Angels, Demons and the Spirit World

It is amazing how many professing Christians refuse to believe in angels or demons, let alone a spirit world “in heaven.” They consider such ideas as relics or superstitions from the distant past. While many have no problem believing in UFOs or alien life forms, they scoff at the idea of the existence of real angels and real demons. At best, they consider such beings as symbols of good and evil—a figurative way of describing a sense of right and wrong within us. The Bible clearly reveals, however, that angels and demons do exist.

There are others who do profess to believe in angels but swing the pendulum all the way to the other side and actually worship angels. The Bible is very clear that only God is to be worshiped, not angels.

In this booklet, we will present the biblical revelation of the little-understood spirit world. While it is important to believe what God’s Word reveals about the existence of angels and demons, it is even more important to have a true understanding of what these spirit beings are doing today, how they affect us, and what their existence means for us. In looking at the Scriptures and accepting the awesome truth contained therein, the spirit world will become plainly visible before our “spiritual eyes” and we will gain a clearer perception than ever before!

BEFORE the Physical CREATION

The Bible reveals to us that there was a time when only God existed. However, that statement is coupled with the biblical understanding that God actually consists of two beings—the Father and the Son. John 1:1 tells us, “In the beginning [before anything else was created] was the Word [the Son of God—Jesus Christ], and the Word was with God [God the Father], and the Word was God.” God has always existed. There was never a time when God (both the Father and the Son) did not exist.

The Bible does not tell us what God did before He began creating within the spirit world and then the physical universe. We are told, however, that there was a time when God started His Work of creation. We might speculate that God spent a lot of time in planning His creation. We are not told, however, how long this took nor what God did before He began to plan His creation.

We humans tend to think of creation as referring to the physical universe—the galaxies, the suns, the stars and planets, and our own earth and the life forms on it, including man. God, however, did not start His work of creation by creating physical things. He first created spiritual things. This spirit realm still exists today, but since it is invisible to the human eye, many choose not to believe in it. However, when rightly understood, the spirit world is much more real than the physical world. It is, in fact, permanent, unlike the physical world, which is temporary. The created spirit world has existed much longer than anything physical, and it will continue to exist for all of eternity.

Part1—The World of Angels

It is revealed to us in God’s Word that God created angels. Angels have not lived forever. Angels did have a beginning. Psalm 148:1–2, 5 tells us: “PRAISE the LORD!… Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!… For He commanded, and they were CREATED.”

Paul confirms in Colossians 1:16 that angels—invisible to the human eye—were created. They have not existed forever. “For by Him [Jesus Christ] all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible.”

Angels Cannot Die

Angels were created as immortal spirit beings, to live forever. Christ compared the immortality of angels with the POTENTIAL of man to become immortal when He said in Luke 20:36: “… nor can they [man made immortal in the resurrection] die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.” This truth is confirmed in 2 Corinthians 4:18: “… For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Angels are invisible; they are “not seen” by the human eye (compare Colossians 1:16).

Angels Don’t Marry

Angels don’t experience physical marriage in the spirit realm, and resurrected Christians who are changed to Spirit beings won’t marry either. Christ confirmed this in Matthew 22:30: “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.”

Angels Enjoy Eating

Angels were created as spirit beings—they are composed of spirit. As such, they are not dependent on physical things, including food. Nevertheless, angels do enjoy eating. In fact, we are told that they have special food. Psalm 78:24–25 tells us: “[God] Had rained down manna on them to eat, And given them of the bread of heaven. Men ate angels’ food; He sent them food to the full.” Genesis 18:1–8 shows that the two angels (compare Genesis 19:1), accompanying the One identified as the LORD, also ate a meal that Abraham prepared.

Mightier Than Man

As spirit beings, angels are much stronger and mightier than physical man. The Bible confirms in 2 Peter 2:11 the obvious fact that “…angels…are greater in power and might” than humans.

Not As Knowledgeable As God

Angels do not have the same knowledge and understanding that God has. In 1 Peter 1:12, we are told that God reveals spiritual knowledge to His church that even angels do not possess: “…things which angels desire to look into.” In fact, Ephesians 3:10 confirms that the time has come when “…the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church [to which God revealed His wisdom] to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places” [different ranks of angels, see below].”

How Many Angels Exist?

Man has no comprehension of how many angels exist. The revealed number is indeed mind-boggling. In Revelation 5:11, the number of angels that had assembled before the throne of God is given as “…ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.” Hebrews 12:22 goes even further: “But you have come to… an innumerable company of angels.” The Greek word for “innumerable” is “anarithmethos,” literally meaning, “unnumbered” or “without number.” Certainly God knows how many angels He created but for man, angels are “without number.”

Angels Have Feelings

God did not create angels as robots. Rather, they are individual beings with emotions and feelings. In Job 38:7, angels sang together and shouted for joy when they saw God’s beautiful creation of the earth. Also, they “rejoice” when a sinner repents (compare Luke 15:10).

Angels Have Their Own Language

Angels speak their own language, a language that is different from the languages of man. In 1 Corinthians 13:1, Paul says: “Though I speak with the tongues [languages] of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become [as] sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.”

Angels Have Their Own Names

As individual beings with feelings and emotions, and with their own language, God also knows them by individual names. The Bible reveals two angelic names to us—Michael and Gabriel. It also talks about a third angel—Lucifer—who became Satan the devil. It appears, however, that all of the other angels have God-given names too. In Hebrews 1:4, we are told that Christ “…obtained a more excellent name than they,” and Ephesians 1:21, in comparing Christ with the angelic world, states that Christ was seated at the right hand of God the Father, “…far above…every name that is named.” (Compare, too, Philippians 2:9.)

God’s Angels Are Not Always in Heaven

Many Scriptures tell us that the abode of God’s angels is in heaven. Revelation 7:11 points out: “All the angels stood around the throne… and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God.” This does not mean, however, that the angels always stay in heaven. Jacob saw in a dream God’s angels ascending and descending on a ladder reaching heaven. He understood that he had been shown the “gate of heaven” (Genesis 28:12–17). Christ explained to Philip that God’s angels were ascending and descending upon the Son of Man (John 1:51). We will also see later in this booklet that angels are sent by God to “…walk to and fro throughout the earth” (Zechariah 6:7).

The Angel of the LORD

The Bible repeatedly makes mention of “the angel of the LORD.” Some claim that this expression always refers to Jesus Christ, as the Messenger of God the Father (see discussion below). However, in most cases, the word “LORD” in the Old Testament refers to Christ, though it can refer to the Father as well. (Refer to our free booklet, “God is a Family.”) We also read in Luke 2:9 that an “angel of the Lord” appeared to the shepherds in the field after Christ was born. In that passage, the term “angel of the Lord” could not possibly refer to Christ Himself, otherwise, He would have been in two different locations at the same time.

It appears that the phrase, “angel of the LORD,” often designates an angel sent by God. For instance, we read in 1 Kings 19:5 that “an angel” touched Elijah. In verse 7, the angel is referred to as “the angel of the LORD.” The New King James Bible arbitrarily capitalizes the word “angel” in some of those passages. Such rendering is simply an interpretation of the translator, and is of course not found in the original.

Other Difficulties with the Word, “Angel”

We read in Hosea 12:3–4 that Jacob “…struggled with God. Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed.” We also read in Genesis 32:28, 30 that Jacob “…struggled with God,” and that he had seen “…God face to face.”

In addition, we are told in Exodus 3:2 that “…the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire.” In verse 4, we are told that Moses was called by God from the midst of the bush. However, in Acts 7:35, Stephen said that “…the Angel… appeared to him in the bush.”

As a third example, Exodus 19:18–21 tells us that “the LORD” and “God” spoke to Moses on the top of Mount Sinai. Stephen said in Acts 7:38 that “the Angel… spoke to him on Mount Sinai.”

How do we explain these apparent contradictions?

In Hebrew, the word for “angel” is “malak” or “malech,” which is derived from the Hebrew, “l’k,” meaning, “to deliver a message,” or “to carry out an assignment.” The word “malak” can be translated as “angel” or as “messenger.” The Greek word for “angel” is “angelos,” which also means “messenger.” The Latin word “angelus” is derived from the Greek word, “angelos,” and means, “angel.” Therefore, the words “malak” and “angelos” can refer to a created angelic being, and they can refer to human messengers. (Compare Genesis 32:3; Haggai 1:13; Matthew 11:10; and James 2:25. In these passages, the words “malak” and “angelos,” referring to human beings, are translated as “messenger.”) These words can also refer to Jesus Christ, the “Messenger” of God the Father, as is the case in Malachi 3:1.

The “angel” or “messenger” who appeared to Moses and Jacob was Jesus Christ. It was Christ who dealt directly with ancient Israel and Judah. (For Biblical proof, please read our free booklet, “God is a Family.”) Therefore, the above-quoted passages in the books of Hosea, Genesis and Exodus identify the Person within the God Family who struggled with Jacob and who spoke with Moses—Jesus Christ, the “messenger” of the Father. In other passages, as we will see, the Bible may say that God did certain things, but the context reveals that He did it through His angels.

Different Orders of Angels

There seem to exist different orders, categories or ranks of angels, with varying degrees of power and authority. When describing the angelic world, Colossians 1:16 speaks about “…thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.” Ephesians 1:20–21 refers to angels as “…principality and power and might and dominion.” In Ephesians 3:10, angels are identified as “…principalities and powers in the heavenly places,” and 1 Peter 3:22 describes the created world of spirit beings as “…angels and authorities and powers.”

In light of these Scriptures, the Swiss Zürcher Bible does refer to ranks among the angels. The Ryrie Study Bible states in an annotation to Ephesians 1:21: “These words (i.e., principality, and power, and might, and dominion) in rabbinical thought of the time, described different orders of angels.”

As will become clearer in the remainder of this booklet, angels have been given varying degrees of power and glory. All of them are powerful and glorious, but not to the same extent. Revelation 5:2 speaks about a “strong angel.” Revelation 10:1 and 18:21 describe “mighty” angels. Revelation 18:1 introduces an angel “…coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.” Other Scriptures imply that specific angels were given special powers over fire (Revelation 14:18) and water (Revelation 16:5).

The following brief overview will summarize the varying orders or categories of angels, as revealed in Scripture:

(1) Archangels

The Bible talks at times about certain “archangels.” The meaning of this word is, “chief messenger.” Only Michael is specifically referred to in Scripture as an “archangel.” The name “Michael” means, “Who is like God?” Jude 9 identifies him as an “archangel.” He is also referred to as “one of the chief princes,” (Daniel 10:13) showing that there must be additional “chief princes.” He is also described as “the great prince” (Daniel 12:1). He is clearly in charge of other angels, as Revelation 12:7 explains (“Michael and his angels fought…”).

Whether the second named angel in the Bible, Gabriel, is an archangel, is not clearly revealed. The name “Gabriel” means, “God is mighty.” While the Bible nowhere describes the appearance of Michael, the angel Gabriel has the “appearance of a man” (Daniel 8:15; 9:21; see also the detailed discussion later in this booklet). He “stands in the presence of God” (Luke 1:19) and is sent oftentimes by God to man with positive and important news (Luke 1:26, 31). He was sent several times to Daniel, and he was sent to Zacharias (Luke 1:11–13), and to Mary. Since the meaning of “archangel” is “chief messenger,” and since Gabriel is sent by God with important messages, the assumption is compelling that Gabriel is an archangel. He has been traditionally viewed as one of the other archangels and one of the chief princes.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 speaks of an “archangel” without specifically explaining his identity. We read, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” This wording indicates, too, the existence of more than one archangel; otherwise, it would just say, “the archangel.”

(2) Seraphim

The Bible specifically refers to angelic beings as “seraphim” in one place. The word “seraphim” means “burning” or “noble.” These beings are depicted as standing above God’s throne, each having “…six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew” (Isaiah 6:2). The voice of a seraphim is so powerful that “…the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out” (Isaiah 6:4). Isaiah 6:6 describes one of the seraphim as touching a burning coal with his hand.

Whether this passage makes clear that seraphim look like men, is uncertain. The reference to “face,” “feet” and “hand” might suggest this. On the other hand, the Hebrew word for “seraphim,” “saraph,” (compare Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, under “Seraphims” and “Serpent”, Number 8314) is also used in other passages, describing dragons or serpents. We read in Isaiah 14:29, “Do not rejoice, all you of Philistia, Because the rod that struck you is broken; For out of the serpent’s roots will come forth a viper, And its offspring will be a fiery flying serpent.” The Hebrew word for “fiery serpent” is “saraph.” The New Jerusalem Bible gives the rendering, “a flying dragon.” An additional passage can be found in Isaiah 30:6: “The burden against the beasts of the South. Through a land of trouble and anguish, From which came the lioness and lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent (“saraph” in Hebrew)…”

The Hebrew word “saraph” is also used in Numbers 21:8–9, when God instructed Moses to “‘Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.’ So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole...”

Rienecker’s Commentary to the Bible states the following: “Passages such as Isaiah 14:29 and 30:6, describing flying seraphim (plural of saraph, translated by Luther as ‘flying dragon’), as well as Isaiah 6:2, 6, using the word to describe six-winged beings above the throne of God, go beyond the idea of an ordinary snake or serpent, and impress on the reader the concept of dragon-like creatures…”

(3) Cherubim

Perhaps the best-known angelic beings mentioned in the Bible are the “cherubim.” As we will explain in more detail later in this booklet, the common idea as to what cherubim are, or how they look, is totally false. The meaning of “cherub” or “cherubim” is “those grasped, held fast.” God “…placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24). God “dwells between the cherubim” (Psalm 99:1; 2 Samuel 6:2), riding “upon a cherub” (Psalm 18:10; 2 Samuel 22:11). Moses was instructed to “…make two cherubim of gold… at the two ends of the mercy seat… And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another… and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony” (Exodus 25:18, 20, 22).

We also read that the veil of the tabernacle “…shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim” (Exodus 26:31); that the walls of Solomon’s temple were carved with “…figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers” (1 Kings 6:29); and that “…on the panels [of the carts] that were between the frames were lions, oxen, and cherubim” (1 Kings 7:29).

A mighty and powerful angel is described in Ezekiel 28:14–16 as the “anointed cherub who covers…You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you… And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones.” Other passages, such as Isaiah 14:12, tell us that this cherub was “Lucifer,” who sinned against God and became Satan the devil (much more on this later).

The Bible does not tell us how many cherubs exist. Ezekiel, chapters 1 and 10, mention at least four cherubs, in addition to the former cherub Lucifer, who is now Satan.

Some have speculated whether Michael and Gabriel are not only archangels, but also cherubs. The Bible nowhere identifies these two angels as cherubs.

(4) Four Living Creatures

The Bible speaks about “four living creatures” in the book of Revelation that appear before the throne of God. Although their description is, to an extent, similar to that of seraphim, there are nevertheless distinctions, implying that these angelic beings belong to a separate category or order. Revelation 4:6–9 explains that they have six wings, and that all of them look different. One looks like a lion, one looks like a calf, one looks like a flying eagle, and one has the face of a man. In addition, they have voices of thunder (Revelation 6:1) and they carry out God’s Will by directing other angels (compare Revelation 15:7).

(5) The Twenty-Four Elders

The book of Revelation also speaks about twenty-four high-ranking spirit beings within the angelic realm, called the “twenty-four elders.” They are in heaven, clothed in white robes, wearing crowns of gold on their heads and sitting on twenty-four thrones before the throne of God, whom they worship and serve (Revelation 4:4, 10–11). The high rank of the “four living creatures” and the “twenty-four elders” is expressed in Revelation 5:11: “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne [of God and the Lamb, Jesus Christ], the living creatures, and the elders…” (Compare, too, Revelation 7:11.)

(6) The Seven Spirits of God

As will be discussed later in more detail, the Bible reveals to us the existence of seven special angels of God, referred to as the “Seven Spirits of God,” (Revelation 5:6) whose responsibility it is to walk through the earth to report their observations to God. It is possible that these seven spirit beings are identical with “…the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given [the] seven [last] trumpets… So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound” (Revelation 8:2, 6). These seven spirit beings are perhaps also identical with the “seven thunders” mentioned in Revelation 10:3–4, and with the seven angels of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation 1:20, as well as in Revelation 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, and 14.

(7) The Remaining Angels

Many times, the Bible speaks in general terms of angels. We read of the archangel “Michael and his angels” (Revelation 12:7). 1 Peter 3:22 speaks of “angels and authorities and powers.” Angels are also referred to as “sons of God” (compare Job 1:6; 38:7) or as “stars” (compare Isaiah 14:13; Revelation 12:4; Revelation 9:1–2; Revelation 1:20). As each physical star has a name given by God (Isaiah 40:26; Psalm 147:4), so it appears, as mentioned before, that God gave each angel his name, too, since “angels” are many times figuratively described as “stars.” High-ranking angels are sometimes referred to as “morning stars,” compare Job 38:7.

Don’t Contact and Worship Angels

The more we study the Scriptures about the world of angels, the more we will be struck by the awesome truth that unfolds in front of our eyes. We will learn about unknown and unheard of powers and abilities that angels possess. Their tremendous strength and might could perhaps motivate us to worship angels in our thoughts. The study of the angelic world might also tempt us to seek to get in contact with angels, and to literally worship them. These actions would be a terrible mistake. The Bible warns us explicitly NOT to do so.

John, an apostle of Jesus Christ, had to overcome the very same temptation that we are speaking of. After a mighty angel had shown John in a vision what would happen in the future, John thought that he had to worship this angel. Revelation 19:10 tells us: “And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!’”

Human memory is short-lived. A few chapters later, John is about to repeat the same mistake. Revelation 22:8–9 records, “Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.’”

In addition, the Bible warns us not to make contact with angels. When God wants to send an angel with a message to us, He will do that. To attempt to make contact ourselves with angels is very dangerous. As we will see later in this booklet, we might end up making contact with the wrong kind of angel. Colossians 2:18 states: “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.”

Most commentaries and translators point out that the Greek conveys here the meaning of someone who tries to initiate contact with the spirit world. For instance, the New Jerusalem Bible renders this verse as follows: “Do not be cheated of your prize by anyone who chooses to grovel to angels and worship them, pinning every hope on visions received…” The Revised English Bible states: “You are not to be disqualified by the decision of people who go in for self-mortification and angel-worship and access to some visionary world.”

We must keep firmly in mind that angels are created beings and that all worship must be directed toward the Creator, rather than anything or anyone created. Romans 1:25 tells us of pagans who “…exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.”

We read that God the Father created everything, including the spirit world of angels, through Jesus Christ (compare again Colossians 1:16). We have seen that God the Father gave Jesus Christ a name which is far above the name of anyone or anything else (compare again Hebrews 1:4; Ephesians 1:21; Philippians 2:9). Only Jesus Christ was worthy to open the scroll and loose its seals (Revelation 5:1–5) in order to show God’s servants “things which must shortly take place” (Revelation 1:1). No angel was worthy enough to do so!

When reading about the mighty deeds of angels, we need to always remember that God gave them such power. Rather than worshiping angels, we must worship the Creator God and stand in awe of His abilities and strength. Likewise, Exodus 20:4 sternly forbids creating any image of anything that is in heaven above for the purpose of worshiping it.

Don’t Disrespect Angels

On the other hand, the fact that we must never worship angels does not mean that we should ever look down on angels or speak evil of them. God would not leave a person unpunished who showed disrespect for angels, as such a person would thereby show disrespect and contempt for God, the Creator of the angelic world.

The Bible condemns those who speak evil of angels. We read in Jude 8 of “dreamers” who “defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.” As the margin of the New King James Bible points out, the Greek word for “dignitaries” means “glories.” Jude is referring here to angelic beings. The New International Version and the Revised English Bible render this word as “celestial beings.” The Revised Standard Version says, “glorious ones,” and the New American Bible states, “glorious beings.”

In addition, 2 Peter 2:10 reiterates that those “who walk according to the flesh” are “not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries.” Again, in the Greek, the meaning is “glories.”

We find an example of a self-willed individual who is not afraid to speak evil of angels, in Revelation 13:6. This human being is also referred to in Scripture as the “beast,” the final leader of a resurrected Roman Empire in Europe. We read, “Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.”

What Angels Look Like

We know from Scripture that angels, in their created and glorious state, are invisible to the human eye. We also read, however, that angels did manifest themselves at times so as to be seen by humans. It may be surprising to learn HOW angels manifested themselves to humans. Many people have an entirely wrong idea as to what angels look like. When we see pictures of little naked babies with wings and golden trumpets or a bow with arrows, purporting to be angels, we get a totally wrong idea as to how angels really look. In fact, those pictures constitute a violation of the very command not to belittle or disrespect angels.

(1) Some Angels Have Man-like Features

The Bible reveals that some angels, when they appear to man in a physical state or in a vision in their glorious state, actually look like men. They have a body, a head, eyes, arms, hands, and feet. Let’s examine a few Scriptures in that regard.

Daniel 8 gives a description of one mighty and powerful angel, Gabriel, who appeared to Daniel. Although he looked like a man, his appearance was so overwhelming that Daniel was afraid and became sick. We read in Daniel 8:15–18, 27:

“Then it happened, when I, Daniel, had seen the vision and was seeking the meaning, that suddenly there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, ‘Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.’ So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, ‘Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.’ Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright… And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business.”

What Daniel encountered here was, in fact, a vision, as Daniel 9:20–21 explains: “Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God, yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering.”

Even in vision, the appearance of the angel Gabriel was so powerful that Daniel was afraid; he fell into a deep sleep; he fainted and became unconscious; and he was sick for several days. Gabriel did not look like just any man, although he had man-like features. We also learn from these verses that Gabriel could fly swiftly, although we don’t find that Gabriel is expressly portrayed with wings.

It is highly likely that Gabriel was sent a third time to Daniel with a message. If so, his glorious appearance is described in detail in Daniel 10:5–9: “I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude. And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.”

Some claim that this is not a description of an angel, but of Christ, as the description of Christ in Revelation 1 is similar. However, Daniel could not possibly speak about Christ in that passage. As we will discuss fully in this booklet, the “glorious man,” the angel, reveals to Daniel that he was unable to overcome a demon without the help of another mighty angel, the archangel Michael (compare Daniel 10:13). Since Christ is much more powerful than any angel or demon [after all, He created all those beings in the first place], Daniel was visited by a mighty angel—in all likelihood, Gabriel—and not by Christ Himself. Further descriptions of Gabriel’s appearances can be found in Luke 1:11–19 and 26–38.

There are other passages that tell us more about angels who look like men when they manifest themselves to the human eye. One such encounter with angels is described in Luke 24:4–5, relating the account when the women went to Jesus’ grave, but could not find His body: “And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead?’”

These two men were angels, as the parallel account in John 20:11–12 reveals. Notice, too, this additional account of one of the two angels, in Mark 16:5, 8: “And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed… So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed.” Their appearance was such that the women were afraid. Although having man-like features, they did not look like ordinary men.

The reason for their flight and emotional upheaval was not only because they could not find Christ’s body, it was also caused by the way in which the angel appeared to them. We find a detailed description of his appearance in Matthew 28:1–5, 8: “Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid…’ So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy.”

The appearance of this angel, although having man-like features, was like lightning, so that the guards who saw him shook for fear, as did the women, when they saw him. The guards then fainted and became unconscious.

In Ezekiel 40:3, an angel is described in this way, “…there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze.”

John further describes a powerful angel with man-like features in this way, “I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire… and [he] cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars” (Revelation 10:1–3).

(2) Some Angels May Look Like Women

We saw that angels commonly appear with man-like features, and some of them looked like young men. In addition, there is one Scripture that might perhaps indicate that some angels may look like women. Notice Zechariah 5:9–11: “Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were two women, coming with the wind in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven. So I said to the angel who talked with me, ‘Where are they carrying the basket?’ And he said to me, ‘To build a house for it in the land of Shinar [Babylon, Genesis 11:2, 9]; when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its base.”

(3) Unrecognized Angels

‘Angels have manifested themselves at times to humans without being recognized as angels. This means that they did not appear at those times in their glorified form, but in a different form. Angels can manifest themselves in such a way that they look entirely like ordinary men. Hebrews 13:2 tells us: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” One such example can be found in Genesis 19:1–11, where Lot invited two angels into his house. Lot, as well as the men of Sodom, did not realize that these two strangers were angels. That is the reason why the depraved men of Sodom wanted to deal “carnally” with the strangers, and why Lot wanted to protect the strangers by foolishly offering his daughters to the citizens of Sodom. Nobody realized the power that these two angels possessed (compare verse 11).

Another episode has been recorded for us in Acts 12:13–15 when Peter had been imprisoned and the disciples prayed for his release. Unbeknown to the disciples, Peter had been freed by an angel: “And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, ‘You are beside yourself!’ Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, ‘It is his angel.’”

The disciples thought it was possible that an angel could appear as Peter, speaking with Peter’s voice. After all, they had experienced that Jesus Christ, after His resurrection, could also appear in a different form. Christ did not appear to His disciples in His glorified state. He did not appear, prior to His ascension to heaven, with all His power and glory that He has today. We can find a description of His glorious appearance in Revelation 1:10, 12–17. We also find a description of His glory, prior to His human birth, in Ezekiel 1:26–28. When He appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, He appeared just as an ordinary man, so much so that they did not recognize Him. Accounts of His appearances can be found in John 20:14–16 and John 21:4–7. They only came to recognize Him after He spoke a certain way or performed a certain miracle that He had performed earlier before His death.

We read that the disciples on the road to Emmaus did not recognize the resurrected Christ until He “…took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight” (Luke 24:30–31). The reason that they did not recognize Him earlier is explained in Mark 16:12: “After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country.”

Angels, too, are given the power to manifest themselves “in another form,” looking like ordinary people so that they cannot be recognized by men as angels.

(4) Some Angels Look Like Animals

Not all angels have man-like features. The Bible contains many descriptions of angels that have animal features. For instance, as mentioned before, four very powerful angels—the “four living creatures”—are described in the fourth chapter of the book of Revelation in this way: “Before the throne [of God in heaven] there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!’” (Revelation 4:6–8).

Here we are introduced to angelic beings that look like a lion, a calf, and a flying eagle. One angelic being has the face of a man, implying that the rest of his appearance may not resemble that of a man. In addition, all have six wings.

(5) Some Angels Look Like Horses

We find additional accounts in the Bible, describing angels as fiery horses. Note, for example, 2 Kings 2:11–12: “Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, ‘My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!’ So he saw him no more.”

A similar account can be found in 2 Kings 6:15–17: “And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ So he answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

Elisha knew that God had sent His angelic army to protect them. His servant Gehazi did not realize it. God “opened his eyes” so that he could see them, that is, God showed him in his mind the angels that had encamped around them. Again, this angelic army is described as “fiery horses.”

We find a similar description of angels as horses in several places in the book of Zechariah. Let’s review some of these accounts: In Zechariah 1:8–11, we are told, “I saw by night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white. Then I said, My lord, what are these?’ So the angel who talked with me said to me, ‘I will show you what they are.’ And the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, ‘These are the ones whom the LORD has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth.’ So they answered the Angel [better rendered: angel] of the LORD, who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, ‘We have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is resting quietly.’”

We are specifically told in this passage that God sent “red, sorrel and white horses” to walk to and fro throughout the earth. These horses are angelic beings. Zechariah 6:1–8 confirms this conclusion: “Then I turned and raised my eyes and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming from between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of bronze. With the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses, with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot dappled horses—strong steeds. Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, ‘What are these, my lord?’ And the angel answered and said to me, ‘These are four spirits of heaven, who go out from their station before the Lord of all the earth. The one with the black horses is going to the north country, the white are going after them, and the dappled are going toward the south country.’ Then the strong steeds went out, eager to go, that they might walk to and fro throughout the earth. And He said, ‘Go, walk to and fro throughout the earth.’ So they walked to and fro throughout the earth. And He called to me, and spoke to me, saying, ‘See, those who go toward the north country have given rest to My Spirit in the north country.’”

The “Eyes of the Lord”

The angel who spoke directly to Zechariah is described as a man. The horses walking to and fro throughout the earth are called “spirits of heaven.” They are spirit beings, or angelic beings, that look like horses. In Revelation 5:6, some of those spirit beings are described as “seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits [better translated: “spirits” or “spirit beings”] of God sent out into all the earth.” Notice that Zechariah, too, identifies these spirit beings as the “eyes of God,” in Zechariah 3:9 and 4:10: “Upon the stone are seven eyes… They are the eyes of the LORD, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 adds, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” Proverbs 15:3 goes on to state, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.”

These spirit beings that look like horses are called “the eyes of God,” or “watchers,” as they “keep watch on the evil and the good.” In Daniel 4:13–14, 17, Nebuchadnezzar told the prophet Daniel one of his dreams, stating, “I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. He cried aloud and said thus: ‘…This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones…” Daniel interpreted the dream for the king, recognizing that God had shown the king in a vision an angelic being or a watcher—one of the “spirits of heaven” or “eyes of the Lord.” Daniel said in verses 23–24, “And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven… this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king…”

These watchers—“the eyes of the Lord”—are spirit beings, holy angels of God, having the appearance of horses. They run to and fro throughout the earth, keeping watch on the good and the evil.

Many commentaries agree that the term “watchers” in Daniel 4 refers to some of God’s holy angels. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown make these insightful comments to Daniel 4:13, which refers to “…[a] watcher, a holy one”: “Only one angel is intended, and he is not one of the bad, but of the holy angels. Called a ‘watcher,’ because ever on the watch to execute God’s will.”

We are told about another episode in 1 Kings 22:19–23, where God was talking to His angels as to how to bring about a certain outcome: “Then Micaiah said, ‘Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left. And the LORD said, “Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?” So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. Then a spirit [perhaps a demon, see discussion below] came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, “I will persuade him.” The LORD said to him, “In what way?” So he said, “I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.” And the LORD said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.” Therefore look! The LORD has put [allowed] a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you.’”

God’s angels watch on the good and the bad, and they report their findings to God. When doing so, they also express their feelings to God, participating thereby in God’s decisions and decrees.

White Horses At Christ’s Return

We find another description of angelic beings that look like horses in the famous passage in Revelation 19:11, 14, describing the return of Jesus Christ to this earth. Notice, however, what the Bible actually says in this little-understood passage: “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war… And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.”

We are told here that Christ and His armies in heaven will come, riding on white horses. These horses must be spirit beings, because they come from heaven down to this earth. The armies in heaven, riding on white horses, are angelic beings that presumably look like men. As we will see later in this booklet, certain angels are “warriors.” Their main function is to fight the forces of evil. Other angels, like those who look like horses, have different or additional functions, including the task to carry Christ and His warrior angels.

(6) Some Angels Combine Man-like and Animal-like Features

The most spectacular group of angels is those called “cherubs” or “cherubim.” Unfortunately, due to a totally wrong concept conveyed through “art” and “mythology,” this world thinks that “cherubim” look like little naked boys, blowing trumpets, and shootings arrows. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Bible describes “cherubim” as extremely powerful and awesome-looking spirit beings. Most of them do not look like ordinary human beings at all, let alone little children or babies.

We find a very detailed description of their appearance in the book of Ezekiel. We read in Ezekiel 1:5–14: “Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves’ feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze. The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings. Their wings touched one another. The creatures did not turn when they went, but each one went straight forward. As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle. Thus were their faces. Their wings stretched upward; two wings of each one touched one another, and two covered their bodies… As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning. And the living creatures ran back and forth, in appearance like a flash of lightning.”

We are later told that these four living creatures were “cherubim” (Ezekiel 10:20–22). They were transporting a throne on which the “LORD” sat. Notice Ezekiel 1:26–28: “And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it… This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.” We are told, for instance, in Psalm 18:10 that the LORD “rode upon a cherub, and flew; He flew upon the wings of the wind.”

Ezekiel 10:14 also reveals that the predominant facial features of a cherub are those of an ox. While we had read in Ezekiel 1:10 that the four cherubs had the face of an ox, a man, a lion, and an eagle, Ezekiel 10:14 lists those characteristics as the face a cherub, a man, a lion, and an eagle. Taken together, the Scriptures equate the predominant facial features of a cherub with that of an ox. Some have suggested that cherubs look mainly like oxen. Notice, though, that they are described with the “likeness of a man.” Only their facial features and the soles of their feet are different from the “likeness of a man” (in addition to the fact that they have wings).

In additional passages, cherubs are depicted with “… two faces, so that the face of a man was toward a palm tree on one side, and the face of a young lion toward a palm tree on the other side; thus it was made throughout the temple all around” (Ezekiel 41:18–19). We also find in 1 Kings 6:23–27 that Solomon, when building the temple, made cherubs with two wings each.

There are several passages that imply that some of the cherubs might only have one face (as distinguished from the four faces of each cherub in Ezekiel 1). We read, for example, in Exodus 37:9: “The cherubim spread out their wings above, and covered the mercy seat with their wings. They faced one another; the faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat.” (Compare, too, Exodus 25:20 and 2 Chronicles 3:13.)

Rienecker’s Commentary to the Bible points out that “cherubim appear where God is personally present or where He reveals Himself in His glory… The cherubim are witnesses of the personal presence of God on earth… Today, cherubs are pictured similar to the winged creatures, called ‘kurubu,’ that have been dug out in Mesopotamia, Palestine and Syria.” Some of these “kurubu” look like creatures with a body of a lion, with wings, and with the head of a man, while others have the appearance of a man, with animal heads.

We need to remember that the Bible does not portray cherubs as having a body that resembles an animal. However, the four living creatures, as well as the “seven spirits,” are described in that way. One of the “living creatures” actually has the face of a man, suggesting that the body of that living creature may not look like the body of a man.

As angels that look like horses are associated with chariots, so the cherubs are associated with amazing wheels. Ezekiel 1:15, 19–20 tells us, “Now as I looked at the living creatures, behold, a wheel was on the earth beside each living creature with its four faces… When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up… for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.”

Ezekiel mentions at least four cherubs. They are described as powerful angelic beings, having the likeness of a man, with four wings and four faces, three of which have animal features. Ezekiel 10:12 states: “And their whole body, with their back, their hands, their wings, and the wheels that the four had, were full of eyes all around.” There are similarities with the four living creatures described in the book of Revelation (see above), but there are also obvious differences. The cherubs are introduced to us as carrying and transporting the throne of God.

Primary Angelic Functions and Responsibilities

There exists a very special relationship between angels and man, but it is far different than most people think. Yes, angels were created to assist and help people, but we need to understand just how they do that. The Bible shows us that they are assigned by God to help those whom God is calling to salvation.

Hebrews 1:14 says about angels: “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” Psalm 34:7 adds: “The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him [that is, “who will inherit salvation”], And delivers them.”

Why does this special relationship exist? Simply put, because it is the potential of man to rule over everything there is, along with, and under, Jesus Christ and the Father. Man, in fact, will rule over angels. Notice Hebrews 2:5–8: “For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. But one testified in a certain place, saying: ‘What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that you take care of him? You have made him a little lower [or: a little while lower] than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.’ For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.”

Paul tells us in the above-quoted Scripture that God has decreed to put everything in subjection under man. This has not happened yet, but it will. This is part of man’s salvation. Since everything will be put under man, man will rule over angels. Notice this in 1 Corinthians 6:2–3: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?”

God sends forth His angels to “minister,” that is, to serve and help man achieve his potential to inherit salvation—eternal life in the Family of God. With this understanding, let’s take note of the particular services that angels are called upon to perform.

(1) God’s Angels Protect Us From Harm

God makes the following promise to us in Psalm 91:9–13: “Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.”

Jacob knew that God had sent a special angel to protect him from harm during his lifetime. He stated in Genesis 48:15–16: “And he blessed Joseph and said, ‘The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has led me all my life long to this day, the angel who had redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads…’” (Revised Standard Version).

Later, God promised Moses that He would send an angel to go with Israel, to protect them and to bring them to the Promised Land. We read in Exodus 23:20–23, “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since [My] Name is in him. If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and I will wipe them out” (New International Version).

It is possible that this angel, sent by God, was the archangel, Michael. We read about this powerful angel in Daniel 12:1. Daniel is told in this Scripture that Michael “stands watch over the sons of your people.” We also find another reference to this particular angel, used by God to protect Israel, in Exodus 19:4: “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.” Compare this with Isaiah 63:9: “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old” (Authorized Version).

Let’s take a closer look at some examples of how God uses His angels to protect His people. For instance, when Israel left Egypt, God used His angel to save them from harm: “And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night” (Exodus 14:19–20, Authorized Version).

In another instance, two angels were sent to protect Lot and his daughters by striking the evil citizens of Sodom with blindness. God had sent the angels to destroy Sodom, but they were also instructed to protect Lot and to keep him alive. Let’s read this encouraging account, in Genesis 19:15–16: “When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, ‘Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.’ And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being MERCIFUL to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.” When Lot asked for permission to flee to a small city nearby, one of the two angels responded, “Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there” (verse 22).

We see the tremendous responsibility that God assigned to these two angels—they could not destroy Sodom until they had protected Lot and brought him to safety.

Some of the most spectacular examples of angelic protection can be found in the book of Daniel. For instance, we read in Daniel 6:16: “So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, ‘Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.’… Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?’ Then Daniel said to the king, ‘O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him, and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.’ Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God” (Daniel 6:16, 19–23).

Daniel was protected by an angel because he served God day and night and because he believed in God’s protection. The vicious nature of the lions had not changed. The only reason that they did not devour Daniel was because an angel had restrained them from doing so. Notice what happened, once the angel ceased from preventing the lions to attack others: “And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den” (verse 24).

New Testament Scriptures relative to the early church contain several spectacular examples of angelic protection. When studying some of the passages, we might ask ourselves why we don’t experience similar incidents today. First of all, it is important to understand that God is the same—He does not change—and His protection of His saints through angels is ongoing. Although angelic protection might not be as spectacular today as it was in the early New Testament Church, we certainly have been saved many times from harm and even death. Who is to say that God’s angels did not protect us in miraculous ways, well beyond human comprehension?

Still, one reason why we don’t experience angelic protection to the same spectacular degree as described in numerous passages in the Bible could be that we don’t believe in such protection anymore. We might believe in it theoretically, but are we really convinced that God could do today what He did so often in times past?

Notice Acts 5:17–21: “Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ‘Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.’ And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught.”

They obeyed the voice of the angel, just as God had instructed Moses and the Israelites to obey the angel in their time. Believing in God’s protection and obedience to God’s commands are fundamental requirements and prerequisites if we are to count on angelic help.

Later, as recorded in Acts 12:5–11, Peter was again thrown into jail, because he obeyed God and did not cease from preaching the gospel and teaching God’s Way of life. The disciples prayed constantly and persistently for Peter’s deliverance and God sent an angel to rescue and free Peter. “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, ‘Arise quickly!’ And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, ‘Gird yourself and tie on your sandals’; and so he did. And he said to him, ‘Put on your garment and follow me.’ So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. And when Peter had come to himself, he said, ‘Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”

God has promised to send His angels to minister to and protect those whom He has called for salvation. When we have such angelic protection, what is there to fear?

The Bible shows that angels may sometimes appear in dreams to people to warn of impending danger. This is another way that angels fulfill their responsibility to minister to the saints.

One such example can be found in Matthew 2:13: “Now when they [the wise men from the East] had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.’”

If we are obedient to God in our daily lives and honor Him in the way we live, then we can trust that He will provide angelic help and protection. When Jesus Christ was arrested, He knew that His Father could send Him more than twelve legions of angels—more than 72,000 spirit beings—to protect Him from the Romans. He also knew, however, that it was not the WILL of the Father to do so at that particular time, because the very reason Christ had come was for the purpose of being arrested, tortured and killed so that Scripture could be fulfilled (compare Matthew 26:52–54).

Do Guardian Angels Really Exist?

Many have speculated over the years whether or not the Bible teaches the existence of “guardian angels,” that is to say, a specific angel that God has assigned to a particular person. The Bible leaves no room for doubt that guardian angels do exist. We have already quoted Genesis 48:15–16, where Jacob acknowledged the presence of his guardian angel throughout his life. We read in the Revised English Bible, “The god in whose presence my forefathers lived, my forefathers Abraham and Isaac, the god who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the angel who rescued me from all misfortune, may he bless these boys.” Jacob was convinced that God had been with him all of his life, and He was specifically present through a particular angel whom He had assigned to watch over Jacob.

Acts 12:15 shows that the disciples thought that Peter’s angel had appeared, as they believed Peter to be in prison. They specifically said, “It is his angel.” In other words, they thought it was the particular angel whom God had assigned to watch over Peter.

Notice, too, the following remarkable statement of Jesus Christ in Matthew 18:10, in talking about little children that believe in Him, as well as true Christians who must become “as” little children: “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.”

In addition, Paul makes an interesting comment in 1 Corinthians 11:10. The context is the wearing of long hair for women. We read, “For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority [i.e., long hair, compare verse 15] on her head, because of the angels.” Paul’s point is this: A woman is to submit to the authority of her husband (compare verse 3), and her wearing long hair is an outward symbol of such willingness. Paul went on to say that a woman should do so “because of the angels,” implying that in such case, the woman can be assured of angelic protection. Here, angels are referred to in the plural, showing that God may sometimes assign several guardian angels to one person. Notice also Psalm 91:11 where it says God “shall give His angels charge over you.”

We read that a star appeared to the wise men from the East, leading them to the place where Jesus Christ dwelt, after He had been born. We read in Matthew 2:1–2, 9–11:

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.’… When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.”

This star appeared to them in the East and led them to Jerusalem and from there to the place where Christ lived. This was not an ordinary star, but a bright, shining angel. The Bible identifies and compares stars with angels on numerous occasions (compare Revelation 1:20; 9:1–2; 12:4). Note that the wise men from the East refer to this star as “HIS star”—that is, the star, or angel, of the Christ Child. They understood that Christ was the newborn King and they came from the East to worship Him.

If they understood that the star was an angel, then they also knew that this angel was assigned to the Christ Child. This is not to say, of course, that only one angel watched over Christ. On one occasion, He mentioned to Peter that He could ask His Father for “more than twelve legions of angels” (Matthew 26:53)—more than 72,000 angels. Remember also that “angels” ministered to Christ after His lengthy fast (Matthew 4:11). Notice, too, Christ’s statement in John 1:51: “…hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Christ knew that He was surrounded by angels. Angels were very real to Him. He did not doubt their existence—after all, it was He who created all of them.

We also saw that God may assign one angel to guard or protect numerous people, or an entire nation. For instance, the archangel Michael is described to Daniel as “The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people” (Daniel 12:1).

(2) God’s Angels Lead Us Toward Salvation

Just as God’s angels protect us from harm, they are also sent to direct, guide and lead us on our path to spiritual salvation. Sometimes God sends His angels to direct His human servants in the Work of preaching the gospel and feeding the flock. In Old Testament times, God gave Israel the sacrificial law system through the hand of angels (Acts 7:53; Hebrews 2:2; Galatians 3:19), while God Himself spoke the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1; Deuteronomy 5:4–5). Even when God gave Israel the spiritual law of the Ten Commandments, He was accompanied by “myriads of holy ones” (Deuteronomy 33:2, New Revised Standard Version; Revised English Bible; New International Version). Later, when Jesus Christ was born as the Savior of mankind, an angel appeared to the shepherds in the field, and “suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God” (Luke 2:9,13).

One striking example of an angel participating in the salvation of a human being is recorded in Acts 8:26–28: “Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.” God’s Spirit inspired Philip to begin a communication with the eunuch, and after some time, the eunuch asked Philip to baptize him. We see, then, that an angel of God directed Philip to meet with the eunuch in order to ultimately baptize him.

A similar example has been recorded for us in Acts 10. Again, it is an angel who appeared to Cornelius to send for Peter to baptize him. We read in verses 3–7: “About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, ‘Cornelius!’ And when he observed him, he was afraid (note, in passing, that the appearance of the angel was not that of just an ordinary man), and said, ‘What is it, lord?’ So he said to him, ‘Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.’ And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually.”

While on their way, God sent Peter a vision to instruct him to follow the three men to Cornelius, where he ultimately baptized him and his household. Again, an angel of God was involved in the events that led to the baptism of some loyal people.

Angels are, in fact, intimately involved with our salvation. They are not robots, mechanically obeying God’s Word. They joyfully and eagerly fulfill their task to minister to those who will inherit salvation. Jesus told us in Luke 15:10 that “there is JOY in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Repentance is a requirement for man’s salvation. The angels rejoice when they see that a sinner repents of his sins and turns to God.

Paul also alluded to the involvement of angels in our lives relative to our salvation. He stated in 1 Corinthians 4:9: “For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.”

The margin explains that the literal meaning of the Greek word, “theatron,” translated as “spectacle,” is “theater.” The same word is used in Acts 19:29, where it is correctly rendered as, “theater.” The Amplified Bible translates 1 Corinthians 4:9 as follows, “God has made an exhibit of us… a show in the word’s amphitheater—with both men and angels as spectators.”

Paul is viewing himself as standing in the arena of a great amphitheater with both men and angels—the observing audience—looking down on him as a spectacle. Men might watch, perhaps, in order to scoff and malign, while God’s angels observe us with a sincere desire for our success, eager to help us.

Paul instructed and charged Timothy in 1Timothy 5:21: “…before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.”

Paul does not specifically explain who these “elect angels” are, but it is possible that they are chosen angels, specifically assigned in a special way to look after individual Christians, and even entire Church organizations or Church eras. In Revelation 1:20, we read about seven angels of the seven churches, in other words, individual angels assigned to particular churches.

The involvement of God’s angels in the lives of Christians who are to inherit salvation will find its climax at the time of Christ’s return, when He comes to reward the faithful. We are told in Matthew 24:30–31: “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

The angels of God will have the privilege and honor to bring the faithful to Christ so that they may receive from Him their reward. Matthew 16:27 tells us: “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.”

Christ will send out His angels who accompany Him to bring the resurrected and changed Christians to Him, to be rewarded by Him. He gave us this promise, “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8).

(3) God’s Angels Guide Us in Physical Ways

When Joseph, Mary and Jesus had stayed long enough in Egypt, God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream, directing him what to do next. “Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, ‘Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead’” (Matthew 2:19–20).

When Abraham sent out his servant to find a wife for Isaac, both Abraham and his servant knew that an angel of God would accompany him on his travel and direct him to the right place to find a wife for Isaac. We read the servant’s words in Genesis 24:40: “But he [Abraham] said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s house.’”

Such angelic guidance and help might even lead to bringing necessary physical sustenance. When Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights, He was very hungry and obviously very weakened. First, though, He had to overcome Satan, who tried to tempt Him to sin. Christ did not succumb to this temptation and the devil left Him. After that, “…behold, angels came and ministered to Him” (Matthew 4:11). They served Jesus Christ—the firstborn among many brethren destined to inherit salvation—by providing Him with food and drink.

We also find that an angel provided Elijah with food when he was discouraged and was ready and willing to die. We read in 1 Kings 19:5–8: “Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, ‘Arise and eat.’ Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, ‘Arise, and eat, because the journey is too great for you.’ So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food [obviously, this was not just ordinary food] forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.”

We read in John 5:2–4 where an angel of God assisted in the physical healing of people: “Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.”

(4) God’s Angels Give Us Encouragement and Strength

When Jesus Christ was facing His arrest, torture and crucifixion, He wished desperately to not have to go through this grievous ordeal. He was human, having laid aside His divine nature. He had become totally human (John 1:14), and as such, it was His HUMAN DESIRE to escape such a violent, physical death. His death, though, was preordained so that mankind could be saved from eternal death. In that hour of trial, He prayed to God the Father, saying, “‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’ Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:42–44). God sent one of His angels to give Jesus Christ encouragement. We don’t know what exactly the angel did, but we are told that he “strengthened” Christ.

A similar episode is recorded in Acts 27, where Paul, who was under arrest, was being transported by ship to Italy. He and his shipmates, as well as the soldiers who were transporting them, were troubled by a violent wind and had lost all hope for survival. Finally, Paul stood up to encourage his friends, the soldiers, and the sailors of the ship with these words: “‘And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.” Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me’” (Acts 27:22–25). As happened with Christ in the garden of Gethsemane, God sent an angel to Paul to encourage him so that he could, in turn, encourage others.

(5) God’s Angels Serve Us by Punishing the Unrighteous

God’s people are called out of this world, but they still must live in it. This world is filled with temptation, and many times unrighteous people will try to tempt Christians to sin. The Bible tells us that God uses angels to punish the unrighteous—those who live contrary to God’s Way of life. He uses angels to help His people and to show them that He is just, and that judgment and condemnation awaits those who rebel against Him.

The terrible and uncompromising revelation of God’s righteousness will begin to take place at the return of Jesus Christ, as Matthew 13:41–42, 49–50 explains: “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth… So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

The same future for unrepentant rebellious people is prophesied in 2 Thessalonians 1:6–10: “… it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.”

Note, though, that God’s angels don’t necessarily have to wait until the time of Christ’s return to punish wicked people. They have often intervened in this day and age to punish sinners so that God’s word can be spread without hindrance. A spectacular and frightening account of such punishment can be found in Acts 12:21–24: “So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting. ‘The voice of a god and not of a man!’ Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God grew and multiplied.”

Also, we read in 2 Kings 19:35 a remarkable account of the power and might of just one of God’s angels who punished Assyria for fighting against Israel: “And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead” (compare 2 Chronicles 32:21).

Exodus 12:23 tells us that God destroyed all the firstborn of Egypt through the hands of a mighty angel: “For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you” (compare Hebrews 11:28).

In 1 Corinthians 10:10 we read that an angel killed many of the Israelites in the wilderness, because they murmured against God. They were “destroyed by the destroyer.” God also sent two angels to Sodom to destroy it. We also read that God destroyed it—He did so through His angels (Compare Genesis 19:12–13, 24–25, 29).

A future destruction of the people in this world will occur just prior to the return of Christ, as the sins of man will have reached a climax. Along with them, many of God’s people will also lose their lives because of having lost their “first love” and having become “lukewarm.” They will think that they have need of nothing, that they “have it made,” spiritually speaking. Yet, they will believe lies and fall for spiritual deception and error. They will even hate their fellow brethren and they will betray them, dragging them before courts and worldly powers, as well as religious authorities. God will use His angels to punish everyone who is not specifically marked by Him for protection.

We read in Ezekiel 9:1–11: “Then He called out in my hearing with a loud voice, saying, ‘Let those who have charge over the city draw near, each with a deadly weapon in his hand.’ And suddenly six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his battle-ax in his hand. One man among them was clothed with linen and had a writer’s inkhorn at his side. They went in and stood beside the bronze altar. Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; and the LORD said to him, ‘Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.’ To the others He said in my hearing, ‘Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.’ So they began with the elders who were before the temple. Then He said to them, ‘Defile the temple, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!’ And they went out and killed in the city… Then He said to me, ‘The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity; for they say, “The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see!” And as for Me also, My eye will neither spare, nor will I have pity, but I will recompense their deeds on their own head.’ Just then, the man clothed with linen, who had the inkhorn at his side, reported back and said, ‘I have done as You commanded me.’”

Angels will destroy many of the people during the time described as the “Day of the Lord” who have not received, through the hands of angels, God’s seal of protection (Revelation 7:1–4). The book of Revelation describes in great detail how God’s angels will carry out His Will to punish the earth and many of those living on it.

For example, one angel will cause “noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake” (Revelation 8:5). Four angels will kill “a third of mankind” (Revelation 9:15). The seven angels with the seven last plagues will kill “every living creature in the sea” (Revelation 16:3) and they will “scorch men with fire” (Revelation 16:8).

(6) God’s Angels Serve Us When They Punish Us for Our Sins

The primary function of God’s angels is to minister to those who are to inherit salvation. We will never obtain eternal life in God’s Kingdom, however, unless we overcome our sins (compare Revelation 3:5). To help us in conquering sin, we must be “chastened” (Hebrews 12:4–11). At times, God’s angels carry out His Will in that regard. We read in Psalm 103:20–21: “Bless the LORD, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.”

In carrying out God’s Will, God’s angels serve us, even if this means inflicting punishment upon us for our sins. This is done for our good, so that we can become pure and clean in God’s eyes.

We read about an awesome account regarding one of God’s angels, bringing a plague over Israel. Although the immediate cause was David’s sinful conduct, God also wanted to punish the nation for their sins. 2 Samuel 24:15–17 reports: “So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from the morning till the appointed time. From Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand men of the people died. And when the angel stretched out His [better translated: his] hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, ‘It is enough; now restrain your hand.’… Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, ‘Surely I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, be against me and against my father’s house.’”

In the parallel account in 1 Chronicles 21:16, 27, and 30, note the following interesting details: “Then David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between earth and heaven, having in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem… So the LORD commanded the angel, and he returned his sword to its sheath… But David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD.”

Warrior Angels

Angels who punish man for their sins are often times described as “soldiers” or “warriors.” They have a sword in their hand to strike. In Numbers 22:23, God had sent an angel to strike the false prophet Balaam who was asked by king Balak of Moab to curse Israel. Christ used military language to describe the angels at His disposal, referring to them as more than twelve legions of angels (Matthew 26:53). Jesus Christ appeared to Joshua as the “Commander” of His many warrior angels to give Joshua encouragement for the upcoming battle with Jericho: “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, ‘Are You for us or for our adversaries?’ So He said, ‘No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.’ And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped…” (Joshua 5:13–14). As an angel would not permit a man to worship him, the “Commander of the army of the LORD” was none other than Jesus Christ, leading the angelic army of His Father.

As we have seen already, this angelic army will fight against and punish men. Compare Revelation 19:19: “And I saw the beast [end-time military leader], the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His [angelic] army.” Even this angelic war serves God’s people, in that it constitutes punishment of the unrighteous (compare under point (5)).

(7) God’s Angels Serve Us by Fighting Satan and His Demons

The Bible reveals that spiritual warfare is going on right now. We can’t see it, but we can feel and perceive its consequences. Scripture teaches that God’s holy angels fight against Satan and his angels, in order to carry out God’s Will and Purpose, and in order to help and serve God’s people. We are even reminded that we, too, are engaged in spiritual warfare, and that we must resist Satan and his demons (Ephesians 6:12).

The fact that God’s angels serve us when they fight Satan and his demons will be discussed more fully later in the second part of this booklet. First, we need to address the truth that Satan and demons exist, and what exactly they do today.

Part 2—The World of Demons

Just as most people don’t believe in the existence of angels, they also doubt that Satan and his demons really exist. The Bible teaches, however, the very real existence of the devil and his fallen angels. Where did they come from? Did God create a devil? If not, how could there be a devil and demons today?

Lucifer and Satan

The Bible reveals that God created all of the angels. They were not created as robots, but as spirit beings with the power to choose and to decide. One high-ranking angel, a cherub by the name of Lucifer, rebelled and sinned against God (Isaiah 14:12–15; Ezekiel 28:11–17). Lucifer wanted to “ascend to heaven” to dethrone God (Isaiah 14:13). He wanted to “ascend above the heights of the clouds” (Isaiah 14:14). This shows us that he was here on earth, because he wanted to ascend above the clouds of the earth to go to heaven. When he sinned, he was thrown back to this earth (Isaiah 14:12). He became Satan, which means enemy or adversary. Lucifer, or Satan, was already here on earth when Adam and Eve were created. We are told that the serpent was already here in order to deceive Eve when Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden. The serpent is identified as Satan the devil (Revelation 12:9). Since Satan appeared to the first man and his wife as the deceiver, he must have lived on this earth prior to man as Lucifer—when he was not yet the deceiver—before he tried to “ascend to heaven.”

Actually, before he was sent to earth, Lucifer had been trained in heaven before the very throne of God, and he had angels under his command. We read in Ezekiel 28:14 that he was the anointed cherub who covers. Recall that the cherubs covered the throne of God when God appeared to Moses in the Tabernacle. Also, we read in Ezekiel 28:14 that Lucifer was on the holy mountain of God in heaven (compare Hebrews 12:22). When he sinned by trying to ascend from this earth to heaven to dethrone God, he was cast out of the mountain of God (Ezekiel 28:16). Christ later said that He saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning (Luke 10:18).

In the Hebrew, the word translated as “Lucifer” in the Authorized Version and in many other translations, is “helel,” or “heylel,” which means “lightbringer,” “shining one,” “morning star,” or “shining star of the dawn.” The word “Lucifer” is the Latin translation of the Hebrew word “helel,” or “heylel,” conveying exactly the same meaning. It is therefore appropriate to use this word in describing the cherub who later became Satan (“sawtwan” in Hebrew).

Satan, the prince of darkness, is still ruling on this earth. Revelation 2:13 tells us expressly that Satan has a “throne” here on earth. He holds the people of this world captive to do his will (2 Timothy 2:26). He has authority over all the kingdoms of this world (Luke 4:5–7). He is called the “ruler of this world” in John 14:30. He is even called the “god of this age” in 2 Corinthians 4:4. Satan is called “the prince of the power of the air” in Ephesians 2:2.

Angels Became Demons

Lucifer was not the only spirit being who rebelled against God. The angels under his control accompanied him and became known as demons thereafter. A reference to that rebellion is made in Revelation 12:4, stating that one-third of the angels (referred to as “stars”) followed Satan and became demons. This indicates that the other two-thirds of the angels stayed loyal to God.

Another attempt by Satan and his demons to fight against God is described in Revelation 12:7–9. This attempt will take place just prior to the return of Jesus Christ. This event is not the same as the event described in Revelation 12:4, but it shows the pattern. In both cases, Satan and his demons are thrown back to earth.

We read in Jude 6 about angels who did not keep their own domain (the earth), but left their own abode in order to go to heaven to dethrone God. They are now reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, that is, they are angels of darkness. They are still ruling this earth under Satan (compare Ephesians 6:12 where demons are called “the RULERS of the darkness of this age”). They are “chained,” or held captive, by their own spiritual perversion. We read in 2 Peter 2:4 that “…God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell [in Greek, tartarus, describing a condition, rather than a place] and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment.”

Satan and his demons are VERY REAL. They are not just symbols or metaphors of some unidentifiable “force” of evil. Satan tempted Christ. Satan offered him all the kingdoms of the world if Christ would only fall down and worship Him. Christ cast out many demons when He was here on earth. At one time, he asked a demon, “What is your name?” The demon answered, “Legion,” because Christ was dealing at that moment with many demons (Luke 8:30). As God’s holy angels have individual names, so do demons.

The Power of Satan and His Demons

We must not underestimate the power and influence of Satan and his demons. The Bible tells us that Satan “deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). His biggest deception, no doubt, is to convince unsuspecting man that he does not even exist. He deceives others by pretending that he is an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Many preach as “his ministers,” transforming themselves “into ministers of righteousness” (verse 15). John later said that “many deceivers have gone out into the world” (2 John 7), and he warned us in 1 John 4:1 to “…test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Christ prophesied for the end time that “…false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24).

Satan and his demons can show great signs and wonders. It is prophesied that Satan will ultimately give his power to a religious leader who will work “signs… by which he deceived” the people (Revelation 19:20). False religious teachers, inspired by demons, might even be able to accurately foretell the future (Deuteronomy 13:1–4; Acts 16:16–19).

Satan has the power to inspire people to go to war (Job 1:9–15; Revelation 16:13–14; Revelation 20:7–10). He has the power to throw down fire to con