When were angels created? In the creation account, we often hear of God creating the Day and the Night, the Heaven and the Earth, the Land and the Seas, the two great lights (Sun and Moon) and the stars, Fishes, Birds, Animals and man, but seldom do we hear of God creating the angelic beings. When did God create angels, for they certainly did not exist from everlasting to everlasting (as did God – Psalm 90:2) but were made as was man, just a little higher than man (Psalm 8:5)?
Genesis 2:1 records that God finished the creation of the heavens and the earth AND the (heavenly) host (armies) before he rested. While the word ‘host’ meaning ‘army’ could be interpreted as speaking about the heavenly bodies (stars and celestial bodies in the sky) as some believe, we are told in the Genesis creation account explicitly about the creation of the two great light and the stars. This make me more inclined to believe that the reference to ‘host’ here is to angelic beings and not angelic bodies. My reasoning stems from what the apostle Luke refers to the armies of angels that praised and gave glory to God, at the birth of Jesus. He refers to them as a multitude of heavenly host (Luke 2:13). This is further substantiated by what the prophet Nehemiah writes in chapter 9 verse 6. Nehemiah 9:6 states the Lord is God alone for he made the heaven, the heaven of heavens and all their host and the host of heaven worships him.
I started this article by asking “When” were angels created? Actually, “when” the angels were created is of far lesser significance than “why” they were created. Angels (who were made a little higher than man) were made to worship God and they worship him in heaven.
Points to ponder:
If even the angelic beings who were made higher than man were created to worship him and they worshipped him, so must we worship our creator God for his is worthy of our worship. Do I worship God who made the angels and me? Do you worship God who made the angels and you? Don’t let the angels alone be the ones who worship God!
Genesis 2:1 (KJV)
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had
Nehemiah 9:6 (KJV)
6 Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
