Guardian
Angels
Do guardian angels exist? Is there any Biblical evidence behind this
belief? Life contains many
surprises. I studied architecture in
England and Paris for fourteen days when I attended college. When I arrived in England, I experienced
culture shock. In fact, several times,
vehicles almost hit me. Each time
someone was there to grab me out of the way of the oncoming vehicle. One time in particular, I was crossing a busy
highway that lay alongside the Parliament building. Westminster Abbey was the next destination on
our trip and my group and I had to cross this highway. Everyone made a scram across the highway
quickly and I debated on whether or not I should wait. At a last moment’s decision, I ran across the
highway…barely. A motorcyclist, who was
traveling quite quickly, almost ran me over.
Everyone claimed that my guardian angel was watching over me because
that motorcyclist should have seen to my demise. But, the question remains, did I really have
a guardian angel watching out for me? Do
they even exist?
Guardian angels do exist in the Bible but they
are not a class of their own. Michael
the Archangel remains one of the most famous guardian angels of the Bible. Michael dwells as the protectorate or
guardian of Israel. It appears that whole
nations possess their own guardian angels, whether it is a non-fallen angel or
fallen angel. Daniel 12:1b states, “And
at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the
children of thy people:” According to the previous passage, Michael
resides as the guardian of the nation of Israel. However, Michael also fights on behalf of the
Hebrews individually. In Daniel 10, the
Bible portrays the spiritual battle around the believer everyday through the
prince of Persia and Michael. The prince
of Persia mentioned was the devil and he came against Michael and Gabriel in
order to prevent Daniel from receiving the answer to his prayer and
fasting. The “prince of Persia”
apparently was the evil guardian of the Persian Empire for the devil. Daniel
12:1a states, “And at that time shall Michael
stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people:
….” Michael defends Israel from the
spiritual attacks of the devil and the other fallen angels. Another possibility, while noted nowhere in
Scripture, is that of Michael leading offenses against the physical enemies of
Israel, simply, because he is the protectorate of Israel. As seen through Michael, angels are assigned
nations to protect but are they assigned people to protect?
Does
each individual possess a guardian angel?
Michael defended and protected Daniel because he was an Israelite, not
because of a personal assignment, but angels do protect us individually as
well. There exists no evidence that an
angel is assigned to each one of us to protect but angels do protect
regardless. II Kings 6:11-17 records the
account of the King of Syria coming against Elisha and his servant. Unrevealed to the servant though was a
mountain filled with angels referred to as a “host.” The term “host” referred to angels equipped
and prepared in battle array. These
angels were prepared to protect (guard) Elisha and his servant from the rage of
the King of Syria. Thus, these angels,
while not class is given, were the guardian angels of Elisha and his
servant. While the Bible never states
that a particular angel is assigned to each one of us, it notifies us that they
watch us in order to protect us.[1] Psalm 34:7 reinforces this fact by stating, “The
angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth
them.”
Daniel
chapter six revealed the truth of Psalm 34:7.
When Daniel refused to cease from prayer and fasting, which violated the
king’s decree, he received the punishment of being cast alive into the den of
lions. Once inside, he prayed and God
answered Daniel in his hour of need.
Daniel testified to King Darius what happened that night in the lion’s
den. Daniel 6:22 records his testimony
that stated, “My God hath sent his
angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me:
forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O
king, have I done no hurt.” Notice that
Scripture nowhere denotes the existence of a personal guardian angel for Daniel
but, rather, that an angel guarded Daniel.
However, while there are no passages alluding to adults possessing
personal guardian angels, it appears that children have personal guardian
angels. Matthew 18:10 states, “Take heed
that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in
heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in
heaven.” Notice the phrase, “their
angels.” The word “their” implies a
personal connection or belonging to thus indicating that God assigns angels to
guard and protect children.
Angels watch over us throughout
our lives[2]
if we possess a personal relationship with God.[3] They watch over us in one of two ways: either
they watch over us and we are aware of it or they watch over us without us
knowing it. The author of Psalm 91 wrote,
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways
(Psalm 91:11).” The devil even knows
this truth.
After Jesus’ baptism, the devil
tempted him in the wildness on three different occasions and when he tempted
Jesus to cast Himself off the pinnacle of the Temple, the devil quoted
Scripture. Luke quoted the devil as
stating, “For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep
thee: 11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash
thy foot against a stone (Luke 4:10-11).”
Jesus then proceeded to rebuke the devil from tempting Him. Regardless of the fact that the Scripture was
used for tempting Christ, the devil still knew that God placed His angels as
guardians of His followers. Angels not only protect people, but they also
protect whole nations.
[1]
Note: They also watch us to inquire into
the mystery of salvation.
I Peter 1:12 states “Unto whom it was
revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things,
which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you
with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to
look into.”
[2] Matthew 18:10 “Take heed that ye despise not
one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do
always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”
[3]
Note: Angels guard believers, not
necessarily sinners. However, if
believers pray for the protection of the unsaved, then God must honor those
prayers because of the believers faithfulness to God (John 14:13; I John
5:14-15).
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