The Comforter: An Angel?

# The Comforter: The Angel of Truth  

Welcome to Pleroma Pathways, apocalyptic and mystic Christianity where we explore esoteric and apocalyptic texts.  

Several expositors have noted that just as Israel was led by a special Angel in the wilderness—whom Isaiah 63 associates with God's Holy Spirit—so too was the early Church led by a Holy Spirit Angel, the Comforter. This Angel was sent by Jesus after His ascension, when He assumed all power over the Angels. The following points outline the reasons for understanding the Comforter as an Angel:  

- **Isaiah 63:7-11** describes the Angel that guided Israel through the wilderness as the **"Holy Spirit"**, which aligns with the role of the Comforter.  

- The Comforter was sent in **God and Christ’s Name** (**John 14:26**) just as the Angel was sent **in God’s Name** (**Exodus 23:21**).  

- The Comforter would **teach** (**John 14:26**), **guide** (**John 16:13**), **judge** (**John 16:8**), and **prophesy** (**John 16:13**). Similarly, the Angel guided Israel through the wilderness, taught them God’s ways, judged Egypt and the Canaanites, and represented God to Israel—just as the Comforter represents Jesus to His people.  

- The Comforter would **"show you things to come"** (**John 16:13**), which was fulfilled by the Angel giving the **Revelation to John**.  

- The Angel testified to the churches (**Revelation 22:16**) just as the Comforter **"shall testify of Me"** (**John 15:26**).  

- The Holy Spirit is frequently depicted as a **person** in Acts, as in **"The Holy Spirit said, ‘Separate to Me Barnabas and Saul’"** (**Acts 13:2**). This aligns with the Comforter being an Angel rather than an abstract force.  

### The Comforter as the Spirit of Truth  

The Comforter is called **"the Spirit of Truth"** (**John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13**). In the Dead Sea Scrolls, this title describes an **Angelic Spirit** who leads the righteous (**Testament of Judah 20:1-5**). Otto Betz, in *Der Paraklet* (1963), highlights connections between the Comforter and **Michael the Spirit of Truth** in contemporary Jewish writings.  

Jesus stated:  

**"He, the Spirit of truth… will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."** (**John 16:13, NKJV**)  

This aligns with the role of Angels as **messengers** delivering divine truth, as seen in:  

**"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His Angel to His servant John."** (**Revelation 1:1, NKJV**)  

This passage suggests that the Comforter Angel played a role in **delivering divine knowledge**, just as the Angel in Revelation revealed prophetic truth.  

### The Comforter and Angelic Mediation  

The book of Acts frequently interchanges the terms "Spirit" and "Angel":  

- **"Now an Angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise and go toward the south…’"** (**Acts 8:26, NKJV**)  

- **"Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot.’"** (**Acts 8:29, NKJV**)  

The "Spirit" that guided Philip is clearly identified as an **Angel**. Similarly, the Angel of the Lord directed Cornelius (**Acts 10:3**), and the Spirit confirmed the message to Peter (**Acts 10:19-20**). This pattern reinforces the idea that the Holy Spirit is working through an Angelic being.  

Paul’s vision also supports this idea:  

**"For there stood by me this night an Angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar.’"** (**Acts 27:23-24, NKJV**)  

Paul states that he **serves** this Angel, which aligns with the Comforter being the Angel of the Lord guiding believers.  

### The Comforter and Divine Presence  

Isaiah describes the Angel of the Presence leading Israel:  

**"In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them… But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit."** (**Isaiah 63:9-10, NKJV**)  

This passage equates the **Angel of His Presence** with the **Holy Spirit**. Stephen affirms this connection:  

**"You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you."** (**Acts 7:51, NKJV**)  

This rejection mirrors Israel’s resistance to the Angel in the wilderness (**Exodus 23:21**).  

Paul emphasizes the role of **elect Angels** in the Church:  

**"I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect Angels…"** (**1 Timothy 5:21, NKJV**)  

The phrase “elect Angels” suggests a **divine presence** in the gatherings of believers, reinforcing the Comforter’s Angelic identity.  

### The Comforter and Prophetic Revelation  

The Comforter’s role in **revealing truth** aligns with Angelic mediation of prophecy:  

- The Angel gave **Revelation** to John (**Revelation 1:1**).  

- Jesus said the Comforter **"will show you things to come"** (**John 16:13**).  

These parallels suggest that the Comforter Angel was responsible for **inspiring New Testament prophecy**.  

Additionally, the Spirit is depicted as interceding in prayer:  

**"The Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."** (**Romans 8:26, NKJV**)  

Revelation describes Angels presenting **prayers** before God:  

**"And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the Angel’s hand."** (**Revelation 8:4, NKJV**)  

This suggests that the Comforter Angel acts as a **mediator** for believers’ prayers, a role consistent with **angelic intercession** throughout Scripture.  

### Conclusion  

The evidence suggests that the Comforter is an **Angel** rather than an abstract force or separate divine person. This understanding:  

1. Aligns with the **Angel of the Presence** in the Old Testament.  

2. Explains the **Holy Spirit’s personhood** in Acts as an Angelic being.  

3. Connects the Comforter with **Angelic mediation** in prophecy and intercession.  

4. Provides a more **cohesive interpretation** of God’s manifestation without resorting to Trinitarian doctrine.  

Through the **Comforter Angel**, God continues to **guide, teach, and reveal truth** to His people, fulfilling His divine will as He did in the days of Israel’s Exodus.