The Heavenly Host
When you finish reading this lesson go to the Work Sheet.
There are many false teachings and myths about angels. The majority of the stories, plays, movies and books about angels are based on fiction and myth. This study will look at only what the Bible teaches about angels. It is amazing that people will believe anything but the truth. In this study we will see that the Bible does not teach that angels have wings, neither are angels women or children. The Bible does not teach that humans become angels after they die.
I. The Heavenly Host
Where did angels come from? How did they get here? Angels were created by God and some are on earth to do the will of God. In the beginning, before the world was created, God created the heavenly host.
"Thou, [even] thou, [art] LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all [things] that [are] therein, the seas, and all that [is] therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee." (Nehemiah 9:6)
The heavenly host is made up of different types of created life which includes angels. The heavenly host are intelligent life and can make decisions in service to God.
The created intelligent life of the heavenly host is made up of two types of physical bodies, a celestial and a terrestrial.
"[There are] also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial [is] one, and the [glory] of the terrestrial [is] another." (1 Corinthians 15:40)
A celestial body has the same features as a human body and more. A celestial body can exist in any atmosphere, breathe any type of air, and can be invisible or visible. A celestial body could appear on the earth and then on the moon, or even in the sun without any protection or artificial atmosphere. A celestial body can travel through space without the aid of a ship or any means of artificial travel. An angel has a celestial body.
A terrestrial body has the same features as a human body. A terrestrial body can only exist in one atmosphere, breathe one type of air and are only visible. If a created intelligent life has a terrestrial body for a certain planet, then when that body leaves that planet it must take its own atmosphere with it. For a terrestrial body to travel through space it must have a ship that contains the atmosphere necessary for that body. Humans in their lost state have a terrestrial body, but when they are saved and have their resurrected body, it will be like a celestial body and more.
The first created life of the heavenly host mentioned in the Bible are Cherubims.
"So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." (Genesis 3:24)
After Adam sinned and was put out of the garden of Eden, Cherubims with a flaming sword were placed at the east end of the garden to protect the way of the tree of life. The Cherubims ere not described at this time.
Later when God had Moses to build an ark for the Tabernacle, a description of the Cherubims was given. They are described as creatures with two wings. Statues of the Cherubims would be placed on the lid of the ark, one at each end facing each other with their wings covering the lid.
"6 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy [place, even] under the wings of the cherubims.
7 For the cherubims spread forth [their] two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above." (1 Kings 8:6-7)
This place on the ark between the Cherubims underneath their wings would be called the mercy seat. There at the mercy seat God would talk to the high priest. The main curtains that made up the tent would have Cherubims embroidered in them. The vail that would separate the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies would be embroidered with Cherubims. Later Solomon would build large statues of Cherubims to be placed in the Temple.
"23 And within the oracle he made two cherubims [of] olive tree, [each] ten cubits high.
24 And five cubits [was] the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other [were] ten cubits." (1 Kings 6:23-24)
The Bible never refers to a Cherubim as an angel.
Isaiah saw in a vision something called a Seraphim.
"Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly." (Isaiah 6:2)
This intelligent life is different from anything else, in that it is a red fiery creature with six wings. These Seraphims were able to speak and praise God.
"And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the LORD of hosts: the whole earth [is] full of his glory." (Isaiah 6:3)
Some commentaries state that Seraphims are a type of angel. The Bible never refers to a Seraphim as an angel.
The Bible tells about an angel that explains a vision to Zechariah in which he saw two women with wings like the wings of a stork.
"Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind [was] in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?" (Zechariah 5:9-10)
Here an angel is mentioned with another heavenly host. Nothing is said about the angel having wings, but a description of the wings of the women are given. This is another point in the fact that angels do not have wings or else the Bible would describe them one time or another. This is a prophecy about the bride of the anti-Christ and her judgment as described in Revelation 17 & 18. The Bible never refers to these women as angels.
Another of the heavenly host that the Bible describes is in the book of Revelation. John is taken to heaven and he sees the throne of God with four beasts.
"And before the throne [there was] a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, [were] four beasts full of eyes before and behind." (Revelation 4:6)
These beasts praise God and perform certain duties around the throne.
Each beast had six wings.
"And the four beasts had each of them six wings about [him]; and [they were] full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."
(Revelation 4:8)
The first beast was like a lion.
"And the first beast [was] like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast [was] like a flying eagle." (Revelation 4:7)
This beast told John to come and see the opening of the first seal. The second beast was like a calf. This beast told John to come and see the opening of the second seal. The face of the third beast was like a man. This beast told John to come and see the opening of the third seal. The fourth beast was like a flying eagle. This beast told John to come and see the opening of the fourth seal. The Bible never refers to the four beasts as angels.
The last of the heavenly host are the angels.
"Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word." (Psalms 103:20)
Angels are not Cherubims, Seraphims, Women with wings of a stork, or the beast of Revelation. Angels are different from all of them.
[ Lesson 1 ] [ Work Sheet ] [ Lesson 2 ] [ Angels Lessons Page ] [ Home Page ]
You can e-mail me by clicking here.Copyright (c) 1999 by Jerry L. Wells
