Angels in a New Age
Connecting To Them?
Question: I want to know what practices will help me connect to my guardian angels. (Y.M.)
Something Beyond the Mundane
Thanks for your question. I’m sure there are many who will appreciate an answer. In a time when there is so much religious skepticism and materialism it is understandable that people would like to be able to communicate with guardian angels or benevolent forces. We want to feel that God is real. Or we want to know that there is something beyond the material world of sight, sense, smell, touch or taste.
Quirky Practices & Doctrines
But, attempts to communicate with angels doesn’t appear to be the focus of the Bible. In fact, the apostle Paul warns us that Satan can appear as an “angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14). In our time (referred to as the “latter days” in the Bible) Paul cautions that some will give their attention to “deceitful spirits” and the “teachings of demons,” who may forbid marriage and encourage abstinence from certain foods (1 Tim. 4:1-3). Certainly, quirky practices and doctrines have always been the focus of cults.
Angels Teach Contrary Doctrines?
Paul also tells us not to receive the gospel from any angel who contradicts our Bible (Galatians 1:6-8). He says that “even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than what we have preached to you, a curse be on him!.“
That would certainly prohibit us from accepting a new gospel or supplementary materials from the so-called angel Moroni who gave Mormonism’s Joseph Smith new revelations. It would also give us pause concerning Muhammad’s revelations coming from an angel “Gabriel” six centuries after Christ – long after the canon had closed (when the bible books were completed). We must remember it is possible that at least one-third of the angels rebelled against God (Rev. 12:4).
Don’t Mess With Angels!
In fact, the Bible teaches that fallen angels can blind the minds of people to spiritual truth. Given that Satan himself can appear as an “angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14), how would you know the difference?
…”the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4, HCSB ).
Not only can they blind our minds, angels are also known to be super intelligent and extremely powerful.
…”what is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels“… (Psalm 8:4-5, NKJV).
Isaiah 37:36 explains that just one angel killed 185,000 Assyrians in a single night! I don’t think we should be “messing” with angels. Do you?
Parallel Realities
In one of the scariest passages in the Bible we are told that in our daily struggles we only “think” we are fighting against humans. But, it’s an illusion. We are actually fighting forces from a parallel reality! “For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens” (Ephesians 6:12). Science fiction has done a good job telling tales of parallel realities and beings popularized by shows such as Star Gate and Star Trek.
Furthermore, it appears that nations around the world are actually controlled by angels, not by men. That’s a shocker. Could this be one reason why politicians go “sour” when they achieve authority over others and begin to associate with other political figures? They certainly act as if they were controlled by some other force!
An angel told the Old Testament prophet Daniel that he battled the “prince of the kingdom of Persia for 21 days” before he could get to Daniel. Then the angel Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help him (Daniel 10:13). From this and other scriptures we suspect that angelic princes rule many of our nations today, and they are not all good. Can you imagine what the angelic “prince” of North Korea might be like?
In Jude, verse 9, the powerful archangel Michael disputed with Satan over the body of Moses. What was that about? Furthermore, Michael had great respect for God’s “chain of command” (authoritative rank) and refused to “bring an abusive condemnation against Satan, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!'”
Deceptive Fallen Angels
Fallen angels can do miracles and healings and signs, too. Paul writes, “The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s workings, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders, and with every unrighteous deception among those who are perishing” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).
Just the fact that one of the gifts believers may have is the gift of distinguishing between spirits (1 Cor. 12:10) means that there is a need because not all spirits are good or well-intentioned!
Messengers
However, we need to understand that angels can give messages from God (see Acts 10:3-33), but these are not new revelations that contradict what the Bible already says:
“Praise the LORD, all His angels of great strength, who do His word, obedient to His command” (Psalm 103:20).
True Identity
Angels are “ministering spirits” given for our protection. “For He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways…” (Psalm 91:11). They can give us guidance as the angel gave to Lot and his family before Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed (Genesis 19:17). They can encourage us (see Judges 6:12) or deliver us as they did Peter from jail (Acts 12:7). They can rebuke us, judge us or bring us supplies (Num. 22:32; Acts 12:23; Ps. 105:40).
But, we rarely see angels or recognize them for who they are. Nor are we told to seek out communication with angels. That is why we are encouraged to show hospitality to strangers, “for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:1-2).
In heaven I imagine we will be able to see and to thank those angels who helped us during our earthly sojourn. Meanwhile, we should pray without ceasing, be thankful for our many blessings, and study God’s Word to the best of our abilities.
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Recommended References:
Graham, Billy. 1975. Angels: Ringing assurance that we are not alone. Nashville, TN: W Publishing.
Missler, Chuck. 2012. Angels. (DVD Volumes 1-3). Coeur d’Alene, ID: Koinonia House.
Rhodes, Ron. 1994. Angels among us. Eugene, OR: Harvest House.