Angels and Freewill
Angels and Freewill
The term ‘angel’ is often misunderstood and misused. There are various types of spirit beings (such as angels, keruvim, seraphim, the four living creatures etc.) often referred to as 'angels,' but they are actually functionally different. The proper Biblical term that encompasses all of these beings is ‘elohim.’ Many people have a hard time understanding this however, because it is usually (and rightfully so) translated as ‘God.’ Nevertheless, the Bible itself uses ‘elohim’ in 6 different ways.
A. What is an ‘elohim?’
1. Genesis 1:1: “When God began creating the heavens and the earth…” The word translated as ‘God’ here is ‘elohim.’ The context tells us that it is referencing the Creator of the universe, so it is rightfully translated as ‘God.’ In fact, the Bible uses ‘elohim’ roughly 2,600 times and about 2,300 times it is translated as capital g ‘God.’
2. Exodus 20:3: “You shall have no other gods before me” In this passage the term is translated as lowercase g ‘gods,’ or pagan deities. It is used in this manner roughly 300 times in the Bible.
3. Psalm 82: “God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the ‘gods…’” In this passage ‘elohim’ refers to both the God of Israel and the gods that are being judged by him. Another way we can translate the second ‘elohim’ is as ‘divine beings.’ This is how the term is used in 5-10 places depending on how one understands the passages.
4. 1. Samuel 28:13: “The king said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid. What do you see?’ The woman said, ‘I see a ghostly figure coming up out of the earth.’ The phrase translated here as “ghostly figure” is ‘elohim.’ If we were to read the whole passage, we would see that the medium was speaking of the dead prophet Samuel’s spirit. This is the only instance of this usage.
5. Exodus 21:6: “then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.” The word translated as ‘judges’ is in fact ‘elohim.’ The Bible uses the term to refer to human judges or rulers acting in God’s name 4-6 times depending on one’s interpretation of some of the passages.
6. Exodus 32:8: “They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’” In this verse the term is used to describe man-made idols. The scholars who counted each use have lumped this meaning in with that of pagan gods when counting, so we do not have a separate figure for this usage.
A quick glance at these usages, tells us that the common quality of each is that they are disembodied spirit beings. That is, with the exception of its use for human judges or rulers. Even then however, the source of their authority and actions is the God of Israel and the individuals can be said to be tethered to the spirit realm through their divine calling. For more on this, one can reference the work of scholars such as the late Dr. Michaeel S. Heiser (z’’l) who have authored seminal works like the Unseen Realm and have produced hundreds of hours of content on YouTube. He also has videos explaining the Divine Council World View (another name for the ‘great assembly’ mentioned in Psalm 82.)
B. If all angels are elohim, but all Elohim are not angels, what is the difference?
The difference is in their function. We are probably not informed about all the different spirit beings that exist in the heavenly realms, but the ones that we have been informed about are the souls of dead humans, seraphim, keruvim, holy hayos (living beings) and angels. The Bible briefly references each and the references are scattered throughout the text. However, let’s summarize what we do know about the other beings first.
1. The Holy Hayos and Keruvim
The holy hayos are also called the four living creatures and are referenced several times in the Bible (Ezekiel 1:4-28 & Revelation 4:6-8, 5:6-8, 5:14, 6:1-6, 7:11, 14:3, 15:7, 19:4). They are described as having the appearance of a human (a human body) but having four faces (human, lion, ox, and eagle). They can have four or six wings. The discrepancy can easily be explained by the prophets’ angle of view. From one vantage point they can appear to have only 4 wings but from another, all 6 wings can be visible.
They are covered with eyes -inside and out (Rev. 4:8, ESV). This implies that they have unparalleled knowledge of the universe and themselves. Their knowledge and understanding of things are second to none but God himself.
The four living creatures carry the throne of God and are engrossed in worship day and night. Their spirits are said to be inside the wheels of God’s throne. This implies a deep spiritual state of unity with Hashem (God).
The four living Creatures are also called Keruvim (Cherubs) in Ezeekiel 10:20. Contrary to the artists who adorned the Vatican with little chubby baby angels, the Keruvim are known as guardians of holy spaces. They are flaming swords wielding warriors. They are seen guarding the Garden of Eden after the fall, the temple, and the throne of heaven in Genesis, Exodus, 1. Samuel, 2. Samuel, 1. Kings, 2. Kings, 1. Chronicles, 2. Chronicles, Psalms, Ezekiel, and Hebrews.
The word keruvim is actually a loan word from Akkadian. In Akkadian ‘karabu’ meant ‘to bless’ and ‘kuribu’ meant ‘intercessory guardian.’ The truth is that all pagan religions are derivatives and perversions of prehistoric ancestral knowledge of the spiritual realm inherited from Noah and Adam before him. Therefore, it is not surprising that Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) cultures would have similar concepts.
2. Seraphim
Seraphim is a Hebrew plural word that means ‘burning ones.’ Sometimes it is translated as ‘venomous serpents’ because of the burning sensation cause by their bite. For this reason, they are often described as fiery bronze looking serpentine beings. They appear explicitly in Isaiah 6 and are described as having 6 wings. They are associated with worship and purification.
3. The Souls of Dead Humans
We will not get into the weeds regarding the destiny of human souls of the dearly departed in this study. However, the Bible seems to imply that these spirits were safeguarded in a cosmic waiting room (sheol) until Christ’s death on the cross (1. Peter 3:18-20, 4:6). It is from here that the medium witch of Endor conjured the spirit of the recently deceased prophet Samuel for King Saul (1. Samuel 28:13).
4. Pagan gods and their idols
We will not get into the details of what is known as the Divine Council World View here either. Let it suffice to say that the idols are man-made images of the pagan gods they represent, and that these gods were once powerful angels that have fallen from grace or their angel-human hybrid offspring (Genesis 6:1-5).
C. What do we know about angels (elohim)?
The word ‘angel’ is a translation of the Hebrew ‘malak’ which means messenger. That is their function. They carry God’s messages to their intended recipients.
1. Angels Are Created Beings
a) Angels were created by God
Colossians 1:16 says: “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”
Psalm 148:2,5 adds: “Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts… Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command they were created”
b) They are not divine and should not be worshipped. In Revelation 22:8–9 we read, “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”
2. Angels Are Spirit Beings
a) They are usually invisible but can appear in human form
Hebrews 1:14 asks: “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
Genesis 18–19 provides an example of how they can appear in human form, and how powerful they are.
b) They do not marry or reproduce
Matthew 22:30: “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.” Other than those who trespassed before the flood, angels do not marry and reproduce. The angelic beings (sons of God) that abandoned their post to copulate with human women are the only known exception. First Enoch informs us that they were the first inhabitants of Gehinnom (hell).
3. Angels Serve God's Purposes
a) They worship God
In Isaiah 6:2–3 we read: “Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’” Seraphim are a type of spirit being who serves in the throne room of heaven. They are depicted as guardians. They prevent unwelcomed guest from intruding on heaven’s scenes. Contrary to what the Marine Corps Hymn would have us believe, the streets of heaven are in fact not guarded by Marines but by these spirit beings and others. Elsewhere, they are depicted as fiery serpents with wings and feet. The word literally means ‘burning ones,’ and can also refer to venomous snakes. Hence, their depiction as winged fiery serpents. In addition to guarding the throne of heaven, they are engrossed in worship day and night.
Revelation 4:8 gives us the description of another spirit being called the holy hayos (the holy living creatures), “Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.’”
b) They deliver messages
Luke 1:26–38: “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!’ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’And Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?’ And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[e] will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”
Matthew 1:20: “But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.’”
c) They protect and assist believers
Psalm 91:11–12: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”
Acts 12:7–11: “And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, ‘Get up quickly.’ And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, ‘Dress yourself and put on your sandals.’ And he did so. And he said to him, ‘Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.’ And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, ‘Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.’”
d) They execute God’s judgment
Genesis 19:13: “For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.”
See also Revelation 8–9.
4. There Are Different Types of Angels
a) Archangel: Only Michael is called an archangel (Jude 1:9). However, there are others as hinted at by 1. Thessalonians 4:16 and especially in Daniel 10:13.
b) Fallen angels: Some angels rebelled against God, including Satan (Genesis 6:1-5; Isaiah 14:12–15; Revelation 12:7–9).
c) Princes and principalities: The Apostle Paul reminds us that, “…we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” These principalities, powers and rulers of the darkness of this world that are also said to not be flesh and blood are the angels that were put in charge of the nations. After the dispersion at the Tower of Babel, God divided the nations including the yet future nation of Israel and placed them under the charge of angels so that they would guide them into righteousness and faithfulness to Hashem (Genesis 11:9; Deuteronomy 32:8-9; Psalms 82). Unfortunately, all of these archangels except for Michael fell from grace through rebellion like the others in Genesis 6 and elsewhere. They taught humanity every wicked scheme that would lead to the proliferation of wickedness and our destruction (homosexuality, transgenderism, witchcraft, war etc.). While the details are not given in the Bible itself, others who wrote under a more limited inspiration from God (not the perfect revelation like those prophets who authored the Bible) have provided us a limited glimpse into the workings of the spirit realm. One such work is what we know as First Enoch. Enoch was not written as scripture and does not have the authority that scripture does. Nevertheless, the New Testament authors themselves quote it in several epistles as it provides good information on this subject. Further, we know that the princes of the nations are archangels because it took an archangel (Michael) to defeat the prince of Persia (Daniel 10:13). We know that other nations have princes because in addition to Persia, we are told that Greece has a prince (Daniel 10:20). Then in the next verse (21) we are told that the archangel Michael is the Prince of Israel.
5. Angels and Humans
a) Angels can minister to believers
Hebrews 1:14: “Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?”
b) Humans are made “a little lower than the angels” (Psalm 8:5) but redeemed believers will one day judge angels (1 Corinthians 6:3).
c) They rejoice over the repentance of sinners (Luke 15:10).
6. Warnings and Clarifications
a) Scripture warns against worshiping angels or becoming overly focused on them “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind…" (Colossians 2:18).
b) Angels are powerful, but the righteous ones act only according to God’s will—not independently as it is written: “Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!” (Psalm 103:20–21).
7. Do angels have free will
From what we’ve seen so far in the Biblical and external sources, angels were created with free will, but their freedom is not the same as human free will.
a) Evidence of Angelic Free Will
i) Satan's Rebellion: The clearest evidence is that some angels chose to rebel against God, led by Satan (Lucifer).
o Isaiah 14:12–15 (symbolically describing Lucifer’s fall)
o Revelation 12:7–9 (describes war in heaven and Satan being cast down)
o This implies that angels could choose to obey or disobey God.
b) Fallen Angels and Judgment
i) 2 Peter 2:4: “God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell...”
ii) Jude 1:6: Some angels "did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling." Here, Jude is referencing both First Enoch and the events in Genesis chapter 6 that would lead to the Noahide Flood.
iii) Genesis 6:2: “the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose.” The term “sons of God” is regularly used to refer to angelic beings throughout the Tanak (Old Testament).
iv) These verses confirm that some angels sinned by choice and are now awaiting judgment.
8. Elect or Holy Angels
1 Timothy 5:21 refers to the “elect angels,” which suggests some angels are confirmed in their holiness.
Most Christian theologians believe that after the original rebellion, the remaining faithful angels are now confirmed in righteousness and no longer able (or willing) to fall. However, we witness at least 4 angelic rebellions: 1) When the serpent rebelled against God to cause the fall of humans in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3), 2) When the sons of God abandoned their post to copulate with human women (Gen. 6), 3) After the dispersion from the Tower of Babel when the angelic princes placed in charge of the nations began teaching them every occult practice including war, and 4) When Satan and his angelic posse refused to bend the knee to the new born King in Bethlehem (Rev. 12). These rebellions repeated over millennia suggest that angels maintain their free will and can still choose to revolt. However, the banishing of Satan from heaven after the birth of the Messiah appears to have brought an end to the other angels’ desire to do so.
It is worth noting that until the birth of the King Messiah, Satan and his co-conspirators had not been banned from heaven, suggesting that they too, like humans, were given the opportunity to repent and be reconciled. However, they chose not to accept the King Father’s invitation, and are now destined to inhabit the pit that was prepared for them.
I hope this extensive write up has helped clarify somethings for all of us.
Sincerely,
CJ
