Angels are created beings (Psa. 148:1-5; Col. 1:16-17).
The Bible doesn’t say when God created the angels, but some scholars believe He did it on the second day of Creation (Psa. 104:4).
The Bible doesn’t say how many angels God created, but He created more than humans can count (Dan. 7:10; Heb. 12:22).
And even though there are more angels than humans can count only three are identified by name in the Protestant Bible: a fallen angel named Satan, and two good angels named Gabriel and Michael.
Here are two interesting things the Bible says about Satan.
Satan apparently overheard what God told Adam and Eve about eating fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:15-17) and he decided to misquote God (Gen. 3:1-6). Salvation involves more than knowing what God said.
Satan appears to have at least some understanding of Bible prophecy because he will know when his end is near (Rev. 12:12), but he will still face the judgment (II Pet. 2:4; Jude 6; Rev. 20:10). Salvation involves more than understanding Bible prophecy. A person must be born-again.
Here are four or five interesting things the Bible says about Gabriel.
Gabriel stands in the presence of God (Luke 1:19). Every message Gabriel delivered concerned the first or second coming of Jesus. What he said is so incredibly accurate it is mind-boggling. But he knew these things because he stands in the presence of God. Some call him one of the angels of the presence.
Gabriel’s first appearance was to help Daniel understand something that will happen at the very end of the Tribulation period (Dan. 8:16-27). The Antichrist will stand up against the Prince of princes (Jesus) and our Lord will destroy him (at the Second Coming).
Gabriel’s second appearance revealed the exact day Jesus would make His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and that Jesus would be cut off (crucified), but not for Himself (first coming), and that the Antichrist will stop the animal sacrifices three and one-half years before the second coming (Dan. 9:24-27).
Gabriel’s third appearance was to announce the birth of John the Baptist to his father Zacharias and to let Zacharias know that John the Baptist would prepare the way for the first coming of Jesus (Luke 1:5-25, 67-80).
Gabriel’s fourth appearance was to tell Mary that she would bear a child of the Holy Ghost (first coming, virgin birth) and her Son (Jesus) will rule over the house of Jacob forever (Second Coming; Luke 1:26-39).
Later, an angel appeared unto Joseph to announce the virgin birth (first coming; Matt. 1:18-25). The Bible doesn’t say this angel was Gabriel, but that is probably a good guess.
Here are several interesting things the Bible says about Michael:
Unlike the angel Gabriel who always has a message related to the first or second coming of Jesus, the Archangel Michael is always opposing Satan, his demons, people who want to destroy Israel and things like that.
Michael intervened against a wicked angel that was preventing one of God’s angels from delivering the answer to one of Daniel’s prayers (Dan. 10:13).
Michael will stand up for Israel at the end of the age (Dan. 12:1).
Jude, one of the brothers of Jesus, called Michael an archangel and he said it was Michael that contended with Satan for the body of Moses (Jude 9).
Michael and his angels will kick Satan and his angels out of heaven at the middle of the Tribulation period (Rev. 12:7-10).
The Bible doesn’t say that it will be Michael, but the voice of the archangel will be heard when the Rapture takes place (I Thess. 4:15-17).
In Revelation chapter 8, it is revealed that there are seven angels standing before the throne of God with trumpets that are blown to announce the seven trumpet judgments.
Could one of these be the same angel (Gabriel) that told Zacharias he stands in the presence of God (Luke 1:19)? We don’t know, but God knows the end from the beginning (Isa. 40:10) and Gabriel accurately foretold future things.
In Revelation chapter 16, it is revealed that seven angels will come out of the Temple of God in heaven and pour out the vials or bowls of God’s wrath. Could one of these be the same angel (Michael) that will stand up for Israel at the end of the age? We don’t know, but the nations should stop trying to harm Israel.
A study of angels in the Bible reveals that the world is caught up in a great unseen spiritual war. God and His angels outnumber Satan and his angels. Israel will survive and God’s people (those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior) are going to win.
Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck