The Bible mentions angels 273 times in 34 of its 66 books, and what it says is very interesting.
Angels were created by God (Psalm 148:5; Col.1:16) and, interestingly, they were formed just slightly higher than men (Hebrews 2:7; Psalm 8:5). Mankind, however, slipped down several rungs on the creation ladder with the entrance of sin in Genesis 3. (Incidentally, nowhere does scripture indicate that we become angels in the next life.)
There are a vast number of angels. Revelation 5:11 mentions, “... many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.” That expression indicates that they’re virtually innumerable.
Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 record how through pride, a gifted and important angel named Lucifer tried to launch a coup d’état against God. Remarkably, one-third of the vast host of angels followed his lead and were collectively cast out of heaven (Revelation 12:4). Some of them have been bound until the end times, but most of them (demons), under Lucifer (renamed Satan) roam the earth opposing God’s program, people and principles.
Many people believe that each person, especially children and followers of Jesus, have an angel specifically assigned to protect them. These are referred to as guardian angels and the concept is taken from Mathew 18:10, where Jesus said, “… do not look down on one of these little ones. For … their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” Hebrews 1:14 adds that “angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.”
There are many unusual and intriguing stories of how angels have intervened and assisted people. A lady I know was eight months pregnant when her toddler fell into a dugout on their farm. She cried to God for help and leapt into the water to rescue her drowning child.
That she was pregnant makes the story remarkable, but what makes it astounding is that she could not swim a single stroke. She later related that, “I was drowning along with my unborn child and daughter until I felt strong arms around me that lifted us effortlessly out of the water and set us safely on dry ground.”
Sue Bohlin, in her book entitled, “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” wrote, “I was about 13 years old ... going upstairs to my room, pulling my entire weight on the handrail, when it suddenly came off in my hand. I fell backwards, head first. Halfway into a terrible fall, I felt a strong hand on my back push me upright. There was nobody there — well, nobody visible!”
Angels ... the messengers of God ... one more manifestation of the care and provision of God!
“Angels descending, bring from above, Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.” Fanny Crosby
Pastor Ross Helgeton is senior pastor at Erskine Evangelical Free Church.