What do angels really look like according to the Bible?

As to the personal appearance of angels we have little account. The popular pictures of feminine beings with white wings are, of course, fanciful. Angels are often spoken of as “men,” never as “women.” They usually occasioned no surprise by their appearance, and sometimes it was only by the way they spoke and acted that their true nature was discerned.

Verses 5-9, describe the angelic visitation and the effect it had upon Daniel. We may remark that uniformly when angelic beings assume a form visible to human eyes, they appear as men. Nevertheless that which is supernatural marks them, reminding the one who sees them of the presence of God. It was so on this occasion, and the description given in verse 6 reminds us of John's description of his Lord, as recorded in Revelation 1:14-15. Yet the angel here was not the Lord, as verse 13, we think, makes plain. Still it put Daniel on his face and prostrate.

Next we find the Lord in angelic form appearing to Abraham with two angels as men, showing that angels, in this case as in many others, appeared in no wise after an unusual fashion.

It was not the appearance of angels that mattered so much as their message. Their appearance generally created no surprise, but their communications and manner left no doubt as to who they were.

But what of heaven? What did heaven think of this event? The angel of the Lord was sent to tell the shepherds. We have instances in Scripture where angels appeared just as men, so as not to excite astonishment in those to whom they appeared. But in this case the glory of the Lord appeared to the shepherds. That glory must have been wonderful, surpassing anything of earth, so much so that the shepherds were sore afraid. Bidden not to fear, they were told that that day in the city of David was born a Saviour, which was Christ, the Lord.

This time the angel was not like an ordinary man in appearance. He did not come with a message of grace to one of God’s humble ones. He came on a mighty errand. “His countenance was like lightning and his raiment white as snow.” The keepers of the tomb shook and became as dead men. The angel gave the tidings of the resurrection to the women at the grave and they ran to deliver their momentous message with fear and great joy. But the Lord would not allow the angels alone to witness to His resurrection. He Himself met them, confirming the truth of the angels’ message.

Mark adds the information that the angel was in appearance “a young man clothed in a long white garment.” Evidently the terror of his appearance was reserved for the keepers of the sepulchre.

The demonstration on the part of Divine power was seen in the great earthquake, and the angel of the Lord descending and rolling back the stone. The appearance of the angel, unlike most visitations of angels, was enough to make the strong soldiers shake with fear, and become as dead men. The angelic countenance was like lightning, and his raiment was white as snow. Thus, was our Lord declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection.

They form a spiritual race, for Psalm 104:4, quoted in Hebrews 1:7, says: “Who makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flaming fire.”

Though angels are spirits it does not follow that they are incorporeal, for Scripture speaks of a spiritual body. In the resurrection the saints will have spiritual bodies. We mention this simply to show that there is such a thing, a body not subject to the limitations of our earthly condition. Angels often appeared in bodily form. We do not assert that they are corporeal. We merely point out that they are not of necessity incorporeal.

Corporeality is not proved for angels by examples in which God (as in Gen. 18 and 32), or angel appeared as men. This is not manifestation of angelic natures, but the assumption of human form by these. There may be mystery in this, no doubt. We soon touch the bounds of our knowledge, that is all.}

As to the four cherubs, then, they were composite figures. "And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went everyone straightforward." (Vers. 6-9) The likeness of a man was theirs, though each had four faces and four wings (ver. 6); but the feet were straight, the sole like that of a calf's foot, and the face of an ox answering to that of a cherub. (Ver. 7; compare also Ezek. 10:14) Activity, or aptness in doing, seems represented by the hands of a man; swiftness of execution from above in the wings, without a moment's deviation from the object in hand, and with four sides, so as to move in all directions. The intimation of verse 10 I take to be that in front the face of a man was seen, and that of an eagle behind, with a lion's face to the right and an ox's or steer's to the left. These compose the symbolical supports of the throne, being the heads of the creatures preserved in the ark from the flood; man setting forth intelligence, the lion strength, the ox patience or stability, and the eagle rapidity of execution, the attributes of God or the qualities of His judgments. "As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side; they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. And they went everyone straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning." (Vers. 10-14) They went forward and returned like a flash of lightning.

Nor do we hear only of wings, but of wheels also. "Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. The appearance of the wheels and their work was like to the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went. As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels." (Vers. 15-21) It is the exact reverse of circumstances left to blind chance. Contrariwise, whatever the revolutions or changes among men, all is wittingly guided where it might be least expected. The instruments of the providential government, below the firmament or expanse were completely in accord with what was above, and over this was the likeness of a throne; and above all the likeness of a man exercising executory judgment, though with the unfailing pledge of mercy to an evil world.

This brings us to a similar passage where this thought is enlarged, in Ezekiel 1:4-28. The terrible majesty of God is seen in the cloud and the devouring fire, and the brightness of His glory (ver. 4). In connection with this the "living creatures" appear — four of them, not two. These are described with considerable minuteness; they had the likeness of a man (ver. 5), which suggests intelligence, but with four faces — of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. These four faces suggest: intelligence in the human face; fearless authority in the lion; strength in the ox; and swift, heavenly flight in the eagle. The feet, "like the soles of a calf's foot," would suggest stability, and the hands of a man and the eyes upon the wheels show the predominance of intelligence rather than mere power. The wings suggest their heavenly character, and in that way would remind us of the angels "that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word" (Ps. 103:20). "The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning" (ver. 14) — "His ministers a flame of fire" — instantaneous and swift obedience to the control of the Spirit (ver. 12). Then the wheels are described — those awful symbols of the resistless power of God rolling on in their course — high unto heaven, and bearing upon them the throne and Him who sat upon it, "the likeness as of the appearance of a Man above upon it" (ver. 26).*