Angels

[GreenMunchkin]

How much do you all know about them? For example, what is their purpose? Are they just warriors?

Also, are there any scriptures to support the idea that they can/do appear to us in human form?

 

[ReformedChapin]

In scripture all we see is how angels are God messengers. But other than that very little is talked bout in scripture. In the old testament there is some description of them, but I am not sure whether it's literal I think it describes their character rathen physical characteristics

 

[nyj]

Also, are there any scriptures to support the idea that they can/do appear to us in human form?

Well ... in the Catholic (and Orthodox) version(s) of the Bible, there is the Book of Tobit, in which the Archangel Raphael accompanies Tobiah on his trip to Media.

 

[GreenMunchkin]

Well ... in the Catholic (and Orthodox) version(s) of the Bible, there is the Book of Tobit, in which the Archangel Raphael accompanies Tobiah on his trip to Media.

Ooh, thank you! Gonna read that now. Thanks

But so it's possible?

 

[sageoffools]

There are close to 100 angel verses just in the OT, the majority of them were angels appearing to man.
I believe every time an angel interacted with man it was to bring a message, as new guy said, but there are other angels that we don't interact with that do other things.

In Ezekiel 28, there is a description that most people believe is of Satan, once an angel. The way he is described has lead people to believe that he was the "band leader" for the angelic choir.
In Revelation 7-10 we see angels meeting out God's judgment on man.
In Revelation 12 We see the archangel Michael and the other angels warring against Satan.
In Revelation 4, 5 & 7 There are angels around the throne of God worshiping Him forever.

In regard to your question about whether or not the Bible says that they appear in human form:
Hebrews 13:2 "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

Add: In all there are 283 verses in the Bible that talk about angels in some form.

 

[nyj]

Ooh, thank you! Gonna read that now. Thanks

But so it's possible?

I'd say yes, it's possible.

 

[nyj]

In regard to your question about whether or not the Bible says that they appear in human form:
Hebrews 13:2 "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

FTW!

 

[Father Rick]

I've seen angels on a number of occasions.

Usually the form is more "human", but sometimes more "creature" (think of Ezekiel's visions). Of the one's I've seen, sometimes they had 2 wings, sometimes 6... sometimes none I saw. Size ranged from about 9 feet tall to over 100 feet tall. Some are warriors... some worshippers... some messengers... some "ministering spirits"...

 

[GreenMunchkin]

There are close to 100 angel verses just in the OT, the majority of them were angels appearing to man.
I believe every time an angel interacted with man it was to bring a message, as new guy said, but there are other angels that we don't interact with that do other things.

In Ezekiel 28, there is a description that most people believe is of Satan, once an angel. The way he is described has lead people to believe that he was the "band leader" for the angelic choir.
In Revelation 7-10 we see angels meeting out God's judgment on man.
In Revelation 12 We see the archangel Michael and the other angels warring against Satan.
In Revelation 4, 5 & 7 There are angels around the throne of God worshiping Him forever.

Ahh, which is why I thought they are mostly warriors. Also, having read "Piercing the Darkness"...

Yeah, Lucifer is believed to've been the most beautiful of all the angels, isn't he?

In regard to your question about whether or not the Bible says that they appear in human form:
Hebrews 13:2 "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

Hmm... I suggested that one as one of the verses to go on the homepage, actually. It's very beautiful. But in this context, is it to be taken literally?

Add: In all there are 283 verses in the Bible that talk about angels in some form.

Thank you! Gonna have to read some of them. Thank you very much

I'd say yes, it's possible.

Ok, do you think we'd know? It probably wouldn't be instinctive so much as a spiritual acknowledgement on some level, but do you think it's possible we'd just, like, know?

(Also, off topic, but read the first page of the clicky you gave. Wow. Why is it not more widespread?)

 

[Miss Shelby]

Father Corapi has an excellent talk on the subject, I don't know where you could get the audio tape of it, EWTN, maybe. OH and he's conservative. The way I gauge that is by how the OBOB'ers react to him and lots of folks seem to think he's an abrasive legalist. Which means, in my book, he's good.

Here's an article I found. http://www.fathercorapi.com/article...0AAABbtSsY&bcsi_scan_filename=articledet.aspx

 

[nyj]

Also, having read "Piercing the Darkness"...

I enjoyed that book.

Hmm... I suggested that one as one of the verses to go on the homepage, actually. It's very beautiful. But in this context, is it to be taken literally?

IMO, I take it literally.

Ok, do you think we'd know? It probably wouldn't be instinctive so much as a spiritual acknowledgement on some level, but do you think it's possible we'd just, like, know?

I honestly couldn't guess. Maybe some would be able to, but I'd imagine more often than not ... quite a few wouldn't be able to.

(Also, off topic, but read the first page of the clicky you gave. Wow. Why is it not more widespread?)

Depends. A billion Catholics and a quarter of a billion Orthodox are aware of it . Also, Frederick Buechner, a Presbyterian, wrote a book called "On the Road with the Archangel", which is basically a retelling of the story of Tobit. It's a very good read. His book "Telling the Truth - The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale" is also an excellent read.

 

[sageoffools]

Ahh, which is why I thought they are mostly warriors. Also, having read "Piercing the Darkness"...

That would do it!
Although I do like Frank Peretti's books, I would not really rely on them for doctrinal accuracy.

Yeah, Lucifer is believed to've been the most beautiful of all the angels, isn't he?

Again, if you take the passages in Ezekiel and the one in Isaiah talking about Lucifer, to be talking about Satan, then yes, I would say he was very beautiful. Again, many scholars believe that he was the 4th in command in Heaven, under God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Which would give some explanation as to his pride in thinking that he could be above God. (Foolish though that thought is)

Hmm... I suggested that one as one of the verses to go on the homepage, actually. It's very beautiful. But in this context, is it to be taken literally?

The context that I see it in is Paul saying to love and take care of one another, especially those in the most desperate need. Then he warns that in doing this some have even taken care of angels without knowing about it. I don't think that's too out of context.
There are several instances in the Bible where angels that appeared to someone were not immediately recognized as angels.

 

[Criada]

Did a study on angels years ago..I'll see if I can find it.
Angels visited Abraham in human form (Genesis18)

 

[tkoman]

How much do you all know about them? For example, what is their purpose? Are they just warriors?

Also, are there any scriptures to support the idea that they can/do appear to us in human form?

Angels are noncorporeal beings - therefore they can appear any way God allows them to. They appear in the bible several times as humans - males. They are servants of God made less then humans - one of the main reasons that the fallen angels have a serious problem with not just us, but Jesus and His humanity.

 

[Time2BCounted]

In Job it appears that the angels are referred to as 'Sons of God'. This has interesting implications.

There are several differant kinds and or ranks of angels, cherubim and seraphim and teraphim for instance. Some men are referred to as angels, such as is the implicaiton in Revelation concerning the 7 letters to the angels of the 7 churches.

Understanding that there are differant ranks of angels, it is likely too that angels form every race or rank fell in their rebellion. We then have seraphim or light and seraphim of darkness, as well as cherubim.

If the angels who are referred to as sons of God, are as the same as the sons of God mentioned in Genesis 6, then the strong implication is that there was some sort of intermingling of man and angel.

We know that fallen angels can appear as ministers of light.

We know that the angels will gather the elect upon the return of Christ. They are called the reapers in the parable of the wheat and the tares. 3 Unclean spirits draw the world to armageddon.


In the end amazingly it seems we will judge the angels.

There really is a fair amount of info. They even nourished Jesus in the desert and really would have kept his foot from stumbling, until His given time.

Apparently angels aid us, and many battles we fight begin in the spirit.

It seems there are even angels over nations and empires

 

[Annabel Lee]

It's time for some country music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUK5HIwZ21A

 

[Time2BCounted]

It's time for some country music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUK5HIwZ21A

Great tune, and a good reminder

 

[SpiritualAntiseptic]

How much do you all know about them? For example, what is their purpose? Are they just warriors?

Also, are there any scriptures to support the idea that they can/do appear to us in human form?

Angels are what we call a variety of spiritual beings created by God. Their purpose varies- but their creation speaks of God's vast and varied creation- from simple minerals, to plants, animals, humans, to angels.

They can appear to humans, even interact and protect us- but they don't change in doing so.

 

[Tangeloper]

Hi there... I'm definitely a believer in angels, and believe I have interacted with one in the past... Perhaps I will share this someday, but it's a very personal story and not one I share often.

As for the verse about entertaining angels unawares I think we should definitely take that verse VERY literally... You never know, you just never know....

 

[Rhamiel]

Ezekiel 1: 15-17 Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.
The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.
When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went.


I read the book Tobit, great book if you want to hear more about angels