Do Angels Have Super Powers? Debunking the Myths about Angels, Part IV

Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s . . . an angel? 

When I was a kid, I assumed most angels looked like the ethereal, art museum depictions I’d seen on Christmas cards. Their faces were serene and fair-skinned, always feminine, and usually accompanied by long, flowing hair. They moved silently with nary a swish of their feathered wings, and everything they did was gentle and peaceful. 

Then I read the Bible. 

And found out what angels are really like. 

Myth: Angels are peaceful, serene beings that float around on clouds and strum harps all day.

Truth: Angels are armed to the teeth and aching for a fight.

And yes, they are strong. Very strong. Second Peter 2:11 describes them as “stronger and more powerful” than men. 

Credit

They are smarter than men, too, and this is especially important to remember when we engage in spiritual warfare. Satan’s angels can outwit us if we don’t avail ourselves of God’s wisdom. Thankfully, when we do, God sends help. When Daniel prayed, God sent Gabriel, who said, "Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding” (Dan. 9:22). 


Angels are also faster than men, in large part because they can fly. Daniel’s heavenly messenger flew, and we often see angels fly in John’s descriptions of apocalyptic events ((Rev. 14:6). Flying’s not the only way angels get around, however. 

Because they are spirit beings, they usually move from place to place invisibly. When they do manifest themselves on earth, like George Bailey’s angel, Clarence, they walk. Abraham’s angelic visitors sauntered up to his tent one day and then trotted on over to drop in on his nephew Lot and pronounce judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 18, 19). 

Because angels are created beings, they are inferior in all ways to God. They can only be in one place at one time (Dan. 10:12), are not all-powerful (Daniel’s angel experienced satanic pressure which hindered him for three weeks), nor are they all-knowing (Mat. 24:36). 

Finally, angels are asexual and incapable of reproducing (Mat. 22:30). They are spirit beings, remember? When they appear in human form, however, they always appear masculine. Sorry Della Reese, but there’s no biblical basis for a female angel boss. 

I’ve used this picture in this series before, but I chose to post it here again, because I think it’s an accurate representation of what an angel might look like in full battle regalia. I don’t know about you, but knowing there are “ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” (Rev. 5:11) on my side and at the Father’s disposal makes me feel very safe. Psalm Ps 34:7 makes me brave when I’m tempted to fear: 

“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” 

Next time we'll conclude our study of angels by answer the question, Do people become angels when they die?

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• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

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What Do Angels Do, Anyway? Debunking the Myths about Angels, Part III

What do angels do, anyway? Do they fly around on Valentine’s Day shooting potential suitors with arrows? Do they swoop down to rescue small children from raging rivers just in the nick of time? Or perhaps they are assigned to adults, guarding perfect parking spots and dropping $20 bills on the sidewalk on the day the checkbook balance turns three shades of red.

In the last two blog posts, we’ve asked and answered the questions, Are angels fat cherubs? and Are all angels good? Today we’ll tackle the question, What do angels do, anyway? 

The Bible tells us angels have three main parts to their job description: to worship and serve God, to minister to believers, and to judge the lost. In today’s blog post, I’ll concentrate on the first two.

Myth: Angels sit around on clouds all day shooting arrows at would-be lovers and making music on harps.

Truth: Angels have significant, purposeful job assignments in heaven and on earth.

Angels worship and serve God.
Angels primary job is to worship the Lord and call attention to his glory. This description of what happens in the throne room of God from the book of Isaiah is an awe-inspiring example:

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isa. 6:1-3).

Angels perform the will of God. 
In Daniel 10:11 the archangel Gabriel described one of his missions. He mentions how the archangel Michael assisted him:

"Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you. . . Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia” (Dan. 10:11-13).

Angels also minister to believers. 
This is perhaps the most well-known role of angels—that of a guardian or protector. I remember falling asleep as a child under the painting by Lindberg Schutzengel, Guardian Angel and Children Crossing Bridge. It is a mental picture that has lingered with me all my life.

Do children have their very own guardian angels? Mothers of boys certainly think so, although considering some of the near misses and accidents their children encounter, they might wonder if their sons' angels nap a lot.

Jesus' words in Matthew 18:10 seem to imply that children do indeed have specially appointed watchmen with special access to the Father: “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones," he said. "For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. ”

We adults might have to share our guardians, although Scripture describes them as “innumerable.” They are often described as “like the stars in the heavens,” leading us to believe there could be trillions of heavenly beings.

However many there are, they serve to protect God’s children. “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (Ps. 91:11). Angels also comfort (I Kings 9:15), deliver (Acts. 12:7), and minister to the believer at the point of death. Consider Luke 16:22: “The time came when the beggar (Lazarus) died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side.”

I'm comforted by the knowledge that in times of danger, discouragement, and death, God has special, supernatural beings ready to meet my needs. 

I don’t know if I’ve ever encountered an angel. They do most of their work in the invisible, spiritual realm, but not always. Ask Abraham, Lot, and Paul. Perhaps this is why Scripture tells us to be watchful and quick to offer hospitality to strangers, “for some have entertained angels unaware” (Heb. 13:2).

What about you? Have you ever encountered an angel? I invite you to leave a comment below and share your story. In my next blog post, I’ll attempt to answer the question, Do Angels Have Supernatural Powers?

If you haven’t yet subscribed to Hungry for God . . . Starving for Time, now’s the perfect time, so you won’t miss a single post in the series, “Angels – Debunking the Myths.” 



If you enjoyed this devotion, may I tell you about my new book, Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women?

 Today's women want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you. 

 

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Angels are not fat cherubs – Debunking the Myths

Clarence tries to earn his wings in the 1947 movie, It’s a Wonderful Life. Michael Landon, as Jonathan Smith, is an angel on probation trying to work his way back into God’s good graces in Highway to Heaven. And then there’s Della Reese, everyone’s favorite angel supervisor, Tess, trying to keep her angel charges under control in the 90s TV drama, Touched by an Angel. Evil angels have populated such recent films as Ghost Rider, Legion, and Fallen. 

Film and TV have no corner on angel exploration. Literature is replete with angelic characters and stories. Milton’s Paradise Lost, Dante’s Inferno, and C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters span the centuries with eloquent word pictures of these marvelous beings. 

Even cartoons have taken a turn at angelology. Everyone from Homer Simpson to Pluto to Popeye have wrestled with “shoulder angels,” pitchforked and haloed creatures bent on wielding their influence over their human hosts.

No doubt about it, angels have been fascinating humans since Satan’s slithering subterfuge in the Garden. 

But what is the truth about angels? 

The Bible is replete with mentions of these heavenly beings, so we have a reliable source of information. In the next few posts I hope to debunk some of the common myths and examine the Scripture verses that tell us the truth about angels. 

Myth: Angels are fat baby cherubs with pinchable fat cheeks. 

Truth: Angels are impressive, mighty frightening beings causing everyone they encounter to fall to the ground in fear. The picture above is an accurate representation of one of the archangels described in the Bible. 

Here are some of their characteristics: 

They are spirit beings, but often take human form. 

Gabriel the archangel appeared to predict John the Baptist’s birth (Luke 1:19), Jesus’ birth (Luke 1:26), free Peter from prison (Acts 12:7), and instruct Cornelius to send for Peter (Acts 10:3). Their appearance is usually imposing enough to be frightening. Almost without exception, the first words an angel speaks to a human is “Fear not.” (Dan. 10:12, Mat. 28:5, Luke 2: 10). 

Listen to Daniel’s description of his encounter with an angel: “I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless” (Dan. 10:5-8). 

Although cherubim are smaller types of angels, they bear little resemblance to the chubby-cheeked versions featured on Valentine cards. 

Here are some of the characteristics described in Gen. 3:24, Ex. 25:18-20, and Ezek. 1:4-28; 10:1-22: They have four faces, one each like a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. They have two pairs of wings. They have the legs of men and cloven calves’ feet that shine like brass. They have four human hands, located under each wing. 

Almost without exception, angels shine with a glowing light. 
The angel who appeared to the women at Jesus’ tomb is one example of this: “. . . an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow” (Mat. 28:5). 

 It’s apparent from these Scriptures that angels are very different than the way Hollywood, literature, and myths have portrayed them. I look forward to sharing more about what the Bible has to say about angels in the posts to follow. I hope to tackle questions like Where did angels come from? What is their job description? Are all angels good? Do angels have supernatural powers? Do people become angels when they die?

If you haven’t subscribed to Hungry for God yet, this would be a great time. You don’t want to miss a single installment of "Angels—Debunking the Myths. "

What about you? What myths have you believed about angels that have changed as you’ve studied Scripture? What questions still remain? Leave a comment below. Perhaps I’ll answer one of your questions in an upcoming post. 

And stay tuned for Part II: "Angels—They’re Not All Good" next time on Hungry for God … Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women. 

 

If you enjoyed this devotion, may I tell you about my new book, Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women?

 Today's women want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you. 

 

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Angels All Around Us

“God has His angels all around us,” he said as he watched our kids.  “Sometimes we don’t see them, but they is always there.”

I met him in the park.  His name was Sam.  He wore a straw hat, and his salt and pepper afro stuck out from under it like coarse wool. His beard was scraggly, but his smile was wide.  Antique piano key teeth, ivory aged yellow alternated with black spaces, and his eyes sparkled.

Our church's youth group had come to the park to minister to the homeless.  As we instructed our students to smile, introduce themselves, and look each person in the eye, we reminded them why we had come.  “Jesus said, ‘As you’ve done it unto the least of these, you’ve done it unto me.’ Tonight we get to minister to Jesus.”

While we had planned food to meet their physical needs, we had also encouraged the students to imagine what it would be like to be homeless.  Looking at their own polished nails, the girls brainstormed, “I wonder if they would like for us to give them manicures?” 

Armed with nail files, Shea butter lotion, and six colors of polish, our Marvelous Manicure team set up shop between the food table and a man with a razor giving haircuts.  Although the homeless men greatly outnumbered the women, we soon had our six chairs filled.

It was this scene that had Sam smiling.  “Y’all could be anywhere tonight, but you’re here reachin’ out to people you don’t even know.”  My heart swelled with pride at our kids who had stepped out of their comfort zones to serve. 

Carrying the memory of the ladies’ happy smiles and Sam’s kind words, I marveled at the irony of God’s economy.  We had come to give, but in doing so, we were the ones who had received.  God says the way to be rich is to give it away.  “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over,” (Luke 6:38)

“God has His angels all around us,” Sam said.

“Yes He does, Sam,” I thought,” and sometimes they wear straw hats.”

“Don’t forget to show love to strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Heb. 13:2)

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