The belief in angels is worldwide. People of differing religions believe in enlightened spirit beings who act as intermediaries between God and humans. Some believe angels disguise themselves as ordinary people living ordinary lives but can perform miracles on behalf of others in moments of great need. What do you think?
Do you believe you have a guardian angel specifically assigned to you? While many pictures and paintings depict angels as cute babies with small wings, did you know the Holy Bible does not describe angels as infants, females, having halos or as dead loved ones now living in heaven?
According to Job 38:4-7, angels did not begin their lives as humans but were already in heaven “shouting for joy” when God created the earth. Instead of starting out as fleshly human beings, Psalm 104:4 says God “maketh his angels spirits.” Some angels fell from grace by leaving their heavenly position and now await judgement, according to Jude 6.
Some popular books list the supposed names of many angels with their rank and duties, but the Bible gives us the names of only two faithful angels, Michael at Daniel 12:1 and Gabriel at Luke 1:26.
Some angels refused to give their names to humans, according to Genesis 32:29 and Judges 13:17, 18. Could this have been to safeguard humans from giving too much honor to angels but only to God? You decide.
These angels Hebrews 1:14 calls “ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” have been active in the lives of God’s people for centuries.
When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary he told her she would have a son who was to be named Jesus. They also delivered messages to Abraham, Lot, Jacob, Moses and others. It was an angel who presented the information that John recorded in the Bible book of Revelation, according to Revelation 1:1, 22:6.
But they did more than present God’s message to His people. Some acted as guardian angels to faithful servants like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Peter, Paul and the other Apostles, according to Daniel 3:28, Daniel 6:22, Acts 5:17-20, Acts 12:6-11 and Acts 27:22-24.
Do angels care and protect people today? I believe they do. Psalm 34:7 says, “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” Do you believe they protect all people or only those who fear God? Do our conduct play any role in whether angels help us or not?
At Luke 15:10 Jesus said, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.” Does this suggest to you that angels care about the way we live? Who decides if they intervene and when?
Psalm 103:20, 21 says, “Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word ... that do his pleasure.” If angels are involved in our lives, wouldn’t God also be involved in our lives since they take orders from Him?
In contrast, Revelation 12:9 alert humans to a time in heaven when “The great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him.” These fallen angels are dangerous.
In a world where angels and demons surround us — it is important to be able to discern the difference in the two, which may not always be so easy. Why? According to 2 Corinthians 11:14, 15, “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness.”
Can fallen angels perform good deeds — miracles even — to deceive the unsuspecting? Acts 16:16-18 records the Apostles’ experience with such a spirit being. “As we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us,” wrote Luke. “The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.”
What the possessed girl was saying was true. However, verse 18 says, “But Paul, being grieved (or “greatly annoyed,” according to the New King James Version) turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”
Some people believe these fallen angels pretend to be dead loved ones who cunningly try to get people involved in practices condemned by God, like those mentioned at Deuteronomy 18:10-12.
It helps to learn what the Bible, not man, says about these powerful spirit creatures. Revelation 14:6, 7 indicates God’s angels would be involved in sharing everlasting good news during the time of the end. We may not see them but they see us and want to help us. Have you heard this everlasting good news?
*For a copy of The Little White Book of Light featuring more Wright Way columns, visit barnesandnoble.com, booksamillion.com and amazon.com.
