The truth about angelic beings

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The truth about angelic beings
What does the Bible really teach about angels?

See this page in: Dutch, Hungarian, Indonesian, Spanish Artist’s depiction of angel with Matthew. All about angels… What are they? Origin? How many? Bodies? Appearance? Wings? Do good people become angels? In comparison to humans? All good? Job description? Do people become angels after death? No, angels are not glorified human beings. Matthew 22:30 explains that they do not marry or reproduce like humans, and Hebrews 12:22-23 says that when we get to the heavenly Jerusalem, we will be met by “myriads of angels” and “the spirits of righteous men made perfect”—two separate groups. Angels are a company or association, not a race descended from a common ancestor (Luke 20:34-36). We are called “sons of men,” but angels are never called “sons of angels.” DEATH—What is its origin and effects? Answer Author: Dr. Paul Eymann. Who or what are angels? The word “angel” actually comes from the Greek word aggelos, which means “messenger.” The matching Hebrew word mal'ak has the same meaning. Sometimes, the Bible uses these words for human beings: ordinary people who carry messages (Job 1:14; Luke 7:24; 9:52) prophets (Isaiah 42:19; Malachi 3:1) priests (Malachi 2:7) church leaders (Rev 1:20) Sometimes, it speaks figuratively of things or events as “messengers”… the pillar of cloud (Exodus 14:19) pestilence or plagues (2 Samuel 24:16-17) But it usually describes the whole range of spirits whom God has created, including both good and evil angels, and special categories such as cherubim, seraphim, and the archangel. Angels are mentioned at least 108 times in the Old Testament and 165 times in the New Testament (Chafer, Systematic Theology, II, 3). Hence, there is ample information available in Scripture to allow us to build a foundation for our knowledge of angelic beings. Author: Dr. Paul Eymann. Origin of angels The Scripture speaks about the creation of angels, therefore, it is clear that they have not existed from all eternity (Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 148:2,5). Colossians 1:16-17 explains: “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” The time of their creation is never definitely specified, but it is most probable that it occurred in connection with the creation of the heavens in Genesis 1:1. It may be that God created the angels immediately after He had created the heavens and before He created the earth—for according to Job 38:4-7, “the sons of God shouted for joy” when He laid the foundations of the earth. Author: Dr. Paul Eymann. How many angels are there? While the Scriptures give no definite figures, we are told that the number of angels is very great (Daniel 7:10; Matthew 26:53; Hebrews 12:22). It appears that all angels were created at one time. No new angels are being added to the number. Angels are not subject to death or any form of extinction; therefore they do not decrease in number. It seems reasonable to conclude that there are at least as many spirit beings in existence as there will have been human beings in all their history on earth. Author: Dr. Paul Eymann. Do angels have bodies? Raphael’s interpretation of a winged angel. Angels are essentially “ministering spirits,” (Hebrews 1:14) and do not have physical bodies like humans. Jesus declared that “a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have” (Luke 24:37-39). The Bible does, however, make it clear that angels can only be in one place at a time. They must have some localized presence. Angels can take on the appearance of men when the occasion demands. How else could some “entertain angels unaware” (Hebrews 13:2)? On the other hand, their appearance is sometimes in dazzling white and blazing glory (Matthew 28:2-4). Author: Dr. Paul Eymann. What do angels look like? Since angels are spirits rather than physical beings, they don’t have to be visible at all (Colossians 1:16). Elisha once prayed that his servant would see the armies of angels surrounding the city, and the young man discovered that he had overlooked a lot of invisible beings (2 Kings 6:17)! Abraham was visited by three heavenly messengers. When angels do appear, they generally appear in the form of men. In Genesis 18, Abraham welcomed three angelic guests who appeared at first to be nothing more than some travellers. In the following chapter, two angels went to Sodom where they were assumed to be simply a pair of human visitors. With the possible exception of one debatable passage in Zechariah 5:9, angels always appear as males rather than females (Mark 16:5). Sometimes an angel appears to be a man with unusual features. Daniel saw an angel with arms and legs resembling polished metal and precious stones, and a face like lightning (Daniel 10:5-6). The angel that rolled back the stone from Christ’s tomb was radiating dazzling light (Matthew 28:3; Luke 24:4). The book of Revelation describes some highly unusual beings who may be a variety of angel in Revelation 4:6-8. No Biblical angels ever appeared this way. Angels in the Bible never appear as cute, chubby infants! They are always full-grown adults. When people in the Bible saw an angel, their typical response was to fall on their faces in fear and awe, not to reach out and tickle an adorable baby. Do angels have wings? Some special angels do (seraphims), but not most. Some Bible passages picture angels with wings (Isaiah 6:2,6). Other verses talk about angels flying, and we assume that the wings would be useful for that flight (Daniel 9:21). However, I suspect that angels can move around without having to depend on wings. Most references to angels in the Bible say nothing about wings, and in passages like Genesis 18-19, it is certain that no wings were visible. Author: Dr. John Bechtle. Angels never die (Luke 20:36). How do angels compare to human beings? Angel delivering a divine message They are stronger than man, but not omnipotent (Psalm 103:20; 2 Peter 2:11). They are greater than man in knowledge, but not omniscient (2 Samuel 14:20; Matthew 24:36). They are more noble than man, but not omnipresent (Daniel 9:21-23, 10:10-14). Angels can take on the appearance of men when the occasion demands. How else could some “entertain angels unaware” (Hebrews 13:2)? On the other hand, their appearance is sometimes in dazzling white and blazing glory (Matthew 28:2-4). Angels do not marry or reproduce like humans (Matthew 22:30). Angels are a company or association, not a race descended from a common ancestor (Luke 20:34-36). We are called “sons of men,” but angels are never called “sons of angels.” Author: Dr. Paul Eymann. Angels are spirits (Hebrews 1:14), like the soul of man, but without a physical body. Such expressions as “like the angels” (Luke 20:36), and the fact that whenever angels appeared to man it was always in a human form (Gen. 18:2; 19:1, 10; Luke 24:4; Acts 1:10), and the titles that are applied to them (“sons of God,” Job 1:6; 38:7; Dan. 3:25; compare 28) and to men (Luke 3:38), all seem to indicate some resemblance between them and the human race. Are all angels good? Sorry! You can’t trust every angel. The Bible classifies some angels as “elect” (1 Timothy 5:21) or “holy” (Matthew 25:31; Mark 8:38). All angels were originally holy, enjoying the presence of God (Matthew 18:10) and the environment of heaven (Mark 13:32). Other angels oppose God under the leadership of Satan (Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Ephesians 6:12). We often call these “demons.” There is actually a great unseen conflict raging that goes beyond anything we can imagine. It is not, however, a fight between two equal and eternal forces. God who created all beings is still in charge, and once He has used wicked angels to accomplish His purposes, He will bring them to a final defeat. What is “goodness”? Answer What is ”righteousness”? Answer Author: Dr. John Bechtle. What is the job description for an angel? We don’t know whether every angel carries out the same tasks, or whether some of them specialize in certain areas. The Bible does speak about classes of angelic beings like cherubim (Ezekiel 1) and seraphim (Isaiah 6). We also know the names of two notable angels: Michael (Daniel 10:13; Jude 9) and Gabriel (Daniel 9:21; Luke 1:19,26). The unnamed angels who appear most often in Scripture carry out a variety of tasks—all designed to serve God… Worship and praise—This is the main activity portrayed in heaven (Isaiah 6:1-3; Revelation 4-5). Messengers—They serve as messengers to communicate God’s will to men. They helped reveal the law to Moses (Acts 7:52-53), and served as the carriers of much of the material in Daniel, and Revelation. Guiding—Angels gave instructions to Joseph about the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1-2), to the women at the tomb, to Philip (Acts 8:26), and to Cornelius (Acts 10:1-8). Providing—God has used angels to provide physical needs such as food for Hagar (Genesis 21:17-20), Elijah (1 Kings 19:6), and Christ after His temptation (Matthew 4:11). Protecting—Keeping God’s people out of physical danger, as in the cases of Daniel and the lions, and his three friends in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3 and 6). Delivering—Getting God’s people out of danger once they’re in it. Angels released the apostles from prison in Acts 5, and repeated the process for Peter in Acts 12. Strengthening and encouraging—Angels strengthened Jesus after His temptation (Matt 4:11), encouraged the apostles to keep preaching after releasing them from prison (Acts 5:19-20), and told Paul that everyone on his ship would survive the impending shipwreck (Acts 27:23-25). Answering prayer—God often uses angels as His means of answering the prayers of His people (Daniel 9:20-24; 10:10-12; Acts 12:1-17). Caring for believers at the moment of death—In the story of Lazarus and the rich man, we read that angels carried the spirit of Lazarus to “Abraham’s bosom” when he died (Luke 16:22). Author: Dr. John Bechtle. Executioners—Angels are sometimes used by God to punish sin. An angel of the Lord went forth and smote an Assyrian camp (2 Kings 19:20-34)—“behold, they were all dead corpses.” The Assyrian army was annihilated. A destroying angel was sent, but later withheld, to punish David for his vanity in taking a census of the great number of his people. At the time of Moses and the Exodus, the Egyptian firstborn where killed by an angel of death. More information about angels Artist’s conception of an angel who guarded the Tree of Life when Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden KEYWORD and NAME LIST from our Christian Answers WebBible Encyclopedia ANGELS Archangel Michael Gabriel Abaddon Apollyon Destroyer Satan demon “Living creatures” Cherub (Cherubim) Seraphim sons of God worship book of Revelation Coloring pages for children—Angel with flaming sword (Garden of Eden) / The Angel Gabriel and Mary / An Angel With Shepherds / Other coloring pages Quiz—Angels and the Garden of Eden ANGELS AND WOMEN—Did angels have sexual intercourse with human women in Genesis 6? Answer Or were the “sons of man” (nephilim) aliens, as some have suggested? Who is the being of light encountered in near-death experiences?—Answer Also see the book by Fred C. Dickason, Angels: Elect and Evil (Chicago: Moody, 1975). Editor: Paul S. Taylor, Films for Christ. [ If this information has been helpful, please prayerfully consider a donation to help pay the expenses for making this faith-building service available to you and your family! Donations are tax-deductible. ] Copyright © 1996, 1998, 2002, Films for Christ, All Rights Reserved—except as noted on attached “Usage and Copyright” page that grants ChristianAnswers.Net users generous rights for putting this page to work in their homes, personal witnessing, churches and schools. ChristianAnswers.Net Christian Answers Network PO Box 1167 Marysville WA 98270-1167 USA

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What Are Angels?

whyangels?com - What the Bible says about Angels!

What Are Angels?

Perhaps the most important thing to understanding angels is knowing what/who they are and why and how they were created!
The Bible says that they are created beings. They were created by God to be angels. They are not people that have 'become' angels. Like the rest of creation, they were made by and for Jesus to glorify and praise God 1.

15 He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Colossians 1:15-18

The Bible also says that angels were created before the earth and they might well have actually had an active part in the creation of the earth. They were certainly excited about it 2!

3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
4 “Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—
7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
Job 38:3-7

1 Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.
6 He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away.
Psalm 148:1-6

God's angels live in heaven with God and belong to Him. On several occasions, Jesus refers to angels as belonging to God and being in heaven 3.

8 “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.
9 But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.
Luke 12:8-9
10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:10
51 He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
John 1:51
10 “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
Matthew 18:10

36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Matthew 24:36

There are lots of them! Jesus describes being able to call on 144,000 angels and twice over 100 million angels are described as worshipping God in heaven 4.

53 [Jesus speaking] Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
Matthew 26:53
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,
Hebrews 12:22
17 The chariots of God [another term for angel] are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.
Psalm 68:17
10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him [God]. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.
Daniel 7:10

11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.
Revelation 5:11

A legion in the Roman army was made up of 12,000 soldiers. So being able to call on 12 legions of angels meant a lot! Ten thousand times ten thousand equals 100 million, but also in the greek language, at the time these verses were written, ten thousand was the largest number you could have. So ten thousand times ten thousand was a number so big that you couldn't really imagine it!
Angels are 'spirit' beings and don't have bodies as we think of them. They also seem to be a higher level of creation than man (on earth) 5.

14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Hebrews 1:14

4 What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
Psalm 8:4-5

Angels are also described as being like winds and fire. In fact, both the Hebrew and Greek words for 'spirit' can also mean 'breath' or 'wind' 6.

4 He [God] makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.
Psalm 104:4

But this doesn't mean that they are 'wishy washy floaty' things! They have thoughts, intelligence (they can speak God's heavenly language as well as the languages of earth) and emotions 7.

17 “And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is like an angel of God in discerning good and evil. May the LORD your God be with you.’”
1 Samuel 14:17
20 ... My lord has wisdom like that of an angel of God—he knows everything that happens in the land.”
1 Samuel 14:20
12 It was revealed to them [God's Prophets] that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
1 Peter 1:12

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
1 Corinthians 13:1

Angels don't die, marry or pro-create so, they were probably all created at the same time 8.

30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.
Matthew 22:30
25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.
Mark 12:25

34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.
35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage,
36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection.
Luke 20: 34-36

God's angels also know their rightful place, as created beings of God. They exist to worship and serve God – not be worshipped themselves 9.

8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me.
9 But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!"
Revelation 22:8-9

Angels do have free will to make their own choices. Towards the beginning of creation, one of the highest ranking angels, Lucifer – also now known as Satan or 'The Devil' rebelled against God and decided he wanted God's power. There was a great battle and Lucifer and his followers (about a third of all the angels) lost, were punished and thrown out of heaven. They now work against God and his holy angels to try and stop people knowing God 10.

7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.
8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.
9 The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
Revelation 12:7-9

His [Satan's] tail swept a third of the stars [Angels] out of the sky and flung them to the earth...
Revelation 12:4

Angels (and the 'fallen' angels) are not normally 'visible' to our eyes. It may be that they can choose to reveal themselves to us (or when God allows us to see them) 11.

31 Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
Numbers 22:31

17 And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2 Kings 6:17

Having said that, angels, if allowed by God, can also appear as 'normal' men, as described in the Bible when Abraham and his nephew Lot were visited by 'men' 12.

1 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.
2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
3 He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.
4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree.
5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant." "Very well," they answered, "do as you say."
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. "Quick," he said, "get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread."
7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.
8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
Genesis 18:1-8
22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.
Genesis 18:22

1 The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.
Genesis 19:1

Another example is at the empty tomb when Jesus was raised from the dead 13.

1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body.
2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb
3 and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.
5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.
7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.'"
Mark 16:1-7

They don't all have wings! Only certain types of angelic/heavenly beings are described as having wings. For more about this, please see the 'What do Angels Look Like' page.
Angels also don't know everything and can't be everywhere. They serve God and follow his commands 14.

32 "No one knows about that day or hour [When Jesus will return], not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Mark 13:32

20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
Psalm 103:20

As well as being under God's control we're told in the Bible, that in heaven Christians will actually judge angels 15!

3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!
1 Corinthians 6:3

Wow! But remember that's only in heaven: we can't tell them what to do here on earth. The best way of knowing what angels are like here, is by knowing their and our creator, God. And the only way to know God is through Jesus, the Son of God 16.

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
John 14:6-7

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• What Are Angels?
• What Do Angels Look Like?
• What Do Angels Do?
• Archangels,
  Michael & Gabriel
• Seraphim, Cherubim &
  The Four Living Creatures
• The Angel of the Lord /
  The Angel of 'Yahweh'
• Satan/Lucifer/The Devil &
  Demons/Evil Spirits
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What Do Angels Look Like? What the Bible says about Angels!

whyangels?com - What the Bible says about Angels!

What Do Angels Look Like?

This is a really good question with quite a few answers! It all depends on what you mean by angel!
The Bible describes what some angels look like but certainly not all of them.
Much more detail is given to certain types of angels than others.
In the Bible, angels and angelic/heavenly beings appear to be a-sexual, meaning that they don't belong to either the male or female gender. However, through the site I refer to angels in the masculine as it's easier in English to do so!
Below is a table showing the basic descriptions given of angels in the Bible. It's followed by more detailed descriptions of different angels and angelic beings.

Type / Name	Appearance	Number	Role
'Ordinary' Angels	Handsome young men; NO wings!	Thousands +	Messengers, Jail breakers, rescuers, etc.
Archangel(s) / Michael	Handsome young men; NO wings!	Probably 1 or possibly 7	To protect the Jewish nation; Herald the 2nd coming
Gabriel	Handsome young man; NO wings!	Only him	God's special messenger
Seraphim 'Ones of Love' 'Fiery Ones'	6 wings 2 covering face; 2 covering feet; 2 for flying	More than 1, possibly 4?	Being around God's throne to sing His glory
Cherubim	4 wings, covered with eyes all around	More than 1; Possibly 4?	To guard God's domain
The Four Living Creatures	6 wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings	4	Being around God's throne to sing His glory
Lucifer/Satan/ The Devil	Unknown	Only him
Fallen Angels/ Evil Spirits/ Demons	Unknown	Thousands?

Download a summary of what Angels are all about according to the Bible
(pdf 85kb)

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'Ordinary' Angels

I've called these angels 'ordinary', but of course they are far from this! I've used the word ordinary to mean 'other angels in the Bible that aren't specifically named'.
In most angelic appearances in the Bible, no physical description is given, just that an angel appeared or came or that someone 'looked like an angel'. People don't seem to have had any trouble recognising that the visitors they saw were angels, so there must be something very special about them that is unmistakable 1.

1 Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
2 When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is the camp of God!" So he named that place Mahanaim [which means two camps].
Genesis 32:1-2
Then the woman went to her husband and told him, "A man of God came to me. He looked like an angel of God, very awesome. I didn't ask him where he came from, and he didn't tell me his name.".
Judges 13:6
Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king."
He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
Daniel 3:24-25
4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,
5 I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist.
6 His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.
Daniel 10:4-6

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars.
Revelation 10:1

However, most angels that are described in the Bible are normally described as tall young men with shining faces and wearing white simple robes. Also there is no mention of any wings 2.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.
3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
Matthew 28:2-7
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body.
2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb
3 and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.
5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.
7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.'"
Mark 16:1-7

1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.
2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.
5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?
6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:
7 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'"
8 Then they remembered his words.
Luke 24:1-8

These descriptions all come from the time when Jesus was raised from the dead. If you'd like to know more about event, please go the 'He's Alive!' page on whyeaster?com, a sister site to whyangels?com.
This description also seems to fit what we know about the two angels that are specifically named in the Bible: Michael and Gabriel.
It might be that we're not told that much about what angels look like as we might be so much in awe that we would start to worship them, something which we should not do 3.

They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised.
Amen.
Romans 1:25

And we could also be tricked into worshipping the Devil (Satan) and his angels as they can make themselves look wonderful 4.

12 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: (Talking of the Devil when God originally made him and before he rebelled and was thrown into Hell) "'You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared.
Ezekiel 28:12-13

13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15

In none of these quotes are angels described as having wings! Although certain types of angelic beings do have wings (the Seraphim, Cherubim and the Four Creatures, see below for more information), 'Ordinary Angels' are never described 'with wings' in the Bible. The idea that all angels have wings might well have come from legends and folklore in the middle east, where many of the religions (ancient and modern) have spirits and winged creatures.
In fact, once in the Bible, we are told that angels used a stairway (or ladder) to travel between heaven and earth 5.

10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran.
11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.
12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
13 There above it stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.
14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.
15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
Genesis 28:10-15

So all of this suggests that a good description of an 'Ordinary Angel' would be:
A tall young man with a shining/glowing face (and possibly golden hair)] wearing a simple white robe and who doesn't have wings! And it would be something that we certainly wouldn't mistake for anything else.
This description also fits many 'angel sightings' seen all over the world. To find out more about these sighting, please have a look on the Further Reading page, for some good books and sites on the subject.

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Other Angels and Angelic/Heavenly Beings

Other types of angels and angelic/heavenly beings are described in the Bible.
These are:

• Archangel(s)
• Michael
• Gabriel
• Seraphim or Seraphs
• Cherubim or Cherubs
• The Four Living Creatures
• Lucifer/Satan/The Devil
• Fallen Angels/Evil Spirits/Demons

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• What Are Angels?
• What Do Angels Look Like?
• What Do Angels Do?
• Archangels,
  Michael & Gabriel
• Seraphim, Cherubim &
  The Four Living Creatures
• The Angel of the Lord /
  The Angel of 'Yahweh'
• Satan/Lucifer/The Devil &
  Demons/Evil Spirits
• Home
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