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.
About Jesus
55-0612 §29
...the old-fashioned types had just about cleared out. But they had somebody who kept the faith. And that man's name was Zacharias. And he had a wife named Elisabeth. And they were righteous man and woman. They lived together godly. They served the Lord with all their heart. Elisabeth was barren. Her husband, the priest at the temple, his duty was to burn incense while the people were praying. And one day while he was down at the temple burning incense, while prayers were being made, a righteous man, (notice), holy ma...
How the Angel came to me
53-1109 §33
So, they didn't know what it was. What it was, on the platform, when the Angel of the Lord had pronounced that, He can't be treated just at every second. But, He had passed through that neighborhood confirming the Word of God, making it right. Sometimes you pray ... I believe Daniel, the Angel couldn't get to him one time when he was asking for, I believe twenty-one days, wasn't it. Twenty-one days before it could get there. See? Now, if they'd have lost faith, they'd have lost out. But you do just exactly what God...
Hear ye Him
57-0807 §86
Someday, if You tarry, their bodies will no doubt go down here on the sod somewhere; but on that great and notable day that we've looked for for six thousand years, Jesus shall come and the dead in Christ shall rise. We shall be caught up together to meet them in the air. What a day that will be. May they say as David, "Moreover my flesh shall rest in hope. For thou will not suffer thy Holy One to see corruption, neither will He leave his soul in hell." Some glorious day, because Jesus raised, we shall too, and com...
As I was with Moses
51-0503 §27
Now, the discernment's here. God is here. Oh, yes, He is. He's here. And I know the Angel of the Lord has been with me since over an hour ago. And I know that's true. The power of the Holy Spirit is right upon me now (That is true.), this Angel of the Lord, and He's here and can discern anything. And that's true. But then, not so much for that. I want you to come and let me pray for you. For He told me if I'd pray for the sick, and be sincere when I prayed, and get them to believe me, that nothing would stand befor...
Experiences
48-0302 §124
...ds and go to praising You for their healing, going down the street testifying like Mary did before she felt life or anything. She knew that she was going to have a baby not knowing a man. Oh, the impossible, something that had never happened before, but she knew that it was right, because the Angel said so. And Father, I know this is right, because the Angel said so. And I know that You have declared it. If it wasn't so, You wouldn't have testified of it. If would've been a fanaticism, it would've fell shortly. But...