Angels - part 2

Mothers of Nations, let’s continue our discussion now on the topic of angels using Scriptures to exemplify several points.  First, angels have been known to appear to men as visible beings. In Acts 10:30a (NKJV) we read, “So Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold a man stood before me in bright clothing….”  Angels are often described as having a bright white color or bright clothing.  Some people who have seen angels say that they are also very tall.

I personally have had experiences with angels on different occasions.  Once while driving my car I felt the hands of an angel move my vehicle to the side of the road and then I heard a voice say, “Stop the car.”  I did exactly that as I yielded to the hands directing my vehicle.  Later that day we discovered there was a collision up the road in which we would have been hit head-on had we not been detained. I know that my angel kept me from an accident. 

I have also sensed angels in my room, in my ministry meetings, and in my dreams. One time two angels dressed in white came to me in a dream.  They were bringing a little orphan boy dressed in rags with searching eyes calling me to come to his nation. That dream stuck with me for many years and I prayed that I would some day find the boy that those angels brought to my dream.  Every time I went to the mission field I looked for his face in the crowds of children that I met.  After several years of looking and praying, one afternoon while sitting in a car in Uganda and chatting with some children that had gathered about our vehicle, I looked across that group and there was the face of the little boy I had seen in my dream years before!  He looked exactly like the angels presented him to me in my dream.  This was an incredible angelic experience that I will never forget.

Another fact about angels is that they often appear with revelation for a particular situation as in Joshua’s case.  In Joshua 5:14-15 this angel may have been the “Angel of the Lord” – a theophany, a visible appearance of God in bodily form.  Joshua’s experience was similar to Moses’ burning bush experience in Exodus 3:2-8 because this angel declared the ground holy and asked Joshua to take his shoes off. At that point Joshua was told the plans on how to take the city of Jericho.  The angel’s revelation given to Joshua enabled him to capture the whole city!  This angel of the Lord called Joshua a king and a mighty man of valor saying,  “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, its king and the mighty men of valor.” (Joshua 6:1-2 NKJV)

The Bible tells us that angels come to physically assist, bring messages, divinely intervene, and unveil plans for battle.  What we must be careful not to do is worship them even though they are magnificent and helpful to us.  The Word forbids also trying to connect to them by channeling, spiritism, tarot cards, automatic writing, or necromancy  (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).  Angels do not lead us to a higher self, a higher plane, or greater enlightenment.  This only leads to trouble.  Jesus is our way to eternal life and truth.

As we close today, take a few moments to consider your thoughts about angels in regard to the value you have placed on them.  Let’s make sure we recognize their place in God’s plan without elevating them to positions of worship or false teaching.

Next week we will continue to look at the Scriptures to discover more about angels.

Dr. Sharon Predovich