THE ATTRIBUTES OF ANGELS:
1. Spirits
They can and do appear in human form (we may have even
entertained them "unawares"), but angels are nonetheless called
"spirits" in Hebrews 1:14. The Lord said they are not supposed
to function as humans with regard to marriage (Mark 12:25) and are not
subject to death (Luke 20:36). Whether disobedient angels (who are volitional
like man) COULD marry is subject to speculation.
2. Created beings
Psalm 148 orders all of nature to praise God for His creation.
It mentions that angels were created by His Word. Job 38:6-7 tells us that
angels sang hymns of praise when they were created and, ultimately, will
sing praise to the Lord Christ -- Colossians 1:16 and the heavenly account
in Revelation.
3. Finite in number
The Colossians reference also describes the creation of
angels as a singular act. Since they cannot reproduce their own kind (Matthew
22:30), their number remains the same. Subject to speculation is whether
disobedient angels can reproduce hybrid offspring -- the "thy seed"
(of Satan) mentioned in Genesis 3:15.
Their number in Hebrews 12:22 is "muriasin"
(Greek myriad -- literally, ten thousand). This term is multiplied in Revelation
5:11 to suggest countless.
4. Higher order than man currently
Hebrews 2:7 suggests that we are "made lower than
the angels" for the time being. Since angels cannot die (Luke 20:36),
they are presently wiser than man (2 Samuel 14:20) and, subsequently, have
more power (Matthew 28:2, Acts 5:19 and 2 Peter 2:11).
5. Lower order at resurrection
Nonetheless, angels have limited wisdom (Matthew 24:36)
and are limited in power (Daniel 10:13). But even the Lord, in His divinely
chosen incarnation, is "lower" (Hebrews AND Philippians 2:7).
The good news for us is that angels were NOT fully created in the image
of God and thus, do NOT share our particular redemptive destiny in Christ.
We who believe in Him will someday be exalted ABOVE the heavenly angels
(1 Corinthians 5:3).
