What are angels, and what do they do?
Angels are spiritual beings created by God, ministering spirits sent to serve those who inherit salvation. They worship God, carry His messages, protect and minister to His people, and will accompany Christ at His return. They are glorious, but they are creatures: we are not to worship them.
This question arose from studying Do believers have guardian angels?.
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What the Scripture says
Angels are created spirits
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to serve for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? Praise him, all his angels; for he commanded, and they were created. They are glorious creatures, but they are creatures, made by the word of God.
Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all his army! Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you heavens of heavens, You waters that are above the heavens. Let them praise Yahweh’s name, For he commanded, and they were created.
For by him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him.
They worship and serve God
I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb who was slain. Angels who excel in strength, who do his word, obeying the voice of his word. Their first occupation is worship and obedience.
I saw, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!”
Praise Yahweh, you angels of his, who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, obeying the voice of his word.
Above him stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With two he covered his face. With two he covered his feet. With two he flew. One called to another, and said, “Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of Armies! The whole earth is full of his glory!”
They minister to God's people
Gabriel flew swiftly and touched Daniel and gave him insight and understanding. An angel was sent to Mary with the announcement of the Christ. To Elisha: do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.
Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
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, touched me about the time of the evening offering. He instructed me, and talked with me, and said, Daniel, I have now come to give you wisdom and understanding.
He answered, “Don’t be afraid; for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Elisha prayed, and said, “Yahweh, please open his eyes, that he may see.” Yahweh opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha.
They are not to be worshipped
When John fell to worship the angel, he said, do not do that; I am a fellow servant; worship God. Do not let anyone disqualify you by delighting in the worship of angels. Their service points to Christ, and our worship belongs to Him alone.
Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. He said to me, “See you don’t do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
Let no one rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
For to which of the angels did he say at any time, “You are my Son. Today have I become your father?” and again, “I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?” When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.”
As you read, you may wonder…
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What is spiritual warfare?→“For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”Are demons real and active today?→“He asked him, “What is your name?” He said to him, “My name is Legion, for we are many.””Do believers have guardian angels?→“For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone.”How do I pray against the enemy without fearing him?→“Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen. ’”Can a Christian be tormented by demons?→“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.”How do I discern demonic influence from ordinary struggles?→“Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”What is the armor of God, piece by piece?→“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”What do angels look like, and can believers see them?→“Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”Hold onto these
Verses to meditate on
Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
Praise Yahweh, you angels of his, who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, obeying the voice of his word.
Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. He said to me, “See you don’t do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship 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, touched me about the time of the evening offering. He instructed me, and talked with me, and said, Daniel, I have now come to give you wisdom and understanding.
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