Published on 06/30/2008

Surveying the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, here are the angelic ministries promised to us by the word of God. When you need such help and hope, turn to one of these references and make its truth your own.

There are 306 biblical verses which contain specific references to an angel or angels. 210 times a singular angel is mentioned; 96 times angels are found together. An angel is first mentioned in Scripture when God sends angelic help to Hagar (Genesis 16:7). Angels are last mentioned in Revelation 22:16 when Jesus says, "I have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches."

Sixteen of the 39 Old Testament books contain references to angels; Judges and Zechariah tie for the most references with 21 each. 17 of the 26 New Testament books contain angelic references; Revelation contains by far the most such references with 79. (Biblical statements which probably refer to angels but do not state so specifically, such as the "three men" who visited Abraham in Genesis 18, are not included in these numbers or the following survey.)

Angels help us: Angels were created by God to be "ministering spirits" (Hebrews 1:14). All through God's word we find them serving his people. Here is the earliest reference to such angelic ministry: "The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur" (Genesis 16:7). Hagar was running away from her home to a certain death before God's angel found her, saving her life (cf. Genesis 21:17).

God sent his angel to bring his people out from Egypt (Numbers 20:16). An angel fed Elijah as he fled from Jezebel (1 Kings 19:4-9), saving his life and enabling him to anoint Elisha his successor before he ascended into heaven. Angels exist to help God's people fulfill God's will for our lives.

Angels protect us: Perhaps the most powerful way angels help us is to protect us from our enemies. Long before an angel kept Daniel from the lions, we find angelic guardians extending the power and protection of the Lord to his people.

The first reference to such protection in Scripture is found in the tragic episode of Sodom and Gomorrah, as angels worked to protect Lot and his family. Two angels arrived at evening and were able to save Lot and his daughters from the catastrophic judgment soon to befall those wicked cities (Genesis 19). An angel delivered Jacob from harm (Genesis 48:16), the Hebrews from Egyptian armies (Exodus 14:19-20); and the Israelites from their enemies in Canaan (Exodus 23:20-23; 33:2-3). An angel saved Hezekiah and his people from Assyrian annihilation (2 Kings 19:34-36; 2 Chronicles 32:20-21; Isaiah 37:36). In fact, his angels protected his people across their biblical history (Isaiah 63:9).

An angel rescued Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:25, 28); Daniel was protected from the lions by angelic help (6:21). Angels guard children (Matthew 18:10), rescued the apostles from prison (Acts 5:17-19) and Peter from death (Acts 12:6-11). God promises the same protection to his people today (Psalm 34:7; 91:11-12).

Tomorrow we will learn how angels guide us and how angels bring judgment and rewards.