Angels are Awesome. But Please, Let’s Have a More Biblical Understanding of the Them

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 9/28/2010 | Msgr Charles Pope

[markomalley]

Scripture consistently affirms the existence of the Angels. Today is the feast of the Archangels. We know of three of them and their names mean something: Michael (Who is Like God?!), Gabriel (God is Strong) and Raphael (God Heals).  

 The Catechism of the Catholic Church has much to say on angels. Here are just a few verses:

The whole life of the Church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of angels….In her liturgy, the Church joins with the angels to adore the thrice-holy God….From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.” Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God. (CCC #s 334-336 selectae)

All this said, I would like to propose to you that, to some extent we have tended in modern times to sentimentalize the role of the angels in our lives and to drift from the Biblical data regarding them. I would like to propose a few corrective ideas to balance the sentimental notions we may have. I do not say that sentiment is wrong, but it needs to be balanced by deep respect for the angels.

1. Angels have no bodies. They are not human and never have been human. Human beings never become angels or “earn wings.” Angels are persons, but persons of pure spirit. Hence they have no gender. Now we have to envision them somehow, so it is not wrong that we portray them with masculine or feminine qualities but it is important to remember that they transcend any such distinction.
2. Biblically, angels are not the rather fluffy and charming creatures that modern portraits often depict. In the Bible angels are depicted as awesome and powerful agents of God. Many times the appearance of an angel struck fear in the one who saw them (cf Judg 6:22; Lk 1:11; Lk 1:29; Lk 2:9; Acts 10:3; Rev. 22:8). Angels are often described in the Bible in warlike terms: they are call a host (the biblical word for army), they wage war on God’s behalf and that of his people (e.g. Ex 14:19; Ex 33:2; Nm 22:23; Ps 35:5; Is 37:36; Rev 12:7). While they are said to have wings (e.g. Ex 25:20; 1 Kings 6:24; inter al) recall that they do not have physical bodies so the wings are an image of their swiftness. They are also mentioned at times as being like fire (Ex. 3:2; Rev 10:1). And as for those cute little “cherubs” we have in our art, those cute baby-faced angels with wings and no body? Well read about the real Cherubim in Ezekiel 10. They are fearsome, awesome creatures, powerful and swift servants of God and more than capable of putting God’s enemies to flight. And this is my main point, angels are not the sentimetal syruppy and cute creatures we have often recast them to be. They are awesome, wonderful, and powerful servants of God. They are his messengers and they manifest God’s glory. They bear forth the power and majesty of God are immensely to be respected. They are surely also our helpers and, by God’s command act on our behalf.
3. What then is our proper reaction to the great gift of the angels? Sentimental thought may have its place but what God especially commands of us toward our angel is obedience. Read what God said in the Book of Exodus: Behold, I send an angel before you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place which I have prepared. Give heed to him and hearken to his voice, do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression; for my name is in him. (Ex 23:21) So our fundamental task is to hear and heed the voice of our angel. How, you might ask do we hear the voice of our Guardian Angel? I would suggest to you that we most hear the voice of our angel in our conscience. Deep down, we hear God’s voice, we know what is true and what is false. In terms of basic right and wrong, we know what we are doing. I am convinced that our conscience interacts with our Guardian Angel. Now be careful, we like to try and rationalize what we do, explain away bad behavior, make excuses. But in the end, deep down inside, we know what we are doing and whether or not it is wrong. I am sure it is our angel who testifies to the truth in us and informs our conscience. God’s command is clear: listen to and heed this voice. Respect this angel God has given you not so much with sentimental odes, but with sober obedience.
4. Finally, an on a less important note, we often think of angels in choirs singing. But there is no Scriptural verse that I have ever read that describes them as singing. Even in the classic Christmas scene where we depict them as singing “Glory to God in the Highest,” the text says that they SAY it not sing it (cf. Luke 2:14). If you can find a Scripture text that shows the angels singing please share it, but I’ve looked for years and can’t find it. Not a big point except to say that perhaps singing is a special gift given to the human person.

   

[Carpe Cerevisi]

I love reading Monsignor Pope’s articles. Good stuff!

[fwdude]

I only disagree with the article that angels have wings. There are a variety of created, spiritual orders of beings which are not angels; those Ezekiel saw were a few of these. They are the "winged" creatures depicted on the lid of the Ark of the Covenant.

Nowhere in the New Tesatment does the Bible describe angels as having wings.

[Hodar]

Nowhere in the New Tesatment does the Bible describe angels as having wings.

Revalations 6:6-8

5 Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;

6 and before the throne there was something like a (Q)sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.

7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.

8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME."

[Iscool]

Nowhere in the New Tesatment does the Bible describe angels as having wings.

And, they always appear as males...

[fwdude]

In a word, those weren’t angels, but ministering beings. Read my original post.

[antiRepublicrat]

The TV show Supernatural definitely has down the “fearsome soldier of God” part, and that they don’t have bodies (they occupy willing hosts in the show).

[Pyro7480]

This is my favorite depiction of a guardian angel (I have an icon of this in my bedroom). Give me this time over the "white heresy" of cute angelic beings. Don't forget that the heavenly hosts are warriors!

[Iscool]

Heb 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Don't you think maybe the feathers would have been a dead give-away???

[Hodar]

I guess this depends upon how we define the word ‘Angel’. Obviously, some of the Heavenly Host have wings and do not appear as we do; while some appear human in every regard, and others may appear fearsome in the extreme.

Could it be that God’s Angels can chose to be whatever they wish to be; to accomplish the task at hand? I don’t know - never met one in person, and not sure I really want to until I have to.

[Sergio]

Bookmark.

[Ripliancum]

Revelations 22: 8-9

8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

[Mad Dawg]

Also in Isaiah’s theophany in the temple the seraphim have 6 wings.

However, the abp may be following Gregory the Great’s thought, which is that “Angel” denotes a job (and the ‘person’ doing it). The job is being a messenger. (Both Malak and angelos mean messenger in Hebrew and Greek respectively.) So if we don’t have accounts of winged beings delivering messages, then the abp could be understood as right.

[johngrace]

V. Posture in Prayer, Veneration and Worship

Deut. 5:9 - God’s command, “you shall not bow down to them” means “do not worship them.” But not all bowing is worship. Here God’s command is connected to false worship.

Rev. 3:9 - Jesus said people would bow down before the faithful members of the church of Philadelphia. This bowing before the faithful is not worship, just as kissing a picture of a family member is not worship.

Gen. 19:1 - Lot bowed down to the ground in veneration before two angels in Sodom.

Gen. 24:52 - Abraham’s servant bowed himself to the earth before the Lord.

Gen. 42:6 - Joseph’s brothers bow before Joseph with the face to the ground.

Jos. 5:14 - Joshua fell to the ground prostrate in veneration before an angel.

1 Sam. 28:14 - Saul bows down before Samuel with his face to the ground in honor and veneration.

1 Kings 1:23 - the prophet Nathan bows down before King David.

2 Kings 2:15 - the sons of the prophets bow down to Elisha at Jericho.

1 Chron. 21:21 - Ornan the Jebusite did obeisance to king David with his face to the ground.

1 Chron. 29:20 - Israelites bowed down to worship God and give honor to the king.

2 Chron. 29:29-30 - King Hezekiah and the assembly venerate the altar by bowing down in worship before the sin offerings.

Tobit 12:16 - Tobiah and Tobit fell down to the ground in veneration before the angel Raphael.

Judith 14:7 - Achior the Ammonite kneels before Judith venerating her and praising God.

Psalm 138:2 - David bows down before God’s Holy Temple.

Dan. 2:46 - the king fell down on his face paying homage to Daniel and commands that an offering be made to him.

Dan. 8:17 - Daniel fell down prostrate in veneration before the angel Gabriel.

1 Macc. 4:40,55 - Judas and the faithful fell face down to the ground to praise heaven and worship God.

2 Macc. 10:4,26; 13:12 - Maccabeus and his followers fall down prostrate praying to God.

[johngrace]

Revelations 22: 8-9 "8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. "

Also I would say the angel might of known or wanted to make sure he was Not worshiping.

[Marie]

If they never have bodies, then how could they mate with women to create the nephilim? And how did Abraham confuse them with travelers when they came to tell him that Sarah was going to have a baby? And how did Lot confuse them with travelers? And how did the citizens of Sodom confuse them with travelers that could be raped?

???

Over and over, angels appeared as men... with human bodies.

Maybe Supernatural got that one right! ;)

[Ripliancum]

Not only that, but the angels ate unleavened bread in Genesis 19.

The whole point of my reference from Revelations is that the angel called himself “of thy brethren, the prophets”.

I believe that speaks volumes about who and what angels are, or at least were.

[johngrace]

"Finally, an on a less important note, we often think of angels in choirs singing. But there is no Scriptural verse that I have ever read that describes them as singing. Even in the classic Christmas scene where we depict them as singing “Glory to God in the Highest,” the text says that they SAY it not sing it (cf. Luke 2:14). If you can find a Scripture text that shows the angels singing please share it, but I’ve looked for years and can’t find it. Not a big point except to say that perhaps singing is a special gift given to the human person."

That may be true in scripture. But I prayed a full Divine Mercy once and heard the angels praising God. Singing Holy Holy Holy God and hallejehahs. It was sweet low sound I first thought it was Radio. No radio was turned on. I looked in the whole house. It went on for 2 minutes. It was beautiful. I was praying for a family member.

I believe The Lord gave me a signal grace for the answer to pray. Praise Jesus!

[johngrace]

Oh! I thought you were pointing out about veneration( Honor Bow) like a strong anti catholic view. Which is not that solid of a case in scripture as some think.

[Godzilla]

Rip’s a mormon and can only view angels through the filtered lenses of joseph smith’s peep stone.