Biblically accurate angels

Kinds of angels and named angels, with the verses

• Cherubim at Eden

  The first angels in the Bible. After the fall God placed cherubims at the east of the garden, with a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the tree of life.

  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

  Genesis 3:24

• Ezekiel's living creatures (cherubim)

  Each had four faces (man, lion, ox, eagle) and four wings, straight feet like a calf's foot, and an appearance like burning coals of fire. Ezekiel later says plainly that they were the cherubims.

  As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.

  Ezekiel 1:10

• The wheels full of eyes

  Beside each living creature was a wheel, as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel, with rims full of eyes. This is the source of the wheels-of-eyes image online. The text describes the wheels moving with the creatures; it does not call the wheels angels.

  The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.

  Ezekiel 1:16

• Cherubim in Ezekiel 10

  Ezekiel sees them again at the temple: their whole body, backs, hands and wings full of eyes, four faces apiece, and the likeness of a man's hands under their wings.

  Ezekiel 10:12

• Cherubim on the mercy seat

  Two golden cherubims faced each other on the ark of the covenant, their wings stretched over the mercy seat.

  Exodus 25:20

• Seraphim

  Seen by Isaiah above the throne. Each had six wings: two covered the face, two covered the feet, and two were for flying. They cried, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts.

  Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

  Isaiah 6:2

• The four beasts of Revelation

  Like a lion, a calf, a man and a flying eagle, each with six wings and full of eyes. They never rest from saying Holy, holy, holy.

  Revelation 4:8

• Angels who look like men

  Abraham saw three men at his tent; two angels then came to Sodom, and Lot took them for travelers. These angels eat, talk and walk, with no wings mentioned.

  And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

  Genesis 19:1

• Strangers who were angels

  Hebrews draws a lesson from such visits: some have entertained angels unawares.

  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

  Hebrews 13:2

• Michael

  The only angel the text names as an archangel. Daniel calls him one of the chief princes and the great prince who stands for Daniel's people; in Revelation he and his angels fight the dragon.

  Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

  Jude 1:9

• Gabriel

  The angel sent to explain Daniel's visions and, centuries later, to Zacharias and to Mary. He says, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God. The text never calls him an archangel.

  And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

  Luke 1:19

• Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12)

  Isaiah's taunt says, How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning. In context it is a proverb against the king of Babylon (Isaiah 14:4). Many Christians have also read it as a picture of Satan's fall; others read it only of the king.

  Isaiah 14:12

• The angel of the LORD

  A messenger who speaks for God and sometimes as God, appearing to Hagar, Balaam, Gideon and Samson's parents. He told Manoah his name was secret.

  Genesis 16:7

• The heavenly host

  At Jesus' birth a multitude of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God. Jesus said He could ask for more than twelve legions of angels.

  Luke 2:13

• Angels at the empty tomb

  Matthew says the angel's face was like lightning and his clothes white as snow. Mark describes a young man in a long white garment.

  Matthew 28:3

Internet art versus the text

Popular biblically accurate angel images often show a ring of eyes and fire with wings. The text gives pieces of this: Ezekiel's creatures look like burning coals, their wheels have rims full of eyes, and Revelation's beasts are full of eyes. But the text never describes one angel as a floating eyeball wheel. The wheels and the creatures are separate parts of one vision.

The Bible also gives a very ordinary picture. The angels at Sodom were taken for men, and the angel at Jesus' tomb in Mark looked like a young man in white. Different passages show different beings, so no single image covers them all.

Fear not

When angels appear, people are often afraid, and the first words are often comfort. The angel told Zacharias, "Fear not, Zacharias" (Luke 1:13), told Mary, "Fear not, Mary" (Luke 1:30), told the shepherds, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy" (Luke 2:10), and told the women at the tomb, "Fear not ye" (Matthew 28:5).

What angels do

Hebrews calls them "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation" (Hebrews 1:14). They carry messages, guard, praise God, and in Daniel and Revelation they fight.

Angels in the text refuse worship. When John fell at an angel's feet, the angel said, "See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant" and told him to worship God (Revelation 22:9).

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Hebrews 1:14 · KJV