what are angels?

[jayebrownlee]

I have always wondered this about this question and have brought it up at many discussion groups that I have been part of, but no group has ever known the answer.

I know that angels are messengers of God but more than that, what are angels? or maybe a more appropriate question is; who are angels?

Are they people who have become angels in heaven? Are we all going to become angles when we go to heaven? Have angels been in Heaven since the beginnig of the earth? or have they been there all the time that God has been there?

I am not saying that I believe any of the things that I have asked here it is just that I have no idea. I have tried looking on online Bible's etc but when I input angel as a keyword I only get passages that talk of times that an angel has given a message to someone on earth, not who or what they are.

I know this isn't the most important question to fathom, it is just it something I have wondered about for the last 10 years or so and never been able to find an answer to.

Your sister in Christ

Jay

 

[FOMWatts<><]

Originally posted by jayemcintyre

I know that angels are messengers of God but more than that, what are angels? or maybe a more appropriate question is; who are angels?

Are they people who have become angels in heaven? Are we all going to become angles when we go to heaven? Have angels been in Heaven since the beginnig of the earth? or have they been there all the time that God has been there?

Angels are another great creation of God for use in the fulfillment of God's plan of Creation. Angels are a creature that are a little lower than men as far as status in the Bible. As far as WHO angels are, they are simply the messengers and helpers of God in Heaven and the one's that God usually used to carry a message to man throughout Biblical history. I have heard theories of men becoming angels after death but I have never found any scripture to back that theory up so I would say no to that idea. They have been with God early on since we know that He used angels to talk to many characters of the Old Testament, and as far as them being there since the beginning I would say no as far as scripture goes. You have very good questions, and I think some of them will have to wait until we come before our Heavenly Father and then He can tell us the FULL story of creation and the chain of events that it intells Much love and God's blessings!

FOMWatts <><

 

[jayebrownlee]

I tended to think that was the case, I just thought it would be interesting to see if anyone in these forums had any ideas.

 

[pax]

Here are some quotes from the Catholic Catechism:

329. "St. Augustine says: ''Angel' is the name of their office, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is 'spirit'; if you seek the name of their office, it is 'angel': from what they are, 'spirit', from what they do, 'angel.''[St. Augustine, En. in Ps. 103, 1, 15: PL 37, 1348.] With their whole beings the ANGELS are servants and messengers of God. Because they 'always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven' they are the 'mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word'.[Mt 18:10 ; Ps 103:20 .]"


330. "As purely spiritual creatures ANGELS have intelligence and will: they are personal and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection all visible creatures, as the splendour of their glory bears witness.[Cf. Pius XII, Humani generis: DS 3891; Lk 20:36 ; Dan 10:9- 12 .] "


331. "Christ is the centre of the angelic world. They are his ANGELS: 'When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the ANGELS with him. . '[Mt 25:31 .] They belong to him because they were created through and for him: 'for in him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities - all things were created through him and for him.'[Col 1:16 .] They belong to him still more because he has made them messengers of his saving plan: 'Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?'[Heb 1:14 .]"


332. "ANGELS have been present since creation and throughout the history of salvation, announcing this salvation from afar or near and serving the accomplishment of the divine plan: they closed the earthly paradise; protected Lot; saved Hagar and her child; stayed Abraham's hand; communicated the law by their ministry; led the People of God; announced births and callings; and assisted the prophets, just to cite a few examples.[Cf. Job 38:7 (where ANGELS are called 'sons of God'); Gen 3:24; Gen 19; Gen 21: 17; Gen 22:11; Acts 7:53; Ex 23:20-23; Judg 13; Judg 6:11-24; Is 6:6; 1 Kings 19:5.] Finally, the angel Gabriel announced the birth of the Precursor and that of Jesus himself.[Cf. Lk 1:11, 26 .]"

 

[Rising_Suns]

good call on the reference to the Catechism&nbsp;pax.

 

[adam332]

Fom Watts said;
"Angels are a creature that are a little lower than men as far as status in the Bible."

You appear to have that reversed....

Psa. 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

Heb. 2:7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

Heb. 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

It appears when Christ came to earth to be born as Jesus a man in the flesh. He is said to be a little lower than angels.

 

[Rick Otto]

I agree with what I read in the Catholic catechism post, even though I disagree with Catholic doctrine. I would like to add tho, that no mention was made of the 1/3rd of the Angels which are in rebellion against God.

 

[Amy]

Check out the thread in Fellowship Court Do Angels Have Wings?, it talks about 9 angelic orders and some other interesting things.

As to you question, Jay, I would say - no, angels are not men who have become angels in heaven, they were created by God as angels, before people showed up.