Most Christians long to go to heaven. And because no one has a clear picture of what heaven will look like, many ask themselves several questions about heaven. What will people do in heaven? Will we see our loved ones in heaven? How will it feel to be in heaven? Most Christians even question what angels will look like in heaven. Have you ever wondered, “what will angels look like in heaven?”
In the book of Revelation, John tries to create a clear picture of what angels look like. John had a vision where he saw angels worshipping God. John described angels as being with multiple pairs of eyes and wings. However, many scriptures have posited that angels are spirits that can appear in both human forms and not as humans.
So, what does the Bible say about the actual appearance of angels in heaven? Are angels physical beings or spiritual? Will angels look like regular people in heaven? What Bible verses describe the appearance of angels in the Bible? How did John describe angels? How does Ezekiel describe angels in the Bible? Will people recognize angels in heaven? Read on to find the answers to these questions and many more.
What does the Bible say angels will look like in heaven?
There is no description in the Bible of how angels will look in heaven. However, when they appear in the Bible, they take different forms. Some verses in the Bible describe angels as seraphim, others as cherubims, and others as living creatures. Ezekiel describes angels as cherubims. The four angels that appeared to him had different appearances. One had a face of a man, the other lion’s face, the other an eagle’s face, and the last had a face of a cherub.
Additionally, angels in John’s vision had similar features to those described in Ezekiel. Each of them took a different form, and they had wings. Another common thing in both of them is that they worship God. Angels also appeared as human creatures in the New Testament. Luke 24:4 notes, “while they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them.”
Therefore, angels might take different forms in heaven. 1st Corinthians 15:39- 40 notes that there will be different types of bodies in heaven. “Not all flesh is alike, but there is one flesh for human beings, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are both heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one thing, and that of the earthly is another.”
Are angels physical or spiritual beings?
Angels are spirit beings with the ability to appear in physical form. The book of Hebrew clearly solves this question as it refers to angels as ministering spirits. Hebrews 1:14 says, “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
Additionally, whenever angels appeared to anyone in the Bible, they took different forms. In most of the cases, they were described as men. However, the descriptions of angels in Revelation were quite unusual. Revelation 9:8 notes, “Their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lion’s teeth.” However, most bible scholars agree that angels are spiritual beings with the ability to take different physical forms.
Will angels look like regular people in heaven?
No one knows for sure what angels will look like in heaven. This is because they took different forms when they appeared in the Bible. In the gospel books, angels mostly appeared as men. Luke 24:4 describes the appearance of angels as men. Additionally, the same description is reinforced in the Old Testament in the book of Joshua 5:13-14.
“Now, when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for our enemies or for us?” Therefore, though angels appeared like regular people in most instances in the Bible, no one can confidently say they will look like regular people in heaven.
What Bible verses describe the appearance of angels in the Bible?
Several verses in the Bible have described the appearance of angels. In the gospel of Luke chapter 2, the shepherds in the field were sore and afraid after God’s angel appeared to them, and God’s glory shone around them. Additionally, angels also appeared to the men guarding the tomb of Jesus in Mathew 28:2-4. “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.”
Some bible verses even go ahead and describe some physical characteristics of angels. Exodus 25:20 describes angels as beings with wings. “And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.”
The book of Isiah also describes angels as being with human voices and features and with six wings. Isiah 6:1-2, “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. And above him were seraphim, each with six wings: with two wings, they covered their faces; with two, they covered their feet, and with two, they were flying.
How did John describe angels in the Bible?
Most of the Bible describes angels as powerful creatures and always pictured worshiping God when they appear in anyone’s vision. When John had a vision of the angels, he tried to describe them with the words he knew best. In Revelation 10:1, John describes the angels as beings with faces that look like the sun and legs that resemble fiery pillars. “Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robbed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars.”
Additionally, like how Ezekiel described angels, John had a similar description. The angels had faces resembling different creatures, wings, and eyes in front and behind. Revelation 4:6-8, “In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front, and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings.”
How does Ezekiel describe angels in the Bible?
Ezekiel’s description of angels in the Bible was unique but not far from those seen in the vision of John. He described angels as creatures with four faces, straight heads, four wings, and hands that look like those of a man. Additionally, Ezekiel describes each angel he sees with different characteristics. That means that angels might appear in different physical forms. One looked like a lion, the other a man’s face, and the other looked like an eagle.
Ezekiel 10:10-14, “As for their appearance, the four of them looked alike, each was like a wheel intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any one of the directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about as the cherubim went. The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced without turning as they went. Their entire bodies, including their backs, hands, and wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels. I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.” Each of the cherubim had four faces: one face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.”
Will people recognize angels in heaven?
The question as to whether people will see angels in heaven is still debatable among theologians and bible scholars. However, they unanimously agree that angels will not be omnipresent in heaven. The Bible is clear that only God is omnipresent. Therefore, though angels are immaterial creatures, they are not everywhere simultaneously as Christ.
Additionally, some theologians believe that angels have physical bodies, and we will be able to see them in heaven. Those who stand by this go by the fact that whenever angels appeared to anyone in the Bible, they appeared in physical form. To reinforce what I had mentioned earlier, angels are spiritual buildings with physical bodies.
Additionally, what strikes out whenever angels appear to anyone in the Bible is that they appear as men. Luke 24:4 describes angels: “While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them.”
References
What Do Angels Look Like in Human and Heavenly Form?
Angels’ Nature Shows us What Heaven is Like
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
