60 – Nature of Angels
NATURE OF ANGELS
§ 60. Angels are finite spirits,1 without bodies, and complete in their spiritual nature,2 personal,3 rational,4 and moral5 beings of great but limited6 wisdom7 and power,8 and of various ranks and orders.9
1. Angels are finite spirits,
Psalm 104:4 Who maketh His angels spirits.
Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
2. without bodies, and complete in their spiritual nature,
Luke 24:39 A spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see Me have.
3. personal,
Luke 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God.
Daniel 8:16 Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
4. rational,
Luke 15:10 Likewise I say unto you, There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
I Peter 1:12 Which things the angels desire to look into.
5. and moral
Matthew 25:31 When the Son of Man shall come in His glory and all the holy angels with Him.
I Timothy 5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
6. beings of great but limited
Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
7. wisdom
II Samuel 14:20 My lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God.
8. and power,
II Thessalonians 1:7 The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels.
Psalm 103:20 Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength.
Cf. 1 Kings 19:32–35.
9. and of various ranks and orders.
I Peter 3:22 Angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him.
I Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel.