“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” Galatians 1:8.

“But he said to me, ‘Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God,'” Revelation 22:9.

I sometimes read articles from prominent prophetic ministers about how angels continue to lead and direct their lives. The idea is that we all have our own personal angels that are involved in our lives, and that they are ever-present working out everything for our good.

At first glance this idea may seem to be good, but scripture tells that we are to look to God alone, and that angels are merely fellow servants along with us, who have their own work to do in the kingdom of God.

Most assuredly, angels are all around us and they are continually warring in the spiritual realm, fighting battles against the hosts of darkness. But we aren’t to worship them!

And to be true, when we give more and more attention to them, then our eyes are taken off of who we really should be focusing on, which is God Himself. And yet it is also true that the spiritual realm is filled with not only light, but also darkness. And so, when one is seeking after the appearance or presence of an angel, they may well also be opening themselves up to a whole host of other things.

For there are fallen angels as well as God’s special messengers. 2 Corinthians 11:14 tells us that “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” Satan and his horde of demons (fallen angels) mimic God’s holy angels, and they do so for a malevolent, sinister purpose – to lead people away from the true Christ and God of the Bible (see v. 3). In the process of doing this, they propagate doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1-3).

We would be well to remember how the angel Moroni led Joseph Smith to find the golden plates containing the book of Mormon. Several other forms of religion have also been founded on the premise of an encounter with angels.

We need to remember that angels are not in the business of founding new religions, but again, they are God’s messengers sent to do their work in the world around us. They are not sent to give us “new” revelations that would contradict God’s word. Thus, the need to be founded on His Word, and to know Him personally, using the gift of discernment, to distinguish between what is true and what is not.

New Age angelology is focused upon entities that would be invoked and also manipulated by people to bring about specific desired results. In this way then, God is not supreme or sovereign, but it is humanity. And even more dangerous, it is humanity “in the guise of Being God”, and then having control over angels. A belief like this perpetrates self-exaltation and pride. (Isaiah 14:12-14; Genesis 3:5).

To contrast this type of thinking, Hebrews 1:14 tells us, “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” They are sent to help us but not to be sought out themselves. The Greek word “ministering” means to “serve.” They are sent to help.

Their ministries can involve protection (Psalm 91:11), guidance (Genesis 19:17), encouragement (Judges 6:12), deliverance (Acts 12:7), supply (Psalm 105:40), empowerment (Luke 22:43), as well as occasional rebuke (Numbers 22:32) and judgment (Acts 12:23). And angelic service is rendered largely unseen and often unrecognized , (2 Kings 6:17; Hebrews 13:2).

God’s angels are sent out with God’s commands, and nowhere is it stated in the bible where they acted independently.

In the words of John Calvin, “As God does not make [the angels] ministers of His power and goodness to share His glory with them, so He does not promise us His help through their ministry in order that we should divide our trust between them and Him.”

Indeed, Calvin says, the angels, “Do lead us away unless they lead us by the hand straight to Him, that we may look upon Him, call upon Him, and proclaim Him as our sole helper; unless we regard them as His hands that are moved to no work without his direction; unless they keep us in the one Mediator, Christ, that we may wholly depend upon Him, lean upon Him, be brought to Him, and rest in Him.”

 

Selah,
~ Stephen Hanson

---

Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to the LORD is a special way in 1975 and has prophesied regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?

Back to Top