Angels - Pt. 2

The study of angels is called “angelology”. In Greek (New Testament), “angelos” means “messenger”. In Hebrew (Old Testament), “mal’akhas” means “messenger”. These are the words in the original text of the bible used for our word “angel”. The word “angel(s)” is mentioned in the Old Testament 108 times. It is also mentioned in the New Testament 165 times. This gives us the opportunity to go to the Word and see what it says about angels. We do not have to guess or imagine who they are, what they are, where they are, why…and so on. We also can see what they are not, who they are not….and so on.
When I ask if someone believes in angels, they usually say yes. However, they tend to treat their existence much like they do God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. They know of them from what they have heard in the world and a little from the bible. They even believe angels exist. But they do not treat them as real. The reality of a heavenly being can be difficult, because most people want to see, feel, touch, smell, and hear for themselves before reality sets in to them. The Word tells us that we are to “walk by faith, not by sight”. 2Co 5:7 KJV. Read in John 20 the story about Thomas who wanted to see with his own eyes rather than believe. Waiting for and seeking after the manifestation of an angel for you to see with your own eyes, is not walking by faith. It is walking by sight. Do angels manifest? Can people really see them? Why do some people see them and others don’t?
Do angels appear? According to the Word, yes. Luke 2:9-15, Mt. 28:2-7, Luke 1:11-20 are a few examples. Heb 13:2 says “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” I like the way the Amplified bible puts it: “ Do not forget or neglect or refuse to extend hospitality to strangers [in the brotherhood--being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for through it some have entertained angels without knowing it. [Gen. 18:1-8; 19:1-3.]” . My question is: How can one entertain an angel unless he can appear for us to see him?
Why do some people see them and others do not? First, you may have seen an angel and did not know it, just as it says in Heb. 13:2 above. Second, angels are spirit beings and operate in the spirit, for the most part. When they have appeared in God’s Word, there was always a purpose for this appearance. We will discuss why angels exist and their work in a later post.
I want to remind everyone, we are not to worship or idolize angels. Only God is worthy of our worship. (Rev. 19:10). Jesus is the way to the Father (Jn 14:6), and salvation can be found in no one else (Acts. 4:12).
The next several posts to this blog will continue to explore the subject of angels in God’s Word. If you have specific questions about angels, ask them in the comments section of these posts. ---joy

P.S. At the end of the series of posts about angels, I will include references from my research.