Five Characteristics of Angels

There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

–Luke 15:10

The Bible is clear: We are not to worship angels. But we ought to understand who they are. What does the Bible tell us about angels?

Angels are created beings. Colossians 1:16 says, “By [Jesus] all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible”–which includes the angels. We have to do a little biblical detective work to understand when they were created. In Job 38:4, 7, God said, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? . . . When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” The “morning stars” and “sons of God” are the angels, and we know from Genesis 1:9–10 that the foundation of the earth was laid on the third day of creation. So the angels were on hand by the third day, though we don’t know the exact moment they were created. We do know God created “myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands” of angels (Revelation 5:11), and that number is fixed. Jesus indicated that angels don’t procreate (Matthew 22:30). No new angels are being born, and angels never die. They will exist forever–holy angels in heaven with God and fallen angels in the lake of fire.

Angels have intellect and emotions. They think and feel. Revelation 10 and 17 show us that angels have some understanding of God’s prophetic future. And Luke 15:10 tells us that when somebody trusts in Christ as Savior, the angels in heaven rejoice.

Angels have a will. They can make choices. The most consequential choice ever made by an angel was that of Lucifer to rebel against the rule of God. And a group of angels chose to follow Lucifer, whom we now call Satan, and were cast down from heaven with him–in Matthew 25:41, Jesus referred to “the devil and his angels.”

Angels inhabit certain realms. Some are in heaven right now praising God, some are here on the earth to minister to us, and some have been given charge over specific nations. For example, the archangel Michael’s job is to protect Israel (Daniel 12:1).

Angels can appear to be human. Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Angels are spirit beings, but they can take on human form.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “What Every Christian Should Know About Angels and Demons, Part 1” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2022.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.