Meaning of ANGEL

The words "malac" (Heb.) and "angelos" (Gr.) mean "messenger."
Thus intelligent spiritual beings are designated, slightly superior to man (cp. Ps. 8:6; Heb. 2:7), who are constantly mentioned in the Scriptures as messengers of God, both as bearers of good news and as executors of the judgments of God.

Little is known about his nature: "Of angels he says, 'He who makes the angels his spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire' (Heb. 1:7).

There are evident gradations of rank among them, described as principalities and powers, of which Christ, as Man, is now the Head (Col. 2:10).

On two occasions we meet "archangel". The voice of an archangel will accompany the rapture of the church (1 Thes. 4:16).

The archangel Michael wrestled with Satan over the body of Moses (Jude 9). He and his angels will fight against the dragon and his angels, casting them out of heaven (Rev. 12:7, 8).

Gabriel is the only other name of an angel that has been revealed to us in the Scriptures; he appeared to Daniel, Zechariah and Mary; he said that he was in the presence of God (Dan. 8:16; 9:21; Luke 1:19, 26).

Although we are not aware of the presence of angels, we know that they are ministering spirits sent to serve those who will be heirs of salvation (Heb. 1:14; cp. Ps. 34:7).

They also served the Lord while He walked here below (Mt. 4:11; Mark 1:13; Luke 22:43). There are “myriads” of these angels (Mt. 26:53; Heb. 12:22; Rev. 5:11), and they are described as “mighty,” “holy,” “chosen” (2 Thes. 1:7; Mr. 8:38; 1 Tim. 5:21); They do not marry (Mark 12:25).

We are not told when they were created, but there is no doubt that they are the ones mentioned as the "sons of God" who cried out for joy when God created the earth (Jb. 38:4-7).

The Law was given by the ministry of angels (Acts 7:53; Gal. 3:19; Ps. 68:17); they participated in the proclamation of the birth of the Savior (Lk. 2:8-14); They were present at the Resurrection (Mt. 28:2; Jn. 20:12).

Angels are not the repositories of God's revelation or counsel. They long to look into the things to which the Spirit of Christ bears witness in the prophets, and which have been announced by the apostles in the power of the same Spirit (1 Pet. 1:12).

The world to come will not be brought into subjection to them, but under man in the person of the Son of man (Heb. 2:5-8), and the saints will judge the angels (1 Cor. 6:3).

It is therefore only a false humility that would teach to worship angels (Col. 2:18). When John fell down to worship the angel on the island of Patmos, overwhelmed by the things that had been revealed to him, he was twice restrained from worshiping his “fellow servant” (Rev. 19:10; 22:9).

In Ps. 8:5 the word used is "elohim", "God", this name being given to the angels as His representatives (cp. Ps. 82:6).