Are angels real? ............. Parables 746

March 12, 2002

John G. Paton, a former missionary in the New Hebrides, tells how hostile natives surrounded his headquarters. They intended to burn his house and kill him and his family. He and his wife prayed all night. They were amazed when their attackers left in the morning.

A year later, the chief of that hostile tribe became a Christian. Paton asked him about that night and the native man said, “Who were all those men you had with you there?”

Paton said there were no men, just himself and his wife, but the chief told him they had seen hundreds of men in shining garments and drawn swords standing guard around his house. Did that native man see a heavenly host of angels?

Artists assume angels fly from heaven to earth so paint wings on their backs. Hollywood and television shows depict angels like humans and even give them our sinful tendencies. The Christmas story puts golden halos around the heads of angels. Some writers depict them as warriors. Other people think they are more like the fairies of folk lore.

What does the Bible say about angels? First, the word angel means “messenger” implying that angels convey something from God to His people. They are depicted as actual beings that usually take human form but are distinct from both God and humans.

Angels were created before the world and are spiritual beings. They have the ability to make choices (some choose evil and fell from heaven) and have emotions and intelligence. The Bible says they cannot reproduce themselves.

Angels are holy, powerful and do not die. They are usually designated as masculine and ranked in order with various classifications, duties and definite ministries.

Angels appeared in the Old Testament, but not often. Some references describe “the angel (or messenger) of the Lord.” This was probably a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ Himself rather than an actual angel since the Bible also says Jesus is not, and never was, an angel.

The New Testament tells how an angel came to Mary and told her she would become pregnant with the long-expected Messiah. An angel also reassured Joseph that this child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and would be God’s Son. Later, an angel directed him to take his family to Egypt so Herod would not kill the baby.

Not only did they predict and announce the birth of Christ and protect Him, angels also strengthened Him after His temptation in the wilderness and at Gethsemane, rolled the stone from His tomb, and announced the resurrection.

While angels also announce impending judgments, inflict punishment, and act as reapers to take unrighteous people from the earth at the end of this age, Hebrews 1:14 says angels are “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.”

For instance, an angel released the Apostle Peter from prison chains. Another stood beside Paul and told him what would happen next and what to do. Jesus told a story about several angels carrying a beggar to heaven after he died.

Scripture is clear that even though angels can take human form, they are not like human beings. They do not sin. Nor do people become angels when they die. Jesus said that when Christians go to heaven, we will “be like the angels” and will “not marry nor be given in marriage” yet angels and humans are distinct beings.

The missionary, John Paton, probably was protected by angels. His story is like an Old Testament account of the heavenly host that protected God’s prophet Elisha when His enemies threatened him. However, Hollywood angels miss the mark.

How can we know if the “angels” people claim to see today are really angels? All angel sightings should be tested by God’s purpose for creating these beings. They are holy messengers who speak and act on His behalf. They are not willful (like people) nor do they exercise mysterious and magical powers. They simply carry out the intentions of God and by doing this, He is glorified.