So, what is a spirit being? Simply put, they are personal, intelligent, non-human beings created by God to exist in the spiritual realm. By nature they have no body, though they often appear to humans as though they did have one.
God created more than just the physical world we see. He also created an invisible realm, teeming with intelligent spiritual beings, who serve God by maintaining the cosmos, carrying out God's decrees and ministering to human beings that would inherit salvation. They have played a crucial role in God's plan from the very beginning. There is much more to thier role in God's plan, but that is, essentially what is a spirit being.
Colossians 1:16 English Standard Version
16 For by him [Jesus Christ] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Angels aren't mentioned in the creation story in Genesis chapters 1 and 2. Jesus Christ created all things, visible and invisible, but when did God create angels?
What is a spirit being? They are not eternal or all-powerful like God. God does however, share certain of His communicable attributes and abilities with His spirit beings, to empower and equip them to serve Him and also believers. While they are spirits and don’t have flesh and bone like us, they can and do appear in forms we can see, often looking like men.
The Bible seems to indicate there is somewhat of an angel hierarchy If you've ever been curious about the rankings of angels, you're not alone. The idea of a celestial chain of command is fascinating. Our goal here is to dive deep into this topic and carefully untangle what the Bible actually says about an angel hierarchy.
God created both his spirit being family and His human being family with the ability to choose to obey, or to disobey Him. There are three occasions of angelic rebellion, we call them fallen angels.
The angel of Yahweh is God in human form. The God of the Hebrew Bible is spirit, but also has a body. The biblical evidence for this is overwhelming. Ancient Jewish teaching about the Hebrew Bible revealed there were two Yahweh figures. One visible, the other invisible. The Exodus scripture is clear. The angel of Yahweh is the visible form of Yahweh himself.
The spiritual world isn’t a fantasy world; it’s a reality that intersects with our own. The Apostle Paul calls it the “heavenly places” where spiritual forces are at work (Ephesians 6:12). Think of the prophet Elisha and his servant, who were terrified by an enemy army. Elisha prayed, and God opened the servant’s eyes to see the reality of the spiritual realm: “the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17). This invisible army, God's divine council was always there, just waiting to be seen.
Psalm 82:1 English Standard Version
Rescue the Weak and Needy
A Psalm of Asaph.
82 God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
Have you ever been reading the Old Testament and stumbled across a phrase that just didn't seem to fit with everything you’ve been taught? Phrases like "sons of God" in the Bible, or verses that seem to talk about multiple gods can be confusing, especially when we're taught that there is only one true God. For many, this part of the Bible feels a bit spooky or is simply ignored in church. But what if understanding these spiritual entities is key to unlocking a much deeper, more epic story in the Bible
Understanding what is a spirit being and the reality of the spiritual realm isn’t just for head knowledge; it’s for use in daily life. It means we should be aware of the spiritual battle around us and put on the full armor of God. It means we should never worship or pray to angels, as they are fellow servants. And it means we can have confidence, because the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world.
Ephesians 6:10-12 English Standard Version
The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Revelation 22:8-9 English Standard Version
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
1 John 4:4 English Standard Version
4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
This has been a quick tour of a vast and fascinating topic, what is a spirit being and hopefully, it has answered some of your Bible questions and given you a clearer understanding of the unseen spirit world. The Bible has so much more to say, and every detail points back to the wisdom, power, and authority of the God who rules over it all. Don’t be afraid to dig deeper. The more you learn about God’s complete reality, both visible and invisible, the more you will stand in awe of the King who reigns supreme over all creation. Hopefully, you'll now understand what is a spirit being and how they serve God and believers.