Angels
What are They ???
Angels are sometimes portrayed as cute, plump, non-threatening cherubs. They may even look like feminine creatures in white robes, or portrayed as strong, masculine warriors. Many people are angel-crazy. Some even pray to angels for help or for blessing - almost like wishing on a star. Collectors in angel clubs amass 'everything angel'. Some connected with New Age teachings conduct angel seminars to help people comunicte with angels for "divine guidance" or to experience "angel therapy". Unfortunately, angels can seem to us as a worldly focus that appears "spiritual". This is why it is extremely important to align angels with the teaching of them according to the Word of God, the Bible.
It’s not wise to think about the reality of guardian angels without considering who angels are biblically. Images and descriptions of angels in the media, art, and literature often give us a distorted view of these magnificent creatures.
Many people may ask ...
"Are there guardian angels?
What are angels like?
Who are they guarding?
Is guarding people all that angels do?
Are there mean angels?
What exactly are angels?
Who Are These Glorious Creatures?
Angels are mentioned 108 times in the Old Testament and 165 in the New Testament. I find it odd that celestial beings are mentioned so many times in the Bible and yet are so poorly understood.
Let's start with their creation. Angels are created beings. They were made before the foundation of the earth. The Bible says in Psalm 33:6 "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth." Isaiah 40:26 says: "Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power;"
The Bible says that angels are God's 'messengers'. God sent His angel to the virgin Mary to give her a message (Luke 1:14-19). God sent two angels to comfort His disciples as they stood watching Jesus descend out of their sight (Acts 1:10-11) God sends an angel in Revelation 14:6-7 to preach the gospel to those on earth. There are many, many passages throughout the Bible which signify angels as God's messengers. Angels were created to do God's bidding, to obey His will. Angels are God's special creations and are also called 'flames of fire' in Hebrews 1:7 "And of the angels he saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire"
How Does the Bible Describe Angels?
Angels are invisible unless God chooses to make them visible. Specific angels have appeared throughout mankind's history. An angel appeared to Gideon in Judges 6:22. In Numbers 22:31, an angel appeared unto Balaam. Hebrews 13:2 says: "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Angels can and have taken on human form.
Angels are immortal, they do not have physical, aging bodies. They are spirit beings, not bound by gravity or other natural forces. They do not marry (Mark 12:15). The angelic host is too numerous for us to count; and while they are not all-powerful like God, angels do excel in strength. Psalm 103:20 says, "Bless the LORD, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word."
Angels can exercise their own will, and in times past, some angels did choose to pridefully rebel against God and pursue their own agenda. Jude 6 tells of how God dealt with these angels that rebelled against Him. "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day." These angels are know as demons. They are mankind's greatest enemy, even today. However, an innumerable number of angels stayed faithful and obedient to God, worshipping Him and ministering to the saints.
Although angels can be present with us and hear us, they are not God. They have some limitations. They must never be worshipped or prayed to because only God is to be worshiped. This is what an angel said to John when John bowed down to worship the angel in Revelation 22:8-9 "...I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not; for I am thy fellowservant...worship God." Hebrews 1:14 says: "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Angels are obeying God when they minister to us.
Angels also like to watch what we are doing! 1 Peter 1:12 says "...which things the angels desire to look into." Angels have been with believers throughout our lives. They have observed and know us. They have witnessed many of the blessings and been there through crisis. Won't it be wonderful someday to hear angel stories about what was going on behind the scenes of our lives when we get to Heaven?!!
Who Do Guardian Angels Guard?
There are many times angels will guard people, even non-Christians. Satan wants to take as many souls with him as he can. God's angels protect the unsaved in hopes that that person will accept Christ into their heart.
Angels also watch over children. Matthew 18:10 says: "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven."
The Bible talks more about angels guarding in Psalm 91:11: "For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." Angels are commissioned to watch over and protect believers at the Lord's command. They do not work independently from God and they don't understand everything. They are not omniscient. Angels are curious about the salvation God offers humans and how He chooses to work through His people.
Does Every Believer Have
a Specific Guardian Angel?
Yes, angels do guard believers but does every Christian have an assigned angel? Throughout history, considerable controversy has risen about individuals having specific guardian angels. Some church leaders, like Thomas Aquinas, believed in assigned angels from birth. Others, like John Calvin, rejected this idea.
Rather than looking to one guardian angel to help me, as I'd been taught from childhood, I realized that God could rally thousands of angels to assist me, if that were His will. Angels are continually at God's command as overseers and guardians of us humans. We see this in scripture in 3 Kings 6:17 when angels surrounded Elisha and his servant ... "And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." When Lazarus died, he was carried by angels. Luke 16:22 says: "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels". Even Jesus said He could have called 12 legions of angels -- around 72,000 angels -- to help him during the events of the crucifixation (Matthew 26:58).
How are Angels Active in Believers' Lives ?
Christians are most familiar with the idea of angels guarding and protecting them. But that's not all that they do. Not only do angels deliver, guide, enlighten or reveal information and provide help; they also escort Christians to Heaven at their time of death. Angels carry God's children home. Ephesians 2:2 says that Satan is the prince of the power of the air. So picture earth, then space that is out above the earth, and finally Heaven. We are on earth. We will pass through that space between earth and Heaven when we die, when we ascend to Heaven. The space above earth is in Satan's realm. God's angels will be around us when we die, IF we are God's child. The angels will escort our spirit through Satan's realm and into Heaven.
We do not become angels. We are saints, if we are saved. Everyone has a spirit. Our bodies are just a shell for our spirit, and like a butterfly, we leave our bodies behind and fly away with the angels of God ... if we are Christians. Angels, who express emotions and joy and have intersected in our lives, may be the first ones to see our amazed and joyous expressions as we pass into Heaven's pearly gates!
Just remember, angels are gifts from God. Worship God, not angels.
