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Don Stewart :: When Were Angels Created?

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Don Stewart
As we have seen, angels are created beings. They have been made for the purpose of doing the bidding of God. We will now see what the Bible has to say with respect to their creation.

At The Beginning
The first verse of Scripture gives us an indication as to when the angels were created.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).

The phrase "heavens and the earth" refers to the entire universe. This would include all the separate parts. The creation of angels would seemingly be included in this statement.

Before Creation Of The Earth
Though we are not told exactly when they were created, it seems to be sometime before the earth was created. God spoke to Job saying:

Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. . . when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38: 4,7).

The term "sons of God" is one of the many designations for angels, as the Book of Job earlier states.

One day the "sons of God" came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them (Job 1:6).

If the phrase "sons of God" is referring to angels in Job 38, then when God created the heavens and the earth, the angels had already been in existence. However there are many commentators who see the term "sons of God" as being symbolic and not literal in this context of Job.

Before Seventh Day
One thing we can be certain about is that the angels were created before the seventh day of creation. The Bible says:

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts (Genesis 2:1).

The phrase "all their hosts" probably refers to the angels.

All Things In Six Days
Another passage that is explicit about what God created is found in the Book of Exodus.

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy (Exodus 20:11).

Everything was created in six days. This, of course, would include the angels.

All Created Together?
From a statement that Paul made, it is sometimes assumed that all angels were created together.

for by Him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers - all things have been created through Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16).

Although this may be true, it does not necessarily follow from this statement.

Summary

The time of the creation of angels is something that the Bible does not specifically mention. Angelic existence dates back before the creation of humans. How far back no one knows. They seem to have been in existence when the earth was created. Scripture indicates the angels sang and shouted at God's creation of the earth - possibly before any material thing was made. They were definitely created before humanity. Beyond this, there is not enough information to be more specific.
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