Types Of Angels In The Bible

There are 5 types of Angels in the Bible. Today I want to share with you a little about angels.

Angels are one of those fun topics to learn about. So let’s Learn about God’s messengers and how they function in the spirit realm.

Believing and understanding how angels operate is important for Christians. Too many times we think angels are just going around about the earth watching people and protecting them. And in some cases yes they protecting, but that’s only a small part of what they do.

We need to realize that angels are so much more than our personal bodyguards. They act as God’s agents on earth:

• They Guide us – Exodus 23:20
• They do the will of God and help us to accomplish God’s will – Psalm 103: 19-22
• They encourage and minister to us – Hebrews 1:14, Judges:6
• They send messages from God to us – Luke 1:13

And so much more.

In Scripture the visitation of an angel is always alarming; they have to begin by saying “Fear not.” The Victorian angel looks as if it were going to say, “There, there.”

C.S. Lewis

No matter how much we chuckle at this, there is truth to that quote. For us to really understand angels we can not look at man’s ideas or thoughts on it. But we have to look to God and His Word.

When God created the Heavens and the Scripture we can see five types of angels. These Types of Angels are:

• Archangels
• Cherubim
• Seraphim
• The Living Creatures
• Common Angels

Archangels

Archangel are probably the most well known type of angel. But from the name it might be more of rank the a rank then an actual type. The word arch means, “Chief.”

This gives us the idea that there is a ranking or class of angels in heaven. (Colossians 1:16-17, Ephesians 3:9-10) The word Archangel is only seen twice in Scripture and both times are in the New Testament.

The only named archangel is Michael, but many classify Gabriel as a. Archangel since he referred throughout Scripture. (Old Testament and New) It also states in Luke 1:19 that he stands in the presence of God.

But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to condemn him for slander but said. “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9)

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them to meet then in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (Thessalonians 4:16)

From these two scriptures we can come to the conclusion that these types of angels carry some level of authority.

Cherubim

Most of the time we think cherubs are these cute little- naked babies flying around with wings. Those are actually called putti angels. At least that’s what Renaissance and Victorian artists depicted. But that’s not what in found in scripture.

The Prophet Ezekiel describes these amazing spiritual beings as:

And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. Their legs were straight, and doors of their feel were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four faces and their wings touched one another,

Each on of them went straight forward, without turning as they went As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four face the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had had the face of an eagle.

Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. And each went straight forward. Wherever tthd the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. (Ezekiel 1:5-11)

As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fit went forth lightning. And the living creatures darted to and fro, like a flash of lightning. (Ezekiel 1;

Cherubs are seen throughout Scripture as angels who guard (as in the garden of Eden) and surround the ark of the covenant, tabernacle, and temple. Lucifer is also considered an anointed cherub.

Seraphim

These angels are all about the presence of God. They fly around the throne room declining the holiness of God. According to the strong’s Concordance Saraph is described as – “Burning.” These angels are on fire, worshiping the God the all-consuming Fire!

These are majestic beings with six wings, that cry out to each other about the holiness of God. We only see these angels ment in the book of Isaiah.

In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on the throne; and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above Him we’re seraphim, each with six wings; With two wings they covered their faces, with two that covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.”

At the sound of their voices, the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

“Woe to me! Isaiah cried. “I am ruined For I am a man of unclean lips; and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to him with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the alter. With it he touched Isaiah’s mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” (Isaiah 6:1-8)

The Living Creatures

These angels are known as “living beasts” or “the four beasts.” They minister by worshiping and glorifying God. Some believe that these angels saw that Isaiah in a vision which he calls seraphim.

It’s hard to know since both descriptions in Isaiah are similar to those in Revelation yet not clear enough to know for sure.

In the center, around the throne were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a ox, the third had a face on a man, and the forth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures with eyes all around, even under it’s wings. Day and night they never stopped saying:

“Holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty ‘ who was, and is, and is to come.”

Whenever the living creatures give glory, homor and thanks to Him who sets on the throne and who live for ever and ever, (Revelation 4:6-9)

Common Angels

This may seem like a broad way to categorize angels, but these angels don’t seem to fall into an angelic type or rank in the Bible. This doesn’t mean they are not powerful beings. They still work for God and do His work.

Don’t forget to hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2)

I love this verse because they are working among us. We can also see this in the account of Peter and His angel. (Acts 12:15)

Perhaps one day when we are in Heaven we will understand these angels more.