Functions of Angels in the Bible
The Bible is a book of God and is full of God's angels, In the entire Scriptures we have only four named angels. This includes fallen angels and holy angels. We shall take a brief study of each of them and the functions they perform in accordance with the task in which they are divinely assigned. Let's begin with Lucifer, the Fallen Angel. Isaiah Chapter 14, verse 12, made reference to Lucifer as one of the angels in heaven before his eventual fall as a result of his pride and conspiracy against the most high.
When the devil decided to exalt himself. We see in Isaiah 14, verse 12 to 14. How art thou fallen from heaven? O Lucifer. Son of the morning. How art thou cut down to the ground which didst weaken the nations. For thou hast said in thine heart I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the most high. Lucifer was a beautiful creature in heaven. We see this in the Bible, a magnificent being. The prophet Ezekiel described him as the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. Every precious stone was his covering. He was the anointed cherub who covers. He was perfect in his ways from the day he was created. Lucifer was fully arrayed by the Creator to reflect his glory.
Now let's go on to Michael. The Archangel Michael is known as God's archangel, which means Chief Angel. Scripture often refers to the Archangel Michael as a chief prince of the heavenlies. Archangel Michael is one of the archangels in heaven which is associated with warfare. You may notice that most of the time when he is mentioned in Scripture, one would notice that there is a battle to be fought. Michael will hardly be mentioned when there is no warfare. He is a spiritual warrior. He specializes in fighting battles. The Archangel Michael will play a major role in end time events, as you would expect. We see in the last days of Daniel chapter 12, verse one. At that time, Michael shall stand up the great prince who stands. Watch over the sons of your people.
Please notice the choice words of the Bible. He watches over the sons of your people. Not only is he the angel associated with warfare, but he is also a protector. Furthermore, he might be the angel of first Thessalonians Chapter four, verse 16, of whom Paul writes the Lord himself with a cry of command, with the Archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet will descend from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise first. In Revelations Chapter 12, verses seven through nine, we read how the Angel Michael led the battle against the Devil and the fallen angels, and they were sent out of heaven.
Pride made Lucifer attempt to fight against the Almighty. Having discovered that his plans have been uncovered, he was hardened by pride and subsequently tried to wage war. But Pride sponsored his fall. Archangel Michael and his host waged war against Lucifer until there was no place for him in heaven. Revelations 12, verse seven and eight relates the events of the war in heaven thus. And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. And the dragon fought his angels and prevailed. Not. Neither was their place found any more in heaven. Pride is that path that leads to destruction.
Michael is notable for his great strength when it comes to fighting battles. He defeated the devil and sent him out of heaven when iniquity was found in him. Again, Michael fulfilled his wartime ministry when Daniel had prayed for 21 days. But the answer to his prayer was waylaid by the Prince of Persia. The Prince of Persia warred against another angel who was to bring the answers to the prayers of Daniel. Due to the consistency of Daniel in the place of prayers, Michael had to intervene by rescuing the other angel from the hands of the Prince of Persia. In Daniel chapter ten, verses 12 through 13, the angel finally came to Daniel and said, Fear not Daniel. For from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard. And I am come for thy words. But the Prince of the Kingdom of Persia withstood me one and 20 days but low. Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Michael defeated the Prince and Persia. And also he rebuked the devil in the name of the Lord when he thrived for the body of Moses in Jude chapter one, verse nine. Michael is assigned by God to fight battles, and he has never lost one. The fact that Michael is an archangel proves that there are orders and ranking among the angels.
For instance, it was not only Michael that fought the devil and his angels in Revelation Chapter 12, verses seven through nine, but he led other angels showing that he is their commander in chief. I would also like to highlight the fact that in Daniel chapter ten, verse 13, Michael is referred to as one of the chief princes, which suggests that in heaven there are more. The Bible is silent about this, though. The angel. Gabriel. If you've heard the Christmas story, chances are you recognize Gabriel as the name of the angel who brought Mary the news that she would become pregnant and give birth to Jesus. Gabriel is one of only two named good angels in the Bible, the other one being Michael, who we have just discussed. Gabriel is sometimes referred to as the Archangel Gabriel.
The Bible never gives him this title. Michael is clearly referred to as an archangel in Jude, but Gabriel is not mentioned as such in the Holy Bible. The major function assigned to the Angel Gabriel is that of delivering good news to the people of God. Angel Gabriel is also associated with good news. He was sent to Zachariah, the priest, to deliver the message of the conception of John the Baptist, who was the forerunner of Jesus. On a particular day, Zechariah went into the temple and we see in Luke chapter one, verse 11, an angel of the Lord appeared to him standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
This angel was Gabriel. Gabriel gave Zachariah the news that his wife, Elizabeth, would bear a son. This news was strange to Zachariah, as he said to the angel in verse 18. What proof is there for this? I'm an old man and my wife is beyond her childbearing years. In verse 19, the angel answered him. I'm Gabriel. I stand in God's presence. God sent me to tell you this good news. And then continuing in verse 20. But because you didn't believe what I said, you will be unable to talk until the day this happens. Everything will come true at the right time. Also, Gabriel was sent to Mary, who became the mother of Jesus in Luke chapter one, verses 28 through 31, with the following words. And the angel came in unto her and said, Hail thou. That art highly favored. The Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women and behold, Thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus. It was also Gabriel that appeared to Joseph, the fiancé of Mary in Luke chapter one, verse 26, to appeal to him to not leave Mary because her conception was of the Holy Spirit.
Because each time Gabriel appears in the Bible, he is giving good news to people. Society has painted him to be a cute, flowery little messenger boy that resembles Cupid. This is completely incorrect. When Gabriel appeared to Zachariah and Mary and Daniel, all three were stricken withal and gripped with fear. For Zachariah and Luke, chapter one, verse 12. When Zachariah saw him, he was troubled and fear fell upon him and Mary in Luke chapter one, verse 29, when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and considered what manner of greeting this was. And then Daniel says in Daniel chapter eight, verse 17. So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was afraid and fell on my face. He had to reassure each of them before continuing with his messages.
So now let's move on to the last angel named in the Bible. Most people don't even know he is in the Bible, let alone that he's described as an angel. The angel most people have never heard of makes his appearance in the last book of the New Testament, the Book of Revelation. His name is Abaddon or Apollyon. Not very many Christians have heard about an angel called Abaddon. They are majorly aware of Michael and Gabriel, probably because they appeared in several scriptural passages. Abaddon is the same as Apollyon.
He was mentioned in Revelation nine, verse 11, which reads, And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon. But in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. In Revelation nine, verse 11, Abaddon is not a location, but rather the king of the Locust. Many commentators have identified Abaddon as Satan himself. But it is more likely that the angel of the bottomless pit is one of the princes or powers, and that the devil. Ephesians six, verse 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. He is most likely one of those entities described in Ephesians.
Although Satan has gone by many names, Apollyon is not one of them. Abaddon appears to be a demon who works under him, who rules an abyss full of locusts that will arrive on stage during the final days. Abaddon means a destroying angel. He is the angel in charge of the bottomless pit into which the devil will be thrown. Abaddon is the king of the locusts, which will come forth out of the bottomless pit.
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