Angels belong to the class of spirit beings, that is, they are generally

understood as immaterial and incorporeal beings. They certainly do not have a

material, fleshy body such as humans have. This follows from the fact that (1)
angels are described by Hebrews 1:14 as "all ministering spirits,* and (2)
demons, if assumed to be fallen angels, arc called “evil spirits* (Luke 8:2) and
"unclean spirits" (Luke 11:24, 26).
Angels have spatial limitations. The concept of spirit is not irreconcilable
with location. When Jesus said, 'God is spirit' (John 4:24), He was emphasizing
that God is not limited to a particular location as Mount Gerizim or Jerusalem
(vv. 20-24), but is essentially spirit. God is an infinite spirit Being, uncreated:
however, angels arc finite spirit beings, created. Therefore they are limited with
regard to space. This is evident because they must move from one place to
another. In Daniel 9:21-23, an angel moved swiftly from someplace probably in
heaven to Daniel's side. In Daniel 10:10-14, an angel was delayed on his errand
by another spirit being. Here a time limitation corresponds with spatial
limitation. If a time lapse is involved in their changing locations. this means they
are localized.
We may conclude from these facts that angels are creatures and that they
have spatial and temporal limitations; that they are not omnipresent (present all
places at once): nor ubiquitous (present in many places at once), but defined and
with one location at a time and always somewhere, like points in space.

A. SPIRITUAL BODIES?
1. Type of bodies. The Scriptures do not attribute directly to angels any
kind of bodies. But some have supposed that they have bodies of refined matter
or material different from humans. This issue has always been disputed. 1 Those
who support the idea that they have bodies 2 appeal to two grounds: (I) the idea of
a purely spiritual and incorporeal nature as metaphysically inconceivable and
incompatible with the concept of a creature, and (2) the fact that angels are
subject to spatial limitations, move from place to place, and arc sometimes seen
by men. It may be that angels have some sort of body structure not known to
man as of now. A body that operates by principles other than ours is not
inconceivable. There

37
 are various kinds of bodies, and our resurrection body is called a ‘spiritual body"
(I Corinthians 15:44). However, our human resurrected bodies will be material
but run by spiritual power, as was Christ's. Any such body as angels may have is
not usually or necessarily visible. They can be present in great numbers in a very
limited space, just as many demons had entered into one man's body (Luke 8:50).

2. Sex. Angels are apparently without sex. We may say "apparently" because we are
limited to human concepts of sex and its powers. It is obvious from Matthew 22:28-
50 that angels do not procreate and are not a race. So they are without sex in the
normal sense of the word. Genetic procreation belongs to the material realm. Perhaps
due to the limitations of human language (though neuter expressions were available),
angels are generally referred to as masculine. They are sometimes described as men.
and the masculine pronoun is used of them (cf. Mark 16:5-6; Luke 24:4). When they
appear, they generally take on the form of a man (cf. Genesis 18:2. 22; 19:1. 5.
Daniel 10:18).

3. Lifespan. Angels are immortal. Once created, they never cease to exist. They are
not subject to death (Luke 20:56). so that any body they may possess is immortal and
incorruptible.

B. SPECIAL APPEARANCE
1. Freedom to appear. While angels are normally invisible (Colossians 1:16),
they do have the ability to appear on occasion. This freedom to appear is. of
course, subject to the will of God but evidently operative at the will of the angel
(cf. I.uke 1:11-15, 26-29). Appearance is presented but not inherent

Angels have appeared In dreams, as to Joseph (Matthew 1:20). In visions,

God has disclosed something of their appearance to man. Isaiah's vision centered
upon Jehovah, but it also included an astonishing sight of winged seraphim
worshiping and serving Jehovah (Isaiah 6:1-8).
On one occasion. God granted to the young man with Elisha the gift of
supernatural vision to see the normally invisible angelic army surrounding and
protecting them (2 Kings 6:17).
However, beyond dreams and visions and apart from super-

Angels belong to the class of spirit beings, that is, they are generally
understood as immaterial and incorporeal beings. They certainly do not have a
material, fleshy body such as humans have. This follows from the fact that (1)
angels are described by Hebrews 1:14 as "all ministering spirits,* and (2)
demons, if assumed to be fallen angels, arc called “evil spirits* (Luke 8:2) and
"unclean spirits" (Luke 11:24, 26).
Angels have spatial limitations. The concept of spirit is not irreconcilable
with location. When Jesus said, 'God is spirit' (John 4:24), He was emphasizing
that God is not limited to a particular location as Mount Gerizim or Jerusalem
(vv. 20-24), but is essentially spirit. God is an infinite spirit Being, uncreated:
however, angels arc finite spirit beings, created. Therefore they are limited with
regard to space. This is evident because they must move from one place to
another. In Daniel 9:21-23, an angel moved swiftly from someplace probably in
heaven to Daniel's side. In Daniel 10:10-14, an angel was delayed on his errand
 by another spirit being. Here a time limitation corresponds with spatial
limitation. If a time lapse is involved in their changing locations. this means they
are localized.
We may conclude from these facts that angels are creatures and that they
have spatial and temporal limitations; that they are not omnipresent (present all
places at once): nor ubiquitous (present in many places at once), but defined and
with one location at a time and always somewhere, like points in space.

C. SPIRITUAL BODIES?
2. Type of bodies. The Scriptures do not attribute directly to angels any
kind of bodies. But some have supposed that they have bodies of refined matter
or material different from humans. This issue has always been disputed. 1 Those
who support the idea that they have bodies 2 appeal to two grounds: (I) the idea of
a purely spiritual and incorporeal nature as metaphysically inconceivable and
incompatible with the concept of a creature, and (2) the fact that angels are
subject to spatial limitations, move from place to place, and arc sometimes seen
by men. It may be that angels have some sort of body structure not known to
man as of now. A body that operates by principles other than ours is not
inconceivable. There

37
ANGF.LS HLBCT AND EVIL

are various kinds of bodies, and our resurrection body is called a ‘spiritual body"
(I Corinthians 15:44). However, our human resurrected bodies will be material
but run by spiritual power, as was Christ's. Any such body as angels may have is
not usually or necessarily visible. They can be present in great numbers in a very
limited space, just as many demons had entered into one man's body (Luke 8:50).

4. Sex. Angels are apparently without sex. We may say "apparently" because we are
limited to human concepts of sex and its powers. It is obvious from Matthew 22:28-
50 that angels do not procreate and are not a race. So they are without sex in the
normal sense of the word. Genetic procreation belongs to the material realm. Perhaps
due to the limitations of human language (though neuter expressions were available),
angels are generally referred to as masculine. They are sometimes described as men.
and the masculine pronoun is used of them (cf. Mark 16:5-6; Luke 24:4). When they
appear, they generally take on the form of a man (cf. Genesis 18:2. 22; 19:1. 5.
Daniel 10:18).

5. Lifespan. Angels are immortal. Once created, they never cease to exist. They are
not subject to death (Luke 20:56). so that any body they may possess is immortal and
incorruptible.

D. SPECIAL APPEARANCE
1. Freedom to appear. While angels are normally invisible (Colossians 1:16),
they do have the ability to appear on occasion. This freedom to appear is. of
course, subject to the will of God but evidently operative at the will of the angel
(cf. I.uke 1:11-15, 26-29). Appearance is presented but not inherent

Angels have appeared In dreams, as to Joseph (Matthew 1:20). In visions,

God has disclosed something of their appearance to man. Isaiah's vision centered
upon Jehovah, but it58 also included an astonishing sight of winged seraphim
worshiping and serving Jehovah (Isaiah 6:1-8).
On one occasion. God granted to the young man with Elisha the gift of
supernatural vision to see the normally invisible angelic army surrounding and
protecting them (2 Kings 6:17).
However, beyond dreams and visions and apart from super-
ANGF.LS HLBCT AND EVIL

58