Skip to main content

What are angels?

An angel is a pure spirit created by God. The Old Testament theology included the belief in angels: the name applied to certain spiritual beings or intelligences of heavenly residence, employed by God as the ministers of His will.

The English word "angel" comes from the Greek angelos, which means 'messenger'. In the Old Testament, with two exceptions, the Hebrew word for "angel" is malak, also meaning 'messenger'. The prophet Malachi took his name from this word. He was himself a messenger, and he prophesied about the coming of "the messenger of the covenant", Jesus Christ (Malachi 3:1).

Although the word "angel" in the Bible, meaning a messenger, nearly always applies to heavenly beings, it can occasionally apply to human messengers. Malachi himself said a priest was a messenger (malak) of the LORD of hosts (Malachi 2:7), and in the Book of Revelation the elders of the seven churches of Asia were called angels (1:20; 2:1 etc.). But when we meet messengers doing supernatural things, there is no doubt they are heavenly beings - God's messengers, working for Him and for the ultimate benefit of mankind.

More Angel Information from Wikipedia

Latest Videos »

Newsletter Sign Up »

Beatification of John Paul II on Divine Mercy Sunday, May 1

Daily Readings »

Reading 1, Acts 18:23-28

where he spent a short time before continuing his journey through the Galatian country and then through Phrygia, ... Read all

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 47:2-3, 8-9, 10

For Yahweh, the Most High, is glorious, the great king over all the earth. He brings peoples under our yoke and ... Read all

Gospel, John 16:23-28

The rest of John's acts, the battles he fought and the exploits he performed, the city walls he built, and all his ... Read all




Most Popular »

Featured Book

The Secrets, Chastisement, & ...

Featured Product

Little Disciples Baby Clothes ...