Do angels have wings?

[Tom Wetmore]

Angels with wings are taken for granted. Traditional and popular art almost always shows them with wings. But the Bible doesn't exactly describe angels as actually having wings. Seraphim and cherubims and creatures around the throne of God are described as having wings. But they are different heavenly beings than angels.

On the other hand, God is frequently described in Scripture as having wings. But traditional and popular depictions of God seldom if ever show him with wings.

Why do we think angels have wings?

[Bravus]

And we almost never see angels with the four different faces of four different beasts, as described in Ezekiel. And covered in eyes. I want my angels freakier and more alien looking, as they no doubt are, rather than Aryans with wings.

[phkrause]

I think your correct dgrimm60.

pk

[Tom Wetmore]

As I understand it, Ezekiel was describing something for which he didn't identify as even being angels. There are parts of what he described as being cherubims which I think popular understanding and depiction show as being essentially angelic in form rather than the bizarre, alien creatures that surrounded the throne of God.

But here is a thought that I have also considered about the idea of wings on angels. I think that angelic beings are capable of transmogrification or shape-shifting into any visible form that serves the mission they are assigned to do. When they appear, it would be in whatever form that matches what will meet the need or understanding of who they are appearing to. Given the perception of heaven as being a place "up there" and the messenger role between "up there" and down here, the best way for God to explain that sort of "travel" through the air to ancient people was to describe his messengers as having feathered wings just like the only thing known to man that could do such a thing - birds. So angels have wings like that. That was good enough then to explain how they got from down here to up there.

If the angelic travel actually required physical travel over vast distances at the warp speeds necessary, those birdlike feathers would have burned up on re-entry! And if travel goes through space I don't think flapping wings in the vacuum of space would function very well. Perhaps if God's first opportunity to introduce such a being was after mankind had invented airplanes, rockets and space travel, angels would have had jet packs...

[Tom Wetmore]

If symbolic, perhaps it was to leave poor old Ezekiel so awestruck that God was way beyond anything he could have imagined. What Ezekiel saw certainly surpassed and exceeded anything the pagans could come up with as their gods... And maybe it served that purpose - My God is way more awesome than your god!

[Tom Wetmore]

I think that EGW did "see" wings. Would she have recognized those beings as angels in any other form? What if the angel had appeared to her in the form of a talking banana? Do you think she would have undestood it to be an angel?

[Woody]

Not only did angels have wings ... but Ellen White had wings.

In Adventist Home [on page 543 she said in one vision she was given wings to visit other worlds].

[Woody]

Here is [another EGW reference - CET 175]

[Bravus]

I guess a moderator will be along soon.

What I don't understand is why you would deliberately choose to post in a new forum, established for a particular purpose, in direct contravention of that purpose.

[Woody]

I'm sorry. But I do have to disagree with your premise that someone came along and 'deliberately' attempted to controvert your rules. I doubt that it was a conspiracy. It was a mistake for which I am sorry for my part. Mistakes happen.

This is the draw back of this type of forum. Communication happens. So do mistakes. So this type of forum while good and has it's benefits ... will be ripe for some mistakes of reverting back to the usual.

How will those who make mistakes be treated ... that is the question. Will the strong arm of authority with accusations be displayed? Or will forgiveness and understanding be demonstrated?

[phkrause]

Good thought redwood.

pk

[Bravus]

Sorry man, was not meaning to come across that strong. I didn't mean to attack you.

I would have thought, though, that everyone knew that the whole goal of this forum was no quotes. I mean, it's been discussed at some length.

And I think you're a smart guy. I think you know this stuff. So when you did a couple of posts in a row with quotes, I assumed that it was not a mistake but an intentional act of provocation.

If it wasn't, and I misjudged, I apologise.

And reiterate. This forum is for original thoughts NO QUOTES.

[Bravus]

Here is what it clearly says at the top of this forum:

"This forum has but one rule - Every post must be the original thoughts of the poster, nothing more, nothing less. That means that no post should contain any quoted or paraphrased material from any source or other person, and one cannot even repeat even themselves."

[Tom Wetmore]

I suspect the moderator treatment should now be self-evident. Please note my editing to bring it within the spirit of the rule.

But what I would prefer to see if one chooses to give a reference to another source, is that it be within the context of ones own thoughts expressed in the post about the topic at hand.

If I were inclined to be heavy handed about moderation I would delete the last six or seven posts as being an off-topic distraction and deal with it by PM. But as we all get used to this format of discussion in this forum I will cut some slack for our edification. Fair enough?

So Redwood, what are your own original thoughts on the matter?

[olger]

Wetmore. How are you?

I understand your question about wings, and refer you to Isaiah's vision.

The Bible informs us that angels neither marry or are given in marriage. There is no gender in angels so female angels and baby angels are only figments of man's imagination. They prefer to be called He in all records of them in Holy Writ.

[Lineman]

Is it possible that God gives us actual physical wings so that when we attempt to use them to go someplace it signals our intent, much as the lame man used his legs in an attempt to walk when instructed by Jesus to "take your bed and walk"?

Maybe God transports us from one planet to another, but once we arrive we are at liberty to move about using our wings much like we use our legs today?

Could it be that the angels have this same ability to move about a planet on their own? Would God do that for them and for us?

[BobRyan]

1. Because prophets in the Bible and those beyond the closing of the canon of scripture - like Ellen White and Ernie Knoll ( http://www.4hispeople.com/StandFast.htm ) and also the one who calls herself simply "Candace" http://www.4hispeople.com/candace.htm all describe seeing angels with wings.

2. Because no one in the bible or beyond the canon of scripture ever claims to see God - describes him as having wings.

in Christ,

Bob

[Taylor]

They why did the angels over the ark of the covenant have wings?

[Gail]

And yet the beings who chatted with Abraham before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah apparently did not.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

And it is said that one can entertain angels unawares....I would think one would notice a wing or two sticking out..

I don't think angels necessarily have wings..

[Taylor]

lol rudywoofs...good points. The point is also, however, that angels can apparently change themselves into looking like various humans so I suppose their wings are detachable.

[Gail]

They... put them in their pockets?

[Woody]

I've heard it all now. Detachable Wings. I didn't know that God invented Velcro.

[Taylor]

lol no Redwood they are more like lego pieces...snap on and off. :)

[Taylor]

Sure or maybe they leave them on a cloud on the way down to be picked up later on their way back to heaven....hope they can remember which cloud they left it on and hopefully they don't get zapped and melted by lightening before they get back. lol!