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[[File:The Archangel Michael by Guido Reni. ca. 1636 .jpg|right|thumb|The [[Michael (archangel)|Archangel Michael]] by Guido Reni]]

[[File:The Archangel Michael by Guido Reni. ca. 1636 .jpg|right|thumb|The [[Michael (archangel)|Archangel Michael]] by Guido Reni]]

'''Angels''' are incredibly powerful servants of [[God]]. Angels announce the word of God,<ref>Luke 1:26-38</ref> protect God's people,<ref>Dan 6:22</ref> perform wonderful deeds,<ref>"And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it." {{bibleref|Matthew|28|2}}</ref> and enforce God's will.<ref>{{bibleref|Matthew|13|41-42}}</ref>  "[[Los Angeles]]" is Spanish for "The Angels."<ref>https://laalmanac.com/history/hi03a.php</ref>  Popular rock music references angels,<ref>"Angel of the Morning" mentions "angel" 14 times; ''see also'' https://www.learnreligions.com/top-popular-songs-about-angels-123888</ref> as do [[Christmas]] carols.<ref>https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/occasions/christmas/nations-top-30-christmas-carols/</ref> Polls show that "'''''55% of Americans believe not just in angels, but that angels directly influenced their lives by protecting them from harm'''''."<ref name="Modern">https://owlcation.com/humanities/AngelsinWesternCultureAShortHistoryofAngelsandAngelicBeings</ref>  Popular movies featuring angels include ''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]'' (1946) and ''[[Heaven Can Wait]]'' (1978).

'''Angels''' are incredibly powerful servants of [[God]]. Angels announce the word of God,<ref>Luke 1:26-38</ref> protect God's people,<ref>Dan 6:22</ref> perform wonderful deeds,<ref>"And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it." {{bibleref|Matthew|28|2}}</ref> and enforce God's will.<ref>{{bibleref|Matthew|13|41-42}}</ref>  "[[Los Angeles]]" is Spanish for "The Angels."<ref>https://laalmanac.com/history/hi03a.php</ref>  Popular rock music references angels,<ref>"Angel of the Morning" mentions "angel" 14 times; ''see also'' https://www.learnreligions.com/top-popular-songs-about-angels-123888</ref> as do [[Christmas]] carols.<ref>https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/occasions/christmas/nations-top-30-christmas-carols/</ref> Polls show that "'''''55% of Americans believe not just in angels, but that angels directly influenced their lives by protecting them from harm'''''."<ref name="Modern">https://owlcation.com/humanities/AngelsinWesternCultureAShortHistoryofAngelsandAngelicBeings</ref>  Popular movies featuring angels include ''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]'' (1946) and ''[[Heaven Can Wait]]'' (1978). In literature: “For fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”<ref>''An Essay on Criticism'' (1711), by [[Alexander Pope]].</ref> The [[Bible]] mentions angels 350 times.<ref>Fully half of the books in the Bible -- 33 out of 66 -- mention angels. [https://devotionalstsf.org/2015/02/25/calling-all-angels-hebrews-114/ Serioiusly? The Goal-Oriented Christian Life, “Calling All Angels” (Hebrews 1:14)]</ref>

 

Angels take human form today.  The mysterious carpenter who built the incredible [[Loretto spiral staircase]] was almost certainly an angel.  Baseball Hall-of-Famer [[Roberto Clemente]] talked and acted like an angel (he had a superhuman throwing arm), and Clemente reportedly perished on a humanitarian mission without his body ever found (his crashed airplane was discovered).  Other potential angels whose bodies were never found include [[Amelia Earhart]], [[Mozart]], [[Leonardo da Vinci]], [[Alexander the Great]], [[Glenn Miller]], Rep. [[Larry McDonald]], and [[Davy Crockett]].<ref>https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/historical-figures-whose-bodies-have-never-been-found/ss-BB1d6vHP#image=26</ref>  [[Shakespeare]] may have been an angel, in light of his [[Miracle|miraculous]] work and unexplained partial disappearance from his unmarked grave.<ref>https://www.thoughtco.com/what-happened-to-shakespeares-skull-4019536</ref>  [[Joan of Arc]] was guided by specific angels,<ref>https://angels-angelology.com/joan-of-arc-and-the-angels</ref> and fascinated [[Mark Twain]].

The first chapter of the [[Epistle to the Hebrews]], probably spoken or written by [[Jesus]],<ref>See [[Mystery:Did Jesus Write the Epistle to the Hebrews?]]</ref> explains his relationship to angels who were being discussed at [[Luke 17-24 (Translated)#24:23|Luke 24:23]] when Jesus, initially unrecognized, joined the discussion on the [[road to Emmaus]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vepBqHvZ0Xs Start at 2:38 in YouTube video]</ref>  Angels are referenced repeatedly in connection with Jesus, such as after the [[Three Temptations of Christ]], and in Matthew 24:36: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."<ref>[[NASB]]</ref> Angels were present both to witness the [[Creation]] of the universe, and to witness the [[Resurrection]].<ref>Job 38:4-7 and Luke 24:1-9. [https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-angels-at-jesus-tomb.html]</ref>  Jesus mentioned angels twice in {{bible ref|Mark|13|27-32}}, and [[Jesus]] explained that angels will gather for [[Hell]] the evildoers at the end of this era, see {{bible ref|Matthew|13|40-42}}

The first chapter of the [[Epistle to the Hebrews]], probably spoken or written by [[Jesus]],<ref>See [[Mystery:Did Jesus Write the Epistle to the Hebrews?]]</ref> explains his relationship to angels who were being discussed at [[Luke 17-24 (Translated)#24:23|Luke 24:23]] when Jesus, initially unrecognized, joined the discussion on the [[road to Emmaus]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vepBqHvZ0Xs Start at 2:38 in YouTube video]</ref>  Angels are referenced repeatedly in connection with Jesus, such as after the [[Three Temptations of Christ]], and in Matthew 24:36: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."<ref>[[NASB]]</ref> Angels were present both to witness the [[Creation]] of the universe, and to witness the [[Resurrection]].<ref>Job 38:4-7 and Luke 24:1-9. [https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-angels-at-jesus-tomb.html]</ref>  Jesus mentioned angels twice in {{bible ref|Mark|13|27-32}}, and [[Jesus]] explained that angels will gather for [[Hell]] the evildoers at the end of this era, see {{bible ref|Matthew|13|40-42}}

Angels, often taking the form of men, can be incredibly forceful, as illustrated by their role in the destruction of [[Sodom]] and [[Gomorrah]].<ref>Genesis 18-19.</ref>  '''''The words "angel", angel's" and "angels" are mentioned 295 times in the [[Bible]]'''''.<ref>[[English Standard Version]].</ref>  The [[Old Testament]] features a few additional references to "cherub", a type of guardian angel.  The [[Book of Revelation]] has 27 references to angel activity.<ref>https://exploringthetruth.org/angels-in-the-book-of-revelation/</ref>  An angel rolled back and sat on the massive stone at [[Jesus]]'s tomb.<ref>{{bibleref|Matthew|28|2}}: "And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it."</ref> {{Bible|Hebrews|13|2}} states, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares,"<ref>[[ESV]] quoted.</ref> which implies that angels are more prevalent than realized. The [[Epistle to the Hebrews]] also indicates there is an [[infinite]] ("innumerable") number of angels.<ref>{{bibleref|Hebrews|12|22}} ([[ESV]]).</ref>

Angels, often taking the form of men, can be incredibly forceful, as illustrated by their role in the destruction of [[Sodom]] and [[Gomorrah]].<ref>Genesis 18-19.</ref>  '''''The words "angel", angel's" and "angels" are mentioned 295 times in the [[Bible]]'''''.<ref>[[English Standard Version]].</ref>  The [[Old Testament]] features a few additional references to "cherub", a type of guardian angel.  The [[Book of Revelation]] has 27 references to angel activity.<ref>https://exploringthetruth.org/angels-in-the-book-of-revelation/</ref>  An angel rolled back and sat on the massive stone at [[Jesus]]'s tomb.<ref>{{bibleref|Matthew|28|2}}: "And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it."</ref> {{Bible|Hebrews|13|2}} states, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares,"<ref>[[ESV]] quoted.</ref> which implies that angels are more prevalent than realized. The [[Epistle to the Hebrews]] also indicates there is an [[infinite]] ("innumerable") number of angels.<ref>{{bibleref|Hebrews|12|22}} ([[ESV]]).</ref>

Angels may take human form in modern times as much as reported in the [[Bible]].  The mysterious carpenter who built the incredible [[Loretto spiral staircase]] was almost certainly an angel.  Baseball Hall-of-Famer [[Roberto Clemente]] talked and acted like an angel (he had a superhuman throwing arm), and Clemente reportedly perished on a humanitarian mission without his body ever found (his crashed airplane was discovered).  Other potential angels whose bodies were never found include [[Amelia Earhart]], [[Mozart]], [[Leonardo da Vinci]], [[Alexander the Great]], [[Glenn Miller]], Rep. [[Larry McDonald]], and [[Davy Crockett]].<ref>https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/historical-figures-whose-bodies-have-never-been-found/ss-BB1d6vHP#image=26</ref>  [[Shakespeare]] may have been an angel, in light of his miraculous work and unexplained partial disappearance from his unmarked grave.<ref>https://www.thoughtco.com/what-happened-to-shakespeares-skull-4019536</ref>  [[Joan of Arc]] was guided by specific angels.<ref>https://angels-angelology.com/joan-of-arc-and-the-angels</ref>

==Characteristics of Angels==

 

''See also:'' [[Bible]]

The [[Bible]] mentions a number of people interacting with angels and of angels intervening on behalf of people. Angels, as far as their relation to man, seem to be devoid of natural affection. That is, they relate, interact, and involve themselves with the affairs of man not motivated by personal attachments, attractions, choices, affinities, etc. They come to us from God, with a message, an act, that expresses the will and choice of their Creator alone. This provides them with a certain authority transcending their own personal free will. Demons, on the other hand, involve themselves totally with their subjects, merging themselves with their oppressed, dominating all to their own evil spirit, until all seem to be "one" in destruction. Expelling a demon is therefore freeing a man to be himself once again. All this is not to say that angels have no natural affection for each other. Just that, in their relationship to mankind, they are willingly ruled by the will of God.

The [[Bible]] mentions a number of people interacting with angels and of angels intervening on behalf of people. Angels, as far as their relation to man, seem to be devoid of natural affection. That is, they relate, interact, and involve themselves with the affairs of man not motivated by personal attachments, attractions, choices, affinities, etc. They come to us from God, with a message, an act, that expresses the will and choice of their Creator alone. This provides them with a certain authority transcending their own personal free will. Demons, on the other hand, involve themselves totally with their subjects, merging themselves with their oppressed, dominating all to their own evil spirit, until all seem to be "one" in destruction. Expelling a demon is therefore freeing a man to be himself once again. All this is not to say that angels have no natural affection for each other. Just that, in their relationship to mankind, they are willingly ruled by the will of God.

== Symbolized as trees ==

== Symbolized as trees ==

The following are examples where angels (perhaps Cherubim specifically) are symbolized by [[trees]]:

The following are examples where angels (perhaps Cherubim specifically) are symbolized by [[trees]]:

[[Image:Tree.jpg|thumb|250px|The Bible sometimes symbolizes angels as trees.]]

[[Image:Tree.jpg|thumb|250px|The Bible sometimes symbolizes angels as trees.]]

*[[Angels in literature]]

*[[Angels in literature]]

* [https://www.learnreligions.com/what-does-the-bible-say-about-angels-701965 21 Facts about Angels]

* [https://www.learnreligions.com/what-does-the-bible-say-about-angels-701965 21 Facts about Angels]

==References==

==References==