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.
As the eagle stirreth up her nest
59-0815 §76
Like the lepers at the gate, they said, "Why do we lay here until we die? Why," they said, "If we go in the city..." How many knows the story? Samaria was being sieged by the Syrians. And they were so hungry, they was staving, till eat the bark off the tree, the grass off the ground, and they boiled one another's children and eat. Do you remember that? And these lepers couldn't come into the city, they were lepers. They thought it was contagious, and so they set at the gate. And they said, "Why do we set here till...
The evidence of the resurrection
58-0406E §9
Now, if you notice these ones was at the tomb early in the morning, they met two men, which were angels in shining apparel, which said unto them that He was... "Why seek ye the living among the dead?" They'd went to the tomb and found that He was not there. And they asked this notable question, "Why are you seeking the living among the dead?" And he said, "When ... these things He told you when He was yet in Galilee." Now maybe you might just read over the top of that, but let's study that for a moment. He said, "H...
The Oncoming Storm
60-0229 §39
...or some kind of a party, some kind of a wiener roast. Which, them things are all right, outside the church. But the church is where judgment ought to be preached and the power of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and a warning. Judgment begins at the house of God! Not parties; judgment! Lot was warned. And when the angels, though he didn't know they were angels, when they went down, their message was to Sodom, "Come out of this sinful place! God has provided a way of escape for you. Come out of this sinful place...
Mary's belief
60-0311 §35
...her and began to hug her. She said, "Oh, Mary, why, the last time I seen you, you was a little freckled-faced girl, and here you are a beautiful woman. And I heard that you were going with that fine boy, Joseph." She said, "Yes, that is true, Elisabeth." "Well," she said, "I'm so glad to see you. Why, Honey, why don't you come sit down? Why, Joseph has gone to fetch some water so I can wash your feet. You must be tired, they're bleeding. Is there anything wrong? Are you in a hurry? You seem to be so happy, but yet...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 7:E-105
But the rapture is not the only roll call. There at the second resurrection, at the great White Throne judgment, will names be confessed before the Father and His angels. Now I have been told by those who know, that the sweetest sound to a human ear is the sound of that person's name. How people love to have their names before the public. How they love acclaim. But no earthly voice will ever sound your name as sweetly as will the voice of God if your name is in the Book of Life and remains there to be revealed befo...