In-Depth Studies, Mysteries

Angels: Intelligence With Strength

The Bible teaches that angels have the ability to think and they are intelligent. By the description given in the texts, angels are clearly more intelligent than humanity in its current fallen state.

2 Samuel 14:20 In order to change the course of things your servant Joab did this. But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God to know all things that are on the earth.”

Some angels know “all” as the verse above states. The Hebrew word “kol” is translated as all or everything or the whole as noted per Strong’s Concordance. Note, their wisdom is limited to “things that are on the earth.”

In Hebraic thought, wisdom is more than knowledge. It is the ability to practically apply what is known. Wisdom is demonstrating a skill set of information. Angels just don’t know. They can do what they know.

Angels are limited in their knowledge. They are not all knowing and possessing omniscience like God. For example, they don’t know when Jesus is coming back to Earth.

Matthew 24:36 But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

Angels possess super human strength. They are much stronger than humanity in its current fallen state. Angels are not all powerful. Their strength is limited. But when it comes to war, angels are special forces on steroids.

Herod met his death at the hand of an angel.

Acts 12:23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

One angel can handle hundreds of thousands armed soldiers.

2 Kings 19:35 And that night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.

It stands to reason, the whole camp could have been destroyed. But who would have been left to inform others of the power of the angel?

Taking out an entire city would not be an issue for an angel. In the case below, the angel submits his will to God and follows His directions. Otherwise, the city would have been destroyed.

2 Samuel 24:16 But when the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough, withdraw your hand now!” At that time the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

In some cases, angels are allowed to thoroughly finish the job.

2 Chronicles 32:21a …and the LORD sent an angel who annihilated every mighty warrior, leader, and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria…

It was an angel who moved the stone at Christ’s tomb. The gospel accounts of the stone indicate it was “rolled”. The assumption is the stone was round. Stones that sealed tombs were generally 3-4 feet in diameter. Typically, the stone was rolled down an incline to set in place and seal a tomb. To remove the stone, it would have to be rolled and pushed up an incline working against gravity. Estimates are the stone covering Christ’s tomb weighed 2,000 to 4,000 pounds. This was no problem for an angel. He did his job and took a seat on his work. Then he had a chat with some ladies. It was an angel who told and showed humanity that Jesus had risen from the dead.

Matthew 28:2-6 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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay.

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