ANGELS

Both the Hebrew mal'akh' and the Greek ag'ge-los literally mean "messenger." From the first book of the Bible to the last, these words occur nearly four hundred times.

Then there is the great body of angelic messengers who serve as a means of communication between God and man. However, they do more than simply relay messages. As agents and deputies of the Most High God, they serve as responsible executioners of the divine purpose, be it protection and deliverance of God's people or destruction of the wicked. — Gen. 19:1-26.

Since God created man "a little lower than angels" (Heb. 2:7), it follows that angels have a greater mental capacity than man. They are superhuman in power too. "Bless God, O you angels of his, mighty in power carrying out his word." Angelic knowledge and power were displayed when two angels brought flaming destruction upon Sodom and Gomorrah. A single angel killed 185,000 of the Assyrian army. — Ps. 103:20; Gen. 19:13, 24; 2 Ki. 19:35.

— Excerpted from the book, "AID TO BIBLE UNDERSTANDING"


A man, out of his mind with murderous rage, in a small American town, had killed a man in the street before turning his attention on two women who were walking together. He approached them with the intent to kill them as well. As he stood before them he stopped, dropped his weapon, fell to his knees and began sobbing. The women were confused and horrified when they had noticed his bloody weapon. The police arrived and arrested the man. Later, during questioning the police asked the suspect, "Why did you stop at those two women?" The man simply replied, "Didn't you see the giant that was standing behind them? He told me to stop and leave them alone." The police were mystified, as the women had been on the street alone.
— Paraphrased from an account of angelic encounters.

GENESIS

19:1
And there came two angels to Soddom at even; and lot sat in the gate of Soddom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
19:2
And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
19:3
And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
19:4
But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Soddom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
19:5
And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
19:6
And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
19:7
And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
19:8
Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
19:9
And they said, Stand back. And they said again, his one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.
19:10
But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them and shut the door.
19:11
And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.
19:12
And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? Son in law, and they sons, and they daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:
19:13
For we will destroy this place because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.
19:14
And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
19:15
And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take they wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
19:16
And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
19:17
And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
19:18
And Lot said unto them, On, not so, my Lord:
19:19
Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou has magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
19:20
Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (it is not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
19:21
And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.
19:22
Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing til thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
19:23
The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.
19:24
Then the Lord rained upon Soddom and upon Gamorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven.
19:25
And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
19:26
But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.



2KINGS

19:35
And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.



PSALMS

103:20
Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.



HEBREWS

2:7
Thou maddest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: