Angels Among Us

     ​Surprisingly, many people who profess not to believe in God still believe in angels. We are comforted by the idea that angels are there in an emergency to warn us, protect us, and battle evil for us. There is more than one popular song to give us goosebumps, and, along with heart-warming movies, they assure us that angels are real.
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      ​Angels are real. However, even among Christians, there is much confusion about what God’s word tells us about them. Where does this confusion come from?
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     ​As children, we have watched cartoons about angels and devils. Even cats and dogs received their wings and sat on a little cloud playing their harp. Unless, of course, they were sent down the elevator to that fiery furnace below, where they became cute little red devils.
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     ​Please, let me assure you that the devil is not a cute cartoon figure with a pitchfork and a pointed tail. Neither does he send people back after they die to do his bidding on earth. He has fallen angels for that. 
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     ​These cartoons are cute and memorable. They have shaped our thinking despite Sunday School, preaching, and even our own Bible study. 
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     ​We are also influenced by classic works of art. My favorite paintings by Raphael, (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, Italian Renaissance Painter, 1483 – 1520) are his little angels. In Raphael’s day, these child-like angels, called putti, were usually naked males with cute wings. Today, Raphael’s Angels are found everywhere from t-shirts to teacups. It is not surprising that many people believe that there are child or baby angels when much of our religious art (like Da Vinci’s Last Supper) comes from this period.
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     In this day of enlightenment, it is unbelievable that we, even as Christians, are influenced by Greek and Roman Mythology and their gods. Here you find those cute little cherubs, such as Cupid and his little friends. This also where we probably find the origin of the idea of female angels. However, in God’s word, angels are usually referred to in the masculine sense. (Numbers 22:31; Judges 6: 21; 2 Samuel 24:16; 1 Chronicles 21:26; Luke 24:4; Revelation 10:1)
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     ​Many people are comforted by the idea that their loved ones, especially children, become angels when they die. A person who has been miraculously saved from an accident will often profess that they are sure it was their angel father or mother and they felt their loving arms around them, pulling them from danger. God's word never says that our loved ones can return to save us. It does tell us that we are watched over by guardian angels.
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     ​Yet, I never gave much thought to just how confused we are about angels until a serious, young girl asked me a very deep question. “How were there angels before God made Adam and Eve when no one had died yet?”
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     God created Angels before he created men. Angels are spiritual beings created to worship God. They are warriors and fight spiritual battles. Angels are given dominion over nations to guide and fight against evil. They will be fighting against the fallen angels until time ends. (Revelation 12:7-9) Angels carry God’s messages to people.  Finally, they protect and fight for those who believe in God and Christ. (1 Kings 19:5-7; Psalm 34:7)

     ​The Bible tells us that God created man in His own image. It is interesting to note that it never says that angels were created in His image. It is most important to understand that  angels and humans, like cats and dogs, are two distinct species. One species does not become another. A dog cannot turn into a cat. A cat cannot turn into a dog. 
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     Please understand, we do not sprout wings when we go to heaven. A human does not, cannot, become an angel when he or she dies. A precious, innocent baby, cherished by our heavenly Father, does not become a cherub in heaven. Finally, becoming an angel would not be a guarantee that we would go to heaven even if it were possible.
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​     When we die, if we have accepted Christ as our Savior, our souls ascend to heaven. It will be wonderful to walk with God, to bask in His presence and to praise Him.  If one has not accepted Christ, no matter how basically “good” they were, they will face eternal separation from God. This is hell. (John 14:6)
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     God’s word answers many of the questions we have. 

• One day, we will have immortal, glorified, bodies. (1 Corinthians 15:35-58) 
• There is both a heaven and a hell and we go to one or the other when we die. (Luke 16:19-31)
• There are tens of thousands of angels in heaven. (Revelation 5:11)
• All angels are not in heaven.  Some have sinned and were sent to hell. (2 Peter 2:4)
• The souls of human Christian martyrs are in heaven. (Revelation 6:9-11)
• There will be an untold number of humans in heaven. (Revelation 7:9-10)​​

​     ​We really need to stop the misleading talk on angels and heaven, lovingly interfere, and warn our loved ones that everyone who dies does not miraculously turn into an angel and fly off into heaven. Heaven is real, but so is hell. 
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