Angels are spiritual beings created by God to serve Him and carry out His will. Though there are many references to angels throughout the Bible, much about their nature and purpose remains a mystery. Based on scriptural accounts, we can discern several key purposes and roles of angels:
1. Messengers
One of the most common roles of angels is as messengers or intermediaries between God and humanity. The word “angel” itself means “messenger” in both Hebrew and Greek. Angels delivered important messages to people in the Bible, such as announcing the births of John the Baptist and Jesus (Luke 1:11-20, 26-38). Angels also ministered to Jesus after his temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:11) and his agony in Gethsemane (Luke 22:43).
Acts 7:53 and Galatians 3:19 indicate that angels were mediators of the old covenant between God and Israel. And in Revelation, angels interpret visions, guide the apostle John, and deliver the messages contained in the seven letters to the churches in Asia Minor (Revelation 1:1, 22:16).
2. Protectors
The Bible shows angels functioning as protectors and guardians for God’s people. In Daniel 6, an angel shut the mouths of lions to protect Daniel when he was thrown into their den. Angels guarded the entrance to the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve were banished (Genesis 3:24). In 2 Kings 6, the prophet Elisha and his servant were surrounded by an army, yet Elisha saw they were protected by a host of angels. When Peter escaped from prison in Acts 12, he realized it was an angel who freed him from his chains. Jesus implied that angels watch over children (Matthew 18:10).
Other passages describe angels protecting God’s people (Psalm 91:11-12) and encamping around those who fear the Lord (Psalm 34:7). This does not mean believers will never encounter danger or suffering, but that angels guard and deliver us ultimately according to God’s perfect will.
3. Warriors
Angels are described as soldiers or warriors for God against spiritual forces of evil. After Adam and Eve sinned, cherubim were placed east of Eden with flaming swords “to guard the way to the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24). Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, described seeing a fourth figure in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, one he called “like a son of the gods” (Daniel 3:25), likely an angel. Angels fought for Israel against the army of Assyria during the reign of Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:35).
Revelation portrays scenes of angels fighting dragon-like demons to defend God’s people during the tribulation (Revelation 12). Other passages describe angels waging war against the forces of spiritual darkness (Ephesians 6:12, 1 Peter 5:8). Believers are assured that the angelic host is mightier than the demonic realm (Revelation 5:11, 19:14).
4. Worshipers
Angels were created to praise and worship God. Nehemiah 9:6 describes the “host” or “army” of heaven worshiping God. Revelation 5:11-12 depicts countless angels praising the Lamb around the throne. Angels express joy when sinners repent according to Jesus’ parable in Luke 15:10. They long to look into the truths of salvation (1 Peter 1:12). And Hebrews 1:6 commands them to worship the Son.
The four living creatures in Revelation ceaselessly praise God’s holiness by day and night (Revelation 4:8). Isaiah 6:3 records their refrain, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” Apparently, angels are given to worship night and day without tiring, setting an example for believers’ devotion and praise.
5. Servants
Besides delivering messages, angels also perform a wide variety of services as God’s agents. Abraham’s servant was led to Rebekah by an angel (Genesis 24:7, 40). Angels ministered to Jesus in the wilderness after his 40 days of fasting (Matthew 4:11). An angel went before the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 14:19, 23:20, 23).
Angels facilitate answers to prayer (Acts 12:5-10). They aid in carrying out God’s judgments, such as in the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 19). Revelation describes angels pouring out bowls of wrath, sounding trumpets of judgment, and overseeing plagues and disasters (Revelation 8-9, 16). On the other hand, angels also serve by sustaining and providing for God’s children (1 Kings 19:5-7, Psalm 78:23-25).
6. Instruments of God’s judgment
Though angels are caring servants, they are sometimes depicted as fearsome instruments of God’s judgment. An angel of the Lord destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers besieging Jerusalem in a single night (2 Kings 19:35, Isaiah 37:36). An angel enacted Herod’s death because he allowed others to acclaim him as a god (Acts 12:20-23). In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead for lying to the Holy Spirit.
Revelation describes angels unleashing catastrophe on the earth during the end times. They pour out the bowls of God’s wrath (Revelation 16) and reap the harvest of the earth (Revelation 14:14-20). Jesus warned that at his second coming the angels would separate the righteous from the wicked (Matthew 13:39-42, 49-50). Their power to inflict judgment reveals their authority and close connection to God’s holiness.
7. Caretakers of children
Jesus taught that angels continuously behold the face of God in heaven (Matthew 18:10). This indicates they were created to dwell in God’s presence and display His glory. Yet Jesus also said angels care for children, implying service to the youngest and most powerless of human beings. Though exalted and mighty, angels apparently delight in tending to little children. This reflects the humility and gentleness of their character.
8. Example of proper submission
The Bible instructs believers to imitate angels in their eagerness to serve God and their fullest devotion to His will. Angels hearken immediately to God’s word (Psalm 103:20) and always obey His commands. Their sustained worship sets an example of humility, service and wholehearted praise.
Hebrews 1:14 says angels are “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.” Their joyful service to God and care for His children provide a model for believers to serve God with deepest reverence and to “do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).
9. Confirm God’s promises and presence
Angelic appearances in Scripture often calmed people’s fears and signaled God’s protective presence. When Hagar fled from Sarah’s abuse, the Angel of the Lord comforted her in the wilderness and promised her descendants would be too numerous to count (Genesis 16). Angels heralded Isaac’s birth and encouraged Hagar after she was sent away by Abraham (Genesis 21:17-20). God promised to send an angel before Israel to lead them (Exodus 23:20, 23), and His presence in the angel reassured them.
In the New Testament, angelic visitations erased Zachariah’s doubts about his wife’s pregnancy and the birth of their son John (Luke 1:11-20). Angels proclaimed the arrival of the long-awaited Savior to Mary, Joseph and the shepherds in Bethlehem (Luke 1:26-38, 2:8-15). These and countless other appearances confirm God keeps His promises and remains present with His people.
10. Lead people to salvation
Hebrews 1:14 describes angels as “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.” This seems to imply they have a role in drawing people to faith in Christ. In Acts 8:26, an angel directed Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch who was reading Isaiah’s prophecy about the Lamb led to the slaughter. After Philip explained the gospel to him, the eunuch believed and was baptized.
In Acts 10, an angel instructed Cornelius to send for Peter, through whom Cornelius and his household learned about Christ and received the Holy Spirit. Angels seem to guide and protect those who will become believers, and also open opportunities for the gospel to be shared with searching hearts.
11. Agents of God’s providence
Angels mediate God’s providential involvement in the world. God uses them to answer prayer, to care for His people, to communicate His Word, and to accomplish His will on earth. Believers can take great comfort in this ministry of angels surrounding us, though it is mostly invisible. We do not directly interact with angels, but we benefit from their behind-the-scenes activities.
Yet angels remain completely subordinate to God and focused on doing His will rather than seeking attention or praise. Angels are merely fellow servants of the Lord (Revelation 22:8-9). Their purpose is to point to the greatness of God, not draw attention to themselves. They especially fulfill God’s plans to care for those who believe in Christ as Savior.
12. Confirm Christ’s deity and authority
Across Scripture, angelic beings worship Jesus and obey His commands, confirming His divine nature and authority over all creation. “Let all God’s angels worship him” (Hebrews 1:6). When Jesus was born, angels announced His arrival as the promised Messiah (Luke 2:13-14). During His ministry, angels ministered to Him and carried out His orders (Matthew 4:11, 26:53, Luke 22:43).
At His resurrection, angels declared, “He is not here, but has risen” (Luke 24:6). When Christ returns, He will come “with his mighty angels in flaming fire” (2 Thessalonians 1:7). Angels submit fully to Jesus as Lord, showing He shares equal divine power and glory with the Father as part of the triune Godhead.
Conclusion
Angels were created by God for many purposes – to worship Him, to act as His messengers and proclaim the gospel, to serve as ministering spirits meeting the needs of believers, and to execute His righteous judgments. They are powerful, luminous beings who continually guard God’s presence and carry out His will. While much about them is beyond our understanding, the many references to angels invite believers to praise God for His care through these marvelous ministering spirits.