MALACH-ANGEL, MESSENGER

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.

Malachi 3: 1 (NIV)

(1)

INTRODUCTION

We all know that the majority consider the bible foolishness. But what is considered foolishness to this world could very well be wisdom in the eyes of the Lord. Oh how many times has God spoken to us through dreams, through His Word and prophets. And not only them, but through angels. In Hebrew they are called malach. And all of them, together with His Son, are His faithful messengers. But have we and are we listening? 

THE MEANING OF THE WORD MALACH

Who doesn’t like receiving good news? Beside storytelling, hearing awesome and amazing news - especially relating to us - might just be the second most favourite pastime of humans. I can not say we are as fond of hearing the not so pleasant ones, I am afraid. Do you relate?

Messages nowadays are sent in all forms of ways through all sorts of platforms. But behind it all still stands a messenger, the author of the message and the message itself. God is not shy to use all means necessary to reach His sheep, His lost, the hungry and needy. Each matter to Him. 

He speaks in dreams, He speaks through prophets, He spoke through His Son, speaks through His Word. And sometimes, yes even nowadays, speaks through His angels. 

The Hebrew word for angel is malach, though it primarily means messenger. Its plural form malachim nowadays can refer to a Hasidic group of members of the Chabad school of Hasidic thought. (2, 3)

ETYMOLOGY

The noun derives from the verbal consonantal root l-’-k (ל-א-ך), meaning specifically "to send with a message". (2)

It is the only word used in the Hebrew Bible for both human and divine messengers. In modern Hebrew it has been substituted with the term shaliyakh in connection to human messengers. (2)

From the same root also originates the noun melaka, meaning “work”, “occupation”, “craftsmanship”. (2)

Doctor Michael S. Heiser in his books Unseen Realm and Angels mentions that the word malach denotes an occupation, a lesser angelic task of delivering messages, which does not necessarily mean less status. (4, 5)

ANGELS IN THE BIBLE

Angels are considered as supernatural beings in Judaism and Christianity. Their essence is often associated with fire and are categorized in different hierarchies. (2)

Angels are neither eternal or everlasting. The fact that they are created means they are not eternal. They have a beginning. But they are immortal per God's permission. That permission can also be revoked and they die. 

There are three distinct ways in which angels serve God: 

• praising 

• decision making in the divine council 

• obeying and 

• carrying out decisions. (4)

DIFFERENT RANKS OF ANGELS

In general there are different ranks of angels in the Bible and different expressions that name them. Among them are:

• malach; meaning messenger

• tsar; meaning prince

• sharat; minister

• er; the watchful, the watchers

• tsaba; host, army

• abarim; the heavenly ones, the mighty ones, the able bodied ones

• giborim; the mighty ones

• meletz; the mediator

• cherubim, seraphim; guardians of divine presence (4)

MODERN CONCEPTS OF ANGELS - ALIENS?

I am currently reading and immersing myself in other literature that also mentions aliens. Technically alien simply means non-human. So all angelic beings could be considered alien. 

But there are two sides in the christian circle with two theories. One is that aliens are the watchers and their progeny merely deceiving people. Others claim that they are separate to watchers, though their agendas may very well be against humanity (See book Birthright: The Coming Posthuman Apocalypse and the Usurpation of Adam's Dominion on Planet Earth

By: Timothy Alberino; 6). Many claim that the USA and other countries have contracts with these beings. They are already residing among us. And not all have good intentions. Men in black, anyone?

These are of course conspiracy theories. There are retired personnel though, who claim the accounts to be true. And since we know of angels and other supernatural beings, things may not be so far fetched. They simply need to be understood and looked at from God’s perspective. 

On a side note, there may be an agenda to create superhumans through altering the human genome with non-human genes. We humans have inherited the earth. It is our birthright and only we have dominion on it unless we abdicate it or it is usurped. But that inheritance is only applicable if we remain human. Do not let your genome be altered into a non-human state. (6) 

CONCLUSION

Malach is a Hebrew expression for messenger and also angel. Angels are supernatural beings of different levels of hierarchies. Their essence is associated with fire. Their ranks are 

• malach; meaning messenger

• tsar; meaning prince

• sharat; minister

• er; the watchful, the watchers

• tsaba; host, army

• abarim; the heavenly ones, the mighty ones, the able bodied ones

• giborim; the mighty ones

• meletz; the mediator

• cherubim, seraphim; guardians of divine presence

Their jobs are different, but may contain, praising, guarding God’s divine presence, decision making, obeying, and carrying out orders.

Application

Is there a message God has called us to reveal? Let Him speak to us. Let Him reveal.

SOURCES

1. Image created via canva.com.

2. Wikipedia. Malach. Available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malach.

3. Rabbi Julian Sinclair. Malach. Available at https://www.thejc.com/judaism/jewish-words/malach-meywpn83 

4. Michael S. Heiser. Angels: What the Bible Really Says About God’s Heavenly Host. Available at https://www.amazon.com/Angels-Bible-Really-About-Heavenly/dp/1683591046 

5. Michael S. Heiser. The Unseen Realm. Available at https://shorturl.at/lWma4 

6. Timothy Alberino. Birthright: The Coming Posthuman Apocalypse and the Usurpation of Adam's Dominion on Planet Earth. Available at https://shorturl.at/RHEfG