Do Angels Appear to People Today?

Darrell G. Young

Sept. 11, 2019

There is an increasing interest in angels today. In fact, there seems to be more interest in Angels than interest in God, who created the Angels! We know that God created angels, and He uses angels in His plan.

From a casual reading of Scripture, a person might get the idea that angelic appearances were somewhat common in the ancient world, but that is not the case. The first appearance of angels in the Bible is in Genesis 3:24, when Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden. God placed cherubim to block the entrance with a flaming sword. The next noted angelic appearance is in Genesis 16:7, about 1,900 years later.

However, these two records of angelic appearances don't take into account the prospect of "Fallen Angels" visiting Earth in the pre-flood era and manifesting themselves in bodily form to "take and use the daughters of mankind" for the devious plot to contaminate the "seed-line" of Adam to produce the Promised Seed of the Woman. (Genesis 3:15)

Abraham was visited by God and two angels in Genesis 18:2, when God informed him of the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The same two angels visited Lot and instructed him to escape the city with his family before it was destroyed (Genesis 19:1-11). These angelic visitations occurred about 300 years after the Great Flood.

When angels appear, those who see them are often struck with fear (see Judges 6:22; 1 Chronicles 21:30; Matthew 28:5). Angels deliver messages from God and do His bidding, sometimes by supernatural means. In every case, the angels point people to God and give the glory to Him. Holy angels refuse to be worshiped. On the other hand, Fallen Angels will engage any admiration, so beware!

God is still as active in the world as He has always been, and His angels are certainly still at work. Just as angels protected God's people in the past, we can be assured that they are guarding us today. Hebrews 13:2 says, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” As we obey God's commands, it is quite possible that we may encounter His angels, even if we do not realize it.

In special circumstances, God has allowed His people to see His unseen angels! But it is very rare! It is rare today, because God expects us to Live by Faith, and grow in that faith!

We must always heed the warnings of Scripture concerning angelic beings: there are fallen angels who work for Satan who will do anything to subvert and destroy us. Galatians 1:8 warns us to beware of any “new” gospel, even if it is delivered by an angel. Colossians 2:18 warns against the worship of angels. Every time in the Bible when men bowed down before angels, those beings firmly refused to be worshiped. Any angel who receives worship, or who does not give glory to the Lord Jesus, is an imposter. Second Corinthians 11:14-15 states that Satan and his angels disguise themselves as angels of light in order to deceive and lead astray anyone who will listen to them.

We can take courage in the knowledge that God's angels are at work. In special circumstances, we might even have one of those rare personal visitations. Greater than that knowledge, however, is the knowledge that Jesus Himself has said, “Surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Jesus Christ is beyond all angels and all humans, and He alone is worthy of our worship.

Hebrews 1:1-4 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
4. Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Darrell G Young

Focus On Jerusalem Prophecy Ministry