Angels

But learning about angels isn’t practical—or so I’ve been told. I disagree, and I think that if you read this book you will as well. Think with me for a moment. A life well lived extends from wisdom. Biblical wisdom involves not only practical, principled, decision-making skills but eternal perspective. Eternal perspective requires understanding wh

How is it we have this authority? John tells us: “all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). We are the children of God who rule the nations. Old Testament angelology makes the meaning of this clear—the nations are currently ruled by fallen sons of God, who oppress their populations

“ANGELS CAN READ MINDS AND MANIPULATE THE MATERIAL WORLD” Though there is no scriptural evidence that members of the heavenly host knows a person’s mind or thoughts the way God does, the question of whether angels can read minds is not as silly as it sounds. The question becomes reasonable in the context of angelic appearances in the mind or consci

There are two reasons why Hebrews 1:14 does not give Christians authority to command angels—one grammatical, the other contextual.

The assumption presupposes the idea that angels have gender. They do not—indeed they cannot be gendered, since they are spirit beings and gender is a biological attribute. When angels assume visible form or flesh to interact with human beings, Scripture always has them male.

their power (cf. 2:14, 15) and the reconciliation of all things has taken place.… Victory over these powers, presumed to be hostile toward God or Christ, does not mean they are done away with

Bock notes that “an angelic escort [to heaven] is a common Jewish image.

The second reason that Hebrews 1:14 does not mean angels were sent to serve at the behest of Christians is the wider context of the New Testament—and really the entire Bible: there isn’t a single instance in Scripture where a human being commands an angel. Human beings converse with angels. They ask questions. They do not give angels orders. This f

Zechariah 5:8–11 therefore provides no biblical evidence for the notion that angels have wings or come to humans in female appearance.