Are Angels Among Us

Angels bringing messages from God to men and women on earth are part of both Old and New Testament scripture. Artists often picture angels as women with wings, however, angels appear as men in scriptures. And no wings! It seems when angels are seen by humans, they seldom are  recognized as angels. They look like us.

Two of my favorite angel stories are the story of the beggar and rich man, and the story of the “talking donkey.”

The Beggar and the Rich Man

Jesus said: “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

“And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

“And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

“But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that [would come] from thence.

“Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

“Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

“And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

“And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. ” — Luke 16:19-31

The Talking Donkey

One of the strangest stories in the Old Testament is about a talking donkey. It is found in Numbers, Chapter 22. The donkey belonged to Balaam, a prophet, who, according to Smith’s Bible Dictionary, lived in Mesopotamia. The king of Moab had called upon Balaam to curse the Israelites camped in the plains of Moab. Balaam rose up in the morning, saddled his ass and began his trek.

An angry God sent an angel to stand in Balaam’s way. Balaam’s ass saw the angel, who had his sword drawn. The ass turned aside into the field. Balaam struck the animal to turn her back.

The angel then stood in a vineyard path with walls on each side. When the ass saw the angel, she thrust herself into the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. Balaam struck her again.

The angel went further and stood in a place where there was no way to turn. And when the ass saw the angel, she fell down under Balaam. Balaam again hit the ass.

The Lord gave the ass the power of human speech, and she said, “Balaam, What have I done that you should hit me three times?” The ass reminded Balaam that she had served him well. “Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee?”

And Balaam answered, “Nay.”

Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes and he saw the angel standing in the way with drawn sword. Balaam bowed his head and fell flat on his face.

The angel asked, “Why did you smite your ass three times? … The ass saw me, and turned from me these three times.” If the ass had not turned from me, the angel said to Balaam, you would be dead and the ass saved.

It seems that God cares about the animals He created. Consider Matthew 10:29: “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.” And consider Proverbs 12:10: The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

Do Children Have Angels?

Jesus said: “Don’t mistreat a little one, for in heaven their angels behold the face of my Father in heaven. — Matthew, chapter 18

Note that children aren’t guaranteed protection from all the pain that abusers can inflict upon them. However, there is an implied promise that those who harm children will answer for that harm.

Angels in New Testament

The angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and told him that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a son. They were to name him John. John, the Baptist, would prepare the way for the Lord.

The angel Gabriel also appeared to Mary and told her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” The angel Gabriel told Mary her son should be called Jesus. — Luke, Chapter 1

An angel appeared to shepherds with the message, “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 Savior, 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, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” — Luke 2:8-14

An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him he should not fear to take Mary as his wife, because Mary was pregnant with the Holy child. After Jesus’ birth, an angel appeared to Joseph in another dream. This time Joseph was to take the child to Egypt, where he would be safe. — Matthew, chapters 1, 2

In tempting Jesus, Satan dared Jesus to jump from the top of the temple because angels would keep him safe. After Satan left Jesus, angels ministered to him. — Mark, chapter 1

When Jesus faced death on the cross, he prayed that God’s will be done and the Father sent an angel to strengthen him. — Luke, chapter 22

Jesus said not even the angels in heaven know the end of time for heaven and earth. — Matthew, chapter 24

Jesus, in explaining his parable of the good seed and the tares, said the tares represent all things that offend and people who do evil. At the end of the world, he said, angels will sever the wicked from the just, and the wicked will be cast into the fire. — Matthew, chapter 13

Jesus said the Son of man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and would reward every man according to his works. — Matthew, chapter 16

When Peter drew his sword to protect Jesus, Jesus told him to put away his sword. Jesus said he could call on more than 12 legions of angels to protect him, should he choose. — John, chapter 18

Jesus said of angels, “Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.” — Luke, chapter 12

In explaining his parable of the lost coin, Jesus said when the woman who lost the coin finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors to rejoice over the finding. “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.” — Luke, chapter 15

Jesus told Nathaniel he would see the heavens open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. — John, chapter 1

In Jerusalem, there was a pool where the impotent, blind, lame and withered gathered to await an angel, who came to stir the water of the pool. The person who first went into the water after the troubling of the water was made whole. Jesus saw a man who had been sick for 38 years. The man couldn’t make it into the pool. Jesus healed him. — John, chapter 5

An angel rolled back the stone of Jesus’ tomb. This angel’s face is described as “like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.” The angel spoke to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary who came to care for the body of Jesus. The angel told the women not to fear. Jesus, he said, had risen. — Matthew, chapter 28

Mary Magdalene saw two angels sitting where the body of Jesus had lain. When the angels asked her why she was crying, she said it was because “her Lord had been taken away.”– John, chapter 2

When Jesus ascended, a cloud received him and he was taken out of sight of those assembled to hear his words and witness his departure. “And while they looked steadfastly 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 you have seen him go into heaven.” — Acts 1:9-11

An angel opened prison doors for Peter. — Acts, chapter 5

An angel told Philip to travel from Jerusalem to Gaza. — Acts, chapter 8

An angel appeared to Cornelius and gave him instructions to bring Peter to his house. — Acts, chapters 10,11

Herod had Peter thrown in prison, and as Peter was sleeping, an angel came to him, released him from his chains and told him to dress and follow. — Acts, chapter 12

Herod was struck by an angel, was eaten of worms, and died. — Acts, chapter 12

Paul, who was on a ship in peril from a storm, told the crew to be of good cheer because there would be no loss of life. The promise, he said, came from an angel of God. — Acts, chapter 27

Paul told the Corinthians that the saints will judge the world and judge angels, too. — 1 Corinthians:6

It is also written that the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. — 2 Thessalonians: 1

God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up into glory. — 1 Timothy, chapter 3

Man was made a little lower than the angels, and when Jesus lived as a man he was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. — Hebrews, chapter 2

Angels and authorities and powers are subject to Jesus Christ, who is risen, is in heaven and is on the right hand of God. — 1 Peter, chapter 3

An angel was sent to John for the revelation of Jesus Christ. Angels are mentioned throughout Revelation. In chapter 5, John says he heard the voice of many angels about the throne. He gave their number as “ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.”

John writes in chapter 12 of a war in heaven, with Michael, the archangel, and his angels fighting against Satan and his angels. Satan and his angels lost their place in heaven. In chapter 20, he tells of an angel with the key to the bottomless pit and the power to bind Satan.

Angels in Old Testament

Sarah sent Hagar, her maid, to Abraham in hope that Hagar would have Abraham’s child. Hagar provoked Sarah and Sarah became angry with her and banished her. God’s angel found Hagar by a fountain of water in the wilderness, and instructed her to return to Sarah. The angel told Hagar she was pregnant and would bear a son, who was to be named Ishmael. — Genesis, chapter 16

After Ishmael’s birth and after Sarah had her own son, Isaac, Sarah persuaded Abraham to send Hagar and her son away. Hagar thought she and her son would die in the wilderness. She left him under the shade of a bush. She prayed that she would not have to witness his death. God heard her prayer and an angel called to her from heaven and told her not to fear, to go to her child and hold him. Ishmael, the angel said, would be founder of a great nation. — Genesis, chapter 21

Two angels warned Lot to leave Sodom before it was destroyed by the Lord. The angels led Lot, his wife and two daughters out of the doomed city. His wife, however, looked back on the destruction and died. — Genesis, chapter 19

When Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son, Isaac, an angel told him not to harm his son. — Genesis, chapter 22

Abraham was promised that an angel would guide Isaac to the land where he would find his wife, Rebecca. — Genesis, chapter 24

An angel appeared to Moses amid a burning bush. And an angel guided the Israelites when Moses led them out of Egypt on their way to a land “flowing with milk and honey.” — Exodus, chapter 3

An angel told the Israelites that because they had not obeyed the Lord, others would be “as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.” — Judges, chapter 2

An angel cursed the place called Meroz, because its people did not help in the cause of the Lord. The angel blessed Jael, who killed the enemy. — Judges 5:23

An angel appeared to Gideon and told him the Lord was with him. Gideon prepared food and brought it to the angel who was under an oak tree. The angel instructed him to put the food on the rock and when Gideon did this, fire rose from the rock and consumed the food. The angel left and Gideon knew he had encountered an angel. — Judges, chapter 6

An angel appeared to the barren wife of Manoah of Zorah, and told her that she would bear a son. That son, Sampson, would deliver Israel from the Philistines. Later, the angel appeared to both Manoah and his wife. Manoah did not realize he was meeting with an angel until he made an offering to the Lord. When the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel ascended in the flame of the altar, and Manoah knew he had met with an angel. — Judges, chapter 13

An angel was set to destroy Jerusalem, but God stopped him, saying “enough.” David had called on the Lord, acknowledged his sin and asked that God deal with him and not the people. — 2 Samuel, chapter 24; 1 Chronicles, chapter 21

An unnamed man of Judah who spoke for God was instructed not to eat or drink while on his mission to Bethel. But another prophet told him that an angel instructed that food and drink were OK. The prophet lied, and because the man from Judah listened to the lying prophet instead of obeying God, he died. — 1 Kings, chapter 13

The prophet Elijah was touched by an angel as he slept. The angel told Elijah to “arise and eat.” Elijah saw a cake baked on coals and there was water for him. Elijah then slept again and the angel touched him a second time and told him to eat. Elijah ate and drank the meals provided by the angel, and was given strength for 40 days and nights. –1 Kings, chapter 19

An angel told Elijah to meet with messengers of the king of Samaria and tell them the king would die. — 2 Kings, chapter 1

In defense of Jerusalem, an angel killed more than 5,000 Assyrians. — 2 Kings, chapter 19

An angel saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace. Not a hair of their heads was singed. Not even the smell of fire was on them. King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged the power of their God. — Daniel, chapter 3

When Daniel was thrust into the lions’ den, an angel saved him. — Daniel, chapter 8

An angel explained mysteries to the prophet Zechariah, who saw the angel meet with another angel. He was shown Joshua, the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. — Zechariah, chapters 1-12

Satan’s Angels

Satan is given many names in the Bible: the Devil, Lucifer, Beelzebub, the dragon, the serpent, prince of the world, the lord of evil and more. Satan is spoken of as the fallen angel who revolted against God, wanted to be God. He recruited other angels to follow him.

Some verses about Satan:

• The devil has his angels, too. — Matthew, chapter 25

• Satan himself was transformed into an angel of light; so it is no great thing if his ministers also are transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. — 2 Corinthians, chapter 11

• 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, chapter 2; Jude, chapter 1

• Some Bible scholars think Satan was described in Ezekiel as a cherub: “You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created.

• “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. Ezekiel 28:13-1

Jesus: Blessed Are Those Who Care For Strangers

Jesus considered himself a stranger and spoke these words about strangers and about final judgment:

“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat:

I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink:

I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

“Naked, and ye clothed me:

I was sick, and ye visited me:

I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? “When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

“Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

“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:

“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat:

I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

“I was a stranger, and ye took me not in:

naked, and ye clothed me not:

sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

“Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

“Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” — Matthew 25:34-46

Information about angels was researched at BibleGateway.