One type of angels is the seraphim angels and they have six wings and are made up of fire.
We find them first in Isaiah 6.
Isa 6:1-7 In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said, " Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory." 4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. 5 Then I said, " Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven." NASU
“Seraphim” in the Hebrew means “fiery ones”. They are made up of fire. They are angels of fire. So if there is fire there will be smoke and in this scripture in Isaiah 6 the temple was filling with smoke and it was because of these fiery, seraphim angels. They also ministered with fiery coals from heaven’s altar and as they were watching over the fiery altar they took the fiery coal and purged Isaiah’s lips. They are the fire bringers.
It will be the seraphim angels in the book of Revelation who throw the fire to the earth.
I believe the seraphim are an order of the cherubim because the word for “serpent” in the Garden is “seraphim”. So Lucifer was both cherubim and one who was ablaze with the glory of God, crying out, “Holy! Holy! Holy!”, around the throne of God. It appears there is a direct link between these angels and the manifest presence of God.
The seraphim angels can show up and you can smell the fire and there are times when people have felt burnings from their presence in the room and times when they appeared in a room and there is smoke that comes into the room. The reason for the fire in our presence is they are there with us to do a purging in us, separating and empowering believers for greater service for God and to bring focus to the glory of God that is to fill this earth.
“Cherubim” is the most common term that we hear for angels
Lucifer, now Satan, was once the leading cherubim in heaven. So when he got kicked out of heaven he lost his assignment on the earth.
Cherubim angels are first mentioned in Genesis and they guarded the tree of life when Adam and Eve were removed from the Garden of Eden after they had sinned and throughout the bible they guard the glory of God.
We see the ministry of cherubim angels when we read Ezekiel chapter 1.
Ezek 10:1-22 Then I looked, and behold, in the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim something like a sapphire stone, in appearance resembling a throne, appeared above them. 2 And He spoke to the man clothed in linen and said, "Enter between the whirling wheels under the cherubim and fill your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim and scatter them over the city." And he entered in my sight. 3 Now the cherubim were standing on the right side of the temple when the man entered, and the cloud filled the inner court. 4 Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub to the threshold of the temple, and the temple was filled with the cloud and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the LORD. 5 Moreover, the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks. 6 It came about when He commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, "Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim," he entered and stood beside a wheel. 7 Then the cherub stretched out his hand from between the cherubim to the fire which was between the cherubim, took some and put it into the hands of the one clothed in linen, who took it and went out. 8 The cherubim appeared to have the form of a man's hand under their wings. 9 Then I looked, and behold, four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like the gleam of a Tarshish stone. 10 As for their appearance, all four of them had the same likeness, as if one wheel were within another wheel. 11 When they moved, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went; but they followed in the direction which they faced, without turning as they went. 12 Their whole body, their backs, their hands, their wings and the wheels were full of eyes all around, the wheels belonging to all four of them. 13 The wheels were called in my hearing, the whirling wheels. 14 And each one had four faces. The first face was the face of a cherub, the second face was the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. 15 Then the cherubim rose up. They are the living beings that I saw by the river Chebar. 16 Now when the cherubim moved, the wheels would go beside them; also when the cherubim lifted up their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels would not turn from beside them. 17 When the cherubim stood still, the wheels would stand still; and when they rose up, the wheels would rise with them, for the spirit of the living beings was in them. 18 Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim. 19 When the cherubim departed, they lifted their wings and rose up from the earth in my sight with the wheels beside them; and they stood still at the entrance of the east gate of the LORD'S house, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them. 20 These are the living beings that I saw beneath the God of Israel by the river Chebar; so I knew that they were cherubim. 21 Each one had four faces and each one four wings, and beneath their wings was the form of human hands. 22 As for the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the river Chebar. Each one went straight ahead. NASU
The cherubim are a little creepy in appearance but they are awesome creatures.
Here is how their appearance is described in Ezekiel 1:4-14.
Ezek 1:4-14 As I looked, behold, a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright light around it, and in its midst something like glowing metal in the midst of the fire. 5 Within it there were figures resembling four living beings. And this was their appearance: they had human form. 6 Each of them had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight and their feet were like a calf's hoof, and they gleamed like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides were human hands. As for the faces and wings of the four of them, 9 their wings touched one another; their faces did not turn when they moved, each went straight forward. 10 As for the form of their faces, each had the face of a man; all four had the face of a lion on the right and the face of a bull on the left, and all four had the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each had two touching another being, and two covering their bodies. 12 And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went. 13 In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches darting back and forth among the living beings. The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire. 14 And the living beings ran to and fro like bolts of lightning. NASU
Cherubim angels have four faces; face of a man, face of a lion, face of an ox and face of an eagle and their faces did not turn when they moved but looked straight forward. Their feet are like calf’s hoofs.
On each four side of them was a wing so there would be a wing in front, wing in their back and a wing on each side of them. Under each of their wings were hands. They were in like a square formation and they went forward in a straight movement together in unity. Coming out from them was fire and lighting flashes from the fire. And they ran to and fro like bolts of lightning.
If you have experienced a time when you saw flashes of light out of your peripheral vision or even in your visible vision and sometimes saw different colors, it could be you saw cherubim angel. The light is emanating from these angels but you will just see a flash of light. You might even see flashes of blue light or purple light coming off of the cherubim angels. These angels are very fast.
Ezek 1:15-16 Now as I looked at the living beings, behold, there was one wheel on the earth beside the living beings, for each of the four of them. 16 The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was like sparkling beryl, and all four of them had the same form, their appearance and workmanship being as if one wheel were within another. NASU
That’s so they can go in any direction. They all intersected their wheels.
Ezek 1:17-26 Whenever they moved, they moved in any of their four directions without turning as they moved. 18 As for their rims they were lofty and awesome, and the rims of all four of them were full of eyes round about. 19 Whenever the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them. And whenever the living beings rose from the earth, the wheels rose also. 20 Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction. And the wheels rose close beside them; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. 21 Whenever those went, these went; and whenever those stood still, these stood still. And whenever those rose from the earth, the wheels rose close beside them; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. 22 Vision of Divine Glory Now over the heads of the living beings there was something like an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, spread out over their heads. 23 Under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward the other; each one also had two wings covering its body on the one side and on the other. 24 I also heard the sound of their wings like the sound of abundant waters as they went, like the voice of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army camp; whenever they stood still, they dropped their wings. 25 And there came a voice from above the expanse that was over their heads; whenever they stood still, they dropped their wings. 26 Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man. NASU
In this scripture we are seeing an open heaven, the cherubim have heaven open over them and they are connected to the glory of heaven.
The cherubim carry the throne of God on the earth. God rode on the cherubim while He was here on the earth before Christ came. He would operate in that realm toward the earth, moving with the cherubim.
Rev 4:6; 5:14…and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. 5:14 And the four living creatures kept saying, " Amen." And the elders fell down and worshiped. NASU
These Zoa or living creatures look closely like the cherubim angels but yet they are different.
Rev 4:6-11…and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. 7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY,WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME." 9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 " Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created." NASU
These creatures are full of eyes, eyes in their front and eyes in their back. These angels are in the form of a lion, calf, man, and eagle.
The lion angel had certain dimensions of the likeness of Christ, he carries the nature of Jesus, the Lion of Judah, a sign that He rules.
The second creature was like a calf or an ox which represents the ox nature of Christ which is His apostolic nature. This is Jesus’ servant role but it is His apostolic nature.
The third creature looked like a man.
The fourth creature looked like an eagle and they represent the eagle nature of Christ which we see in Revelation 1 when Jesus appeared with His white hair; bald eagles have white heads.
We read in the bible about the “host of God”. The “host of God” is a Hebrew number which means an army without number. So “the host” tells us there are vast numbers of angel allies. These angels are chariot drivers, angelic horses. These are horses seen in this realm over there. The bible tells us the chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of thousands.
Ps 68:17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, Even thousands of thousands; NKJV
There are angelic horses in heaven. The bible makes mention of white horses, speckled horses, gold horses, there are all different kinds of horses.
2 Kings 2:11-12 As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. 12 Elisha saw it and cried out, " My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. NASU
2 Kings 6:13-17 So he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and take him." And it was told him, saying, "Behold, he is in Dothan." 14 He sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" 16 So he answered, " Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, " O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." And the LORD opened the servant's eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. NASU
Zech 1:8-11 I saw at night, and behold, a man was riding on a red horse, and he was standing among the myrtle trees which were in the ravine, with red, sorrel and white horses behind him. 9 Then I said, "My lord, what are these?" And the angel who was speaking with me said to me, "I will show you what these are." 10 And the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered and said, "These are those whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth." 11 So they answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees and said, "We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is peaceful and quiet." NASU
Then there are the archangels who are the chief princes and there is mention of two in particular Gabriel and Michael.
Michael means “who is like God”. He was probably a cherubim but unlike Lucifer he led the army of God. It was Michael who threw the devil and the fallen angels out of heaven. So Michael is a very powerful angel.
Rev 12:7-9 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. NASU
In the book of Daniel it was Michael who wars against the principality of Persia for two weeks in order to answer Daniel’s prayer.
Dan 10:11-21 He said to me, "O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, " Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14 "Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future." 15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. 16 And behold, one who resembled a human being was touching my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, "O my lord, as a result of the vision anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17 "For how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there remains just now no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me." 18 Then this one with human appearance touched me again and strengthened me. 19 He said, "O man of high esteem, do not be afraid. Peace be with you; take courage and be courageous!" Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said, "May my lord speak, for you have strengthened me." 20 Then he said, "Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come. 21 "However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince. NASU
Dan 12:1 "Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. NASU
It is Michael at the end of the ages who casts Satan and the fallen angels finally out of the heavens where they can no longer bother anyone any longer. I would give Michael the title of “Secretary of the War”. Michael throwing Lucifer and his angels out of heaven reveals to us how powerful these beings are on our part when it comes to warring against our enemies in the spirit realm and which affects things on the earth for us for our good. Praise God for His angels!
Gabriel could have the title of “Vice-President of Communication of Heaven”. He gets the message of God out to people in the bible. Gabriel interpreted dreams for Daniel on two different occasions. Gabriel brought the message to Mary she would conceive by the Holy Spirit and birth the Messiah Jesus into the earth. And he also appeared to Zacharias and told him of the conception and birth of John the Baptist.
Luke 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. KJV
This scripture shows us that along with Michael, Gabriel is the highest rank of angelic authority
It could be that Gabriel has a special assignment to watch over salvation.
Isa 63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: KJV
I believe Gabriel helps us to grasp that Jesus died for us on the cross and to encourage that in our lives. Clearly that angel is Gabriel and not the reincarnate Christ, this is the angel of the Lord. The angel of the Lord is the angel of His Presence and it is Gabriel. The bible identifies Gabriel as the one who stands in the presence of God. Gabriel is God’s accompanying angel. He has mighty power. He operates for the people who dwell in the presence of God.
It was Gabriel that grabbed Abraham’s arm, keeping him from killing Isaac.
Gen 22:10-12 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. KJV
Gabriel was the angel who stretched his sword over Jerusalem threatening its destruction in David’s day.
1 Chron 21:15-16 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.16 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. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. KJV
Gabriel killed 185,000 in the Assyrian army in one night.
Isa 37:36 Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. KJV
Gabriel ordered the watching angels to do surveillance of the whole earth in Zacharias’ day
Zech 1:7-10 Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,8 I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.9 Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.10 And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth. KJV
Gabriel directed the heavenly choir over the shepherd’s field in Bethlehem the night Jesus was born.
Luke 2:8-14 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. KJV
Gabriel appeared to Joseph and Mary to guide them to safety in Egypt.
Matt 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. KJV
Gabriel struck Peter on the side in the jail to awaken him and then led him out of the prison.
Acts 12:7-10 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. KJV
So Gabriel is one of the leading angels and is a powerful angel.
Gabriel and Michael stand in the presence of God, war with the demonic and communicate God’s messages to people on earth. They operate together, these two powerful beings of God.
It was a common angel who gave instruction to Joseph to marry Mary and also to flee to Egypt when Jesus’ life was threatened by King Herod.
Matt 1:20,24 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, " Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, NASU
Matt 2:13,19 Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." 19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, 20 "Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead." NASU
The bible doesn’t call these angels “common” but that is the term I give to them. These are the angels that encamp around the righteous and the angels who protect children. We see them in many scriptures where it tells us an angel appeared to someone but we are not told if they hold any rank or position and these angels are not even described.
We see the word “spirit” in the bible and I believe this could quite possible equate to an angel. These angels represent a certain part of the character and nature of God; spirits of wisdom, spirits of grace, spirits of wisdom, spirits of holiness, spirits of knowledge, spirits of understanding, spirits of faith, spirits of love, spirits of peace, spirits of joy, spirits of hope, etc and they minister different aspects of God’s nature.