Concerning angels the Bible says: “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”(Hebrews 1:14).

God is the One who gives His angels charge over us (Psalm 91:11). He assigns, sends, or commands His angels to minister to us – as we go about our daily works. Psalm 34:7 says, “the angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.”

God may open our eyes to see them if He so chooses, and though we may never see them with our physical eyes this side of eternity, they are ministering to us according to our heavenly Father’s will (Hebs.1: 14).

Both the Old and New Testament contain the activities of God’s angels. Men encountered them as God permitted. 

Reading through the Bible we find that angels perform different tasks.  Some act like scribes (Ezk.9: 1-5), some as watchers (Dan. 4: 13, 17, 23), some are in charge of cities, some are in charge of nations (Ezk.9: 1-4, Dan.12:1). They come to deliver God’s messages, give instructions, directions, warnings, protection, to defend (Matt 1:20-21, 2:13, Acts 10:3-4, Matt.1:26 -37, Acts 8:26, 10:3).  They are sent to bring revelation (Dan.9:21-23), to execute judgements (Acts 12:20 – 23), to bring deliverance etc (Acts 5:19, 12: 5 – 11).

 In the Bible angels appeared to people in dreams, visions and physically (Matt.1:13)   Not all angels in the Bible were seen with wings, some were seen looking like mere men.

We cannot conjure them up.  We cannot command them to appear or do anything.  Whatever they do comes as a direct command from God.

The old as well as the New Testament show us there are different types of angelic beings. Here are some mentioned in the Bible.

Cherubim

The first place an angelic being was mentioned in the Bible was in Genesis 3:24.  When Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden of Eden, God placed Cherubim to guard the tree of life.  Cherubim were the first type of angelic beings mentioned in the Bible.  Ezekiel chapters 1 &10 describes them more clearly.  They have four faces, four wings, and eyes all over them, they walk and live in the midst of fire. God sits enthroned above the Cherubim (Psalm 99:1, Isaaih 37:16). They go with Him where ever He goes! (Ezk.1 & 10). They are always around His throne. Cherubim are very powerful, formidable and fearsome looking heavenly beings

 Psalm 18:9-10 says, “He (God) bowed the heavens also, and came down with darkness under His feet.  And He rode upon the Cherub, and flew upon the wings of the wind.” Cherub is the singular form of Cherubim.

The prophet Ezekiel tells us that Satan was also a Cherub.  Before his fall he was very close to God’s throne, he covered the throne of God (Ezek. 28: 13-14). He was“…the anointed cherub who covers…walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones” (Ezk.28:14).  

Seraphim

The prophet Isaiah saw four living creatures (probably the same creatures seen by the apostle John in Revelation chapter 4).  Isaiah said they were called Seraphim. Seraph is the singular of seraphim.  They each had six wings and eyes all over them as well. They never stop worshiping God.  Like the Cherubim they also are always around God’s throne.

 It seems like the cherubim and seraphim are angelic beings whose primary assignments are always around God’s throne in heaven.  Like the Cherubim they are fearsome angelic beings (Isaiah 6: 1 – 6, Rev. 3 & 4).

Arch angels

These are warrior angels.  The Bible only mentioned one by name – Michael.  Michael, however, may not be the only arch angel. The word arch means chief or prince. So Michael is probably one of the chief or prince angels and probably the head of this rank of angels (Dan.10:13, Dan.12:1, Rev.12:7).

There are angels God send to bring important messages on earth. The angel Gabriel is one of these. God sends these angels to deliver important and crucial messages to men on earth (Matt. 1: 12 – 19, 26 -35).

God also assigns, sends, or commands angels to bring protection, deliverance, or one form of assistance or the other to people (Psalm 91:11).

Angels live in heaven

Angels live in heaven.  They come to earth from heaven on assignments given to them by God and return to heaven after completing their assignments.  In heaven as well as on earth they have different tasks and assignments.   

Sometimes angels may appear looking just like us (mere men) – Caucasians (whites), Africans, Japanese, Indians etc., depending on where their assignments are. That’s why most times people don’t know they are having an angelic encounter. When they come thus, at first we think they are ordinary men.  For this reason the Bible tells us, “do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some have entertained angels unaware.” (Heb.13:2).  They entertained angels thinking they were ordinary people like them because they appeared like humans living in a particular environment.  Abraham and Lot are Biblical examples. They welcomed and entertained angels who appeared like mere men(Genesis 18: 1-15; Genesis 19: 1-38). They thought they were ordinary humans. The women at Jesus’ tomb saw an angel who appeared like a young man (Mark 10: 5).

Just as much as demons and fallen angelic beings are operating on earth, God’s angels are also carrying out His commands on earth.  The Bible reveals to us that God’s angels are much more than Satan’s (Rev.12:4, 2 Kings 6: 15-17).

We are never to seek, worship or pray to angels

Angels are God’s servants.  Nowhere in the Bible are we encouraged to seek after them, worship, or pray to them.

Every person in the Bible who had an angelic encounter did so based on God’s prerogative. 

Perhaps in these last days, just before Christ’s return, God will permit His people to have more outstanding angelic encounters.  Whatever the case may be, we are not to seek angels, but God only.

 This is God’s command to us:

“Seek you My face” (Psalm 27:8).

“Seek Me and live” (Amos 5:4).

“Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always” (1 Chronicles 16:11).

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you”(James 4:8).

Here are similar Scriptures: 1saiah 55:6, Jer. 29:13,Psam 105:4, 2chron. 15:2b, Psalm. 9:10, Col. 2:18, Rev. 22:8-9.  Seek to grow in intimacy with Christ.  Don’t join the bandwagon of those who are over excessively obsessed with angels instead of the Saviour. 

We cannot command angels

Contrary to what you may have heard we cannot command angels.  God has not given us such authority. Giving commands to angels will be efforts in futility.   Angels only obey God’s voice and do His biddings “Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word” (Psalm 103:20).  If it were possible to command angels we could command them to open every prison door in which Christ followers are incarcerated for their faith world over. 

In the book of Acts angels were sent specifically by God to open prison doors on His own directive, not because someone commanded them. God did not send angels to open all prison doors His people were incarcerated.  Angels are answerable to God alone.

Prayer and angels

We see in Scriptures that as a result of the prayers of the saints God does send angelic intervention (Acts 12: 5 – 11).

Sometimes God sends His angels to people as they seek His face in prayer.  God may send us angelic help if He so chooses when we pray.  He also does this even when we do not ask Him for angelic assistance (Daniel, 9:20-21, 10:11-12, Acts 12:5-11, Gen. 24: 7, 40, Luke 22:43).

Our Saviour and Lord, who was fully God as well as fully man, when He walked the earth, was strengthened by an angel while in prayer in Gethsemane.  (Luke 22: 41-44).

Going by the word of our Lord in the garden of Gethsemane it is Scriptural to Pray to God ONLY for angelic intervention : “Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? (Matt. 26:53). There is no place in Scripture we are told to speak, command or pray to angels for any form of assistance.

If we ask God for angelic assistance He will send it according to His will for us, but that does not necessarily mean that we will see them physically carrying out some extra- ordinary fits.

Angels still walk and work among us today

Angels still walk and work among us today on planet earth. And they still minister to God’s people; to deliver and protect in times of dangers and troubles, to wage warfare on our behalf, to encourage, and help us in life’s journey.  Even though we may not see them physically they are always busy carrying out God’s assignments and will on earth. 

Oh the Fatherly heart of God!  He so loved us that he gave us His only begotten son, and His Spirit to indwell us. He also gives His angels charge over us here on earth!

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