There is a popular idea that those who go to Heaven either immediately or can one day become angels–often the latter with some sort of process to it. However, all of these ideas are extra-biblical. They do not come from within the Scriptures. In fact, everything in the Scriptures points to humans and angels being entirely different created orders of beings.

In short, humans do not become angels.

Zechariah 12:8 is a verse that comes up on this topic often so let’s take a look at the verse.

In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the one who is feeble among them in that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord before them.

verse 8 (NASB)

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In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the Lord before them.

verse 8 (NKJV)

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On that day the Lord will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the Lord, going before them.

verse 8 (ESV)

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The context here involves Jerusalem and Judah so it is speaking about God’s people. The Lord will protect them is the main idea here. However, we also see here in verse 8 a shoring up of God’s people. The feeblest will be like David. The house of David will be like God and like the angel of the Lord. The protection includes strengthening God’s people.

It is the “like” part that seems to get people. What is meant by “like?” For starters, like carries the idea of similarity but it does not carry the idea of sameness. The text does not say shall be David, shall be God, or shall be the angel. Couple this wording with the context and we see that God’s people will be like David, like God, like the angel of the Lord in their strength before the enemy. God’s protection is complete and includes making His people strong in front of their enemy.

This is all the more profound when getting to the end of the escalating status, we see the “Angel of the Lord” which is thought to be Jesus Christ (pre-incarnate). You do not ever become Christ let alone God Himself. As followers, one can only become like Him as growth brings you closer to Him.

We are Separate Creations

Here are some additional items to think about regarding this topic and how we are separate from the angels:

• The heavenly host is seen as already created and working alongside God as early as Genesis 1 before man is created. We are led to believe they were created all at once and they were not born.
• Humans are created in the image of God; we are image bearers. This is not a trait of angels. (Genesis 1:27)
• Biblical angels have often been described as very other-worldly beings. They are inherently unnatural to the created order humans commonly experience today. This includes even the time before the fall. (Ex. Isaiah 6:2; Revelation 4:6-7, 10:1)
• Angels invoke reactions from the humans that see them. The angels are divine beings and humans often find themselves feeling as if they should bow to them. There is a chasm, in effect, between the human and the angel.
• Angels, unto this day, are often veiled from our sight. A distinction between us and them. We are only able to see them when the Lord so wills it. (2 Kings 6:1-17)
• When we die, we are described as being separated from sin and brought into God’s presence where the angels dwell; however, these descriptions do not include us going through a change into angels. (Ex. Psalm 27:4, Hebrew 12:18-24, 1 John 3:2, Revelation 7:15-17)
• Even in the end times imagery, we see in Revelation, and elsewhere, depicts angels of distinctly different make from us, and nowhere in those depictions are we described as becoming angels. (See God’s throne room in Revelation 4)
• As Christians, we are called to be and are drawn to be like Christ–who is God–and also not an angel.
  • “Angel of the Lord”, which can refer to Christ, is a title and does not necessarily refer to an actual angel.
• Angels are given no opportunity for redemption when they rebel against God as humans are given. (See Satan’s treatment or that of the fallen angels)

This treatment is not meant to be an exhaustive list. Even so, it should be enough to show you the original point of this article. Humans do not become angels. We are distinctly different created orders of beings of God’s creation. There are certainly ways we can become like them–such as, one day, coming into God’s very presence. We must be careful to distinguish the difference between likeness and sameness. We will never become exactly the same as angels. We will become like (similar) to them in our position before God but never angels ourselves.