Many believe that angels are still among us. Their very name "angel" means “messenger,” and we can be assured that when they’re here, they have come for a very specific purpose. For throughout history, angels have been sent by God to bring a message of hope, to protect, comfort, serve, carry out his judgment, and to give Him praise.
There are people who have had encounters with angels in our world even today. Maybe some are aware of these angelic meetings. Maybe others have no idea they’ve walked or possibly talked with an angel.
We’re told in Hebrews 13:2, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And we can be confident that He still works in the same powerful ways, for He never changes.
Here are five reasons why God sent angels in the Bible, what their stories teach us, and why we may experience an interaction with angel today.
1. Angels come to bring a message from God.
Many people believe that angels are very real, even today. They are God’s messengers, and there is a vast spiritual realm that surrounds us, though we can’t visibly see it (Colossians 1:16).
There are many examples in the Bible of when God sends an angel to give a specific message to an individual or group. Sometimes it was a word of encouragement or to offer hope for what was still to come. Other times it was a clear warning for God’s people and provided protection and guidance. Here are some examples from Scripture where God sent angels with messages:
In Genesis 18, God sent three of these messengers to Abraham and Sarah to tell them that even in her old age, she would soon bear a son. Within just a year, those words had come true.
In Genesis 16, God sent an angel to Sarah’s servant, Hagar, in the desert when she ran away after feeling hurt and mistreated. We read the story of how the angel’s message was to give hope that God indeed saw her situation, and she was not forgotten.
He sent an angel to the discouraged Gideon in Judges 6, who greeted him with the words, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” Hardly the words Gideon may have used to even describe himself at that time. But God saw with different eyes, and the angel’s words spoke truth and life to a fearful soul.
God sent the angel, Gabriel, to Mary in Luke 1 to tell her that she would give birth to the very Son of God. Gabriel also came to Zechariah to tell him the news that Elizabeth would bear a son. In Luke 2, God sent an angel messenger to the shepherds to tell them of Jesus’ birth. In Matthew 28, an angel appeared at the tomb of Christ to announce that Jesus was risen.
2. Angels protect God's people.
As believers, we never need to be afraid of angels. Though this may be our normal response if we ever encountered one, the Bible reminds us over and over that we do not need to fear them (Luke 2:10).
Many times throughout history, and still today, God sends angels to protect, guard, and fight for us. We do not have authority over angels, and the Bible never tells us to give them instruction or to command them. That is the work of God alone.
He tells us in the powerful words of Psalm 91 that He would give angels charge concerning us to guard us in all our ways.
God sent an angel to protect Daniel when he was thrown into the lion’s den. Daniel 6:22 says that he shut the mouth of the lions so that no harm came to him who was found blameless before God.
God reminded the Israelites of his presence with them in Exodus 23:20 when he said, “I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.”
Psalm 34:7 reminds us, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.”
In 2 Kings 6:17, Elisha prayed that his servant would see the armies of angels surrounding the city. God opened his eyes and he realized he had overlooked these mighty invisible beings.
His word reminds us of his special care over children, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father...” Matthew 18:10.
3. God's angels come to comfort and minister to believers.
Many times, God sends angels to minister to those in extreme times of pain, loss, or grief.
If you’ve ever sat at the bedside of a loved one who was at heaven’s gates, whether you recognized it or not, you were surely in the presence of angels. Maybe one of your loved ones has spoken last words of seeing angels or light before being ushered straight in to the presence of God. Maybe you just knew and were comforted by the fact that they were seeing into a realm that we can’t fully see, and it gave them peace and strength. I’ve had the experience several times through life of saying goodbye to dear ones I loved. It gives us a picture of God’s tender heart that He cares for His children enough to send help in our greatest times of need and loss.
We see many accounts in the Bible of when God sends His messengers to provide comfort and to minister to those who are in need and to those who are passing from this life to the next.
When Elijah was afraid and running for his life in 1 Kings 19, an angel appeared to him and provided food and water for his journey.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, as Jesus prayed and wrestled with what was to come, Luke 22:43 tells us that an angel appeared from heaven, “strengthening him.”
After Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness and stood strong against the temptations of the devil, Matthew 4:11 says, “Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.”
4. Angels execute God’s judgment.
According to the Bible, angels can also be used by God to punish sin and to bring his judgment.
We are wise to walk with spiritual discernment, for the Bible says that even the devil will disguise himself as an angel of light. We can always be confident with God’s help as He leads us to recognize truth and deception through his Spirit who guides us (2 Corinthians 11:14).
In 2 Kings, King Hezekiah prayed boldly to God, asking for his help against their enemies. The Assyrians were known for the cruel way they treated their captives. 2 Kings 19:35 says, “That night, the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men…”In Revelation, we see specific times that God will give angels the charge to execute his judgment.
Revelation 12:7-9 tells us, “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”
5. Angels come to give praise and worship to God.
Angels are mighty beings who offer praise and worship to God. God never intends for us to worship angels or pray to them. He alone is worthy of our worship (Revelation 4:11). And angels remind us of this truth.
Revelation 4:8 says, “Day and night they never stop saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.’”
In Revelation 5:11-12 we read, “Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand…In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
Satan - The enemy intends evil, but God promises good.
According to Scripture, Satan himself was the highest of all angels in heaven. But because of his great pride, desiring to be worshipped and set up above God, he was thrown out, and he took one-third of the angels with him (Ezekiel 28, Isaiah 14, Revelation 12).
These are the demonic, dark spiritual forces we’re up against today. And you can be assured that the enemy knows how to disguise himself as an angel. His whole intent is to lead us into traps of destruction and to draw our worship away from God. Live aware; don’t be easily deceived.
God promises to help us as we seek to honor Him and walk wisely in this life. We can trust that even when we’re unaware of our needs or impending disasters that lay before us, God knows the way. He is at work: sending words of hope, protecting his children, attending to our needs, bringing justice and mercy to our land, drawing us closer to himself, and encouraging us to walk wisely, be aware, and live fully for Him.
He often works in ways we can’t fully see, sometimes behind the scenes or with unexpected timing. Yet he’s always working on our behalf. Whether we realize it or not, there’s a spiritual realm constantly around us.May God give us eyes to see clearly that angels are among us and that God is working miracles, even today.
Debbie McDanielis a writer, pastor's wife, mom to three amazing kids (and a lot of pets). Join her each morning on Fresh Day Ahead's Facebook page, for daily encouragement in living strong, free, hope-filled lives.
Originally published Wednesday, 04 May 2022.
FAQs
What are angels in Bible and their duties? ›
They can intervene and intercede on behalf of humans. Angels protect the righteous (Matthew 4:6, Luke 4:11). They dwell in the heavens (Matthew 28:2, John 1:51), act as God's warriors (Matthew 26:53) and worship God (Luke 2:13). In the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus, angels behave as psychopomps.
Who are the angels sent by God in the Bible? ›Each of these angels has different responsibilities: Michael is a warrior, Raphael is a guardian, and Gabriel is a messenger. But they share a common purpose: they act on behalf of God, helping His people and bringing Him glory.
What does it mean when God sends you an angel? ›Angels are sent by God to protect us and help us inherit His full kingdom. The Bible tells us that angels are His servants, carrying out His will and work for our good. We know from this verse from Hebrews that angels are ministering spirits, sent to serve those who are going to receive salvation.
Who are the five angels of God mention? ›Chapter 20 of the Book of Enoch mentions seven holy angels who watch, that often are considered the seven archangels: Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, Uriel, Sariel, Raguel, and Remiel. The Life of Adam and Eve lists the archangels as well: Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael and Joel.
What are the responsibilities of the angels? ›The role of angels
They act as messengers to the prophets . They take care of people. They record everything a person does, and this information is used on the Day of Judgement . Izrail, the Angel of Death, takes people's souls to God when they die.
They speak and act according to His instructions, and they bear His authority. As messengers, angels communicate God's law to mankind (Galatians 3:19, Acts 7:53). They are holy beings who have always obeyed God perfectly. In fact, they probably understand God's law for mankind better than any biblical scholar ever has.
How many angels are assigned to a person? ›Each person is assigned four Hafaza angels, two of which keep watch during the day and two during the night. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is reported to have said that every man has ten guardian angels. Ali ben-Ka'b/Ka'b bin 'Ujrah, and Ibn 'Abbas read these as angels.
Do we have angels assigned to us? ›The Lord has not revealed whether one specific angel is assigned to watch over each person, but you can be assured that divine protection and comfort are available. If you exercise faith, you will have God's help, including angels sent to strengthen and comfort you and give you courage to do what is right.
What did Jesus say about angels? ›Matthew 13:41-42
The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace.
When angels are near, some experts say you may notice a cool breeze, a dip in temperature in the room or feel a warm, loving presence close by. Some have experienced ringing in the ears or tingling on the crown of their head, which they believe are signs that the angels are trying to communicate.
Does God give angels charge over us? ›
For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. '” To this Jesus replied, “It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God'” (Matt. 4:5–7).
Does God speak to us through angels? ›God speaks through different channels, according to individual needs. Often, He speaks through a still, small voice. Sometimes His voice is felt; other times it is audible. He speaks through scriptures, impressions, dreams and angels.
Which angels have seen God's face? ›However, most angels have not actually met or spoken to God. According to Anna Milton, only four angels have actually met God and seen his true face. This number later proves to be false, and six angels are said to have met him - Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Lucifer, Metatron and Gadreel.
What is the name of the female archangel? ›In the Anglican tradition, Jophiel is recognized as an archangel. She is often depicted in iconography holding a flaming sword, such as the stained glasses at St Michael's Church in Brighton, St Peter and St John's Church in Kirkley, Holy Trinity Church in Coventry and a mural at St.
What does the Bible say about the ministry of angels? ›Psalm 103:20 declares, “Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.” Angels heed the voice of His Word, they go into action, bringing their great strength to bear when His Word is spoken aloud.
What are angels beliefs? ›Angels are believed to be superhuman entities that exist to be servants of a higher being. These spiritual beings are thought to be intermediaries between God and human kind. They are believed to perform the tasks of messengers, guides, and guardians.
What is the main mission of a guardian angel? ›Guardian Angel is uniquely designed and dedicated to conduct Personnel Recovery across the full range of military operations and during all phases of joint, coalition, and combined operations.
How to know my guardian angel? ›- Learn their names. sleep support+ ...
- Ask them to send you a sign. Angels love to send you signs that can improve your life as well as simple reminders of their loving presence. ...
- Dedicate a song to them. ...
- Write them a letter.
According to rabbi Leo Trepp, in late Judaism, the belief developed that, "the people have a heavenly representative, a guardian angel. Every human being has a guardian angel. Previously the term `Malakh', angel, simply meant messenger of God." Chabad believes that people might indeed have guardian angels.
Which angel sits on the right shoulder? ›The work of the kiraman katibin is to write down and record every action of a person each day. One angel figuratively sits on the right shoulder and records all good deeds, while the other sits on the left shoulder and records all bad deeds.
Should we pray to angels? ›
Jesus said (quoting the Old Testament), "Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only" (Matthew 4:10). Angels were created by God (just as we were), and only our Creator is worthy of our adoration. We also aren't to pray to angels -- and we don't need to!
Who are the chosen angels? ›Our Mission. Chosen Angels Inc. provides wraparound and community building services for foster care youth and families, formerly incarcerated, battered, homeless, and/or economically unstable youth and adults, the disabled, and their families.
Can guardian angels warn you? ›Guardian angels also give us signs of impending danger or they warn us when we need to pay more attention to what is happening around us.
What angel did God send to Jesus? ›The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.
Who are the angels with many eyes in the Bible? ›The late Second Book of Enoch (20:1, 21:1) also referred to them as the "many-eyed ones". The First Book of Enoch (71.7) seems to imply that the Ophanim are equated to the "Thrones" in Christianity when it lists them all together, in order: "... round about were Seraphim, Cherubim, and Ophanim".
Why is Jesus superior to angels? ›Jesus “became” superior to angels in the sense that when he was raised from the dead and exalted and sat down at the right hand of God he was publicly acknowledged in power and glory to be the Son. No angel is ever called “Son” and no angel was ever exalted as the God-man to this position of supremacy and power.
What does 333 mean? ›The frequent appearance of the angel number 333 indicates a positive energy toward your quest. King further adds, if you are feeling limited in your life and seeing a lot of threes, view it as a sign of hope. While angel number 333 encourages you to believe in yourself and dream big, there must be a sense of balance.
What does 555 mean spiritually? ›The number 555 is often seen as a symbol of positive change and new beginnings, as well as a message of encouragement and support from your angels. It can serve as a reminder to trust in the journey and know that you are being guided and supported on your path.
What does 222 mean? ›The number 222 is often associated with balance, stability, and harmony, so the repeated appearance of this number may indicate that you are being encouraged to focus on these qualities in your life. The number 222 may also be a reminder to trust in the journey of your life, and to have faith in the outcome.
Where in the Bible does it say angels will protect you? ›For He Will Order His Angels to Protect You Wherever You Go - Psalm 91:11: Bible Verse Notebook/Journal with 110 Lined Pages (8.5 x 11) (My Inspirational Journal)
Where in the Bible does it say angels will watch over you? ›
Psalm 91:11 King James Version (KJV)
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways.
“For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.” God has commanded angels to guard you. God has given angels, not your circumstance, not your situation, the authority to act on your behalf.
What language do biblical angels speak? ›...
| Enochian | |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Divine language Enochian |
| Writing system | Latin script, Enochian script |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | None ( mis ) |
Through the scriptures, we are taught that God will always hear our prayers and will answer them if we address Him with faith and real intent. In our hearts we will feel the confirmation that He does hear us, a feeling of peace and calm. We can also feel that everything will be fine when we follow the Father's will.
How many heavens are there according to the Bible? ›In religious or mythological cosmology, the seven heavens refer to seven levels or divisions of the Heavens. The concept, also found in the ancient Mesopotamian religions, can be found in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; a similar concept is also found in some other religions such as Hinduism.
Which angel stands before God? ›In the book of Enoch, four angels that stand before the Lord of Spirits are given as: Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, and Phanuel.
What are the angels with wings over eyes? ›A seraph (/ˈsɛrəf/, "burning one"; plural seraphim /ˈsɛrəfɪm/) is a type of celestial or heavenly being originating in Ancient Judaism.
Which angel has many faces? ›Cherubim are described in the Bible as having four faces: a face of an ox, a lion, an eagle and a man.
Who was the first angel created by God? ›Therefore, the first creation by God was the supreme archangel followed by other archangels, who are identified with lower Intellects. From these Intellects again, emanated lower angels or "moving spheres", from which in turn, emanated other Intellects until it reaches the Intellect, which reigns over the souls.
What is a group of angels called? ›Collective noun of angels are: A choir of angels.
Who is the weakest angel? ›
Cherubs, or cupids as they're more commonly called, are among the lowest-ranking angels, primarily known for their matchmaking abilities.
What is the name of the highest archangel? ›The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) interprets the term "archangel" as meaning "Chief Angel", Michael is the only individual so designated in the Latter Day Saints canon. It is believed that he is the head of all of the angels.
Which angel is God's warrior? ›Michael the Archangel, whom the faithful have long looked to for protection in times of peril. The patron of the military and police forces, St. Michael is a fierce warrior and defender of the children of God.
Who is the angel of marriage? ›St. Raphael is known as the archangel of healing, health, marriage and happy meetings.
What are the 7 archangels of God? ›Christian traditions
The earliest specific Christian references are in the late 5th to early 6th century: Pseudo-Dionysius gives them as Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Camael, Jophiel, and Zadkiel.
The four most often depicted in art are: Gabriel, the messenger of God who brought the announcement of Christ's birth to the Virgin Mary; Michael, the dispenser of justice; Raphael, the healer and protector of travellers; and Uriel, the angel of prophecy and wisdom.
What are the 9 orders of angels? ›There are nine ranks of angels. Thrones, dominions, principalities, seraphim's, cherubim's, powers, sovereignties, archangels, and angels.
How many orders of angels are there in heaven? ›Angels in Order
There are nine orders, or groups, of angels that surround God. These nine are further divided into groups of three, or triads.
There are said to be three orders of angels, with three levels in each – that is nine levels in total. The highest orders are “Seraphim”, “Cherubim” and “Thrones” – they roughly equate to cabinet ministers and other ministers of government.
What is the name of the angel of protection? ›Several Jewish apocryphal books mention the archangels Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael, and Joel. In the Catholic Church, Michael is defender and protector.
Who is the leader of all the archangels? ›
They believe that name "Michael" signifies "One Who Is Like God" and that as the "Archangel" or "chief or head of the angels" he led the angels and thus the statement in Revelation 12:7–9 identifies Jesus as Michael.
What does Michael the Archangel do? ›Saint Michael is an archangel, a spiritual warrior in the battle of good versus evil. He is considered a champion of justice, a healer of the sick, and the guardian of the Church. In art Saint Michael is depicted with a sword, a banner, or scales, and is often shown vanquishing Satan in the form of a dragon.
Who is the angel of fire in the Bible? ›| Uriel | |
|---|---|
| Attributes | Archangel; Fire in palm; Carrying a book, a scroll, a flaming sword, a disc of the sun, and a celestial orb or disc of stars and constellations; Holding a chalice (only in Ethiopian Orthodox tradition). |
| Patronage | Arts, confirmation, sciences, poetry, judgement |