Angels are very active in the Bible and are used by God as messengers, warriors, and servants. The word “angel” comes from the Greek word angelos which means messenger. They are spiritual beings without bodies of flesh and bones though they apparently have the ability to appear in human form (Gen. 19:1-22). Angels have many functions. They praise God (Isaiah 6:3), serve as messengers to the world (Luke 1:11-20, 26-38; Luke 2:9-14), watch over God’s people (Psalm 91:11-12), and are sometimes used as instruments of God’s judgment (Matt. 13:49-50).
The Bible tells us that God created the angels and that, at some time in the distant past, there was a rebellion in heaven and many of them fell. Apparently, it was the elect angels that did not fall (1 Tim. 5:21). The Bible says that these spiritual creatures were created by Christ (Col. 1:16), that they carry out the will of God (Psalm 103:20; Matt. 6:10), they worship God and Christ (Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 1:6), are wise (2 Sam. 14:20), mighty (Psalm 103:20), holy (Matt. 25:31), and innumerable (Heb. 12:22). However, angels are not to be worshiped (Col. 2:18; Rev. 19:10; 22:9) since they are creatures.