These \u201cmessengers\u201d can take many forms, though, and serve many purposes beyond divine couriering. Their appearances vary \u2014 seemingly at their will \u2014 from visions of grandeur to simpler forms that humans can comprehend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is a look at the different types or \u201cclasses\u201d of angels mentioned in the Bible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Angels are described in a variety of ways throughout the Bible, especially in the Old Testament. Early Christians were fascinated with cataloguing and ranking these types of angels into different classes. Though the Bible provides no such specific ordering, it does give them distinct titles and purposes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite their title, which means \u201cfirst angels\u201d or \u201cleader angels\u201d in Greek, archangels traditionally ranked low on the angelic hierarchy in medieval Christianity (perhaps because of their relatively plain, humanistic features). But they receive a more exalted place in Jewish angelology (yes, that\u2019s a real word) thanks to their names and their designation as \u201cprinces\u201d in several passages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The only angels in the Bible with individual names are all archangels. Three are commonly accepted, though Orthodox Christians have a much longer list: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cherubim in the Bible are radically different from the chubby little guys with arrows they are commonly depicted as today. In fact, they are quite terrifying, fearsome protectors \u2014 though more often against<\/em> humankind than of<\/em> us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They first appear in Genesis 3:24<\/a> alongside a flaming, turning sword to guard the garden of Eden against anyone who might want to try getting back in after Adam and Eve\u2019s expulsion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They also adorn the cover of the ark of the covenant in Exodus 25<\/a>, the curtains of the tabernacle in Ex. 36<\/a>, and much later, Solomon\u2019s temple (1Kg. 6<\/a>) \u2014 always guarding against people trespassing where they do not belong. When Moses speaks to God in the \u201ctent of meeting,\u201d God\u2019s voice comes from between the two cherubim (Num. 7:89<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n The cherubim take center stage in Ezekiel 10<\/a>. Here\u2019s how Ezekiel describes them:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seraphim are described as fiery, six-winged beings that stand in the presence of God. One pair of wings covers their eyes, one covers their feet, and with another they fly around the throne of the Lord. Their primary role is to worship and exalt God’s holiness, constantly singing \u201choly, holy, holy\u201d to one another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Though they appear explicitly only once in Scripture, in Isaiah 6<\/a>, their proximity to God earned them top billing in most Medieval hierarchies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The English phrase \u201cliving creatures\u201d translates two different Hebrew words: nephesh<\/em> and hayyot<\/em>. The former means literally any sentient creature \u2014 human or animal (see Gen. 1:20<\/a>, Lev. 11:10<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n The hayyot<\/em>, though, are a particular angelic being described in Ezekiel 1<\/a>. He sees four of them, human-shaped and surrounding \u201cburning coals of fire” that shoot forth lightning, while the living creatures dash around, also like lightning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ezekiel later identifies these \u201cliving creatures\u201d as cherubim, but they nevertheless remained a separate class of angels in some later Jewish and Christian hierarchies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The only other appearance of the \u201cliving creatures\u201d in the Bible is in Revelation, where they seem to more closely resemble seraphim, with six wings, covered with eyes, chanting \u201choly, holy, holy\u201d (Rev. 4:8<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Thrones are the name later given to the ophanim <\/em>(\u201cwheels\u201d) seen by Ezekiel together with \u2014 and indeed closely accompanying \u2014 the living creatures\/cherubim. The prophet describes them in Ez. 1:15-21<\/a> as a \u201cwheel within a wheel,\u201d burning and \u201cgleaming like beryl,\u201d and \u201cfull of eyes all around.\u201d Though totally inhuman in appearance, they are moved by a \u201cliving spirit.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some Christians later interpreted these wheels to be like casters supporting God\u2019s throne, which is why they came collectively to be called \u201cthrones.\u201d Though Ezekiel doesn\u2019t say so specifically, he does describe a throne the color of sapphire directly above their heads, and says that whenever one wheel moved, all the other wheels and cherubim moved with it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By far the majority of angels in the Bible are not named or even described beyond the simple phrase \u201cthe angel of the Lord.\u201d These angels act on behalf of God, communicating messages on his behalf and acting as \u201cministering spirits\u201d to \u201cthose who will inherit salvation\u201d (Heb. 1:14<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Angels speak to dozens of people in the Bible, from Hagar, Abraham, and Jacob, to the prophets of the divided kingdom<\/a>, to Mary, Joseph, Peter, and Paul. Often angels deliver messages as quotes from God with the phrase, \u201csays the Lord.\u201d Occasionally they even speak for God directly, using first-person pronouns to explain God\u2019s actions, such as \u201cI brought you up out of Egypt\u201d (Judg. 2:1<\/a>). Sometimes it\u2019s ambiguous whether God is speaking, or an angel is speaking on his behalf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But angels do far more than speak: they rescue Lot and his family (Gen. 19<\/a>), oppose Balaam and his donkey (Num. 22<\/a>), nearly destroy Jerusalem for David\u2019s sin (2Sam. 24<\/a>), and perhaps most dramatically, slaughter 185,000 Assyrian soldiers overnight (2Kg. 19:35<\/a>). Frequently, they appear holding a sword (Num. 22:31<\/a>, 2Sam. 24:16<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n The world of the New Testament is chock full of both angels and demons<\/a>. It\u2019s easy to literally lose sight of this fact in our modern age, where objects out of sight are also out of mind. But to first-century Judaeans, they were everywhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The word \u201cangel\u201d appears about 180 times in the New Testament \u2014 compared to just over 100 in the Old Testament. (\u201cDemons\u201d appears about 80 times in the New Testament, and scarcely at all in the Old.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aside from Revelation, angels in the New Testament are as a whole much tamer than in the Old Testament. But not all of them are benign. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s what we know about angels as Jesus and his followers describe them: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Angels feature prominently in Revelation \u2014 in fact, the term appears 75 times in that book alone! Entire volumes have been written trying to evaluate and interpret the detailed symbolism and prophetic meaning<\/a> of Revelation, so we certainly can\u2019t do it justice here. But here\u2019s a quick snapshot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The angels described in Revelation are unlike most other angels in the Bible (outside of Ezekiel, anyway), especially in the New Testament. They are fearsome<\/em>. They are massive, fiery and shining, wielding swords and scythes and controlling the elements. They bring pestilence and destruction, killing a third of humankind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are good angels led by Michael and evil angels led by Satan \u2014 but it\u2019s not always clear which are which: Christians have long debated whether Abaddon (Rev. 9:11<\/a>) is Satan himself, or an avenging angel acting on the Lord\u2019s behalf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bible does not explicitly mention \u201cguardian angels\u201d as they are popularly understood, as individual protectors each assigned to watch over a single person. This idea goes back several centuries, but it was absent from the earliest Christian understanding of angels. That said, there are some verses that suggest it is possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most angels in the Bible act in a mediatory <\/em>or revelatory <\/em>capacity, bringing messages to God\u2019s people or appearing in prophetic visions. Those angels which do explicitly guard something are usually not guarding individuals: cherubim guard the gates of Eden, Michael guards the nation of Israel in exile, and so on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Psalm 91:11<\/a> comes closest to describing a guardian angel, saying that God will command his angels to guard you \u201cin all your ways.\u201d Some traditional readers interpreted this to specifically refer to guarding Jesus<\/em>, based on its later use in Matt. 4:6<\/a> and Luke 4:10<\/a>. But others have asserted that it could as well apply to any holy person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Matt. 18:10<\/a> indicates that special angels may be designated to watch over little children, though it\u2019s not entirely clear what Jesus means by \u201ctheir\u201d angels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fallen angels are angels who fell from heaven due to immoral behavior or rebellion and now live either on earth or in hell. They figure prominently in Christian thought, but their level of threat varies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By the time of Jesus a strong extrabiblical tradition had developed in Jewish culture around fallen angels based on a few allusions in Genesis and Daniel \u2014 but the Jewish authorities were in general wary of this strain of thought, as it mostly drew on noncanonical books, especially Enoch<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Genesis 6:1-4<\/a> allude to the Nephilim<\/a>, giants or \u201csons of God\u201d who procreated with human women. Daniel 4<\/a> mentions \u201choly watchers\u201d coming (not falling) down from heaven. The book of Enoch picked up on these suggestions and helped to build a popular tradition of the \u201cWatchers\u201d lusting after human women. (Some believe Paul alludes to this belief in 1Cor. 11:10<\/a> when he says a woman must cover her head \u201cbecause of the angels.\u201d) Early Christians also understood Isaiah 14:12<\/a> and Ezekiel 28:14-16<\/a> to refer to fallen angels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The New Testament is much more explicit, especially in Revelation but also in Luke 10:18<\/a> and Matt. 25:41<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the Middle Ages, fallen angels became associated with demons, though the Bible never makes such a connection explicit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most Christians believe Satan to have been an angel (perhaps a cherub or seraph) who rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven along with many who followed him. This understanding comes from piecing together clues throughout the Bible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The word satan<\/em> is simply a Hebrew term for \u201cadversary\/accuser.\u201d Like the word \u201cgod,\u201d it\u2019s sometimes used as a generic noun (e.g., 1Kg 5:4<\/a>) and other times as a proper name (e.g., Matt. 4:10<\/a> and throughout the New Testament). In most of the Old Testament, it\u2019s debatable whether any given mention refers to Satan himself or to a less specific \u201cadversary.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Complicating matters further is how \u201cthe satan\u201d in the Old Testament often appears to act with God\u2019s approval or even direct instruction, as in Numbers 22:22<\/a> and Job 1:6-12<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By the time of the New Testament, though, Satan was clearly understood as a proper noun for a particular figure, as is obvious by the use of the Hebrew word satan<\/em> in otherwise Greek texts. It is also clear from Luke 10:18<\/a>, 2 Peter 2:4<\/a>, and Rev.12:7\u20139<\/a> that he fell from heaven. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At least as early as the church father Origen (ca. 185-253 AD), Christians have interpreted Isaiah 14:12<\/a> and Ezekiel 28:14-16<\/a> to refer not to any fallen angel to but Satan specifically. They also identified the serpent in the garden of Eden<\/a> as Satan, though Genesis never makes such a connection. Still, the interpretations are plausible and remain popular for many Christians today, especially among Catholics and Orthodox.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Biblically accurate angels are varied, complex, and awe-inspiring beings that play integral roles in the divine narrative \u2014 whether that\u2019s popping up to deliver a message of hope and solace, displaying God\u2019s might and glory in wild prophetic visions, or even wreaking vengeance on the wicked<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most of us will likely never see a real angel in our lifetimes, but studying their appearances in the Bible can be the next best thing \u2014 and give us much to wonder about. The amazing diversity of God\u2019s creation, seen and unseen, is beyond our wildest imagination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Start a <\/strong>free trial of Bible Gateway Plus<\/strong><\/a> and find dozens of resources<\/a> to deepen your knowledge and engagement with the Bible \u2014 all for less than a pack of highlighters.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What does a Biblically accurate angel look like? It depends \u2014 there are a lot of different types of angels in the Bible. Here\u2019s a look at each of them. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4840,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[457,468],"tags":[234,347,275,141,280],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Banner](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/staticblog.bgcdn.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/25121420\/BG_FallMemDr24_728x90b.jpg?resize=696%2C86&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nTypes of Angels Mentioned in the Bible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Archangels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Cherubim<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Seraphim<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Living Creatures\u2019 <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thrones <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Angels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Biblically Accurate Angels in the New Testament<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Angels in Revelation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Are Guardian Angels in the Bible? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Are Fallen Angels? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Was Satan an Angel?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion: The Hosts of Heaven<\/h2>\n\n\n\n