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Common Angels
Perhaps one of the most common spirit beings with which humans are familiar are angels. There are different theories as to just what angels are. We have already discussed a couple of types of angels called seraphim and cherubim. Some believe that, when a human dies, he becomes an angel. This, however, is not supported at all in scripture.
The word, angel, comes from the Hebrew word, malak, in the Old Testament and the Greek word, aggelos, in the New Testament. Both words literally mean "messenger". There are over 100 appearances of angels recorded in scripture. Hebrews 1:14 says that angels are "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation". We will call these angels common angels for they do not have the unusual features of the seraphim and cherubim. According to Hebrews 13:2, these common angels appear as men for men have sometimes entertained strangers, unaware that these strangers were, actually, angels.
Angels are often called men in the Bible. In Genesis 19, angels journey to the city of Sodom to visit a man named Lot. These angels appear to all that see them as men. They have hands, feet, and faces. They walk, talk, eat and act as men. These particular angels came to Sodom to save Lot before destroying the city.
Angels are always described as being male and are often called sons of God, which makes sense since God created them. In fact, Genesis 6:4 (along with Jude 6-7) indicates that angels can procreate with human women and produce offspring: Genesis 6:4 "There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them… ." (See Did Angels Procreate with Human Women?)
According to descriptions of angels in the Bible, they are intelligent, meek, businesslike, modest, holy, powerful, limited in knowledge, free agents, can appear and disappear, can travel at great speeds, can ascend and descend, can speak, hear, and see. They guard, wage war, deliver messages, minister, execute judgment, help, worship God, direct, blow trumpets, protect, warn, bring answers to prayers, and carry out God's business. They are spirits but they live in angelic bodies that are a higher substance than human bodies for they are able to do things with their bodies that humans can't do.
Devils
If you've ever watched The Exorcist or a myriad of other movies, you've got an idea of Hollywood's idea of devils. The Bible is littered with encounters with devils. We often call them demons, though the word, demons, cannot be found in the Bible. The Greek word translated devil in the New Testament is daimonion and, literally, means devil, god, supernatural spirit. They are often referred to as evil spirits in the Bible. They are also called spirit of divination, unclean spirit, unclean devil, foul spirit, dumb and deaf spirit, seducing spirit, familiar spirit, spirit of jealousy, lying spirit, spirit of whoredoms, and spirit of infirmity.
There are different opinions as to what demons are and how they came to be here on the earth with humans. Some believe that demons are angels, but I don't subscribe to that belief as angels have angelic bodies and demons have no body at all. It has never been recorded in scripture that an angel ever took up residence in a human body, although it is recorded many times that devils have. If an angel possessed a human body, what would they do with their angelic body? Has the angel Gabriel or Michael ever possessed a human? No. In Acts 23:8-9, a distinction is made between angels and spirits: "For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. [9] And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God." If angels and spirits were the same thing, why separate them in these sentences?
Their character is recorded as being evil, wicked, violent, deceptive, cunning, and oppressive. They are wise, intelligent, influential, powerful, and strong. They hate God and man. They have doctrines (1 Tim. 4:1), can work miracles (Rev. 16:14), believe in God and tremble (James 2:19), have supernatural strength and know Jesus and his followers (Acts 19:13-16), have desires and prefer certain locations (Mark 5:10), cause dumbness (Matt. 9:33), some are more powerful than others (Mark 9:29), some are more wicked than others, they seek embodiment, they can walk (Luke 11:24-26), they can appear before God (2 Chronicles 18:18-22), they know their fate but have limited knowledge (Matt. 8:31), thousands can possess a body at the same time (Mark 5:9), and they can cause insanity (Matt. 17:15).
So, from where do they come and how did they get here? I believe that these disembodied spirits resided in bodies on the earth long before Adam was created. Although many Christians disagree, science estimates that the earth is 4.5 billion years old. Isaiah 45:18 states that God created the earth not in vain (Hebrew-tohu), but created it to be inhabited. I believe they were killed when the earth was destroyed by a flood and the sun was blackened, which we find in the beginning of Genesis 1:2 (where the earth os described as being tohu and bohu - wasted and empty). Darkness and floods are always indicative of judgment. Since you can't kill a spirit, these spirits wandered and still wander the earth seeking ways to interact in our physical world. Perhaps I'll soon write an article outlining the scriptures supporting my belief of a world before Adam. However, that is not the purpose of this article.
Spiritual Hierarchy
The Bible speaks of spirit kingdoms, social systems, organizations, levels of authority, rank, order, and responsibilities in the spirit world, much like the physical hierarchy with which humans are familiar. The spirit world operates on three levels: Philip. 2:10 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth". In the heavens, in the earth, and under the earth. The Bible states that a physical and spiritual hierarchy was created by God: Col. 1:16 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him". When we humans believe that our struggles are, primarily, physical, the Bible indicates that this is not the case. Our struggles are against this spiritual hierarchy: Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Not to worry, though, if you are a Christian, for Jesus is the head of all spiritual powers: Col. 2:10 "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power". Also, Ephesians 1:20-22 "Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, [21] Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: [22] And hath put all things under his feet…"
As mentioned previously, the spirit locusts of Rev. 9:1-11, had a king over them by the name of Abaddon. Satan is called the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4), the prince of this world (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11), the prince of devils (Matt. 12:24-27), and the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2). In Rev. 12:7-12, we see a great heavenly war between the archangel Michael and his angels, and the dragon, and his angels, proving that Michael and the dragon are leaders of a group of angels, indicating rank. Verse 9 reveals that this dragon is none other than the Devil or Satan. Jude 9 reads that Michael is an archangel. According to Webster, an archangel is a chief angel or one of high rank.
We see other spiritual wars mentioned in scripture. Daniel 10 records that an angel was hindered for 21 days while attempting to deliver an answer to Daniel's prayer and prevailed only when the angel, Michael, came to his assistance. They were resisted by the "prince of the kingdom of Persia" (Daniel 10:13). Michael, here, is called "one of the chief princes", proving that there are more chief princes in the spirit world. It is interesting to note that Persia had a prince in the spirit world, indicating the possibility that each and every nation, likewise, has a spiritual prince. In Daniel 10:21, Michael is called Daniel's prince. Since Daniel was a Jew, it appears that Michael may well be the prince of Israel. The word, prince, is translated from the Hebrew word, sar, which means chief captain or ruler.
So, the unseen spirit world is a hustling, bustling, organized world very similar to what we see in the physical world. The activities in the spirit world have a lot to do with determining the activities in our physical world. We, of course, cannot see this flurry of activity for we can't see into the spirit world while in our bodies. While we are a part of this spirit world because we are simply spirits living in physical bodies, we will be much more aware of this unseen world when we move into it by leaving our bodies at death.
If we are in Christ, there is no need to fear this spiritual world for he is the master of it. If we are not in Christ, well, we may have some reason for trepidation.
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