Angels

[SaraJane]

I was just reading a book about Angels which got me thinking.
Are Angels mentioned in every 'religion'?
What is your idea of what an Angel is?
Do you believe in guardian Angels?
Do you think people become Angels when they die?

Here's what I found about what the bible says about Angels

Angels are personal spiritual beings, having aspects of intelligence, emotions, and will. This is true of both the good and evil angels. Angels possess intelligence (Matthew 8:29; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Peter 1:12), show emotions (Luke 2:13; James 2:19; Revelation 12:17), and demonstrate that they have wills (Luke 8:28-31: 2 Timothy 2:26; Jude 6). Angels are spirit beings (Hebrews 1:14), with no true physical body. The fact that they do not have bodies does not affect their being personalities (any more than it does with God).

The knowledge angels possess is limited by their being created beings. This means they do not know all things as God does (Matthew 24:36). They do seem to have greater knowledge than humans, however. This may be due to three causes. (1) Angels were created as a higher order of creatures in the universe than humans are. Therefore, innately they possess greater knowledge. (2) Angels study the Bible and the world more thoroughly than humans do and gain knowledge from it (James 2:19; Revelation 12:12). (3) Angels gain knowledge through long observation of human activities. Unlike humans, angels do not have to study the past; they have experienced it. Therefore, they know how others have acted and reacted in situations and can predict with a greater degree of accuracy how we may act in similar circumstances.

Though they have wills, the angels are, like all creatures, subject to the will of God. Good angels are sent by God to help believers (Hebrews 1:14). Here are some activities the Bible ascribes to angels:

A. They praise God (Psalm 148:1,2; Isaiah 6:3).
B. They worship God (Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 5:8-13).
C. They rejoice in what God does (Job 38:6-7).
D. They serve God (Psalm 103:20; Revelation 22:9).
E. They appear before God (Job 1:6; 2:1).
F. They are instruments of God's judgments (Revelation 7:1; 8:2).
G. They bring answers to prayer (Acts 12:5-10).
H. They aid in winning people to Christ (Acts 8:26; 10:3).
I. They observe Christian order, work, and suffering (1 Corinthians 4:9; 11:10; Ephesians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:12).
J. They encourage in times of danger (Acts 27:23,24).
K. They care for the righteous at the time of death (Luke 16:22).

Angels are an entirely different order of being from humans. Human beings do not become angels after they die. Angels will never become, and never were, human beings. God created the angels, just as He created humanity. The Bible nowhere states that angels are created in the image and likeness of God, as humans are (Genesis 1:26). Angels are spiritual beings that can, to a certain degree, take on physical form. Humans are primarily physical beings, but with a spiritual aspect. The greatest thing we can learn from the angels is their instant, unquestioning obedience to God?s commands.

[Arimeh]

Interesting question SJ..

For me, I believe in guardian angels - I'm not religious - I don't believe in god. (I'm neo-pagan so its a bit different - I dont' class it as being a "religion" but more of a way of life with a different way of thinking)

Anyhoo... back to guardian angels. I know they are there. I've had them with me. I can feel them around me all the time. I've even had one stroke my hair during a panic attack on night at a strange motel when I was by myself and freaking out.

So yup, I believe they exist.

[punkin]

I have guardian angels, I communicate with them on a regular basis and I do work with the archangels quite a bit (Michael and I are getting pretty damn intimate at the moment).

I don't really believe in the xtian view of angels, to me they are infaliable and can be fallen ones too. I used to work a lot with Lucifer (Diana's brother & a fallen angel).

[SaraJane]

Arimeh- Thankyou! I was wondering about that too, people who are non-religious seem to often believe in Angels. I wonder what it is about them that makes them believe in them?? I have felt something touch me before too and I've also heard voices (I'm not crazy, lol). For example I remember one time I was in the car by myself and I heard quite clearly 'slow down' and I did and just up the road was an accident.

Punkin- what do you mean about communicating with them? As in you see them or feel them? Just curious. And also, about the Archangels I thought they actually came from the Christian/Jewish religion?? Am I wrong?? What's your view on that?

[AliBaby]

I am Christian and I definitely believe in Angels and find it to be one of the most amazing things ever. Apart from the bible I believe that it is how we have connection to "the other world" (for lack of a better term).

A movie that shows all that you found in the bible on Angels really well is "City of Angels" with Meg Ryan and Nicholas Cage. Its one of my favourite movies and sums up exactly what I think an Angel is.
Make sure you watch it if you havent seen it.

I have felt some sort of presense as well. It is hard to explain but it is real enough in my mind to know that it is there.

I have heard psychics say to people that they have people watching over them. I think this is different to an Angel as I dont think that humans can become angels when they die (as much as I would love to). I believe we go to heaven and God has another purpose for us there.

This is a really interesting topic Love it!

[punkin]

Originally Posted by SaraJane

Punkin- what do you mean about communicating with them? As in you see them or feel them? Just curious. And also, about the Archangels I thought they actually came from the Christian/Jewish religion?? Am I wrong?? What's your view on that?

I have discussions with my angels all the time, the reply in their own quirky way but I get replies. Sometimes I get a glimpse but haven't seen one face-to-face, I do feel them around me.

I don't come from a xtian religion upbringing and I was always told archangels were just fallen angels and weren't specific to a religion.

[Rosehip_Fairy]

I thought Michael was the only Archangel? He's the only one the Bible calls as such, anyway.

Angels aren't always obedient to God: Satan was created an Angel after all.

They're also big tough warriors, not simpy girls in pretty dresses with harps and tinsel halos. See all the battle references and flaming swords and cool stuff.

Interestingly enough (to me only, I know), the word "angel" comes from the old "messager" - evangelism was from "euangelen" (PLEASE correct the spellings here), a messenger who would proclaim things from the king. A true messager. So evangelism = eu (true) angel (message) ism (doing) - spreading the Truth (as well as the Way and the Life ). OK, finished my wordly geekiness now.

[SaraJane]

Originally Posted by Rosehip_Fairy

I thought Michael was the only Archangel? He's the only one the Bible calls as such, anyway.

Oh, I thought Gabriel was?

Originally Posted by Rosehip_Fairy

Angels aren't always obedient to God: Satan was created an Angel after all.

Yeah, I was thinking you know how when you think of Satan you think of him being ugly and evil looking. Well he is a fallen Angel, so I guess he would actually look pretty good! Hmm...and I guess that would help with his appeal and getting ppl to follow him.

[sneakysparkle]

SJ - have you read the Frank Peretti books "This Present Darkness" and "Piercing the Darkness"?? They are amazing books about the spiritual realm, and you will never have the same view on angels/demons again! So cool

[punkin]

I work with Lucifer quite a bit (Lucifer is the fallen angel), he is brother to Diana.

[SaraJane]

sneakysparkle- no I haven't, thanks for the recommendation!!

[smiles4u]

Hey MEL (Arimeh), ... me too ... The second night i was in hospital after having my daughter Cendrine, i was laying in bed on my side looking at her in her crib fast asleep thinking how sad that both my Grandmothers, my G8-Aunt (my middle name after her) & my Auntie (who had passed away whilst i was pregnant) .. they all didn't get to see my first & only child. As i was thinking this suddenly Cendrine opened her eyes so wide open looking at me & then suddenly i could feel someone stroking my hair

I felt so comforted & at such peace.

In a lovely but odd way i never felt i was alone in my hospital room the whole entire stay ... i felt very secure

Was hard too cause neither my folks or my DP's folks ever came to visit us in the hospital when she was born ... so it felt so nice to feel that someone else was there with me having their visit

[Rosehip_Fairy]

SaraJane - I thought so too. But check out the Bible; Gabriel is an angel, not an archangel. In nativity plays he (usually she in the infant play) is called an archangel, but that's incorrect.

There's a great line in Anne of the Island where Anne refers to someone as being "as ugly as Old Nick" (Satan/Lucifer/the Devil) - Aunt Jimsie replies that Satan can't be that ugly, else no-one would want to follow him.