By Yona Williams 5/30/11
Angels are often a fascinating part of the Bible. Whether you believe there is a guardian angel watching over you or want to know some of the characteristics mentioned in religious texts, some of the following tidbits of information in this article could be of interest to you.
1) In the Bible, angels are mentioned 273 times.
2) The Bible states that God created angels. Evidence of their creation is found within the Bible includes passages in Genesis and Collosians:
3) “Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished.” (Genesis 2:1)
“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16)
4) Passages in Luke and Revelation state that angels were created with the purpose to live for all eternity. Examples include:
“…nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.” (Luke 20:36)
“Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8)
5) When God created the world, angels were in existence. This is shown in Job 38:1-7, where it is said: “Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: “…Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? …while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?”
6) In the Bible, there is only one angel to be called an archangel. Interpreters of the Bible assume that there are other archangels, but there is no specific names mentioned. Michael is called “one of the chief princes” in the Bible. An archangel is referred to as one of the highest ranked angels who is in charge of other angels. Michael is mentioned in the following passages:
In the New International Version, it is stated “But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.” (Daniel 10:13).
In a reference to the End of Times, Michael appears in Daniel 12:1:” At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.”
“But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 9)
“Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.” (Revelation 12:7)
http://www.unexplainable.net/Religion/16-Facts-About-Angels-1-6.shtml
From the three main types of angels to references made to a fallen angel, the Bible is full of passages that makes mentions of these winged messengers. In this article, you will learn more about archangels and seraphim.
12) Archangels are mentioned in the Bible in 1 Thess. 4:16: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” However, the word ‘archangel’ does not appear in the Old Testament. The only references that are found point to Michael the archangel in 1 Thess. 4:16 and Jude 9. Gabriel is considered an archangel in the Old Testament and New Testament. In the Old Testament, he is mentioned in Dan. 8:15-26 and 9:21-27. The New Testament, Gabriel appeared in Luke 1:11-20, 26-38, and is described as a messenger angel.
13) Angels possess a noted wisdom and are considered intelligent, as seen in passages from the Book of Samuel and Daniel: “Your maidservant said, ‘The word of my lord the king will now be comforting; for as the angel of God, so is my lord the king in discerning good and evil. And may the LORD your God be with you.’ (2 Samuel 14:17) and “…while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding.” (Daniel 9:21-22).
14) Passages in the Bible that mention cherubim include the following:
In Genesis 3:24, it is said: “So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” The typical description of cherubim includes wings, feet, and hands, as seen in Ezekiel 41:18. In Ezekiel 10:21, the cherubim are described as having four faces. Cherubim appear in the Bible as guardians of things considered sacred. In Genesis 3:24, they were responsible for guarding the tree of life. They also watched over the Ark of the Covenant on the Mercy Seat, as mentioned in 1 Sam 4:4. According to Exodus 26:31 and Chronicles 3:7, figures of Cherubs were embroidered on the temple veil and decorated on the temple of Solomon (1 Kings 6:26).
15) A passage that mentions seraphim is “Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew,” (Isaiah 6:2). In Isaiah 6:3, they are mentioned to praise God.
16) Some people have heard about fallen angels, but what exactly does that mean? The angels were once good but turned their back on God and choose evil over good. One of the most prominent of these fallen angels is Lucifer, who was an archangel that went against God and eventually became known as the Devil. A popular quote that references him is from Isaiah 14:12-14, which is listed below:
“How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! 13 “But you said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. 14 “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High,'”
http://www.unexplainable.net/Religion/16-Facts-About-Angels-12-to-16.shtml