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)