Today I would like to encourage you by reminding you that there are angels among us. Many people have experienced angelic visitations, and many of these are recorded in Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. There are at least fifty-three such examples I can cite. Here they are:
Biblical Examples of Angelic Visitations to People
Hagar’s first angel encounter in the desert (Gen 16:7-11)
Hagar’s second angel encounter in the desert (Gen 21:17)
The Lord and two angels appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre (Gen 18:1-22)
Abraham’s angelic encounter on Mount Moriah (Gen 22:11-15)
The angel of the Lord helped Abraham’s servant find a wife for Isaac (Gen 24:7, 40)
Jacob’s angel encounter in a dream (Gen 31:11)
Jacob wrestled with an angel (Gen 32:22-32; Hos 12:4)
There the angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in flames of fire from within a bush. (Exo 3:2)
The angel of God traveling in front of Israel's army (Exo 14:19)
God sent an angel ahead of the Israelites into Canaan to guard them (Exo 23:20, 23; 32:34; 33:2)
The destroying angel killed 14,700 Israelites who grumbled (Num 16:41–49; 1Co 10:10)
An angel and brought the Israelites out of Egypt. (Num 20:16)
The angel stood in the road to oppose Balaam on his donkey (Num 22:22-35)
An angel (the commander of the Lord’s Army) appeared to Joshua near Jericho (Josh 5:13-15)
The angel spoke to all the Israelites at Bokim (Jdg 2:1 - 4)
Angelic assistance given to Deborah and Barak in battle (Jdg 5:20, 23)
The angel under the oak in Ophrah appeared to Gideon (Jdg 6:11-22)
The angel appeared to Samson’s mother and his father Manoah (Jdg 13:3-21)
The angel at the threshing floor who came to destroy Jerusalem and was striking down people (2Sa 24:16-17; 1Ch 21:16)
An angel appeared to Elijah under the broom tree (1Ki 19:5-7)
The angel spoke to Elijah (2Ki 1:3, 15)
The angel put to death 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night.(2Ki 19:35; 2Ch 32:21)
The angel ordered Gad to tell David to go up and build an altar (1Ch 21:18-30)
The angel rescued Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the fiery furnace (Dan 3:28)
An angel shut the mouths of the lions and rescued Daniel (Dan 6:22)
The first time the angel Gabriel appeared to Daniel and spoke to him (Dan 8:13-19)
The second time the angel Gabriel appeared to Daniel and spoke to him (Dan 9:20-23)
Daniel’s third angelic visitation (Dan 10:5-21)
The angel who appeared to Daniel also supported and protected King Darius the Mede (Dan 11:1)
An angel spoke to Zechariah the prophet (Zec 1:9, 11-14, 19; 2:3; 5:5, 10; 6:4-5; 12:8)
The angel woke Zechariah up (Zec 4:1, 4, 11)
The first time an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream (Mat 1:20, 24)
The second time an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream (Mat 2:13)
The third time an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph (Egypt) (Mat 2:19)
Angels attended Jesus in the wilderness while he was fasting for 40 days (Mat 4:11)
An angel of the Lord rolled back the stone at Jesus’ resurrection (Mat 28:2)
The angel spoke to the women at the empty tomb of Jesus (Mat 28:5)
The angel Gabriel appeared to Zachariah the priest at the right side of the altar of incense (Luk 1:11-19)
The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary (Luk 1:26-38)
Angels appeared to the shepherds (Luk 2:9-15)
An angel from heaven appeared to Jesus and strengthened Him in the garden (Luk 22:43)
Two angels appeared to the apostles as Jesus was ascending to heaven (Ac 1:10-11)
An angel opened the doors of the jail and brought out Peter and John (Act 5:19-20)
An angel spoke to Philip (Act 8:26)
An angel appeared and spoke to Cornelius (Act 10:3-7)
An angel appeared in the prison cell and rescued Peter from it (Act 12:7-11)
An angel of the Lord struck Herod down and killed him (Act 12:23)
An angel stood beside Paul on the ship (Act 27:23-24)
The Lord sent his angel to the apostle John (Rev 1:1)
The angel gave John a scroll to eat (Rev 10:8-10)
The angel carried John away in the Spirit into a wilderness (Rev 17:3, 7, 15)
The angel told John to write something (Rev 19:9)
An angel talked with John and showed him the heavenly city (Rev 21:15; 22:1)
The Lord sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place (Rev 22:6, 16)
Putting it All Together
It's important to note that in a number of instances, if not most, angels appeared as men. In other words, in many cases, they looked like men to those that saw them, as was the case with Abraham (Gen 18:2, 16, 22), Joshua (Josh 4:13), Manoah and his wife (Jdg 13:8, 10), Daniel (Dan 9:21; 10:5, 16; 12:5-7), the women at the empty tomb (Mk 16:5), and the apostles at the Lord's ascension (Ac 1:10).
Just as these people in Scripture experienced angelic encounters, in which angels appeared to them and spoke with them, God changes not, and angels are still very active in the lives of the saints today. All of us who believe in Jesus and follow Him as our Lord and Savior have angels assigned to us. Whether we see them or not, they are still with us and around us to protect us, deliver us, guide us, and help us. As it says in Scripture, "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them." (Psa 34:7). Therefore, there are angels encamped right now around us who fear Him, and they deliver us.
Scripture says:
"In speaking of the angels he says, "He makes His angels spirits, His servants flames of fire.'...Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" (Heb 1:7, 14)
So if you are a follower of Jesus, be encouraged that the Lord has sent His angels as ministering spirits to serve us who will inherit salvation.
One of the ways they serve us is to guard us in all our ways and protect us. "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." (Psa 91:11-12).
However, if an angel ever speaks to you or appears to you, it's very important that you be careful to test the spirits to see if they are from God. For even Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light (1 Cor 11:14). We are not to pray to angels either, as the Lord taught us to pray only to our Heavenly Father. And let's be careful to avoid the worship of angels, as some are in the habit of doing, since angels are created beings that are created by God, and they are not God. John the apostle even made this mistake himself, until he was reproved by the angel before whom he bowed in worship, and was told to worship God alone (Rev 19:10; 22:8-9).
I hope this article has encouraged you today. Don't miss part II called Angelic Encounters, documenting many testimonies of modern day experiences, including those of my own children.
Attribution notice: Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright 2011 Zondervan, all rights reserved, used by permission. "Refuge" painting © 2022 Danny Hahlbohm of Inspired Art, all rights reserved by the artist. All testimonies in written or video format used per the Fair Use act for educational and commentary purposes only, no copyright infringement intented.
Author's note: If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy Angelic Encounters, Activating Your Angels, Various Types of Angels, and Angelic Escape from Terrorist Assassins. You can find more of my articles on the Home page of this blog. You may also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master." Now I'd like to ask a very important question.
Author's note: If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy Angelic Encounters, Activating Your Angels, Various Types of Angels, and Angelic Escape from Terrorist Assassins. You can find more of my articles on the Home page of this blog. You may also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master." Now I'd like to ask a very important question.
Now I'd like to ask a very important question.
Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus. Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15). He preached that we must repent and believe.
Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International. He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org
Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus. Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15). He preached that we must repent and believe.
Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International. He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org
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