Angel
| Angel (Hebrew: מלאך = Mal'ak, Greek: aggelos) means messenger. In the Bible, a messenger can be a prophet (a man), or a heavenly being. William Branham was of the view that there were no women angels, however scripture does not appear to agree with this view.
There are many angels identified in the scriptures: Prophets
Certain prophets are called "gods" and "angels" in the Bible. In the book of Exodus, the LORD says to Moses I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. (Exodus 7:1) The Hebrew word Mal'ak (angel) can be interpreted as either a prophetic or priestly messenger (Isaiah 42:19, Haggai 1:13, Malachi 2:7), or simply as a messenger (I Samuel 25:42) or ambassador (Isaiah 30:4). In the New Testament, the Disciple John fell at the feet of an Angel to worship him, but the angel said "do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets". Revelation 10:7 also links the ministry of a "seventh angel" with the mystery of God declared by the prophets. When John the Baptist began to preach "prepare the way of the Lord", he was identifying Jesus as the "messenger" or "Angel of the covenant" as prophecied in Malachi 3:1. The Angel of the Lord
The phrase "the Angel of the Lord" can either refer to God himself in the form of an Angel, or an angel with a message straight from God. The Angel of the Lord first appears in the scriptures to Hagar when she was cast out by Sarah, then to Abraham when he was about to sacrifice his son Isaac, and next to Jacob before he departed from Laban. The Angel of the Lord also appeared to Moses in a burning bush, and was seen as a pillar of fire, and a pillar of a cloud. In all of these appearings he brings promise, and protection. The Angel of the Lord also talked with Balaam, and rebuked him for trying to curse Israel, then he rebuked the Children of Israel for failing to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan (Judges 2:1-4). The Angel of the Lord also met Gideon (Judges 6:12), Samson's mother and father (Judges 13:9-21), King David (I Chronicles 21:16), Elijah (I Kings 19:5-7), King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:28), Zechariah (Zechariah 1:12-14), and Joshua the high priest (Zechariah 3:1). Zechariah also saw Satan standing at the right hand of the Angel of the Lord to resist him. In the New Testament, the Angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph, Mary's espoused husband, in a number of dreams. He also told the shepherds of Jesus' birth, and rolled back the stone of Jesus' tomb. The Angel of the Lord released Peter and the Apostles from prison (Acts 5:19, 12:7), spoke to Philip (Acts 8:26), and smote Herod (Acts 12:23) Seraphims
Seraphims (Hebrew: to burn) are God's winged choir. Isaiah saw six-winged Seraphims in the temple of God crying Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts" unto the Lord. Two wings covered their feet, two wings covered their faces, and two wings were used for flying (Isaiah 6:1-7). Strangely, the word Seraphim also means "fiery serpent". This word is used for the serpents that afflicted the Children of Israel when they complained about what God had done for them, and the brass serpent that was set upon a pole for their healing. Isaiah also prophecied, Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. (Isaiah 14:29) Cherubims
Cherubims are the guardians of God. When Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden, Cherubims and a flaming sword were placed at the eastern gate of the garden, to guard the way of the tree of life (Gen 3:24). When God instructed Moses to build the ark of the covenant (inside of which was mana, Aaron's rod, and the Ten Commandments), he was instructed to cover it with a golden "mercy seat"(Exodus 25:19) or "chariot" (I Chronicles 28:28), which was itself covered with two winged Cherubims. God then promised that he would meet Moses between the Cherubims above the mercy seat (Exodus 25:18-22). Images of Cherubims were woven into the curtains and veil of the Tabernacle, as instructed by Moses. In Solomon's temple, he built two Cherubims of olive wood 10 cubits high that were covered with gold, carved images of cherubims and palm trees were engraved in the walls, and cherubims and palm trees were engraved on the doors. (I Kings 6:23-35) Solomon also carved lions, oxen, palm trees, and cherubims as part of the brass sea (I Kings 7:29, 36). David said that God rode upon a cherub (II Samuel 22:11, Psalms 18:10), and Ezekiel saw cherubs standing by wheels, each with four wings, the form of a man's hand under their wings, and four faces: one of an cherub, a man, a lion and an eagle (Ezekiel 10). Ezekiel saw a vision of the temple of God in heaven, with Cherubims with two faces engraved on and around the doors (Ezekiel 41:18, 25). Angels with both Cherub and Seraph characteristics
In the Book of Revelation, four beasts appear before the throne of God singing "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." (Revelation 4:8). These angels have six wings and sing the song of the Seraphim, but they are covering the throne of God and appear like beasts - one is is like a lion, another like a calf, another like a man, and another like an eagle - just like Cherubims. From the descriptions in the Bible, it is not known if Cherubims and Seraphims are distinct "species" of Angels, or if these titles indicate rank. Individual Angels
There is nothing in the scriptures that would suggest that these individual angels are winged or not. For example, the angel Gabriel is called a man, yet he is known to fly swiftly. According to Billy Paul Branham, who was allowed to see the Angel of the Lord that spoke with his father, William Branham, an angel looks like a man, but does not have the physical limitations of our natural bodies. Gabriel
In the Old Testament, Gabriel is name of the angel that appears to the Prophet Daniel (Daniel 8:16, 9:21). In the New Testament, Gabriel is the name of the angel that appears to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist (Luke 1:19), and Mary (Luke 1:26). Michael
Michael the Archangel (Hebrew: "who is like God") is identified by an angel who speaks to Daniel as one of the "chief princes" who helped the angel fight against the prince of Persia (Daniel 10:13). The angel also says to Daniel that Michael is "your prince" (Daniel 10:21). The angel also prophecies that Michael will stand at the last days and deliver the Children of Israel in a great time of trouble (Daniel 12:1). In the New Testament, Michael is identified as an archangel, and the angel who rebuked the Devil in the name of the Lord when they were disputing over the body of Moses (Jude 1:9). In the Book of Revelation, Michael is set at the head of the angels in their fight against the dragon, who also had a host of angels (Revelation 12:7). Lucifer
Ezekiel prophecied that the king of Tyrus (or, more specifically, the spirit that anointed him) was in the Garden of Eden, and was the anointed cherub that covereth before he rebelled against God (Ezekiel 28:13-16). Isaiah prophecied that the king of Babylon (or, more specifically, the spirit that anointed him) was called Lucifer, the son of the morning. Lucifer means "light-bearer", and the apostle Paul writes that "Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." (II Corinthians 11:14). Satan and Lucifer, therefore, are one and the same. The book of Revelation calls Satan (a Hebrew word) the Devil (a Greek Word), the dragon, the serpent, and the angel of the bottomless pit, which is called Abaddon and Apollyon (Revelation 9:11, 20:2). Sons of God
The sons of God first appear in Genesis and take wives of the daughters of men (Genesis 6:1-4). Job records that the sons of God presented themselves before the LORD, and Satan was among them (Job 1:6, 2:1). Job also records that the sons of God shouted for joy when the foundations of the earth were laid (Job 38:6-7). In the New Testament, the sons of God are those that believe on the name of the Lord (John 1:12), are led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14), and are blameless (Philippians 2:15). Commentary by William BranhamWilliam Branham taught that the sons of God in Genesis were men, just like the sons of God in the New Testament are men. The "sons of God" refers to their spiritual condition rather than their physical appearance. God is the only creator, so angelic beings could not take the daughters of men without creating bodies for themselves. Rather, upright men became corrupted or perverted by the immoral lifestyle of the daughters of those who did not regard God in their action (i.e. the descendants of Cain). William Branham also taught that the "sons of God" in Job refers to angelic beings, as Satan is among them, and not physical beings. The link between the "sons of God" in Genesis, Job, and the New Testament is the condition of the Spirit (every man has a spirit, and an angel is a spirit). Jesus said, "God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24). If God is a spirit, a son of God must also be (or have) a spirit with God's characteristics. Satan is like the men who were no longer called the "sons of God" - he was not found blameless. Unlike the sons of men, Satan has no way to be reconciled with God as Jesus came in the flesh, and not in the form of an Angel.
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