The Purposes of Angels in the Bible

There are many areas in Bible studies that deal with the study of angels. The characteristics of angels described in the Bible vary greatly, and they possess different meanings in different instances in the Bible. The following are some of the purposes of angels as depicted in the Bible.

The most important purpose that angels serve is as a means of communication between God and the physical world. Angels help tell people what God's will is, and they are also charged with informing people of major events that will have an impact on them.

Angels also often serve as guides to people. For example, in part of Exodus 23:20 reads: "Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee by the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared." In this chapter, the Hebrews receive guidance and protection from an angel. There are also instances in Judges where angels are supposed to act as guides, helping to deliver people to the promised land.

Angels also play the role of keepers of justice, being active in the heavenly court and working to ensure that people in the physical world behave in appropriate fashion and obey the laws of God.

Some people even believe that angels played a role in the creation of the universe. A statement in Genesis 1:26 contains hints that angels may have played a part in creating the universe. This part of Job 38:7, "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?", also hints that angels were involved in the creation of the universe.

Not all angels are benevolent in nature, however, as can be seen during Bible studies. There are some angels who have fallen from on high, and whose sole purpose is as harbingers of destruction. There is a description in Psalms 78:49 of the purpose that drives fallen angels, consisting of: "He sent forth upon them the fierceness of His anger, wrath and indignation, and trouble, a sending of messengers of evil." In Bible studies, it is often taught that angels are forces for good and that the evil side of them was created with intent of testing the faith and character of people to determine if they are truly good.

The purposes of angels in the Bible and the characteristics of angels are varied, and while many angels serve as guides, agents of communication between God and the physical world, and as keepers of justice, there are also some angels who are destructive in nature. All these different aspects of angels make them an extremely interesting topic of Bible studies.