Yes, Angels, Really

Have you ever wondered, as I have, why the Bible never blushes when it mentions angels? I mean, compared to today, people in Scripture seemed to encounter angels all the time. Just think about the incidents reported only in the book of Acts as Dr. Luke chronicled the growth of the young church.

Acts 1:11 Two men dressed in white, traditionally presumed to be angels, speak to the apostles after Jesus’ ascension.

Acts 5:19 An angel brings the apostles out of jail during the night.

Acts 7:30 Stephen testifies that an angel directed Moses.

Acts 8:26 An angel tells Philip to go to the old, deserted Gaza Road.

Acts 10:3 An angel instructs to the Romans centurion, Cornelius, to send for Peter.

Acts 12:6-18 An angel delivers Peter from jail and certain execution.

Acts 23:9 The Pharisees clearly assume angels speak to humans and guide them.

Acts 27:23 An angel comforts Paul.

Apparently, first-century believers assumed the existence and activity of angels. In fact, according to Hebrews 13:2, in the exercise of brotherly love and hospitality some believers actually “welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.” Why, then, do we not hear more about angels today? Why when we do hear people report about angelic encounters today are we prone to be dubious? Have all the angels died? Have they simply sworn of visits to our planet?

Who says angels no longer walk among us? Just because we don’t read about them in the paper or see news reports on TV, does that necessarily mean angels are not around? Maybe the reason newspapers and such don’t report angelic visitation is simply because those information outlets have a predisposition that does not expect, anticipate, or even allow for angels to show up in our lives.

Who wrote the Bible, after all? “All Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Ultimately, the Bible is God’s Word, His record transmitted by God, the product of the Holy Spirit working through men (2 peter 1:20-21). That is to say, the Bible is an eyewitness report from God’s perspective. Now, since the Bible is God’s Word, I believe there is nothing incidental or coincidental therein. In other words, God has edited Scripture so that every thing in the Word is “profitable … so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The reason the Bible so matter-of-factly mentions angels is because the Bible represents reality from God’s lofty, clear, and accurate point of view. God wants us to know that angels did and still do interact with people. To be sure, the appearance of angels to men was not exactly commonplace. That’s probably why angels often have to introduce themselves by saying “Fear not.” The fact remains, however, that God includes reports of their appearances and activity in His Word, the Word He has given us so that we might see life the way He sees life and adjust our lives to that view.

Consider Elisha’s servant. Back in 2 Kings 6, Israel is at war with Aram. Now Elisha would send word from God to the king of Israel and repeatedly frustrate the king of Aram. So, the king of Aram decided to take out Elisha. When the Aramean army showed up at Elisha’s place in Dothan, his servant was understandably shaken. “Oh, my master, what are we to do?” he asked. In response, Elisha declared, “Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them.” Then he prayed, “Lord, please open his eyes and let him see.” When Elisha’s servant looked up, he saw the mountains covered with angels in chariots of fire!

Elisha’s servant got a glimpse of reality from God’s perspective. I think we could certainly use a dose of that today in our church and in our nation. In God’s view, angels are all around us. Now, if that is true, then in God’s view everything is under control – not simply because of the proliferation of angels but because the presence of angels substantiates every other promise and statement of Heaven’s-eye reality.

If our newspapers and television stations could report from God’s perspective, I have a strong sense that we would be receiving some startling revelations about God’s activity around the world in places and ways we never imagined. Oh, that we could see as Elisha saw and as he prayed for his servant to see! How differently would we live if we were accustomed to the presence of heavenly messengers (“angel” is a transliteration of the Greek “angelos” meaning messenger).

Finally, I wonder: is God concerned about our current economic state? The outcome of our elections? The price of crude oil? I suggest His concern with these matters is only to the degree that He might use them for the good of those who love Him, the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

What then should be our concern? What then should be our confidence? God is on the throne and active in the affairs of men. And God’s activity is ever and always to strengthen the hearts of those people wholly devoted to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9).