ἄγγελος, -ου, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly for מַלְאָךְ;] 1)
a messenger,
one sent: Mat.11:10, Jas.22:25. 2) As in LXX, in the special sense of
angel, a spiritual, heavenly being, attendant upon God and employed as his messenger to men, to make known his purposes, as Luk.1:11, or to execute them, as Mat.4:6. The ἄ. in Rev.1:20-2:1, al, is variously understood as (1)
a messenger or delegate, (2)
a bishop or ruler, (3)
a guardian angel, (4) the prevailing spirit of each church, i.e. the Church itself. (Cf. Swete,
Ap), in l; DB, iv, 991; Thayer, see word; Cremer, 18; MM,
VGT, see word) (
AS)