Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek word "αγγελος or angelos". Where and how were they created remains a mystery. Have they existed throughout eternity? Or were they fashioned by God? Are they eternal beings, or are they mortal? Find out today as the X-Files examines the subject of "angels".
Some people say that they hear angelic sounds totally beyond human description, and other people claim to have a feeling of sudden warmth or comfort in times of sadness or grief, and feel a gentle cloak of feathered wings wrapping softly around them. Sometimes this energy may feel entirely different - like a sudden rush of air especially at times of impending disaster. At other times, simply an inexplicable presence is felt.
For 2,000 years angels have stood as the ultimate expression of mankind's
spirituality, even as its enigmas and mysteries have baffled scholars
and intrigued the faithful. What are the facts behind these figures of the Bible?
Scholars say that angels, demons, and other seemingly supernatural beings stem from various religious beliefs and superstitions that have been passed down from one generation. The validity of their existence is still nonexistent, but many claim that they are just as real as you and I are.
In fact many believe that there is a consistent struggle between the “good” and the “evil” occurring on and just outside the realm of our very real world.
Our guardian angels, on the other, are thought to be spiritual beings who are obligated to assist humans in various ways. Whether there is one angel per person, one angel for several person or several angels for one person is open to question, but whether you believe in them or not, or whether you want one or not, believers of angels insist that we all have our own guardian angel.
The obvious question would be where do angels come from? There is no easy answer to this particular question. Some feel strongly that they were created before the six days outlined in Genesis one and others say that they were created on one of those six days, though there is no way of telling which one. Unfortunately, the Bible does not contain something solid on this. Also, the Bible never explains why God would ever need angels but then again it really doesn't explain why he created the universe, and mankind as well.
The obvious question would be where do angels come from? There is no easy answer to this particular question. Some feel strongly that they were created before the six days outlined in Genesis one and others say that they were created on one of those six days, though there is no way of telling which one. Unfortunately, the Bible does not contain something solid on this. Also, the Bible never explains why God would ever need angels but then again it really doesn't explain why he created the universe, and mankind as well.
Do all religions believe in angels?
The answer to this is yes, but because angels are the product of many hands, evolved and developed over many centuries. There are differing theories supporting this. Angels can be found in Babylonian or Persian religion, though similar conceptions are also found in Hinduism and some forms of Buddhism. We find in the prologue of the Book of Job (which probably dates from before the exile in Babylon) 'the sons of God' meeting together apparently as a sort of heavenly court. The phrase 'sons of God' has been taken to imply angelic beings rather than deities.
By the time of the New Testament in the Christian faith angels, were seen as both messengers of God and as attendant spirits, (see e.g. Acts 12.15 - Peter, miraculously released from prison, knocks on the door of the house where some of the other disciples are staying. They refuse to believe it is truly him: 'It is his angel'.)
By this time, some of the angels have been given names - Raphael, the charming angel who accompanies Tobias on his journey in the apocryphal Book of Tobit, Gabriel, the Angel of the Annunciation, and, of course, Michael. Members of the Jewish sect of the Essenes vowed to preserve the holy names of the angels of God.
Their names and titles.
- Ministers :signifies religious duties and spiritual service
- Psalm 103: 20,21, and Psalm 104:4
- Host: military service Gen:32:1-2, Joshua 5:14, 1Samual 17:45, Psalm 89:9.
- Chariots:Refers to their swiftness llKings 6:16-17, Psalm 68:17,Zecheriah 6:5.
- Watchers:supervisors and agents Daniel 4:13,17.
- Sons of the mighty: their awesome strength and power Psalm 29:1, Psalm 89:6.
- Sons of God: In the old testament angels were called this Job 1:6, Job 38:7, Gen 6:2,4.
- Holy Ones , Saints: their total seperation to the will of God Psalm 89:7, Danl 8:13.
- Stars: Refers to their number and brightness Psalm148:2-3,Revel12:3-4
What are they exactly? Do they have bodies? Do they ever die? Are new ones ever born? Are they all-powerful life God, or do they have regular strength like humans?
There are many more characteristics. Angels don’t have bodies, though
sometimes they are revealed in human form. They are more powerful than
humans and less powerful than people. Even those who believe in the
existence of angels concede that they rarely make a physical appearance.
However, there are other ways guardian angels can make their presence
known, they say.
- Read Hebrews 1:13-14 – According to verse 14, do angels have a body, or are they spirits?
- Read Matthew 22:30 – If angels don’t have a body, do they ever get married?
- Read Luke 20:36 – Do angels ever die?
- Read Daniel 9:21 – Are angels omnipresent?
- How do angels travel? Read Luke 8:31-32 – In the larger passage that surrounds these verses, Jesus is getting ready to cast demons out of a man. They must be obedient to Christ. Therefore, are they all powerful? Read Psalm 8:4-5 – Are angels as powerful as man or more? Though angels are not human, they do possess some human characteristics. List them after the following passages:
- II Peter 2:4 –
- I Peter 1:12 –
- Mark 13:32 –
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