35 facts that might surprise you about angels in the Bible

What do angels look like? Why were they created? And what do angels do? Humans have always had a fascination with angels and angelic beings. For centuries, artists have tried to capture pictures of angels on canvas.

It may surprise you to know that the Bible does not describe anything like angels, as they are typically depicted in paintings. (You know, those cute little chubby ones with wings?) A passage in Ezekiel 1: 1-28 provides a brilliant description of angels as four-winged creatures. In Ezekiel 10:20, we are told that these angels are called cherubs.

Most angels in the Bible have the appearance and shape of a man. Many of them have wings, but not all of them. Some are bigger than life. Others have multiple faces that look like a man from one angle and a lion, ox or eagle from another angle. Some angels are bright, bright and fiery, while others look like ordinary humans. Some angels are invisible, but their presence is heard and their voice is heard.

35 Fascinating facts about angels in the Bible
Angels are mentioned 273 times in the Bible. Although we will not examine each case, this study will offer a complete look at what the Bible says about these fascinating creatures.

1 - Angels were created by God.
In the second chapter of the Bible, we are told that God created the heavens and the earth, and everything in them. The Bible indicates that angels were created at the same time as the earth was formed, even before human life was created.

Thus the heavens and the earth, and all their host, were ended. (Genesis 2: 1, NKJV)
For from him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether they are thrones or powers or sovereigns or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. (Colossians 1:16, NIV)
2 - Angels were created to live for eternity.
The scriptures tell us that angels do not experience death.

... nor can they die any more, since they are equal to angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. (Luke 20:36, NKJV)
Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty God, who was, and is, and must come". (Revelation 4: 8, NIV)
3 - Angels were present when God created the world.
When God created the foundations of the earth, angels had already existed.

Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. He said: "... Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? … While the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? ” (Job 38: 1-7, NIV)
4 - Angels do not marry.
In heaven, men and women will be like angels, who neither marry nor reproduce.

At the resurrection people will not marry or be given in marriage; they will be like angels in heaven. (Matthew 22:30, NIV)
5 - Angels are wise and intelligent.
Angels can discern good and evil and give intuition and understanding.

Your servant said: “The word of my lord the king will now be comforting; for as the angel of God, so my lord is the king in discerning good and evil. And the Lord your God be with you. (2 Samuel 14:17, NKJV)
He instructed me and said, "Daniel, now I have come to give you intuition and understanding." (Daniel 9:22, NIV)
6 - Angels are interested in men's affairs.
Angels have been and will always be involved and interested in what is happening in the life of human beings.

"Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, because the vision is about a time that is yet to come." (Daniel 10:14, NIV)
"Likewise, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God on one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:10, NKJV)

7 - Angels are faster than men.
Angels seem to have the ability to fly.

... while I was still praying, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the previous vision, came to me on a quick flight towards the hour of the evening sacrifice. (Daniel 9:21, NIV)
And I saw another angel flying across the sky, bringing the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world, to every nation, tribe, language and people. (Revelation 14: 6, NLT)
8 - Angels are spiritual beings.
As spiritual beings, angels have no real physical bodies.

Whoever makes the spirits of his angels, his ministers a flame of fire. (Psalm 104: 4, NKJV)
9 - Angels are not made to be revered.
Whenever angels are mistaken for God by humans and worshiped in the Bible, they are told not to.

And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “You see you don't! I am your service companion and your brothers who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. " (Revelation 19:10, NKJV)
10 - Angels are subject to Christ.
Angels are the servants of Christ.

... who has gone to heaven and is at God's right hand, angels, authority and powers have been subjected to Him. (1 Peter 3:22, NKJV)
11 - Angels have a will.
Angels have the ability to exercise their will.

How did you fall from heaven,
O morning star, son of dawn!
You have been thrown to earth,
you who once brought down the nations!
You said in your heart:
“I will go up to heaven;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit on the mountain of the assembly,
on the highest heights of the sacred mountain.
I will climb over the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High. "(Isaiah 14: 12-14, NIV)
And the angels who did not maintain their positions of authority but abandoned their homes - these kept them in darkness, bound with eternal chains for judgment on the great Day. (Jude 1: 6, NIV)
12 - Angels express emotions like joy and desire.
Angels cry out for joy, feel homesick and show many emotions in the Bible.

... while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? (Job 38: 7, NIV)
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been said to you by those who preached the gospel to you from the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels wish to delve into these things. (1 Peter 1:12, NIV)
13 - Angels are not omnipresent, omnipotent or omniscient.
Angels have some limitations. They are not omniscient, omnipotent and present everywhere.

Then he continued: “Don't be afraid, Daniele. From the first day you decided to understand and humble yourself before your God, your words have been heard and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me for twenty one days, then Michael, one of the main princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. (Daniel 10: 12-13, NIV)
But even the archangel Michael, when he was arguing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a libelous accusation against him, but said: "The Lord reproach you!" (Jude 1: 9, NIV)
14 - Angels are too numerous to count.
The Bible indicates that there is an incalculable number of angels.

The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands ... (Psalm 68:17, NIV)
But you came to Mount Zion, to heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. Thousands and thousands of angels have come in joyful assembly ... (Hebrews 12:22, NIV)
15 - Most of the angels remained faithful to God.
While some angels rebelled against God, the vast majority remained faithful to him.

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands and thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand. They surrounded the throne, living creatures and the elderly. They sang in a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was killed, to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise!" (Revelation 5: 11-12, NIV)
16 - Three angels have names in the Bible.
Only three angels are mentioned by name in the canonical books of the Bible: Gabriel, Michael and the fallen angel Lucifer or Satan.
Daniel 8:16
Luke 1:19
Luke 1:26

17 - Only an angel in the Bible is called an Archangel.
Michael is the only angel to be called an archangel in the Bible. It is described as "one of the main principles", so it is possible that there are other archangels, but we cannot be sure. The word "archangel" comes from the Greek word "archangel" which means "a main angel". Refers to an angel ranked higher or responsible for other angels.
Daniel 10:13
Daniel 12: 1
Jude 9
Revelation 12: 7

18 - Angels were created to glorify and worship God the Father and God the Son.
Revelation 4: 8
Hebrews 1: 6

19 - Angels report to God.
Work 1: 6
Work 2: 1

20 - The angels observe with interest the people of God.
Luke 12: 8-9
1 Corinthians 4: 9
1 Timoteo 5: 21

21 - The angels announced the birth of Jesus.
Luke 2: 10-14

22 - Angels do the will of God.
Psalm 104: 4

23 - Angels have served Jesus.
Matthew 4:11
Luke 22:43

24 - Angels help humans.
Hebrews 1:14
Daniel
Zechariah
mary
Joseph
Philip

25 - The angels rejoice in the work of God's creation.
Job 38: 1-7
4 Apocalypse: 11

26 - The angels rejoice in the work of salvation of God.
Luke 15:10

27 - Angels will unite with all believers in the celestial kingdom.
Hebrews 12: 22-23

28 - Some angels are called cherubs.
Ezekiel 10:20

29 - Some angels are called seraphim.
In Isaiah 6: 1-8 we see a description of the seraphim. These are tall angels, each with six wings and can fly.

30 - Angels are known in various ways such as:
messengers
Observers or supervisors of God
Military "landlords".
"Children of the powerful".
"Children of God".
"Wagons".