The death angel is a creature who, according to the Bible, was sent by God to kill people. This angel is not seen in any other religious texts and has remained a mystery for centuries. Now, scientists have discovered that the death angel is actually an ordinary bird called a shrike. The shrike eats mice, lizards, and other small animals and birds. They are known for their large beaks and claws which they use as weapons to kill their prey.
It was previously thought that these birds were responsible for killing humans as well, but this theory has been disproved by scientific evidence. While it’s possible that some birds may have attacked humans in the past and been mistaken for angels, there has never been any evidence of it happening today.
Death is not a new phenomenon. It has been a part of the human experience since the beginning of time. And as with all things in life, death has been documented and told through stories.
But what about the death angel? You’ve heard about it, right? You’ve seen it pop up in movies, TV shows, and even in some music videos. But how much do you actually know about this mysterious creature?
We’ll be exploring everything there is to know about the death angel in this blog post!
Death angel in the bible
The idea of a grim reaper has not only pervaded popular cultures, such as in books like The Book Thief and Scythe, but it has also taken a featured spot in many religions. Judaism, for instance, attributes this role to Azrael, an angel of destruction. Islam has a name for this figure, “Malak Almawt,” as do other religions such as Hinduism.
Does Christianity have a similar figure by a different name? Does a sole Angel of Death exist, realizing the idea of the Grim Reaper?
Some say the Archangel Michael plays some role in the process from passing from this world to the next, but no Bible verse or passage supports this notion. In Scripture, Michael appears to fight spiritual battles and carry out the commands of God, none of which seem to indicate a grim reaper role. The name Azrael never appears in the Bible as well.
Although angels may appear to cause death in some cases in the Bible, we should make a note that no sole angel (or demon) can do so without God willing it. Job makes it clear God has numbered our days, but He alone chooses when we reach the end of our life on earth (Job 14:5).
Angels of Death in the Bible
When looking at Scripture, it appears angels do have a hand in some instances of death and destruction.
For instance, an angel of the Lord in 2 Kings 19:35 goes out at night and kills 185,000 Assyrians. Considering the Assyrians made themselves out to be enemies of God’s people, God willed this angel to commit such a mass destruction.
In Revelation, God gives one of the angels the power to cause death, and the four horsemen have the power to wipe out one-fourth of the earth’s population (Revelation 6:8). Although, one could argue that the four horsemen may not necessarily be angels or demons, but rather, symbolize rulers and authorities on earth.
However, it appears demons may also try to have a hand in death. Jesus encounters a demon-possessed boy whose demon tries to kill him. The demon often throws him into fire and water to burn or drown him (Mark 9:22).
Does This Mean That Angels and Demons Can Kill Us?
Technically yes, but we need to keep in mind, they cannot harm a hair on our head unless God wills it. Let’s take a look at God’s power over the most infamous of all angels, Satan.
Satan has to go to God for permission to harm Job in any way. God gives him permission to wipe out Job’s family and possessions (Job 1) and eventually Job’s health (Job 2), but God tells Satan he cannot take away Job’s life. He does not have the authority to do so.
If Satan, one of the most powerful angels, has to obey God, it shows us that God will not allow for our lives to be taken until the determined time.
The Bible describes angels as God’s servants (Psalm 103:20). A servant will obey whoever is in charge, not straying from commands.
What about the Angel of Death? Does it exist?
The Angel of Death is a misnomer. Although angels, if given the command of God, can take away a life, they will not do so unless they have received that command or if God wills it. The Grim Reaper, so to speak, does not exist in the way we have perceived it as a culture to exist.
Nothing personifies death. We all will experience death, but no one single angel by the name of Azrael carries out all of the death duties, so to speak.
We need to keep in mind, as well, that God will one day destroy death itself (Revelation 20:14). Whether or not He placed a single angel in charge of death or in charge of ushering us from one life to the next (which Scripture does not indicate), we need to understand that that angel’s role will become obsolete after Christ returns. Although interesting to speculate, in the coming age, it does not hold as great of a weight as other matters.
Exodus 12:23
Verse Concepts
For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you.
2 Kings 19:35
Verse Concepts
Then it happened that night that the angel of the Lord went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men rose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead.
Revelation 20:14
Verse Concepts
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
Revelation 6:4
Verse Concepts
And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.
Luke 16:22
Verse Concepts
Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried.
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Exodus 12:29
Verse Concepts
Now it came about at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle.
2 Samuel 24:15-16
So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand men of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the calamity and said to the angel who destroyed the people, “It is enough! Now relax your hand!” And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
