Grace Family Bible Church

Creation of the Angelic Realm

By: Scott Morton

 

Many people today are confused about what the Bible teaches related to the angelic realm. They have had their understanding influenced by the bad teaching of others, or the representations of angels they see. This understanding unfortunately borders on what the Apostle Paul warns us, as they tend to gravitate towards the worship of angels (Colossians 2:18). It is clear the Bible teaches some things which do not line up with this type of thinking.

 

Types of angelic beings

 

The Bible identifies several different types of angelic beings and gives some descriptions which would go along with them.

 

Ezekiel 1:4-14

And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. [5] Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. [6] And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. [7] And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. [8] And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. [9] Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. [10] 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. [11] Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. [12] And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went. [13] As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. [14] And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

 

These beings are identified later as being cherubs. Does this sound like the depictions which are made today of them? They are represented as chubby little babies by man today, which shows the perversion of the Word of God that individuals make.

 

Satan is identified as the anointed cherub that covereth (Ezekiel 28:14), which means this is how he would look, which also goes against the things which are taught. The passage in Ezekiel 28 shows how Satan is also covered with precious stones (which would have reflected the glory of God into the universe) and also had a built in orchestra (which would have led the creation in the praise of God). This is the role Satan would have had prior to his fall, which will be covered in the next article.

 

The cherubs are given specific duties, such as guarding the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24-25) and positions in the throne room of God. This is why they need to have the four faces, as they are able to see in all directions and are able to carry out the purpose they were created for.

 

Israel would have a clear idea of what a cherub looked like. They were to put one of them on either side of the mercy seat. Artists who draw this do not even stay consistent with their bad thinking, as they will never put the chubby baby version, but will make up a different idea and will use that to describe what was put on the mercy seat by Israel.

 

Many people try to say the following are also referred to as cherubs:

 

Revelation 4:6-9

And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. [7] And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. [8] And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. [9] And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

 

A careful examination of this passage, along with the passage from Ezekiel 1 show these are two different things. The beasts, which are referred to here, have six wings while the cherub in Ezekiel 1 has four wings. The description of the faces are different, as these are identified only by one face.

 

These beasts are before the throne of God and are giving glory and honor to God. This is the only reference to them and this appears to be the purpose for which they were designed.

 

Isaiah describes another type of angelic being:

 

Isaiah 6:1-7

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. [2] 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. [3] And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. [4] And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. [5] Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. [6] Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: [7] And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

 

The angelic being which is mentioned in this passage is called a seraphim. These beings are identified as having only one face and have six wings, with a purpose defined for each pair.

 

One of the things the seraphim do, according to this passage, is they declare the holiness of God. This is similar to what the beasts are doing in Revelation, which shows this is a common thing for the angelic realm to be doing. One of them also interacts with Isaiah, as he displays the discomfort from having seen the Lord, according to the passage. The seraphim provides relief to Isaiah at the time.

 

The last group is what are referred to as angels. These are also very badly represented in the Bible, as they are often portrayed as women or men with long hair, and also having big wings. If this was the case, the following passage would never have been true:

 

Hebrews 13:2

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

 

If angles truly had the big wings which many people think they do, it would not be possible for someone to do this unaware. They would clearly be able to know they were entertaining an angel at that point.

 

The Bible does give some things which would describe what an angel looks like. A few of these passages are:

 

Matthew 28:2-3

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. [3] His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

 

Mark 16:5

And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

 

Luke 24:4

And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

 

These three passages all talk about the events after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and are dealing with when individuals were going to the tomb. The description here shows they are wearing clothing which shines and is white. The color represents purity and the light shows glory, which is something which is associated with God.

 

The angels are also identified as being male. This is important, as many people try to show there are female angels. This is the depiction many people give by their paintings, sculptures, and other representations. By doing this, they are twisting some of the things the Bible talks about related to angels.

 

They also will talk about angels having big stork-like wings. There is not a single passage in the Bible which would show an angel having wings. While some of the other beings which are called angelic beings do have wings, which have been discussed above, those that are referred to as angels do not. If they did have the wings which many would say someone has, the author of the book of Hebrews would have created confusion for individuals. He talks about how someone could entertain an angel unaware of this. If they truly had the wings which many say they do, then this would not be possible, as those of Israel would not be able to do this unaware of what they were doing.

 

The creation of angels

 

This is something else which does cause confusion for many individuals. There are some clear things which talk about creation:

 

John 1:1-3

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

 

Colossians 1:13-16

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: [14] In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: [15] Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: [16] For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

 

These two passages show everything is created by the Godhead. One part of the Godhead, the Lord Jesus Christ, is specifically identified by the Apostle Paul as being responsible for the creation of all things. In order to remove the confusion from individuals, he even brings up how the things which are seen (the things on planet earth which we see on a daily basis) as well as the things which are in heaven (the things which we cannot see at this time) are made by Him. This would include the angelic realm.

 

At the time of creation, which is the beginning, the angelic realm was made. The issue becomes when exactly did this occur, as the book of Genesis does not make any reference to the timing of their creation. In order to understand this, we need to look at the book of Job:

 

Job 38:1-7

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, [2] Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? [3] Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. [4] Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. [5] Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? [6] Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; [7] When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

 

This passage shows the morning stars and sons of God were present as the foundations and corner stone of the earth were laid. From the first two chapters of this book we see this is a reference to the angelic realm. They were there as these events were going on and were singing and shouting for joy in their praise of God as this was being accomplished.

 

The timing of this has caused some controversy, as individuals have tried to make this sound like different times. It is clear this can only be one thing which is being spoken of:

 

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

 

God created the heaven and the earth in the beginning. In order to build something, the foundation and corner stone are being laid first in order for stability to happen. This means the angelic realm was there for the whole creation and praised God as this was going on.

 

The next article will deal with the fall of the angelic realm and their rejection of the program of God.