June 13, 2024 | Silver Spring, Maryland, United States | Ted N.C. Wilson, President, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Hello, friends. Have you ever wondered if angels are real? The Bible has the answer and today we will see what it has to say.
Scripture assures us that even before human beings were created, angels were in existence. At the beginning of creation, “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7).
In Genesis 3:24 we are told that after Adam and Eve sinned, God “placed mighty angels at the east of the Garden of Eden, with a flaming sword to guard the entrance to the Tree of Life” (TLB).
The Bible tells us that angels are in nature superior to human beings. In Psalm 8:5 we read that humans were made “a little lower than the angels” (NKJV).
Scripture also reveals the number, power, and glory of angels, and of their connection with the government of God.
“Bless the Lord, you His angels,” says the Psalmist, “who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word” (Ps. 104:20, NKJV).
In describing God’s throne room in heaven, John the Revelator exclaimed, “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” (Rev. 5:11, NKJV).
While in vision, the prophet Daniel saw the same. Describing the scene around God’s throne he wrote, “A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him” (Dan. 7:10, NKJV).
As God’s messengers, angels move so swiftly and are so dazzling that the prophet Ezekiel describes their appearance “like a flash of lightning” (Ezk. 1:14, NKJV).
This matches the description given in Matthew 28:3 of the mighty angel that came from heaven to roll away the stone of Christ’s tomb. “His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow” (NKJV).
The Bible describes many times when angels were sent on missions of mercy to the children of God: to Abraham with promises of blessing, to Sodom to rescue Lot; to minister to Elijah after Mt. Carmel; to Elisha, with chariots and horses of fire; to Daniel in the lions’ den; to rescue Peter from Herod’s dungeon; to Paul in the stormy sea, and many more.
And the wonderful news is that angels are still being sent to God’s children today! We read in The Great Controversy, “A guardian angel is appointed to every follower of Christ. These heavenly watchers shield the righteous from the power of the wicked one” (The Great Controversy, pp. 512, 513).
Scripture confirms this, where we read in Psalm 34:7, “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them” (NKJV). Even children have their own angels, for Jesus said, “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 18:10, NKJV).
Yes, friends, although some may doubt, angels are real. Chapter 31 of The Great Controversy begins with these startling words: “The connection of the visible with the invisible world, the ministration of angels of God, and the agency of evil spirits, are plainly revealed in the Scriptures, and inseparably interwoven with human history” (The Great Controversy, p. 511).
And just as there are good angels, there are also evil angels, or spirits. Ellen White points out that while God gives his children the assurance of the guardianship of heavenly angels, “it is because there are mighty agencies of evil to be met—agencies numerous, determined, and untiring, of whose malignity and power none can safely be ignorant or unheeding” (The Great Controversy, p. 513).
These evil spirits, who in the beginning were created sinless, fell with Satan from heaven and are now “leagued together for the dishonor of God and the destruction of men” (The Great Controversy, p. 513).
The Bible records the existence of these evil spirits, who were especially active during the time of Christ. They knew that if Christ was successful in His mission on earth, they would eventually be destroyed.
Scripture tells of numerous individuals who were possessed by demons and healed by Christ. Perhaps one of the most well-known is that of the the demoniac, recorded in Mark, chapter 5. When Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man and asked his name, one of the demons responded, “My name is Legion; for we are many” (Mark 5:9, NKJV).
In the Roman army, a legion consisted of three to five thousand men, so this poor man was possessed by not just one, but thousands of demons! But praise God, Jesus is stronger, and at His command, the demons fled away.
While those possessed with demons are usually described as greatly suffering, there were others who welcomed the satanic influence so they could obtain supernatural power. Examples given in the book of Acts include Simon and Elymas, who are both described as sorcerers (Acts 8:9; 13:8).
And today, there are those who welcome evil spirits into their lives in order to obtain supernatural powers. The prevalence of fortune tellers, palm readers, mediums, spiritists, and others reveal that the devil is working through human beings today.
However, some deny the existence of Satan and his angels. We read in The Great Controversy, “None are in greater danger from the influence of evil spirits than those who, notwithstanding the direct and ample testimony of the Scriptures, deny the existence and agency of the devil and his angels.” The inspired author continues, “So long as we are ignorant of their wiles, they have almost inconceivable advantage; many give heed to their suggestions while they suppose themselves to be following the dictates of their own wisdom. This is why, as we approach the close of time, when Satan is to work with greatest power to deceive and destroy, he spreads everywhere the belief that he does not exist. . . .There is nothing that the great deceiver fears so much as that we shall become acquainted with his devices” (The Great Controversy, p. 516).
But praise God, we do not need to be ignorant of how Satan works. The Bible clearly describes who he is, what his goals are, and how to resist him. Furthermore, the book that we are reading in this series, The Great Controversy, also clearly unmasks Satan, affirming the biblical accounts and explaining in detail future events.
In the closing paragraph of chapter 31, we are given this assurance: “The power and malice of Satan and his host might justly alarm us were it not that we may find shelter and deliverance in the superior power of our Redeemer. . . . those who follow Christ are ever safe under His watchcare. Angels that excel in strength are sent from heaven to protect them. The wicked one cannot break through the guard which God has stationed about His people” (The Great Controversy, p. 517).
Yes, friends, God has promised to take care of His own, and as we follow Christ, we can rest safely in Him. Let’s pray together just now.
Father in heaven, thank you for the wonderful assurance that we can rely completely on the strength of Christ, regardless of what we face. We thank you for good angels who are there to strengthen and encourage us. We are so grateful that Heaven is interested in each one of us. To the extent that an angel is assigned to us, and that God can send the angels to protect and care for us, to guide us along right pathways. So, Lord, we ask now that you will continue to be with us and fill our hearts with the Holy Spirit, so that we might follow your will. As we come to the end of time. In Jesus name, we ask it. Amen.