Exploring Supernatural Beings in the Bible
One of the most debated topics among Bible scholars is about supernatural beings in the Bible. There is no agreement between what can be considered supernatural and what is not. Some people say that only God is supernatural in the Bible, while others say demons and angels are also supernatural.
In this article, we will discuss the topic, Supernatural beings in the Bible so that you can better understand it.
Is God the Only Supernatural Being in the Bible?
When differentiating what is supernatural in the Bible and what is not, the definition of supernatural is critical.
Angels and devils could be seen as supernatural if the term is used to describe anything that is not a part of the physical universe. The Nephilim might be regarded as supernatural if it alludes to anything that is not part of everyday life in contemporary society.
Perhaps a better definition of the supernatural would be anything outside the physical cosmos of time, matter, and space. If so, then God is the only supernatural being in the Bible. This is because demons and angels appear to be part of the physical cosmos.
Demons and angels are included if the concept is broadened to include any beings for which the planet is not their home.
Witches still exist today. They are individuals who engage in various rituals and practices. Although they do not possess any supernatural qualities, they work to support demonic powers, which are arguably supernatural. They are natural beings, yet they desire to use otherworldly powers.
The Nephilim might very well be regular people. Since we don’t have enough information about them, it is purely speculative to categorize them in one specific way or another.
So, God is supernatural. The Cherubim, Seraphim, and other angelic creatures recorded in the Bible may also be considered supernatural, as could demons.
What are the Roles of Angels?
Angels carry out various tasks. Some of these tasks include the following:
- To Assist God’s Elect
One of the purposes of angels is to serve God’s elect. (1:14 in Hebrews). Paul was visited by an angel while at sea amid a storm. The angel gave him solace.
Elijah and Peter are two other people who have received angelic assistance.
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To Transmit God’s Message
The term angel translates as “messenger.” When delivering their message from God to humans, angels appeared as men. (Genesis 18:1–3).
Several individuals in the Bible reported seeing the angel Gabriel. He revealed a vision to Daniel, informed Zechariah of John the Baptist’s birth, and informed Mary that she would bear the Messiah.
Lot was also warned by angels who appeared as men about God’s impending punishment on Sodom and Gomorrah.
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To Engage in Spiritual Battles
Another duty of angels is fighting the powers of spiritual darkness that attempt to disrupt God’s intentions (Ephesians 6:12).
An angel that appeared to Daniel to explain a vision told him that Michael, the archangel, would have to assist him in overcoming the opposition.
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To Give God Praise
The throne of God is continuously surrounded by angels who worship and exalt Him (Psalm 148:1; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 5:8).
Because angels were made to serve God, it is wrong for them to reject that intention. God expelled the chief angel Lucifer from heaven after he demanded that angels serve him rather than God and refused to worship Him (Isaiah 14:12–18).
Along with Lucifer, angels who supported him were exiled.
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To Serve
Angels are there to carry out their Creator’s will. They serve God’s earthly children by going where He sends them, saying what He tells them to say, and doing so ( Hebrews 1:14; Revelation 22:9).
Angels visited Jesus following His forty-day wilderness temptation and provided for Him (Matthew 4). Angels also appear to transport the righteous to God’s rest after they pass away (Luke 16).
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To Execute Judgement
Not all angels are bright and joyful. Others execute God’s destructive instructions.
The book of Revelation predicts numerous angelic deeds that will ultimately result at the end of the world.
God dispatched an angel to kill every firstborn son in Egypt when Pharaoh refused to allow God’s people to escape that country (Exodus 12).
Herod’s demise (Acts 12), the assassination of the Assyrian army, and Jerusalem’s punishment were all carried out by angels.
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To Facilitate the Spread of God’s Word
The Mosaic Law is referred to as “the message given via angels” in Hebrews 2:2. This indicates that the angels were included in the procedure of Moses acquiring the Torah on Mount Sinai.
God utilizes angels however He pleases. We cannot possibly comprehend all the functions angels perform because we can’t understand a world outside the physical reality.
However, Christians are assured that God’s holy angels are prepared to guard and deliver God’s mortal children (Psalm 91).
Do Angels Walk Among Us?
Angels can walk among us, executing God’s work if God chooses to employ them in His unique purposes for us. Both Genesis and Revelation make reference to angels, who were there during the world’s creation (Job 38:7). According to Scripture, God has used the angels from the beginning of time and will continue to do so till the end.
Probably, many people in today’s world have unknowingly encountered or witnessed an angel.
Is There an Angel of Death
The concept of the angel of death is not mentioned in the Bible. Even though some deaths in the Bible are seen as the work of an angel, the angels did it at the lord’s command.
Final Take
When trying to identify the supernatural beings in the Bible, the definition of supernatural is essential.
If the term is used to describe anything that is not a part of the physical universe, angels and devils could be seen as supernatural.
If the term refers to anything outside the physical cosmos of time, matter, and space, then God is the only supernatural being in the Bible.
So, God is supernatural. The Cherubim, Seraphim, and other angelic creatures recorded in the Bible may also be considered supernatural, as could demons.