Since angels and men have the highest measure of perfection among all creatures, we shall consider them separately. First, we shall consider the angels.
The Name “Angel” Defined
The name Angel (Hebrew: מלאך Maleach) is used for a variety of persons in the Word of God.
(1) The Lord Jesus Christ is called the Angel, of whom it is stated, “My Name (Jehovah) is in Him” (Exod 23:21), that He is “the Angel of His presence” (Isa 63:9), and “the messenger of the covenant” (Mal 3:1).
(2) Ministers are called angels. “… for he is the messenger (angel)1 of the Lord of hosts” (Mal 2:7).
(3) Messengers are referred to as angels (Job 1:14).
(4) Incorporeal personal entities are referred to as “angels.” “And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem” (1 Chron 21:16).
In Greek Ἄγγελος (Angelos) is used two or three times to denote a messenger; otherwise it is always in reference to incorporeal personal entities which are denominated as “angels.” This name is not in any way related to their mission. It is a name which belongs as uniquely to these creatures as the name “man” belongs to the human race. Thus, this name does not refer to an office, but signifies spiritual, personal entities in contrast to human beings. “For we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men” (1 Cor 4:9); “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels …” (1 Cor 13:1). Men are compared to angels, Ἰσάγγελοι (Isangeloi). “But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry … for they are equal unto the angels” (Luke 20:35-36; cf. Matt 22:30). These incorporeal personal entities are also called spirits, which in Hebrew is רוח (ruach), and in Greek πνεῦμα (pneuma). This word is also used in a variety of ways.
(1) It refers to God (John 4:24);
(2) to the third Person in the divine essence (Ps 33:6; 1 John 5:7);
(3) to the soul of man (Ps 77:3, Acts 7:59);
(4) to the wind (Ps 1:4; John 3:8);
(5) however, most frequently it refers to angels, that is, incorporeal personal entities. “A spirit passed before my face” (Job 4:15); “Are they not all ministering spirits?” (Heb 1:14). “And the evil spirit answered …” (Acts 19:15).
Both this name and the name “angel” are proper to their being, and are not assigned to them on the basis of comparison with other creatures. God who gave everything a name according to His will has given these specific names to these personal entities, and those names are synonymous with these personal entities. The use of these names is as common as our use of money; it is not necessary to anxiously and cunningly search for hidden meanings. We know what the word “angel” or “spirit” means, and what we understand by it.
Anyone who believes Scripture and does not impudently reject human histories and witness accounts, needs no proof for the existence of angels. If anyone wishes to join the Sadducees, however, in stating “that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit” (Acts 23:8), let him not object to being numbered among them.
The angels were created, for whatever exists is either Creator or creature. Since they are not the Creator, they are creatures and have been created. Paul confirms this when he states, “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him” (Col 1:16). Although it cannot be stated with certainty on which day of creation they were created, we do know that they were not created prior to “the beginning.” Prior to the beginning there was nothing but God Himself who inhabiteth eternity, whereas all creatures have a chronological existence, making them increasingly distant from the initial moment of their existence. It is equally true that they were not created after the initial six days, since God perfectly completed everything within this time frame. It is most probable that as the heavenly host (Luke 2:13) they were created on the first day with the third heaven, for when the Lord in subsequent days brought forth everything from that shapeless mass of matter, they were already present. “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? … When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4,7).
In the beginning God created but one person, from whom He created a second, and out of these two the innumerable multitude of human beings has been brought forth. However, He created the entire, unfathomably large multitude of angels in one moment. There is “an innumerable company of angels” (Heb 12:22); “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels” (Ps 68:17); “Thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him” (Dan 7:10).