What are angels, and why were they created?

Question

Sun Myung Moon · Accepted Answer

Angels occupy a pivotal space in both biblical narratives and the elaborate framework of the Divine Principle. They are spiritual beings, created by God, whose purpose is intertwined with the unfolding of His providence, serving as His messengers, protectors, and ministering spirits. Their existence and roles illuminate the profound spiritual dimensions of creation and the tragic inception of evil. The Biblical Foundation The Holy Bible consistently presents angels as distinct, created spiritual entities, not as deified humans or ethereal forces. They are introduced early in Genesis, with cherubim guarding the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:24). They are described as powerful, as seen when one angel slew 185,000 Assyrian soldiers (2 Kings 19:35). Their role is to serve God and minister to humanity, especially those "who shall be heirs of salvation" (Hebrews 1:14). They possess intelligence and will, enabling them to worship God and announce His decrees. This service extends from delivering divine messages, as Gabriel did to Mary (Luke 1:26-38), to providing spiritual nourishment, as when angels ministered to Jesus after His temptation (Matthew 4:11). The Bible mentions a hierarchy among them, with archangels such as Michael, Gabriel, and Lucifer holding high positions. Angels are depicted as innumerable, with "thousands upon thousands" (Hebrews 12:22) and a multitude "numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands" (Revelation 5:11) surrounding God's throne. Crucially, the Bible speaks of a rebellion among them. Lucifer, an archangel whose original glory is described as wise and beautiful in God's garden (Ezekiel 28), was filled with arrogance and fell from grace: "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!" (Isaiah 14:12). Jesus affirmed this event, stating, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven" (Luke 10:18). This fallen angel became Satan, "that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world" (Revelation 12:9). The New Testament confirms that angels were the beings who sinned (2 Peter 2:4) and specifies the nature of their transgression. Scripture states, "the angels who did not keep their own domain but abandoned their proper abode... indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh" (Jude 1:6-7). This rebellion, in which many other angels followed Lucifer, established a dualistic spiritual reality of both righteous and fallen angels, or devils. Divine Principle's Clarification Deeper insight reveals that angels were created before humanity as servants. When God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" (Genesis 1:26), He was speaking to the angels He had already created to assist in His creation. The purpose of angels was to serve both God and humankind, specifically to care for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and help them fulfill their destiny as God's children. Angels are individual spiritual beings, but they are different from humans; their essential nature is not male or female, though they often appear in male form when delivering messages. As servants, they lack the potential to become God's direct children and have a lineage with Him. This is why the Apostle Paul wrote, "Do you not know that we are to judge angels?" (1 Corinthians 6:3), underscoring humanity's higher position in God's creative order. The serpent in the Garden of Eden is identified as the archangel Lucifer. Entrusted with a serving role, Lucifer grew jealous when he saw that God loved His children, Adam and Eve, more than He loved him. While God’s love for Lucifer had not diminished, the archangel felt as though he had been deprived of love. This misguided feeling of loss motivated him to violate the natural order. He engaged in a premature and illicit love relationship with Eve, initiating the spiritual fall. This act was a fundamental transgression of his position; instead of guiding Eve to mature under God’s love, he sought to receive love from her, usurping God's rightful place. This clarifies why angels are called "ministering spirits" (Hebrews 1:14), designed to serve, whereas humans are intended for a direct parent-child relationship with God. Understanding the Deeper Meaning The creation of angels and their subsequent interactions with humanity reveal profound truths about God's plan and the nature of love. Angels were designed to contribute to a perfectly harmonious cosmos where each part fulfills its designated role. Lucifer's fall, driven by misplaced love and a departure from his serving role, illustrates the catastrophic consequences of self-centered desire and disrespect for order. It underscores the sanctity of true love, which is selfless and adheres to God's established principle. This original sin, initiated by an angel, did not make angels inherently evil but established the foundational corruption that humanity inherited, necessitating a long process of restoration centered on true love. The continued prese

What are angels, and why were they created?

The Biblical Foundation

Divine Principle's Clarification

Understanding the Deeper Meaning

Living the Principle

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