Does an angel of death exist?

what does the bible say?

The Bible does not explicitly identify a being known as the "angel of death." Passages sometimes cited to support this concept, such as Exodus 12:29 and 2 Samuel 24:16, actually highlight that it is the Lord Himself who carries out judgment. In these scriptures, angels act as instruments of God's will, not as independent agents with a specific role as "angels of death." Similarly, the New Testament does not introduce an angel of death but mentions angels executing God's judgment as part of His sovereign plan. This encourages us to trust in God's control over life and death, finding comfort in His justice and purpose, rather than fearing a supposed angel of death.

from the old testament

There is no being named the "angel of death" in the Bible. Those who believe in an angel of death typically point to three passages. First, there is the claim that Exodus 11:4–5 speaks of an angel of death; however Exodus 12:23 says, "For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you." This foreboding is soon fulfilled: "At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock" (Exodus 12:29). The "destroyer" could be an angel carrying out God's judgment. However, it is clear that the LORD performed this judgment. Exodus 11:4 says, "I will go out." Exodus 12:23 says that "the LORD will pass through" and "the LORD will pass over." Exodus 12:29 says, "The LORD stuck down." As it is written, God was the One who promised to judge, and He is the One who executed it.A second passage that some use to support the idea of an angel of death is 2 Kings 19:35, "And that night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies." The "angel of the LORD" performs this act, not an "angel of death."The third passage in question is 2 Samuel 24:15–16: "So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning until the appointed time. And there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba 70,000 men. And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, 'It is enough; now stay your hand.' And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." Here, as in 2 Kings 19:35, the "angel of the LORD" causes the deaths. He is not an "angel of death." In fact, many theologians view the "angel of the LORD" as a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ (see Judges 6:22–24).

from the new testament

Revelation 9 speaks of angels or "messengers" who will kill many in the last days. Again, none of these angels are called an "angel of death." The Bible supports the idea that God can use angels to carry out His judgments, including death, but this is different from a special "angel of death," whose only task is to take life.

implications for today

It is important to recognize that the Bible does not specifically identify an angel of death. Rather, Scripture demonstrates that when judgments, including death, occur, they are carried out according to God's sovereign will. This understanding reinforces the biblical view that while angels may execute God's commands, they do so as instruments of His will, rather than as independent agents with a specific role as "angels of death."

In our daily lives, this insight encourages us to approach the topic of life and death with a focus on God's overarching sovereignty, rather than attributing such events to a different supernatural being. It invites us to engage with life's challenges and losses by trusting in God's ultimate control and purpose. Rather than fearing an "angel of death," we can find comfort in the assurance that our lives are held in the hands of a loving and just God who works all things according to His divine plan. This perspective helps us navigate our fears and uncertainties with faith, knowing that God's intentions are always for our good, even in the face of life's most difficult circumstances.