Guardian Angels

[White_Peony]

So you hear all the time stories of people who needed help and someone came and helped, but when they left, there was no trace of them.

But, when you look in the Bible, when angels appear, it is to give a message (obviously because that is what angel means, messenger).

So do you think they are just really nice people or possibly that person’s guardian angel?

 

[Splagchnizomai]

So do you think they are just really nice people or possibly that person’s guardian angel?

Yes.

 

[Ancient1]

I certainly hope they are people! There must be a few good ones left wandering around who lend a helping hand, and then modestly go off on their own. Isn’t this what we are called to do as Christians? Be “good Samaritans”? Where the angels come in is prompting and reminding us to step out and help when those situations come along.

 

[meltzerboy]

So you hear all the time stories of people who needed help and someone came and helped, but when they left, there was no trace of them.

But, when you look in the Bible, when angels appear, it is to give a message (obviously because that is what angel means, messenger).

So do you think they are just really nice people or possibly that person’s guardian angel?

Although Judaism believes in angels as messengers or emissaries, it does not believe in personal guardian angels. Instead, Jewish teaching is that G-d Himself is our “guardian” who watches over each of us. There is also the Talmudic notion of creating our own “guardian angels” every time we perform a good deed, and these angels–along with our beloved pets–will testify in our behalf in the Heavenly Court.

 

[in_servitude]

So you hear all the time stories of people who needed help and someone came and helped, but when they left, there was no trace of them.

But, when you look in the Bible, when angels appear, it is to give a message (obviously because that is what angel means, messenger).

So do you think they are just really nice people or possibly that person’s guardian angel?

Psalms 91:11-12

11 For he commands his angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go. 12 With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

Seems like the bible also mentions the protection you get with His angels. You have a guardian angle looking over you all the time. It is watching you read this note. Ask for help, and if it serves the Kingdom, you may be surprised by the results.

 

[Edward_Henry]

So you hear all the time stories of people who needed help and someone came and helped, but when they left, there was no trace of them.

But, when you look in the Bible, when angels appear, it is to give a message (obviously because that is what angel means, messenger).

So do you think they are just really nice people or possibly that person’s guardian angel?

I believe it could be ***either! *** You might want to look at these documented Angel Stories

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

To Jesus through Mary

 

[midori]

If you read the writings of the saints, many of them have deep relationships with guardian angels. It’s not a stretch to think that we all have them, and it’s not a stretch to think that they physically manifest themselves to accomplish a particular task.

If you’re looking for purely Biblical references, they’re not just messengers-- they’re also servants and guardians.

One of the biggest bits will be in Matthew 18, where Jesus is talking about how if you lead a child who believes in him astray, that it’s better for you to be thrown into the ocean with a millstone-- it goes on to mention:

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

So the use of the possessive “their angels” is interesting.

And, of course, there’s Hebrews 13:

1 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Offhand, it can first be figured to be a reference to Genesis 18… Abraham notices some travelers, invites them to his place, washes their feet, has Sarah make them some bread, and is generally hospitable. But if Abraham was the only person in the history of the world who had ever encountered an angel, wouldn’t it make sense to refer to him specifically, rather than the vague “some people”?

And you have the entire book of Tobit, where Raphael was not a guardian angel per se, but was sent to answer the prayer of Sara, and assisted Tobias during his travels. He’s definitely fulfilling a servant role, rather than that of a messenger.

And you also have the scene in Acts 12, where Peter is freed from prison by an angel. Was it a random angel, acting as a servant of God? Or was it his guardian angel, who was allowed to accomplish this task for him? It’s not clear, but it’s another instance where an angel is permitted to manifest and accomplish x on behalf of an individual, before disappearing. But if you’ll read it closely, you’ll notice that the people Peter went to thought he had a guardian angel.

And while I was copying that passage, I noticed the next part had a smiting-angel in it. So yes… Biblical angels have a much bigger role to play than merely being messengers.

1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”

15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”

16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.

Herod’s Death

Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. 20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.

21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

24 But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.

 

[Bix]

Both.

 

[Marybeloved]

Psalms 91:11-12

Seems like the bible also mentions the protection you get with His angels. You have a guardian angle looking over you all the time. It is watching you read this note. Ask for help, and if it serves the Kingdom, you may be surprised by the results.

I’m just curious about why you refer to the angels as “it”? Just curious.

 

[Splagchnizomai]

I’m just curious about why you refer to the angels as “it”? Just curious.

Angels have no physical bodies and can’t be called male or female, though they may have what we perceive to be masculine or feminine qualities.

 

[Edward_Henry]

Angels have no physical bodies and can’t be called male or female, though they may have what we perceive to be masculine or feminine qualities.

Funny… God clearly calls him a “him.”(Exodus 23: 20 - 23)

*"See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Be attentive to him and heed his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority resides in him.

If you heed his voice and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. “My angel will go before you and bring you to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites; and I will wipe them out.”

An Angel is a celestial spiritual*** 'person’, so God would not lessen his personal dignity by calling him an “it” Let’s remember that all celestial beings who have revealed their names in Scripture, have given us masculine names: Michael, Gabriel, & Raphael. *** Their “gender identity” seems to be determined not by their sexuality but by their active role (vs. receptive) in God’s plan of salvation.

Let’s also remember that *God the Father *does not claim to have a physical body, but I would never dare to call HIM an “it.”

I pray this helps.

 

[Edward_Henry]

http://www.haaretz.com/polopoly_fs/..._gen/derivatives/landscape_295/2929784997.jpg
Jacob Wrestles with an Angel

"And Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and Jacob’s thigh was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no more be called Jacob, but Israel, * for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Tell me, I pray, your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him." Genesis (32: 24 -29)

"Are angels male or female?"
Answer: There is no doubt that every reference to angels in Scripture refers to them in the masculine gender. The Greek word for “angel” in the New Testament, angelos, is in the masculine form. In fact, the feminine form of angelos does not exist. There are three genders in grammar—masculine (he, him, his), feminine (she, her, hers), and neuter (it, its). Angels are never referred to in any gender other than masculine. In the many appearances of angels in the Bible, *never is an angel referred to as “she” or “it.” *Furthermore, when angels did appear, they always appeared dressed as human males (Genesis 18:2; 16 Ezekiel 9:2). No angel ever appeared in Scripture dressed as a female.

The only named angels in the Bible—Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, Lucifer—had male names and all were referred to in the masculine. Revelation 12:7 – “…Michael and his angels.”; Luke 1:29 – “Mary was greatly troubled at his (Gabriel’s) words.”; Isaiah 14:12 – “Oh, Lucifer, son of the morning.” Other references to angels are always in the masculine gender. In Judges 6:21; the angel held the staff in his hand. Zechariah asked an angel a question and reports that he answered (Zechariah 1:19). The angels in Revelation are all spoken of as “he” and “his” (Revelation 7:1; 10:15; 14:19; 16:2, 417, 19:17; 20:1).

The confusion about genderless angels comes from a misreading of Matthew 22:30; which states that there will be no marriage in heaven because we “will be like the angels in heaven.” The statement that there will be no marriage has led some to believe that angels are “sexless” or genderless because (the thinking goes) the purpose of gender is procreation and, if there is to be no marriage and no procreation, there is no need for gender. But this is a leap that cannot be proven from the text. The fact that there is no marriage does not necessarily mean there is no gender. The many references to angels as males contradict the idea of genderless angels. But we must not confuse gender with sexuality. Clearly, there is no sexual activity in heaven, which we can safely derive from the statement about no marriage. But we can’t make the same leap from “no marriage” to “no gender.”

Gender, then, is not to be understood strictly in terms of sexuality. Rather, the use of the masculine gender pronouns throughout Scripture is more a reference to authority than to sex. God always refers to Himself in the masculine. The blurring of the distinction between male and female can lead to heresies such as “mother/father God” and the Holy Spirit as an “it,” ignoring the references to Him in Scripture (John 14:17; 15:16; 16:8, 13-14). The Holy Spirit is never described as an “it” or an inanimate force. God’s perfect plan for the order and structure of authority, both in the church and the home, imbues men with authority to rule in love and righteousness, just as God rules. It would simply be inappropriate to refer to heavenly beings as anything other than masculine because of the authority God has granted to them to wield His power (2 Kings 19:35), carry His messages (Luke 2:10), and represent Him on earth. More here

I pray this helps

To Jesus through Mary

 

[in_servitude]

I’m just curious about why you refer to the angels as “it”? Just curious.

Why did I do that? I’m not sure, actually.

I’ve always thought of my guardian angle as a “he” since I’m male. I figure that people have guardian angels that are a match for them somehow. Perhaps “he/she” would have been preferred.

“It” doesn’t seem right at all, so that has to be labeled an error.

What is the best way to refer to an angel?

 

[Edward_Henry]

Why did I do that? I’m not sure, actually.

I’ve always thought of my guardian angle as a “he” since I’m male. I figure that people have guardian angels that are a match for them somehow. Perhaps “he/she” would have been preferred.

“It” doesn’t seem right at all, so that has to be labeled an error.

What is the best way to refer to an angel?

Wth great reverence and gratitude. They are persons created by God, capable of being offended but also of being very generous and loving. The kind of person anybody should love to have by one’s side. If he is permitted by God’s will, he could eventually reveal his name to you. Until then, “Angel of God” sounds very appropiate.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 

[Nicko]

So you hear all the time stories of people who needed help and someone came and helped, but when they left, there was no trace of them.

But, when you look in the Bible, when angels appear, it is to give a message (obviously because that is what angel means, messenger).

So do you think they are just really nice people or possibly that person’s guardian angel?

I am certainly not as well-versed in Biblical examples as some of the people here, but you seem correct in your characterisation of angels as messengers, not bodyguards or social workers.

If someone were to assume that a mysterious stranger was an angel sent by God to help them, then they would be left having to explain the people who - despite their greater need and virtue - had no such help. There are too many murdered Catholic priests lying in shallow graves in South America to credit the idea that angels shield the faithful from harm.

 

[the_phoenix]

I am certainly not as well-versed in Biblical examples as some of the people here, but you seem correct in your characterisation of angels as messengers, not bodyguards or social workers.

If someone were to assume that a mysterious stranger was an angel sent by God to help them, then they would be left having to explain the people who - despite their greater need and virtue - had no such help. There are too many murdered Catholic priests lying in shallow graves in South America to credit the idea that angels shield the faithful from harm.

St. Padre Pio would quite likely agree that his guardian angel was not his bodyguard, not always, anyways … if I remember his story correctly. Apparently, one time Padre Pio was getting beaten up by a demon and Padre Pio could see his guardian angel standing right there not lifting a finger to help. Afterwards, Padre Pio asked his angel why? The guardian angel replied that it had not been God’s Will that he should help.

If I have the story wrong, whoever has more correct information,
please feel welcome to let me know.

 

[wcknight]

I think their roles varies. Sometimes it is to observe and record your good deeds and bad. Sometimes it may be for protection or warning. And maybe sometimes it may be to relay messages or prayers to saints or God or to other guardian angels.

IF it were always for protection they we would never get into accidents and we would never get injured. Sometimes we need to experience pain as a consequence of some stupid things that we do or unnecessary risks that we take.

There are times when driving when I just sense that I’m about to make a mistake or I have a close call and I just have the feeling that my guardian angel just helped prevent a collision. BUT we are responsible for our own actions, so we should not blame our guardian angel when we get careless or are unattentive to danger. They are there to help us, but it is uncertain how much they can get involved.