ANGELS

“Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.” Psalms 103:20

Have you ever wondered if, maybe in your lifetime, you may have encountered an angel, or spoke with one and never knew it? Perhaps it happens often to many individuals. As the book of Hebrews tells us, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2)

Most of the reports in the Bible indicate that they look like us, walk, eat, and speak just like us. The expression “angel of the Lord” or “God’s host” is frequently used in the scriptures. Other times “Lord” or “angel” is used. All of these designate a supernatural being. One thing to keep in mind is that when the word “LORD” is used in all caps, it designates the name of God himself. There were times in which God himself became the messenger.

The Hebrew word for “angel”, according to the Strong’s Concordance, is pronounced mal’ak (mal-awk) and in the Greek is pronounced aggelos (ang’-el-os) and means “messenger or representative, envoy or one who is sent.”

Angels are spiritual beings who at various times and places throughout history have become visible to man. "Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:" (Psalms 104:4) There seem to be three specific reasons why they appear: (1) to make an announcement of a coming event such as a birth, (2) to assist men in furthering God's plan and, (3) to intervene for believers in need.

Certain angels are reported to have eaten the same foods that man eats. Man likewise ate the same food as angels. After their exodus out of Egypt while in the desert forty years with Moses, God fed the people a type of food called manna. This is established in the book of Psalms where it is written, "Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full." (Psalms 78:25) God caused the manna to appear on the ground after the morning dew had dissipated. "And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was.” Oddly, the word “manna”, according to the Strong’s Concordance, in the Hebrew means, "What is it". “And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat." (Exodus 16:14-15) It appears to have been something like a wafer. "And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey."(Exodus 16:31) This manna ceased to materialize as soon as Joshua and the children of Israel went over Jordon to the Promised Land. "And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year." (Joshua 5:12)

We discover from the scriptures that there are different levels of angels and there are good and evil angels. Only two of their names are given: Gabriel and Michael. The name “Gabriel” means “warrior of God”or“man of God” and the name “Michael”means, “Who is like God.” (Strong’s Concordance)

Speaking of Jesus in the flesh, in the Old and the New Testaments, we can conclude from the scriptures that the position of an angel is higher than man. “For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels and hast crowned him with glory and honour.” (Psalms 8:5) It is added in the book of Hebrews that Jesus was given authority over God’s creation. “Thou madest him a little lower than the angels, thou, crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the work of they hands.” (Hebrews 2:7)

On this web site you will find examples of the appearance of angels, plus other unusual encounters with the supernatural throughout the scriptures from the Old Testament book of Genesis to the New Testament book of Revelation. Words written by Jesus, the apostles, the prophets and God himself, describing and concerning angelic encounters, are also specified. We learn that our natural laws, such as gravity and fire, do not appear to have an effect on the angels. We also discover that nowhere is there any example of a female angel. And, contrary to popular tradition, no references are made of angels having wings, although there are examples of them floating and flying. We find that angels generally appear out of nowhere and disappear without walking away.

This website gives you a comprehensive knowledge of what the Bible has to say concerning angelic encounters. Before you continue the subject of angels, again consider these words from the book of Hebrews: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2)

Angelic Encounters of the Bible...Susan