Encore Post: Beautiful young women in long, flowing white gowns, with big, downy wings, with a glowing, gold halo. A chubby, winged baby. The spirits of deceased Christians, also bearing wings and a halo, carrying a harp, floating on clouds. Images like these fill our pictures, movies, TV shows and songs. Yet none of these are real nor share much in common with God’s Holy Angels. They are very different creatures and are not mild, gentle beings. They are God’s Heavenly Army, powerful and, when they appear, command respect.
First of all, angels are not people. They are spirits created by God to serve him. (Hebrews 1) Christians do not become angels when they die. Our spirits are unnaturally separated from our bodies at death — bodies which decay. But we do not remain in that state. On the last day, God will raise our bodies from the dead and reunite our spirits with them.
Angels are powerful beings, sometimes tasked with battling Satan and his demons (these are fallen angelic creatures). They guard us, plead for us before the throne of God and stand in his eternal presence. When they appear to people, they so often inspire fear that almost always their first words to humans are “fear not.” Some of God’s people are even tempted when they appear to fall down in worship. Scripture even poetically refers to them as gods.
Unlike the popular TV series and movies, angels are not like humans with flaws, prone to temptation and sin. Good angels are now eternally sinless, having been tested by Lucifer’s rebellion. They have a perfect knowledge of God. While they always take the form of a male human when they appear to humans, they never marry. They also are not young, having existed since before the fall of Adam and Eve, nor are they ever female. The scriptures do not mention halos (these are put into medieval art to draw eyes to images of holy people and beings, especially in stained glass) and only describe angels with wings when referring to seraphim and cherubim).
Most importantly, they ministered to Jesus during his earthly ministry. Angels are used by God to draw us to Jesus. On our last day and the last day, they will escort us to the throne of God, where we will live with God forever. So we thank God for the ministry of Angels and sing with them his praises, both here on earth and forever.
©2018 Robert E. Smith. All rights reserved. Permission granted to copy, share and display freely for non-commercial purposes. Direct all other rights and permissions inquiries to cosmithb@gmail.com
Well said Robert. Thank you
You’re welcome!
Very interesting… Thank you for all the info on angel’s!
Do we know why there are no women as angels?
Because they are not humans. Beyond that, we don’t know why they take male forms.
Excellent Robert🙏✝️
Do they even take on the form of animals?
I do not believe so.
In light of your post, How do you view Hebrews 13: 2
Thanks for the question. This is a reference to Abraham receiving three strangers.
Nice, concise, explanation of all things Angel, and not.
Blessings Bob.
A fantastic read this morning, Pastor. Do you have more on angels??
Thanks! There was one a few days ago on St. Michaels (called Michelmas I believe.
Hallmark interpretations of Angels has infiltrated obituaries & Facebook sympathy posts, all cringeworthy. As a Lutheran Cantor, I go with the description of angels in Luther’s Sanctus, “Isaiah, Mighty Seer in Days of Old.” When I’m playing the organ, the rafters shake! Thanks for a wonderful article.
There is one passage I know of its zechariah 5:5-11 that seem tobe 2 women that are angles
What do you think
Hmmm … I’ll take a look.
No, these women are not angels. They have the wings of an unclean bird and are carrying wickness out of Judah and back to Persia. The basket is kind of an evil ark.
Could you recommend resources for continued learning about angels?
Of the top of my head, I do not.