What is an angel, from a biblical viewpoint?
Angels are referred to over 250 times in the Bible. By this amount of references we can conclude that the Bible has a lot to teach us concerning angels.
An angel is a created spirit being without a flesh and blood body like ours. We, on the other hand, are a spirit being, we possess a soul (our will, mind, and emotions), and we live in a body (1 Thess. 5:23).
Because their creation is not depicted in the book of Genesis (chapters 1 & 2), which gives the account of man’s creation, we conclude that they were created before man was created. The devil, a fallen angel, existed before man was created and is shown entering the Garden of Eden to tempt Eve.
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, Has God indeed said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
(Gen. 3:1 NKJV)So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
(Rev. 12:9 NKJV)
It’s very possible that angels have existed for millions of years. Angels can’t be seen with our natural eyes. God has to give us the ability to see angels.
He does this by allowing us to operate in one of the nine gifts of the Spirit called discerning of spirits (1 Cor. 12:7-10).
The following are some of the great biblical accounts of angels that you can study on your own: Gen. 16:1-14, 19:1-23; Num. 22:1-35; Isa. 37:36; Acts 5:18-20; 10:2-8, 12:5-13.
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Joe Cameneti Sr. is the lead pastor of Believers Church, located in his hometown of Warren, Ohio. Pastor Joe, along with his wife Gina, pioneered Believers Church in 1983 following his graduation from Bible School.
In addition to leading a thriving local church, Pastor Joe is the host of a weekly show called "BCTV." The program is aired locally on WFMJ, the NBC affiliate, reaching thousands weekly.
Pastor Joe is a gifted communicator, skilled in the art of building bridges to unchurched America. Transparent and authentic, you'll walk away challenged and encouraged to connect with God in a deeper way.