How many angels are there?

There is an immense number of angels. The following Scriptures prove this: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host” (Luke 2:13). “More than twelve legions of angels” (Matt. 26:53). “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne … and the number of them was ten thousand tunes ten thousand and thousands of thousands” (Rev. 5:11).

There are evidently gradations in rank, as we read of Michael the archangel, who is spoken of as “your prince” (Dan. 10:21), showing that he had a special place in relation to the nation of Israel. There is, we may conclude, an apportioning of angelic service in a highly organized manner.

When I open the book of the Apocalypse and turn to chapter 5, where the Lamb is viewed as taking the seven-sealed book out of the hand of Him who sat on the throne, I read: “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” Here we have an indefinite uncountable number of angelic beings who seem well acquainted with the history of the sorrows of the Saviour. Then, as I have pointed out, all things are His—He tasted death for everything—of old He laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of His hands, and these He shall fold up, and a change shall pass over all, He Himself remaining, “The Same yesterday, today, and for ever.”

In the centre stands the slain Lamb, around the throne the living ones and the redeemed, while the outer circle is formed of angels whose numbers are beyond human computation (see Dan. 7:10). In the response of the angelic hosts to the song of the redeemed they say, whereas the elders sing. There is more than a verbal difference in this, for while angels know the Lamb they cannot say “He was slain for us.” We know Him in a deeper, fuller, more personal way than do angels. He died for us, not for them; hence the difference, we sing, they say. Angels are never said to sing. Observe, too, that the elders in their song directly address the Lamb, whereas the angels, in keeping with their place and service, adopt a more distant form of address. The former sing to Him, the latter speak of Him. The full burst of praise from the angelic hosts is grand. The symphony is unmarred by one discordant note. They ascribe to Him the fullest number (seven) of attributes, as they also do in Revelation 7:12; in the former, however, the slain Lamb is the burden of their testimony, whereas in the latter it is “our God,” the God of angels and of men. The order in which the attributes are named in the two respective angelic strains differs. There are also other minor points worth noting in these ascriptions of praise. The seven terms denote the highest and most perfect expression which a creature can offer. They embody the full and perfect praise of the most exalted of God’s creatures.

But we have come also to an innumerable company, to the general gathering of the angels. We have been seeing in this epistle that angels are inferior to Christ, and that man is a little lower than the angels; but grace sets aside all distinctions and we have been brought in the grace of God into association with the innumerable host of the angels. Think of the host of the angels, of the various orders of which the apostle speaks when he says, of whom every family in heaven and earth is named — angels, and archangels, principalities, powers, dominions, and every name that is named. We know but little of the powers of the heavenly hosts, but their number is stupendous. They are myriads of myriads, — and we have come to that universal gathering. We know we are not angels, and never will be; we have no desire to be, our place is nearer and dearer than that; but we are brought into association and companionship with all the heavenly host.

Little is revealed concerning these wonderful hosts of the heavens, whether as to the magnitude of their numbers or the character and conditions of their life. The will of God being of necessity the law of life, wherever moral beings are found, we know they are kept, for every creature of whatever rank must be dependent. Servants of great and dignified rank they are, as seen both in Gabriel and Michael, and with different degrees both of authority and responsibility, classified and numbered for their respective services, they are spoken of as "mighty," "holy," and "elect." Far beyond man in strength, equally beyond him in power of transit, because not confined to a material body, and with interest and attention upon events in distant parts of the creation, they may be said to far excel the frail being who is confined to this planet (see Dan. 4:17; Luke 9:26; 2 Thess. 1:7; and 1 Tim. 5:21).

Though we are unconscious of the presence of angels we know that they are ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall inherit salvation, Heb. 1:14: cf. Ps. 34:7; and we read also that they ministered to the Lord when He was here. Matt. 4:11; Mark 1:13; Luke 22:43. There are 'myriads' of these angels, Matt. 26:53; Heb. 12:22; Rev. 5:11; and they are described as 'mighty,' 'holy,' 'elect,' 2 Thess. 1:7; Mark 8:38; 1 Tim. 5:21: they do not marry, Mark 12:25. We are not told when they were created, but doubtless they are referred to as 'the sons of God' who shouted for joy when God created the earth. Job 38:4-7.

When we come to this chapter, the principles upon which the age to come will be established are clearly brought before us. You see, if the administration of the gospel belonged to the present age, there would be no calling. It would simply be the announcement of the principles upon which the present age is established, and there would be no calling to another place than the state of things in which we were; but our calling is to another sphere altogether. The fact is, the things that are before us are the principles upon which the age to come will be established: Mount Zion; the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. We all know very well when these things will be in evidence. Mount Zion is of very little importance today, and the heavenly Jerusalem is not in display. In a certain sense it is being built. Then there are an innumerable company of angels, not one angel with a fiery law, but a company of angels impossible for men to number, and all attendants upon the Son of Man, all there as worshippers of the Son of Man, because when He bringeth the first begotten into the world, that is, the world to come, He says, “let all the angels of God worship Him.” An innumerable company of angels attend Him in the day of His coronation to do homage to Him in the sight of the whole universe. There will be gatherings together of all the mighty angels in the whole dominions of God to do homage to the One who is to take the throne upon Mount Zion. So we are brought face to face with an innumerable company of angels. This is so different to Sinai where there was one angel. The name of Jehovah was in Him. God told Moses he was one who would not forgive their iniquity. One angel presents the law to men, but an innumerable company are attendant on Man as the servants of man doing homage to Man in the person of the Son of God. And then he says we are come to all these things. You can see that these are the principles upon which the age to come will be introduced and established.

Then follows the mention of "myriads of angels, a general assemblage." They were the natural or indigenous denizens of heaven, all God's hosts that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word. Here they are presented in their fulness of various order. Another inspired writer tells us that he heard their voice, and the number of them was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.

He could have asked the Father for twelve legions of angels. If one angel was able to destroy 185,000 troops in one night (2 Kings 19:35), what could twelve legions do? The Roman legion was 6000 footmen, plus horsemen. However, He was not concerned as to His own defense, but as to fulfilling scripture.

When one of His disciples drew his sword and smote off the ear of the bondman of the High Priest, Jesus said to him, "Return thy sword to its place; for all who take the sword shall perish by the sword. Or thinkest thou that I cannot now call upon my Father, and He will furnish Me more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matt. 26:52).

That heavenly host that had throbbed with joy and adulation at His birth were now ready, did the Father give them word, to hasten to His help! A legion of Roman troops numbered anything from 3000 to 6000 fighting men — just think of it, more than twelve legions of angels — but the Father gave no such word, nor did our Lord ask for them. He certainly wrought no miracle to preserve Himself from death, indeed He wrought a miracle in dying! (c.f. John 10:18).