As mentioned earlier, God created angels and humans for eternity. In our present stage of life as human beings, we were born of women; we have bodies. When we die, although we’ll leave our body here on earth, our spirit will live on—and if our name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life*—our next life will be in heaven. In that spiritual realm with our spiritual eyes, we’ll be able to see the angels. Right here, right now, it’s uncommon to see angels, although occasionally someone does, when God sends him to earth for some particular reason.
In biblical days, occasionally people saw angels too. Examples include the angel who appeared to shepherds the night Jesus was born [Luke 2:8-15]; the angels who went to Lot’s house to warn him to get out of town because God sent them to destroy Sodom [Genesis 19:1-13]; the angel who spoke with Mary before she became pregnant with Jesus revealed her future role (being the mother of a Very Special Child) [Luke 1:27-35]; and the angel who told Joseph what he must do to protect Mary and the baby Jesus [Matthew 1:18-25; 2:13].
Many people may say they believe in angels, well, in a kind of, sort of, way. Those of us who believe see them as benevolent beings, although as you’ve learned from reading my book Intruders from the Unseen World; Mary’s Story, some are pretty mean. (These are the fallen angels, the ones who left with Satan when he was told he could not remain in heaven with God. [Revelation 12:9]) I see decorative artwork depicting angels in many homes I’ve visited. You find them in curio cabinets, on mantels, on posters, and on Christmas trees. We recognize them as angels because they have wings.
But what about real live angels? The translated Greek word for angel is messenger. In the above examples, angels acted as messengers, and the chief messenger is Gabriel. We read in Hebrews [1:14] that some are ministering angels, sent to care for God’s own people, those who are saved. An example is the angel that God sent to care for Elijah [1 Kings 19:5-9], who left town because Jezebel was intent upon murdering him. And angels came to minister to Jesus at the beginning of his ministry and again at the end of his days teaching on earth [Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 22:41-43]. Some angels act as protectors or guardians. Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:10 that we should not despise little ones [children] for “their angels always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”
Just as we have many job descriptions on earth, it seems the angels might have various job descriptions as well. Take Peter’s experience. Herod, the king, had imprisoned him and was planning to have him killed. But the church prayed constantly for him, and while he was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers, an angel suddenly appeared to him, filling the cell with light. The angel awakened him and told him to get dressed. The chains fell off his wrists, and he followed the angel out of the prison. They passed the first and second guards, and the main gate leading to the city opened automatically for them. When they were a block away from the prison, the angel disappeared [Acts 12:6-10].
War is raging in the heavenly places, which we neither see nor hear. The war is between God and Satan. God’s angels are guarding us and defending us against our enemy’s attacks. With Satan and his evil angels (demons) to deal with, we can be thankful God sends warrior angels, led by the archangel, Michael [Jude 9]. An example of warrior angels protecting God’s people is in the story of Elisha asking the Lord to show his servant that there were more on their side than on the side of the attacking Arameans [2 Kings, Chapter 6]. Other examples are our war against fallen angels, or demons, which are deceivers who come only to destroy. Jesus taught us Satan is the father of lies, that there is no truth in him [John 8:44]. My mother, Mary, battled with lying demons when she was attacked. We call this spiritual warfare and our weapon against them is the Word of the Lord, or Scripture. They can’t stand against the truth of God.
God’s holy angels are ready to guard and protect us; we should soberly know of their presence. But while there may be twice as many holy angels as there are wicked evil spirits that remained with the devil, Satan, when banished from heaven, we must obediently follow the Lord’s commands and give no place to him. Although Satan was defeated by the work of Jesus on the cross, he has influence and leads astray whomever he can.
For true stories of God’s holy angels interacting with people in helpful ways, check out the Guideposts compilation, Angels All Around Us, coming out in January 2022. Included in the book is an encounter I once had with an angel titled Messenger of Hope.
*Revelation 20:15
