heavens and the earth, in the beginning of time and space (Gen. 1:1)? No, heaven is closer than that, but on a completely different order and a completely different realm. Example: When Stephen was about to be martyred, he saw heaven open up and the Son of Man welcoming him (Acts 7:55-56). He didn’t look off into space at a distant planet. Instead, the veil between him and heaven was pulled back. Angels live there, on the other side of the veil.
7.. They have moral judgment and a measure of free will.
2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 9 speak of angels who rebelled against God. Since they revolted against God, they exercised a certain measure of free will and moral judgment—a bad use of free will and moral judgment!
8.. They have limited wisdom and knowledge, but greater than ours in most areas.
2 Sam. 14:20 says that angels have greater wisdom than humankind.
Matt. 24:36 says they don’t know when the Son of Man will return, however.
1 Pet. 1:12 also teaches that they do not understand redemption and salvation, but long to look into these things. We understand those things more clearly than they do. But surely they understand the spiritual realm and heaven better than we do since they live in it.
They have limitations, therefore. They are not omniscient (all-knowing). Only God is.
9.. They are not to be worshipped.
Col. 2:18 teaches us that we should not allow anyone who does false humility and worships angels to disqualify us. They go into great details about what they have seen, but their minds are unspiritual. My suggestion is that you do not get caught up in secret things at websites that promote world religions and angels. They have many falsehoods in them, which the undiscerning minds cannot sort out.
10.. They do not marry.
As noted, Luke 20:35-36 says at the resurrection believers will not marry or be given in marriage, for they will be like angels.
So these and other passages teach us that they are immortal and God’s special creation with nonphysical bodies, and therefore they are incapable of reproducing.
Some interpreters believe that fallen angels married the daughters of men in Gen. 6:2, but they were probably heroic men, coming from the lineage of Seth.
See the post Who Were the ‘Sons of God’ in Genesis? See no. 13, below.
11.. They are probably not made in the image of God, but we are.
Gen. 1:26-27 says that Adam and Eve were made in God’s likeness.
Gen. 9:6 teaches that anyone who has shed blood (murdered) has to have his blood shed, because the victim was made in the image of God. ,Angels are probably not included in the image of God idea.
Gen. 5:3 tells us that we can procreate humans in God’s image, but angels cannot procreate, so they are probably excluded from being made in God’s image.
12.. They can be only in one place at a time.
Dan. 10:12-14 teaches us that Michael, one of the princes of the heavenly world, had to come and help Daniel’s personal messenger, to defeat a spirit being who hindered Daniels prayers. If Michael had to arrive on the scene, then he was not everywhere at once.
Luke 1:26 says that God sent Gabriel to Nazareth. If Gabriel had to be sent, then he was not everywhere.
Thus they are not omnipresent (everywhere at once), for only God is.
13.. They are powerful, but not omnipotent (all-powerful).
Ps. 103:20 says they are mighty ones.
Eph. 1:21 calls them powers, which means they have a certain ability to exert over people and other spiritual forces, but not entire power over them.
Col. 1:16 says there are such things as dominions and authorities or an angelic hierarchy.
(Note: some teach that these terms like “dominions” and “authorities” include demonic forces too.)
2 Peter 2:11 says that they greater in might and power than rebellious humans.
Matt. 28:2 says that legions of angels could wipe out humanity.
Dan. 10:13 and Rev. 12:7-8 and Rev. 20:13 teach that they can defeat demonic forces.
Only God is omnipotent; angels are not.
14.. They have the emotion of joy.
In Job 38:7, the “sons of God” (angels) are shown to have rejoiced at the creation.
In Luke 15:10, angels celebrate when one sinner repents and returns to God.
Rev. 19:6-7 says that the four living creature and the twenty-four angels fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne: “Amen! Hallelujah!” This seems to be a joyous, triumphant exclamation.
Zeph. 3:17 says that God rejoices over his people with singing. If God rejoices with singing, then why not angels too?
It does not appear anywhere in Scripture that they can have other emotions like wrath or sadness. Rather, they seem solemn and not swayed by human emotions or do not come under the control of them. But maybe when one angel destroyed the Assyrian army, in 2 Kings 19:35, he expressed calm wrath of judgment, We don’t know enough about angels to state these matters categorically.
15.. They are called by other names.
A.. Sons of God
Some Bible interpreters say that the “sons of God” who married daughters of humans were angels (Gen. 6:2). However, angels do not marry or are given in marriage (Matt. 22:30). They were probably descendants from the godly line of Seth, Adam and Eve’s named son, Seth (Gen. 5:4) and so had a special relationship with God, hence their honorific “sons of God,” and were leaders.
See Who Were the ‘Sons of God’ in Genesis?
Most scholars believe that the sons of God in Job 1:6 and 2:1 were angels. The New International Version translates the phrase as “angels,” but also notes that the Hebrew says “sons of God.” Job 38:7 says the sons of God rejoiced when the morning stars sang together, so these sons of God were probably angels.
B.. Holy ones
Ps. 89:5 and Ps. 89:7 call them this title. “Holy” at its root means separateness, and the opposite is common or profane—soiled by the world and creation. Angels are consecrated and separated by God and to God for his divine purposes.
C.. Hosts or armies of heaven
These terms appear everywhere in the Old Testament.
Ps. 89:6 and Ps. 89:8 also calls them by this name, which indicates their function—they know how to join forces and fight and worship God.
Is. 31:4 teaches us that the LORD of hosts or armies will do battle for his people.
D.. Watchers
In Dan. 4:13, Dan. 4:17, Dan. 4:23 they are called watchmen or in the singular watchman.
E.. Spirits (as noted above)
Heb. 1:14 teaches that they are not made of the physical stuff that humans have.
F.. Thrones, dominions, principalities, authorities (Col. 1:16) and powers (Eph. 1:21)
These verses teach that angels have certain jurisdictions and a hierarchy. However, the details are not clear, though some Bible teachers claim they can figure out the hierarchy. They may be right, or they may miss the point, which is that they have power and authority over dominions.
Other interpreters say the demonic kingdom also have such hierarchies, and those terms may refer to them as well.
16.. God did not spare them when the sinned.
2 Pet. 2:4: Fallen angels were put in hell (a verb is used here, but the noun is Tartarus) to await judgment. This indicates that God shows us his love to us humans in his redemption and forgiveness, but angels do not get a second chance, since they lived in God’s absolutely glorious presence, while we do not. Greater privilege means greater judgment.
So how does this post help me know God better?
Renewalists believe in the infallibility and authority of Scripture, and interpret those passages as real. Many of them have seen angels, either in their dreams or in person.
Christians of any kind should not seek angels, but seek God through Christ. He wants to have an intimate relationship and personal communication with you. You can learn to receive guidance from the Father, through Jesus, and in the Holy Spirit and Scripture and sound, biblical teaching in a fellowship.
RELATED
Angels: Their Duties and Missions
Angels: Their Names and Ranks and Heavenly Existence
Angels: Their Origins, Abilities, and Nature
Who Was the Angel of the Lord?
SOURCES
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 