Creation did not only comprise the physical/seen realm, but also the spiritual/unseen realm. That is, while God made the natural world in Genesis 1, He formed the spiritual realm simultaneously. Although Genesis 1 does not fully reveal this fact, other portions of Scripture point it out.
Genesis 1:1 says God made the “Heavens.” The word “Heaven” (Heb. shamayim) could refer to outer space, where the heavenly bodies (sun, moon and stars) are situate (see Gen 1:14, 15, 17, 20, 15:5, Deut 4:19), or the physical sky, where birds fly and from whence rain falls (also called the troposphere) (see Gen 8:2, Deut 11:11, Jdgs 5:4. Jer 8:7). However, it could also refer to the unseen realm, where God, angels and demons dwell (see Deut 26:15, 1 Sam 2:10, Pss 20:6, cf. Job 1:6-7, 2:1-2).
Nehemiah 9:6 speaks of “the Heaven of Heavens.” It says, “You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven, the Heaven of Heavens, with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You.” The “Heaven of Heavens” here refers to the invisible domains, which man’s physical eyes cannot see. God made the “Heaven of Heavens” (the unseen realms), and all their hosts. The “hosts” of Heaven are spirit beings (angels).
These hosts (angels) worship God and obey His Word. Psalm 103:20-21 reads, “Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all you His hosts (angels, in context of vs. 20), you ministers of His, who do His pleasure.” Similarly, Psalm 148:2 says, “Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts!” (see also Lk 2:13-14, Rev 5:11-12, 7:11-12).
In Colossians 1, the Apostle Paul makes reference to the creation of the unseen world, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, VISIBLE and INVISIBLE, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (vs. 16). We may infer from this text that creation included both the visible and invisible; angels and demons (which are angels who later fell) were made within the six-day period of Genesis 1.
The Bible seems to imply that angels were made on the first day of creation.
Job 38:4-7
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the Earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7 WHEN the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God (i.e. angels) shouted for joy?
From this text, we deduce that angels were already created, as God laid the foundation of the Earth. This describes Genesis 1:1-3 (the first day of creation)—angels were present, and they expressed joy at the sight of creation (“…the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy,” vs. 7). Thus, angels were the earliest of God’s creatures, already existent, as He commenced the formation of the Earth.
(An excerpt from The Christian’s Guide to Origins, 2024, pp. 46-47)
