“She’s Such An Angel” … (May 2025 Update)
This past Mother’s Day, many people spoke about their mothers in angelic terms, saying things like, “What an angel my mother was!” Or “my mother is such an angel!” We even use this expression to speak about children and especially little babies. In general, we use this expression to tell how wonderful and special a person is. But, in reality, people are not angels and never will be.
It is hard to trace the idea of people as angels. It is not found in the Bible though there are many references to people and children being “like the angels” which may have led to the idea that people become angels at death. This idea was popularized in many books and movies, the most popular being the famous Christas movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” In that movie, ZuZu says, “Teacher says, every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” The whole premise of the movie is based on a character named Clarence who died and became an angel 2nd class. Only when he did some good deed would he get his wings.
But what does the Bible tell us about angels? Over the next two updates, we will look at a few biblical facts about angels.
Let’s begin with a very general summary of angels and demons. To begin with, angels are created beings. They are not eternal. And angels are Super-human beings – that is, they have super-human strength and abilities. But they are not human – they are Immaterial beings. They have no bodies. But they are not divine. They are still created beings, and they still answer to God for their actions. They are moral beings with a free will to choose to obey or disobey God.
Some of these angels exercised their free will and rebelled against God. The Bible often calls these fallen angels “Demons.” These fallen angels are working with Satan to try to stop God’s plans for His creation. Some of these angels remained faithful to God. They are generally just called “Angels.” These Angels care for God’s plans and purposes.
- What does the Bible tell us about these angelic beings?
First, the Bible says that angels are created beings. Psalm 148:2, 5 speaks about God’s creation. And, in verse 2, the psalmist includes angels. Colossians 1:16 also makes clear that God created all things, visible or invisible: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” So angels are created beings.
Second, angels are immaterial. We see this in many passages. For example, Hebrews 1:14 calls them “spirits” – “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:7 says, “And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.” And Col. 1:16 indicates that they are invisible. Unlike us, angels are immaterial. Hebrews 1:5-2:9 makes it clear that the angels are not God. They are not the Son of God who is greater than all the angels. In fact, all the angels serve and worship Him.
Third, angels do not reproduce. In Matthew 22:30 Jesus says, “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels of God in heaven.” Angels do not marry and do not have children.
Finally, we do not know how many angels there are. We are only told that their numbers are very large! We see this in Deut. 33:2; Psa. 68:17; Mt. 26:53; Heb. 12:22; Rev. 5:11. Each of these passages speak about myriads and multitudes of angels but never give us any exact numbers.
- What about the appearance of angels? What do they look like? This is a difficult question because angels often appear in various forms.
To begin with, angels are Usually unseen. Num. 22:31; 2 Kings 6:17. However, angels often take human form. In fact, this is probably the most common way that angels are described in the Bible. We see this in Genesis 32 in Jacob’s encounter with the angel. We see it again in Judges 13 where Manoah and his wife encounter an angel. We see this in the resurrection accounts in Mt. 28, Mark 16 and Luke 24. They usually appear as ordinary young men but the people they encounter seem to know that these are not ordinary men but angels.
What about Wings? Do angels have wings? None of the descriptions of ordinary angels include any mention of wings. Only the Seraphim, Cherubim, and the four living creatures are mentioned as having wings. In Daniel 9:21, Gabriel brings a message to Daniel while he is praying and Daniel mentions that Gabriel was caused to “fly swiftly,” but there is no specific mention of wings. Rev. 14:6 also mentions a flying angel but again there is no mention of wings: “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people.”
And then there is the question of whether there are Female angels or whether angels are in the form of Babies like we see in most paintings. It is sad that almost every painting, photograph, sculpture and image of angels presents angels as females or babies. Sometimes these angels are semi-clothed or naked. The Bible never states that female angels exist, or that angels have particular any gender. The Bible always uses masculine names to describe angels. But this does not necessarily mean that the angels were males. It is possible that masculine names and appearances are used in the Bible because God’s plan is for male leadership in the home, society, and the church. Therefore, it is likely that angels have male names to indicate that they have authority as God’s representatives.
There is one passage that might mention female angels. In Zechariah 5:9, we read about two women that sound like angels, but they are not called angels: “Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were two women, coming with the wind in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven.” It is possible that these are female angels, but many commentators prefer to see these as part of a vision or symbolic representation. So, it might be possible that there are female angels just as there are male angels. In Matthew 22:30, when Jesus speaks about our nature in the resurrection, He does not indicate that we lose our gender – only that we are like the angels in that we do not marry. Jesus says, “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels of God in heaven.” This could indicate that angels have gender but do not marry. Unfortunately, the Bible is not clear about this. But there are no baby angels mentioned in the Bible. The paintings of baby angels came in connection with Renaissance Art when many of the painters of that era adopted the idea of baby angels from the art of ancient Greece.
One final thing about their appearance in art is the use of a halo on angels. The halo represents a radiant light above the head of a divine or sacred being. While halos are commonly associated with angels, particularly in art and popular culture, angels were never mentioned as having a halo. In fact, halos are found nowhere in the Bible. Many ancient religions used this circular sign to suggest mystical or supernatural forces. So, halos are merely an artistic representation of a holy or supernatural being or person.
- What about the powers or abilities of angels?
We know that angels had free will or they would not have been able to rebel against God. We see this rebellion in a couple of passages in the Bible, but especially in Revelation 12 where we are told that ⅓ of the angels rebelled and followed Satan.
Also, various passages show us that they have great knowledge, but they are not omniscient. Their great knowledge probably comes from their lengthy existence and because they view everything that happens from a heavenly perspective. However, they are not omniscient. In Matthew 24:36 we read, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” This refers to the Second Coming of Jesus and it is clear that they do not know the time of that event. But this passage also mentions that the Son does not know, so this limitation might be only related to the return of Christ.
Angels are very powerful, but they are not omnipotent. 2 Peter 2:11 tells us that they have great power but not absolute power: “whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.” We can see this also in Revelation 12:7 where Michael and the angels battle with the fallen angels. And Jude 1:9 seems to indicate that even Michael did not have sufficient power on his own to battle Satan: “Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” So, angels have great strength and power, but they are not all-powerful.
- What do angels do? The Bible shows us many different activities of angels. Here are 6 of those activities:
First, angels praise God. In Job 38:7, we read that the angels sang and shouted with joy at the creation of the world: “When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Rev. 5:11-14 shows the angels and the 4 living beasts and the 24 elders before the throne of God worshipping: “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, To receive power and riches and wisdom And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.” And when Jesus was born, the angels broke forth in praise when they announced is birth to the shepherds in Luke 2:13-14 : “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Second, angels are also used at times to communicate God’s messages. In fact, the word for angels in both Greek and Hebrew is the word “messenger.” We see angels delivering messages in both the OT and NT. Gal 3:19; Luke 1:13-20; and Acts 10:3-7 are just a few NT references to when angels delivered God’s message. But like all messengers, angels don’t just bring good news to people. In the Bible, we see them bringing messages of warnings, telling of judgments and even carrying out the judgments. In the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah two angels warn Lot and his family of the coming judgment and destruction of the cities and help them escape.
Third, angels are also spectators of our lives. Angels are sometimes called “watchers” in the Bible. More specifically, in 1 Corinthians 4:9, Paul says that God’s servants are watched by men and angels: “For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.” In 1 Timothy 5:21, he says, “I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.” In other words, he says that God and Christ and the angels are watching how we serve as elders. And then in 1 Corinthians 11:10, Paul encourages women to wear the head covering “because of the angels.” “For this reason, the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.” He reasons that the angels are looking to see if we are willing to follow the proper lines of authority for our lives – in this case, for the women to show their submission to their husbands in Corinth by wearing the head covering.
Fourth, angels also, at times, execute God’s Judgments. We see this in 2 Kings 19:35 when an angel killed the Assyrians at night and in 2 Samuel 24:16 when God used an angel to bring his judgment on Israel. And in Acts 12:23, when Herod proudly accepted being called a god, “Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.” So, at times, God sends His angels to execute His judgments.
Fifth, the angels will be Involved in the 2nd Coming. In all the passages about the return of Christ, there are references to angels coming with Him. Mt. 25:31 says,” When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.” In Mt. 13:41-42, Jesus says that the angels will be the ones gathering the wicked to be cast into hell: “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire.” Mt. 24:31 says the same about the angels at the end times. And 1 Thess. 4:16-17 says that the Lord will “descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.”
Finally, angels are said to minister to believers. Angels minister to believers in many ways. Hebrews 1:14 tells us that angels are ministering spirits and that they have a special responsibility to minister to believers: “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” Luke 15:10 tells us that they rejoice at the salvation of sinners: “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Acts 5:19 tells us that angels sometimes provide deliverance for believers: “But during the night the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.” Also, in Acts 12, Peter is also released from prison by an angel. Angels also provided protection for God’s people at times in the OT, for example in Genesis 19:11: “And they struck with blindness the men who were at the door of the house, young and old, so that they were unable to find the door.” Psa. 34:7 even says: “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.”
At times, angels even give specific directions like in Acts 8:26: “Then the angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” At other times, angels are sent in answer to prayer. We see this in Acts 12 where the whole church was praying for Peter and also in Daniel 9, when Daniel is asking the Lord for an answer to his prayers.
Angels have even been sent as encouragement for believers. The Apostle Paul was encouraged by an angel after a storm at sea in Acts 27:23-25: “For last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship. He said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before the emperor; and indeed, God has granted safety to all those who are sailing with you.’ So, keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.” An angel also provided Gideon with encouragement in Judges 6:11-12. Angels also appear to have a role in bringing people from earth to heaven when they die. We see this in Lk. 16:22 where we are told: “So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom.”
It’s okay to tell someone, “You’re an angel.” But we all need to remember the biblical truth: Humans are not angels and never will be. Angels are God’s special creation, created to serve God and to minister to God’s people. Though they are rarely seen, they are an important part of God’s creation, and they are just one more example of God’s loving provision and protection for His children! Amy Grant’s song, “Angels Watching over Me,” poetically reminds us of some of the work of God’s angelic beings:
God only knows the times my life was threatened just today.
A reckless car ran out of gas before it ran my way.
Near misses all around me, accidents unknown,
Though I never see with human eyes the hands that lead me home.
But I know they’re all around me all day and through the night.
When the enemy is closing in, I know sometimes they fight
To keep my fight from falling, I’ll never turn away.
If you’re asking what’s protecting me then you’re gonna hear me say:
Got his angels watching over me, every move I make,
Angels watching over me!
Angels watching over me, every step I take,
Angels watching over me!
Opportunities to Serve and Teach …
This month, I was able to help Natasha Chikota teach the Research and Writing class at Kyiv Theological Seminary. This was the first time for Natasha to teach this class, so I meet with the class each day to talk about various writing issues. The class was full of excellent questions and examples! So far, I have been able to find and assist Ukrainian professors to teach all except one of my classes. This is major accomplishment, and I am so excited for each of the professors at KTS now teaching these classes. I have been teaching at KTS for nearly 30 years now and it is really wonderful to see that most of the Program Directors (Department Heads) and even the current president of the seminary are former students of mine! Additionally, most of the Ukrainian faculty were also my students too. I am so grateful for every one of them and I pray for them and their ongoing ministries at KTS, teaching and training pastors and church leaders for Ukraine!
May is also graduation month at KTS. Becasue the seminary has grown so much and because of the complications of the war, each department has separate graduations. Here is the Discipleship Ministry graduation and also the Chaplain graduation. As far as I know, KTS has the only evangelical chaplain degree in Ukraine. Pray for all these graduates as they go out to serve in Ukraine.
I have a short teaching break in the next month before I will be heading to the annual GlobalServe International New Missionary Orientation Conference in July. We will be meeting with and providing some training for the newest group of families that GSI is sending out this year. Pray for them as they head out to unreached people groups in countries where missionaries are not permitted.
Family …
Our garden is coming along slowly but we are seeing some signs of life! We have lots of vegetables and some strawberries planted. If everything survives the hot Arkansas summer, we should have a nice harvest.
We celebrated the resurrection with Good Friday and Easter services at our church. And, on Saturday, we also had a little Easter egg hunt with the Cooper kids. At home, we had some Ukrainian dishes and also Ukrainian Paska bread that Katya made.
Our big project this month was finally getting our driveway put in. For the last two years, we have been waiting until we could afford this. We were shocked to find just how expensive a concrete driveway is! We needed to get this finished (HOA requirements) so we “bit the bullet” and got it done. It really looks great and is a big upgrade from our gravel driveway. Most of all, it tells us that we are nearing the end of the building process. We still have a lot of work inside with trim and doors and we hope to get that done in the fall. But having the driveway makes it seem like we are near the end! We’ve been building now for over 2 ½ years and it feels good to get some of the final steps done.
Finally, we also celebrated Katya’s birthday. We had a great time with just our family. Later, we also celebrated with Sean, Meredith and their children too.
This week, we will be spending some time with all my kids and grandchildren in Destin, Florida. They decided that meeting this year in Destin would save the long trip to Sarasota. We are all looking forward to being together for a week there. After that, we will take a short detour to visit our Ukrainian pastor and his family in South Georgia. It’s been over 3 years since we’ve seen them, and we are looking forward to catching up with them!
Pray for Ukraine …
Peace continues to be elusive for Ukraine. Russia continues its attacks on Ukraine and many civilians are being killed. Pray for a real and justice peace! Actually, peace is really simple – if Russia stops attacking, there will be peace. Ukraine is simply defending its territory and its people. Pray for them and for their protection for continued Russian attacks.
In spite of the ongoing war, our students and friends continue to minister to people suffering from the war. Many are serving as chaplains and many, many others are helping with refugees. Our seminaries continue to meet and train more pastors and leaders for the church in Ukraine. All of our students have been affected by the war, both physically and emotionally. (Here is a picture of some of our students). Please pray for them as they minister under difficult circumstances.
Thank you for praying for us. We are looking forward to a little bit of rest and family time as we head to Florida. Pray that we can have a restful and refreshing time together with family and friends!
By His Grace,
Jim and Katya, Kristina and Nadia
If you missed previous updates or just want to read some short theological reflections, you can find these at our website at https://teachingresources.org/ .
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