What Can We Know About Angels?
1) Direct Answer
We can know this: angels are created, holy spirits who serve the one true God and carry His messages and works to men. They are not to be prayed to or worshiped. They minister to the heirs of salvation, protect, deliver messages, execute judgments, and will be involved in end-time gathering. Some fell with Satan and are reserved for judgment. Believers will not become angels; in Christ we are placed higher, and we shall judge angels.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Created by God, innumerable:
- Colossians 1:16; Psalm 148:2,5; Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 5:11.
- Nature and duty:
- “Ministering spirits” (Hebrews 1:14); “He makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire” (Hebrews 1:7; Psalm 104:4); they “excel in strength” and “do His commandments” (Psalm 103:20).
- Not objects of worship:
- Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9; Colossians 2:18.
- Messengers and guides:
- Gabriel to Daniel (Daniel 9:21-23) and to Mary (Luke 1:26-38); an angel directed Philip (Acts 8:26), spoke to Cornelius (Acts 10:3-6), stood by Paul (Acts 27:23-24).
- Protection and deliverance:
- “The angel of the LORD encamps round about them that fear Him, and delivers them” (Psalm 34:7); “He shall give His angels charge over thee” (Psalm 91:11); Daniel 6:22; Acts 12:7-11.
- Strengthening God’s servants:
- Matthew 4:11; Luke 22:43.
- Appearances:
- They may appear as men (Genesis 18–19; Judges 13); “some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2).
- Order and ranks:
- Michael the archangel (Jude 9; Revelation 12:7); “principalities and powers” (Colossians 1:16; Ephesians 3:10).
- The Angel of the LORD:
- Speaks as God and bears His Name (Exodus 3:2-6; Exodus 23:20-21; Judges 13:18-22). God revealing Himself by a messenger form.
- What they know and don’t know:
- They rejoice over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10); they desire to look into the things of the Gospel (1 Peter 1:12).
- Marriage and nature:
- They “neither marry” (Matthew 22:30). Saints do not become angels but are “equal unto the angels” in not marrying and not dying (Luke 20:36).
- Fallen angels and deception:
- Satan has angels (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:7-9). Some angels sinned (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). Satan can appear as an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).
- Testing any message:
- Even if an angel preached another gospel, reject it (Galatians 1:8). “Try the spirits” (1 John 4:1).
- Angels in the end time:
- They will gather the elect (Matthew 24:31) and separate (Matthew 13:39-49). The Lord descends “with the voice of the archangel” (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
- Believers’ position:
- In Christ we will “judge angels” (1 Corinthians 6:3). Jesus is far above angels, and angels worship Him (Hebrews 1:4-8).
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- If angels were to be worshiped, they would accept it; instead, they refuse and point us to God—so worship God alone.
- If an angel’s message ever disagrees with the written Word, it is not from God; God does not contradict Himself.
- Angels serve; the Holy Spirit leads. We pray to the Father in the Name of Jesus, and God may send angels as His servants.
- People do not become angels. Angels are one order of God’s creation; redeemed men and women are another, brought into sonship by Jesus Christ and set to judge angels.
4) Short Reinforcing Statement
Now notice, angels are real, present, and active—but always under God’s command and always in harmony with the Bible. Respect their ministry, refuse their worship, test all things by the Word, and keep your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whom angels themselves adore.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
The Angel of the Lord
51-0502 §39
Now, I want you to know that that Angel of God is no more to do with me that It is to do with you. That It's an Angel sent down from heaven. And if you don't believe Angels are ministering Spirits sent from the presence of God, then you don't know the Bible. Yes, sir. Someone said, "Brother Branham, angels is only for the Old Testament." Why, that's a error. The new church had more angels ministerings than what the Old Testament did. Yes, sir. Well they said, "The Holy Ghost leads the church." That's correct. The H...
Questions and Answers on Hebrews, part 3
57-1006 §25
I Peter 4 ... or 2:4, if you notice, "for if God spared not the angels," how is that angel spelt? Little "a." See, now, over here, "the spirits that were in prison that repented not in the long-suffering of the days of Noah," same angels. It was men: messengers, preachers; "spared not the angel." Did you know that the word angel comes from the word "a messenger"? How many knows that angel is "messenger"? Absolutely, angel is a messenger, "and He spared not the angels," see. And over here in the Hebrews, you remembe...
Revelation, Chapter 4c Throne of mercy and judgement
61-0108 §104
Why, when Moses come out from his presence, he had to put something over his face, so the people couldn't even look at him. Is that right? He was full of the power of God. Stephen, a man full of the Holy Ghost---trying to stop him, why, it was like trying to put out a house on a windy day in a fire... put the fire out in a house on fire on a windy day. Oh, the more they blowed it, the worse it got. Why, you couldn't stop him. Directly when they put him before the Sanhedrin Court, the Bible said he stood there, look...
The Angel of God
48-0304 §12
Now, that's the Angel of God. He's been seen many times in the services. And I know that He's here tonight. I know that He's here. I've felt Him three or four times since I been here. Now, that someone might know... Now, many people misunderstand. Now, this is in no means, friends, an Angel worship. It is not. I do not pray in the name of the Angel, or even know His name. But if you'll check the Scriptures, when God sends His people, it's an Angel that directs them. Moses... You say, "Well, how about the New Testam...
Obey the voice of the Angel
50-0713 §10
...k; not to heal the sick, to pray for the sick. "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick." Now, He's the Gift. Someone said, not long ago, to me, said, "Brother Branham, Angels was ministering spirits in the Old Testament, but since the Holy Spirit has come, we don't have ministering Angels any more." Now, dear friends, this is not a worship of Angels, understand; we do not believe in worshipping Angels. There's only One to be worshipped; that's God, and His Son, our Holy Spirit. No Angel, no, not no man or no A...