In the biblical narrative, angels are often depicted as spiritual beings created by God to serve as His messengers and agents. One of their primary functions is to act as mediums of divine revelation to the prophets, conveying God's messages and instructions to His chosen servants. This role is evident throughout both the Old and New Testaments, where angels appear at critical moments to deliver God's word and guide His people.

Old Testament Examples

1. Abraham and the Angel of the Lord: In Genesis 22, the Angel of the Lord calls out to Abraham from heaven, preventing him from sacrificing his son Isaac. This angelic intervention not only reveals God's will but also reaffirms His covenant with Abraham. The angel declares, "Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from Me" (Genesis 22:12).

2. Moses and the Burning Bush: In Exodus 3, an angel of the Lord appears to Moses in a flame of fire from within a bush. This encounter marks the beginning of Moses' prophetic mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. The angelic presence signifies God's holiness and sets the stage for the divine revelation that follows, as God speaks to Moses directly from the bush.

3. Gideon and the Angel of the Lord: In Judges 6, the Angel of the Lord appears to Gideon to commission him as a deliverer of Israel from the Midianites. The angel's message reassures Gideon of God's presence and support, saying, "The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor" (Judges 6:12).

New Testament Examples

1. Zechariah and the Angel Gabriel: In Luke 1, the angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah, a priest, to announce the birth of John the Baptist. Gabriel's message reveals God's plan for John to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. The angel declares, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John" (Luke 1:13).

2. Mary and the Angel Gabriel: Also in Luke 1, Gabriel visits Mary to announce the miraculous conception of Jesus. This angelic revelation is pivotal in the unfolding of the Gospel narrative, as Gabriel tells Mary, "You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus" (Luke 1:31).

3. Joseph and the Angel of the Lord: In Matthew 1, an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, instructing him to take Mary as his wife and naming the child Jesus. The angel's message provides divine guidance and reassurance, affirming the child's divine origin and mission.

Conclusion

Throughout Scripture, angels serve as vital conduits of divine revelation, bridging the gap between the heavenly and earthly realms. Their appearances to prophets and key figures underscore God's active involvement in human history and His desire to communicate His will to His people. By delivering messages, providing guidance, and offering reassurance, angels fulfill their role as God's messengers, ensuring that His purposes are accomplished through His chosen servants.2 Kings 1:15
And the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him to the king.
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Daniel 4:13-17
I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
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Daniel 8:19
And he said, Behold, I will make you know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.
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Daniel 9:21-27
Yes, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
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Daniel 10:10-20
And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me on my knees and on the palms of my hands.
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Zechariah 1:9-11
Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said to me, I will show you what these be.
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Acts 8:26
And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desert.
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Acts 23:9
And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
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Galatians 3:19
Why then serves the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
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Hebrews 2:2
For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
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Revelation 1:1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show to his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John:
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Revelation 5:2-14
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
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Revelation 7:1-3,11-17
And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
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Revelation 8:2-13
And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
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Revelation 9:1
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven to the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
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Revelation 10:1
And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was on his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
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Revelation 11:1
And there was given me a reed like to a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
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Revelation 12:1
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars:
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Revelation 13:1
And I stood on the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads the name of blasphemy.
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Revelation 14:1
And I looked, and, see, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
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Revelation 15:1
And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
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Revelation 16:1
And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God on the earth.
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Revelation 17:1
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying to me, Come here; I will show to you the judgment of the great whore that sits on many waters:
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Revelation 18:1
And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
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Revelation 19:1
And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, to the Lord our God:
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Revelation 20:1
And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
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Revelation 22:6,16
And he said to me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show to his servants the things which must shortly be done.
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The Epistle of St. James
... of the truth as the regenerating medium had been ... such moral actions fruits of the
Spirit rather than ... to be found, perhaps, which the recording angel would wish ...
/.../moffat/the general epistles james peter and judas/the epistle of st james.htm

The Book of Enoch
... of instruction and power, and the spirit of those ... x. There is one called the Angel
of Peace ... Raphael, Gabriel, and Phanuel, have separate functions assigned to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the book of enoch.htm

The Bible
... of a babe, the flight of an angel, the death of a ... to meditate, to reflect, are highest
functions), mediate upon ... into thine innermost being very spirit and very ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/haldeman/christ christianity and the bible/the bible.htm

Tendencies of Religious Thought in England, 1688-1750.
... God; if it be not, though an angel should bring it ... Nothing of the wild spirit of
universal negation which was ... In Pope's satires there is no medium; our enemies ...
/.../tendencies of religious thought in.htm

Summa Theologica
... Whether the angels exercise functions of life in the ... is an active and a passive
intellect in an angel? ... OF THE MEDIUM OF THE ANGELIC KNOWLEDGE (THREE ARTICLES). ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/

part ii
... of the Church" that is, our forefathers, the prophets, Apostles, hierarchs ... and power,
we can guess how powerful a spirit was Satan, the fallen angel. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm

A Traveler's Note-Book
... unless it be read through a medium surcharged with ... heart; the warfare of Paul, the
spirit against the ... money-changers; of the book of Revelation; of Tertullian ...
/.../merriam/the chief end of man/iii a travelers note-book.htm

part i
... God, as to its spiritual sun, sees, through the medium of its ... state all our bright
thoughts come from our Guardian Angel and from God's Spirit: whilst, on ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part i.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... next desired to know the names and functions of the ... is there replaced by Nasu, the
chief spirit of evil ... without difficulty by the help of the angel Sraosha, and ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

Life and Works of Rufinus with Jerome's Apology Against Rufinus.
... There is one body and one spirit, even as ye were ... be recalled into Paradise, and
the apostate angel will be ... he gives an account of a revelation divinely made ...
/.../various/life and works of rufinus with jeromes apology against rufinus /

Is there an angel of death? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about the angel Gabriel? | GotQuestions.org

Is it wrong to have angel figurines? | GotQuestions.org

Angel: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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