CLASSIFICATIONS OF ANGELS

The Holy Spirit is at work around us and resides within born-again believers (1 Corinthians 3:16). Though Almighty God needs no assistance, He chooses to use created beings to accomplish His mission. He doesn’t need us, but He uses us. And again, though He could do it without their participation, God uses angels. These created beings serve at Divine direction and are engaged at His discretion.

The Bible indicates that there are some angels who are superior to others. For instance, Michael is an archangel (Jude 9), a leader or chief of angels, with greater responsibility and greater authority than others (See also Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1; and Revelation 12:7).

Gabriel, the only other angel named in Scripture, delivered the important messages concerning the virgin birth of King Jesus (Luke 1:18-19; 26-27).

Cherubim, a class of winged angels, are mentioned eighty-five times in the Old Testament. We’re first introduced to them when God stationed a cherub outside of the Garden of Eden. 

“He drove the man out and stationed the cherubim and the flaming, whirling sword east of the garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24).

Cherubim are most frequently mentioned in conjunction with the ark of the covenant. God instructed Moses to “make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end. At its two ends, make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat. The cherubim are to have wings spread out above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and are to face one another. The faces of the cherubim should be toward the mercy seat” (Exodus 25:18–20).

Yet another category of angel is the seraphim. “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth” (Isaiah 6:1–3).

Let’s conclude our discussion of angels by remembering a particular account of angelic activity. Arrested for preaching the Gospel, Peter, “bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison” (Acts 12:6). Peter was snoozing peacefully when an angel interrupted his slumber. “An angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, ‘Quick, get up!’ And the chains fell off his wrists” (Acts 12:7). Following his angelic guide, Peter made his way past soldiers and through locked gates until he stood on the street… free. “When Peter came to himself, he said, ‘Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp’ ” (Acts 12:11).

I wonder, have you ever encountered an angel? Has an angel protected you from trouble? You can be certain, angels are real!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).