Have you seen an angel?

Many people today are interested in angels. You can find many books about angels in the bookstores and they are a popular subject on TV. But have you ever wondered who they are and what they do? Are all angels good? Can you trust every angel? What does the Bible say about angels? Let us look and see.

If you look up the word angel in the concordance you can find many instances where the Bible speaks of angels. But what we find is that their are two kinds of angels.

The first type is what the Bible calls an angel of God. These are the ones that do God’s bidding. One of the first examples of these angels is found in Genesis 3:24 where God had an angel guard the gate into the Garden of Eden. Another example is in Genesis 19:1 where two of them were sent to Sodom to rescue Lot from the judgment to come upon that city. In Numbers 22:21-35 we find an angel of the Lord blocking Balaam from going where God told him not to go.

We are told that there are thousands of them (Psalm 68:17 & Rev. 5:11) and they are strong (Psalm 103:20) The Lord promises that they will be with those that fear God (Psalm 34:7).

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. Psalm 91:11

In the New Testament we find that angels came to announce Christ’s birth to the world (Matt. 1 & Luke 1). They were here to comfort him in his suffering (Luke 22:43) and to raise him from the dead (Matt. 28). An angel opened the prison gates and let Peter go free (Acts 12:6-10)

How does an angel of God respond to someone giving them homage or worshipping them?
And the angel of the Lord said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the Lord. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the Lord. Judges 13:16

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. Rev. 19:10-11

And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. Rev. 22:8-9

Another text on this subject is this:

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, Col. 2:18

There is another type of angel that the Bible speaks of though. These are not Angels of God but are disobedient to God. In Isaiah 14:12 we can read about the history of these angels.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Isaiah 14:12-14

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And 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. Revelation 12:7-9

Other texts on this subject are these:

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 2 Peter 2:4

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Jude 1:6

Here is what the Bible says these fallen angels are like:

And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Matthew 4:9-10

And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Rev. 9:20

What should be our response to an angel? Should we believe every supernatural manifestation that we see?

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2 Cor. 11:14

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:8

Other words for these evil angels are things like devils, Satan, unclean spirit, demons. If we look at those words in the Bible we can find references like these:

And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations. Leviticus 17:7

They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. Deut. 32:17

Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, Psalm 106:37

And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. Matthew 4:24

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: Matthew 8:16

And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. Luke 8:30

But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 1 Cor. 10:20-21

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. James 2:19

For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Rev. 16:14

And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Rev. 18:2

And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. 1 Chron. 21:1

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Job 1:6-9

And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. Job 1:12

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. Job 2:1-4

And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. Job 2:6-7

And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. Zech. 3:1

But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Matthew 16:23

And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. Mark 4:15

And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. Mark 4:15

Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. Luke 22:3

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Acts 5:3

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Acts 26:18

And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Romans 16:20

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 2 Thes. 2:9

For some are already turned aside after Satan. 1 Tim. 5:15

I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Rev. 2:9

And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? Isaiah 8:19

And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. Luke 4:36

Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20

He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them. Psalm 78:49

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: Matthew 25:41

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 2 Peter 2:4

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Jude 1:6

We can see from this that there are two kinds of angels. The ones that are from the Lord and those that are fallen angels whose leader is Satan. So, how does one know if the angel they come in contact with is from God or a fallen angel? The ones from God will live in harmony with the commandments of God. They will be honest and will do those things that are of benefit to mankind. But we need to stand back and be very careful when dealing with the fallen angels---they may for a time do things that are good or will have an appearance of goodness but they will do that to deceive us. We should earnestly pray that God will give us understanding to know the difference. We should pray that God will show us what is right and ask Him to protect us from the evil angels. If we ask Him to do that He will protect us. Pray and read the Bible to better understand what the truth is and God will reveal it to you. One thing that a fallen angel will do is he will contradict the Bible. Remember this text and always compare what we hear and see with what is revealed in the Bible.

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20

God promises:

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. Psalm 91:11

And keep this text in your memory too:

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, Col. 2:18

Be aware ,friend; Not every angel that appears to you is of God. One thing that will distinguish a true angel is that Satan and his angels like to have you worship them. Like he did in the wilderness with Christ he will want you to worship him. He will try to pretend that he is Christ and will desire your worship but if he tells you something that doesn’t agree with the Bible be assured that it is not an angel of God.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 1 Tim. 4:1

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephes. 6:12

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:5

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Mark 13:6

And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. Luke 21:8

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matthew 24:24

And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. Luke 21:11