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)

a messenger; angel