Zechariah 2 - A Study of Angels

     The word angel translates the Hebrew word מַלְאָךְ malak and the Greek word ἄγγελος aggelos, and both words mean messenger. Angels are created beings (Col 1:16), were present at the creation of the world (Job 38:4-7), have volition (Matt 8:28-32), emotion (Mark 1:23-26), and intelligence (1 Pet 1:12). Angels are spirit beings (Heb 1:14), are distinct from humans (Mark 1:23-26), have great power (2 Pet 2:11; cf. Dan 10:1-21), are innumerable (Heb 12:22; Rev 5:11), and do not reproduce after their kind (Mark 12:25), which means there are no baby angels. As creatures, angels are not to be worshipped (Col 2:18; Rev 19:10; 22:8-9). Seraphim—angels with six wings—are devoted to the worship of God (Isa 6:1-3), and Cherubim—angels with four wings—are devoted to protecting the Lord’s holiness (Ezek 28:14).

     As spirit beings, angels function in an invisible realm, unless God chooses to reveal their activity, either by direct observation or through revelation. For example, Elisha’s servant saw the angelic chariots of fire only when God opened his eyes (2 Ki 6:15-17), and John was permitted to see myriads of angels around God’s throne (Rev 5:11). Most of us are never given this opportunity, but learn about angels through the revelation of God’s Word.

     Angels are basically classified as either unfallen or fallen. The former retain their holy state and service to God and are called elect angels (1 Tim 5:21), whereas the latter have defected from their original status and continue in constant rebellion against God, and these are commonly called demons (Matt 8:31) or evil spirits (Luke 7:21).). Satan, the chief of the fallen angels, was once a cherub designated to protect God’s holiness, but he fell because of pride (Ezek 28:12-18; Isa 14:12-14). In his fall, Satan convinced a third of the angels to fall with him (Rev 12:3-4). Throughout human history, Satan and demons attempt to frustrate the purpose of God (Matt 4:1-11; cf. Dan 10:10-14; Rev 16:13-16). Demons can possess the bodies of men (Luke 11:24-26), and sometimes cause physical disease (Matt 9:32-33). 

     All angels, whether good or bad, are organized for service and effectiveness. Michael is called an archangel (Jude 1:9), a chief prince (Dan 10:13), and is assigned the task of guarding Israel (Dan 12:1). Gabriel is a messenger angel who was sent to deliver important messages to God’s people (Dan 8:16; 9:21-22; Luke 1:19; 26-38). Both Michael and Gabriel are recorded in Scripture as battling fallen angels who appear as commanders of regions of the world (Dan 10:12-13, 21). One fallen angel is called “the prince of Persia” and the other “the prince of Greece” (Dan 10:20). These no doubt function as Satan’s emissaries to promote his purposes, and are part of a larger group that Paul called the forces of darkness (Eph 6:12).

     The book of Zechariah—which we are studying—contains 15 references to angels (Zec 1:9, 11-14, 19; 2:3; 4:1, 4-5; 5:5, 10; 6:4-5), three references to Satan (Zec 3:1-2), and six references to the angel of the Lord (Zec 1:11-12; 3:1, 5-6; 12:8), who is God the Son in preincarnate form (cf. Ex 3:2-4; Judg 2:1-4). This divine and angelic activity reveals some of what was going on in the spiritual realm behind the human history of Zechariah’s time. The Israelites knew only what their ears heard and eyes saw, and much of what was going on around them was frustrating and discouraging as they faced human opposition (Ezra 4:1-5; 24). However, through the prophet Zechariah, God revealed His activity behind the political, economic, and social activities of the day to expose angelic forces at work.

     Zechariah had a personal angel that was helping him understand the visions that were given to him by the Lord (Zec 1:7—6:8). Daniel too had an angelic interpreter (Dan 8:15-19; 10:1-12), as well as the apostle John (Rev 17:7; 22:6). The angel assigned to Zechariah spoke “gracious” and “comforting” words to him (Zec 1:13), revealing God’s compassion toward His people. He also revealed God would help the faithful remnant rebuild Jerusalem and the temple (Zec 1:14, 16-17), and would punish the Gentile nations who had gone too far in their attacks against Judah (Zec 1:15, 18-21). We also learn there were other angels who spoke and moved through spirit-space—unlike material-space—while Zechariah watched and listened (Zec 2:3-4a), and who spoke God’s Word concerning future blessings for His people (Zec 2:4b-5). The angel also revealed Satan as he accused Joshua, the high priest, before the angel of the Lord. Satan went after Joshua because he was doing the Lord’s work on behalf of God’s people, and this was a threat to him and his agenda. Satan’s charge was that Joshua was unfit for service, but God purified Joshua and made him stand clean in the Lord’s presence (Zec 3:1-5). Furthermore, in two separate visions, Zechariah was shown angelic forces who do God’s will throughout the earth (Zec 1:8-11; 6:1-8). The first of these are described as three horseman “whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth” (Zec 1:10), and the second group as “the four spirits of heaven” who ride on chariots and also “patrol the earth” (Zec 6:7). In all this we learn that angels are intelligent, active, and communicate God’s will to others, both to people and other angels. We also learn there’s an angelic enemy—Satan—who stands to accuse God’s people. This revelation would have educated the people of Zechariah’s day about the spiritual forces at work—operating in the invisible realm—behind their daily experiences. Above all, they were informed about the concerns and activities of God Himself, and how He uses His angelic forces to execute His will on the earth and among His people. All this would have encouraged them to keep working and rebuilding the temple and the city of Jerusalem.