Biblically informed awareness of angels avoids two extremes, excessive super-spiritual over-interest and excessively restrictive sub-spiritual denial. From our human perspective, God’s creation is divided into the seen realm and the unseen realm. Although there are claims of contemporary and historic angelic appearances, we cannot here comment definitively about whether or not angels have appeared visibly to people since biblical times. Whilst absolute skepticism is unnecessary, sober discernment and caution are critical. Whilst angelic appearances are impossible to publicly verify, and whilst they are by definition the opposite of routine, there is no explicit biblical warrant for flat denial or an insistent assumption that beyond biblical times visible angelic occurrences have ceased.
Biblically informed awareness of angels avoids two extremes.
It is arguable that the appearance of angels is inherently extraordinary and as such is limited to “the history of redemption at its cardinal points,” writes Bavinck. From the time of the apostles, he continues, “they cease their extraordinary ministry and will only resume a public role at the return of Christ…With Christ’s coming and the full revelation of God’s Word, this extraordinary ministry has ceased.” This is to argue for cessation from inference. Whether an absolute cessation of angelic appearances beyond apostolic times is a necessary consequence and implication of apostolic texts is debatable.
The Angels Are Constantly Active
We must, however, clearly distinguish between angelic appearances and angelic activity. The bigger biblical picture seems to assume the constant ongoing activity of angels, in a manner continuous with the scriptural patterns. The biblical record encourages deep consciousness of the invisible world, of the spirit world, and of the unseen activity of angels. A strong case can be built that, with the cessation of special revelation, the conspicuous and communicative aspects of the activity of angels has ceased. Yet there is nothing to indicate that their invisible role has significantly changed.
The bigger biblical picture seems to assume the constant ongoing activity of angels.
Whilst visibly encountering angels ourselves is admittedly very unlikely, there is no biblical statement promising that God will never—between the time of the apostles and the return of Christ—use the visible appearance of angels to reach or help his people. “Some of us may have had experiences highly suggestive of the intervention of angelic powers,” writes Robert Letham, “but we cannot be precise or speak with authority.” Certain circumstances and events may appear so unusual as to resist routine expectation, and we may be moved to attribute this to the special providence of God, but “we cannot possibly distinguish between an event brought about by angelic instrumentality and one caused by the direct, unmediated action of God,” says Letham.
Either way, through angelic agency or God’s own direct action, it is God who has acted for our good. And that ought be the dominating centre of our attention. Knowing that there are very many unimaginably virtuous, capable, devoted, powerful, though unseen, figures campaigning, fighting, and serving us on behalf of Jesus should bring considerable confidence and encouragement.
To Comfort God’s People and Give Confidence
Indeed, this may be much of the intention moving the Lord’s employment of angels. It is not that God has to care for his people with angelic assistance. The Lord Jesus is often said to act directly towards us and for us. Yet, in the words of John Calvin, “God makes use of the angels, not for his own sake, but for ours…to comfort our weakness.” It is “out of his immeasurable kindness and gentleness” that God commissions angels to care for us (Institutes 1.15.10). Doing so, he is purely concerned to banish our fear, to keep us from being overly frightened by the evils that we face, and to reinforce our trust in his boundless goodness and infinite greatness.
The action is part and parcel of God’s providential care and direction, whether or not we’re aware of it.
To doubly assure us of his provision and protection, God not only promises to help us himself, “but tells us he has innumerable guardians whom he has bidden to look after our safety; that so long as we are hedged about by their defence and keeping, whatever perils may threaten, we have been placed beyond all chance of evil” (Institutes 1.15.10) Although most of the time believers are unaware of angelic care or protection, Scripture presents it a solid spiritual reality. Far from being mere ideas, “qualities or inspirations without substance,” the angels are actual and concrete beings, “spirits having a real existence” (Institutes 1.14.9).
Believers may confidently trust in God’s guarding in all our ways (Psalm 91:1). The action and intervention of angels occurs as part and parcel of God’s providential care and direction, whether or not we are consciously aware of it. As Elisha understood, “those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16-17). As Augustine puts it in the Enchiridion, “By the church…we are to understand the whole church, not just the part that journeys here on earth from the rising of the sun to its setting, praising the name of the Lord and singing a new song of deliverance from its old captivity, but also that part which, in heaven, has always from creation, held fast to God, and which never experienced the evils of a fall. This part, composed of the holy angels, remains in blessedness, and it gives help, even as it ought, to the other part still on pilgrimage.”
DON’T HAVE PAYPAL TO SET UP A MONTHLY DONATION? If you would like to donate via Payfast – a secure payment gateway available to donors both inside and outside of Africa – please click here.
