In the biblical narrative, prophets serve as God's messengers, often receiving divine revelations through various means, including the ministry of angels. Angels, as celestial beings, act as intermediaries between God and humans, delivering messages, guidance, and sometimes visions to the prophets. This entry explores instances in the Bible where prophets are inspired or instructed by angels, highlighting the significant role these heavenly beings play in the communication of God's will.

Old Testament Examples

1. Daniel: The Book of Daniel provides a profound example of angelic interaction with a prophet. Daniel, a prophet during the Babylonian exile, receives several visions and interpretations through the angel Gabriel. In Daniel 8:16-17 , Gabriel is instructed to help Daniel understand a vision: "And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai calling, 'Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.' As he came near to where I stood, I was terrified and fell facedown. 'Son of man,' he said to me, 'understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.'" Gabriel's role is crucial in elucidating the divine message, ensuring that Daniel comprehends the future events revealed to him.

2. Zechariah: The prophet Zechariah also experiences angelic guidance. In Zechariah 1:9 , the prophet encounters an angel who provides explanations for his visions: "So I asked, 'What are these, my lord?' And the angel who was speaking with me replied, 'I will show you what they are.'" Throughout the book, angels serve as interpreters and guides, helping Zechariah understand the symbolic imagery and the messages of hope and restoration for Israel.

New Testament Examples

1. John the Baptist's Birth Announcement: The New Testament opens with angelic announcements to key figures, including the prophecy concerning John the Baptist. In Luke 1:11-13 , the angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah, John's father, foretelling John's birth and his prophetic role: "Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear. But the angel said to him, '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.'"

2. The Revelation to John: The Book of Revelation, attributed to the Apostle John, is another significant instance of angelic inspiration. Revelation 1:1 states, "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John." Throughout the book, angels play a pivotal role in conveying apocalyptic visions and messages to John, guiding him through the complex and symbolic revelations concerning the end times.

Role and Significance

Angels, as divine messengers, are integral to the prophetic experience in the Bible. They serve not only as conveyors of God's messages but also as interpreters and guides, ensuring that the prophets understand the divine revelations they receive. This angelic involvement underscores the supernatural origin of prophetic messages and highlights the importance of divine intervention in communicating God's plans and purposes to humanity. Through their interactions with angels, prophets are equipped to deliver God's word with authority and clarity, fulfilling their role as His chosen spokespeople.Zechariah 1:9,13,14,19
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.
Nave's Topical Index

Acts 7:53
Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
Nave's Topical Index

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.
Nave's Topical Index

Hebrews 2:2
For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
Nave's Topical Index

Whether the Prophets of the Demons ever Foretell the Truth?
... Yet even when the demons' prophets are instructed by the ... 2: A true prophet is always
inspired by the ... Divine mysteries to them through the angels, as already ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the prophets of the.htm

Whether Angels and Man had Faith in their First State
... in their first state, man and the angels were not ... did not hear anything outwardly,
God inspired him inwardly ... The prophets also heard in this way, according to Ps ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/article one whether angels and.htm

John Chapter vi. 14-Jan
... The former times obtained prophets inspired and filled by the Word of ... manner a prophet,
the Lord of prophets, as Christ is an angel, the Lord of angels. ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xxiv john chapter vi.htm

Proof against the Marcionites, that the Prophets Referred in all ...
... good things which were announced beforehand, which things the angels desired to ... in
opposition to those who maintain that the prophets [were inspired] by a ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxxiv proof against the marcionites.htm

Origen De Principiis.
... inspired each one of the saints, whether prophets or apostles ... and another in those
who were inspired at the ... maintain with the devil and his angels, and opposing ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen de principiis/origen de principiis.htm

Interpretation of Holy Scripture. --Inspired Interpretation. --The ...
... the combined imagery of all the ancient prophets,"by declaring ... of the Paradise of
God." The Inspired writers of ... all so close, that neither Angels nor Men ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/sermon v interpretation of holy.htm

Reverence in Worship.
... to read to them words of inspired Scripture, and ... All the Angels, the glorious company
of the Apostles, the goodly fellowship of the Prophets, the noble ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon i reverence in worship.htm

That the Scriptures are Divinely Inspired.
... their statements were true and divinely inspired, although it ... how and when the
predictions of the prophets were fulfilled ... no small degree that of the angels also ...
/.../origen/origen de principiis/chapter i that the scriptures are.htm

Departed Saints Fellowservants with those yet on Earth.
... By prophets, we understand inspired men ... of the text"I am thy fellowservant, and of
thy brethren the prophets. ... language, if this was one of the angels who kept ...
/.../sermon xxvi departed saints fellowservants.htm

On the Article, and in one Holy Ghost, the Comforter, which Spake ...
... to Him: for the families of the Angels, and all ... who was taken up, and Elisseus, those
inspired [2071] and ... a man peruse all the books of the Prophets, both of ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xvi on the article.htm

What does the Bible say about false prophets? | GotQuestions.org

What are the Major Prophets and Minor Prophets? | GotQuestions.org

What was the school of prophets? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus