Who Are The Angels?

All through the first five books of Moses we encounter the Angel of the LORD, whom we identified as Jesus before His incarnation through the Virgin Mary. This same Angel of the LORD went before Israel on its journey to the Promised Land and guided them as they conquered and settled into it. But where were these other angels we hear so much about today?

A search in a concordance for the word 'angel', malak in the Hebrew, brings up 213 matches in 196 verses. For example, when the Angel of the LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, He was accompanied by two other men, says the text—or so they appeared to be. After the LORD made it clear that Sarah would have a baby, He also argued with Abraham about His plans to destroy Sodom. The LORD promised to spare the city if there were but 10 righteous believers in it. But there were not (Gen.18:1-33).

So in the next chapter we read of the two angels coming to Lot's house to warn him to get his family out of town, because they were going to blow it up. Lot's two daughters were about to be married, but their fiancés merely laughed at the thought. So the only ones to get out safely were Lot, his wife and their two daughters. And we all know what happened to Mrs. Lot as she looked back (Gen. 19:26).

Conclusions:

• The Angel of the LORD was accompanied by two other angels—angel = malak in Hebrew and simply means a messenger, whether angelic or human (Judges 6:35; 1 Sam.19:14); hence the Greek word angelos and our English word angel. The malakim often carry messages from the LORD to various chosen believers.

And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, "I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. - Gen 28:12-13 ESV

• Angels are not to be messed with. They have powers far beyond any of us. The Angel of the LORD (Jesus) is, of course, all powerful. His angelic messengers also have great delegated powers to destroy and protect human life and habitations.

And that night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. - 2Ki 19:35 ESV

So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning until the appointed time. And there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba 70,000 men. And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, "It is enough; now stay your hand." And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. - 2Sa 24:15-16 ESV 

After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself. . . Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven. And the LORD sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword. - 2Ch 32:21 ESV

• But what are the angels? They surely aren't human even though they can appear as men. Should we call them 'shape shifters'? Writers make up all sorts of fictional things about these great beings. I once read an article by Jay Alfred in which he claims that angels have bodies composed of "magnetic plasma." Magnetic plasma generates electro-magnetic fields and is a good conductor of electricity and radiator of electromagnetic waves. That's why angels emit light, he says. Like fluorescent lamps, their bodies interact with the energy particles in the environment causing light. He goes on with what sounds like a very scientific understanding, but he is only guessing, based, I suppose, on Biblical descriptions of angels like the following.

Above him stood the seraphim (shining ones). Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. - Isa 6:2 ESV 

(The serpents that bit rebellious Israel in the wilderness were also called seraphim, probably because of the sense of fire and burning that resulted. The word more likely means bright or shining—cf. chariots of fire, 2 Kings 2:11). 

As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal. And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness . . . .  — Ezekiel 1:4-5 ESV

There is much more to be said about these great beings. That must wait for another day. For now be comforted by the promises of Psalm 91.

Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place-- the Most High, who is my refuge no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. - Psa 91:9-12 ESV