MESSENGER & GUARDIAN ANGELS

Just like the resurrected Jesus, angels seem to be able to materialize and disappear at will. The angel that announced the birth of John the Baptist appeared to Zacharias while he was serving in the temple.

Luke 1:11–13 “And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.”

An angel and a host of angels suddenly appeared to announce the birth of the Saviour to the shepherds.

Luke 2:8–13 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God”

Two angels identified as men encouraged the body of believers who witnessed Jesus’ ascension with the promise of His return.

Acts 1:9–11 “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

Whether they choose to materialize or not, the angels are ever at work in ministering to believers and intervening in events on planet earth as necessary in accomplishing God’s will. I would love to have been with Elisha when he asked God to reveal the mighty angelic forces that were protecting them to his servant.

2 Kings 6:15–17 “And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. 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.”

The messenger angel that came to reveal God’s vision to Daniel about end times made reference to angelic forces that were engaged in battle involving events on planet earth.

Daniel 10:12–13 “Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.”

Noting that Michael was identified as the guardian angel of Israel so to speak in a previous post, this passage seems to indicate that there are angelic forces, both good and evil, that are connected to different nations. I am convinced that is also in evidence regarding the reference to Gog by the prophet Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 38:1–2 “And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him….”

The prophet goes on to make reference to Gog as an entity about whom the prophets of Israel had prophesied “in old times.”

Ezekiel 38:17 “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?”

This same being is again aligned in battle against God’s people at the end of the millennial reign of Christ. This being can only be supernatural—obviously utilizing men in achieving his purposes.

Revelation 20:7-8 “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.”

Daniel declares that an angel closed the mouths of the lions to protect him from harm in the lion’s den.

Daniel 6:21–22 “Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.”

An angel delivered Peter out of prison.

Acts 12:7–11 “And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.”

Angels seem to have a special guardianship ministry in connection with children.

Matthew 18:2-3, 6 & 10 “And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven….But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea….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.”

I would tend to think that these guardian angels continue to minister in the lives of those who are “heirs of salvation” according to the writer of the Hebrews.

Hebrews 1:13–14 “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

One other comforting thought for the believer is alluded to in the record of the death of Lazarus. Scripture indicates that angels carried Lazarus to “Abraham’s bosom,” the place were the souls of people of faith were comforted until Jesus took them to heaven after His resurrection.

Luke 16:22 “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom….”

Some argue that this is just another one of the stories in scripture. I personally believe this to be a true story about real people. The Lord named the people involved, the details are specific and in the surrounding context He is teaching truth. Though you can’t build a doctrine on one verse, I tend to think God treats all His children the same. The only place that indicates deferential treatment is regarding the determination of rewards given or treasures earned in light of how we invest our time and energy in this life. Though my desire is to enter the presence of the Lord through the rapture, I like the idea of being ushered into His presence by an angelic escort.