Angels 6 Seraphim

SERAPHIM:

The Seraphim are mentioned, by name, only in this portion of Isaiah. (V.6)

The seraphim title speaks of their ministry of worship, purification, and their humility.

The seraphim, like the cherubim, are associated with God's holiness.

While the cherubim are associated with the altar, the seraphim are associated with the laver. That is, they are associated with cleansing and purification.

Isaiah 6:6-7

Isaiah 6:6–7 NKJV

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.”

The covering of their face (Isa. 6:2) denotes their humility.

Isaiah 6:3 tells us that they have a ministry of worshiping God.

This verse also leaves some room for interpretation as to the exact identity of the "living creatures" in revelation.

Revelation 4:7-8

Revelation 4:7–8 NKJV

The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

The 6 wings are like the seraphim.

We have the praise in Isa. 6:3, which is very similar to the praise given in Rev. 4:8.

However, the exact identity of these living creatures may be uncertain.

OTHER TYPES OF ANGELS:

ELECT ANGELS:

1 Timothy 5:21

1 Timothy 5:21 NKJV

I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.

Elect angels bring an interesting question.

What is the extent to which election can be traced to angels.

It is likely that elect angels are not a class of angels, but simply a reference to the non-fallen angels.

PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS:

Romans 8:38-39

Romans 8:38–39 NKJV

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 6:12

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Not "flesh and blood" makes it clear that these principalities and powers are angelic beings.

Scripture does not give us a complete definition of these angels, but we are told two things in these passages.

They apparently try to separate us from the love of God.

We “wrestle” or struggle against them.

These observations would lead us to the conclusion would lead us to conclude that this term refers to the fallen angels.

Principalities and powers is likely just a general reference to the demons.

MIGHTY ANGELS:

2 Thessalonians 1:7

2 Thessalonians 1:7 NKJV

and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,

Revelation 10:1

Revelation 10:1 NKJV

I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.

Revelation 18:21

Revelation 18:21 NKJV

Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.

We can only surmise that these are mighty warrior angels.

Some angels are simply known by the service they render.

Watcher:

Daniel 4:13

Daniel 4:13 NKJV

“I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.

Daniel 4:23

Daniel 4:23 NKJV

“And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him’;

The angel of the abyss: (demon)

Revelation 9:11

Revelation 9:11 NKJV

And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.

Angel of the waters:

Revelation 16:5

Revelation 16:5 NKJV

And I heard the angel of the waters saying: “You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things.

Uncertainty, at best, must characterize our human understanding of angels.

However, we must remember that angels, however mighty and glorious they may be, are but servants to God. As are we.