The Unseen Angels

“For He will give His angels charge concerning you,  To guard you in all your ways.”  Psalm 91:11

God has created “myriads of angels” (Heb. 12:22), and there are many references to them in both Old and New Testaments, but few living men or women have ever actually seen real heavenly angels – or, at least, recognized them as such. We may “have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Heb. 13:2), for they can assume the appearance of men on occasion, but normally they are invisible to human eyes.

Nevertheless, they are there! Furthermore, they are “all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14). God has given them charge over us - that is, over each believer “who dwells in the shelter of the Most High” (Psalm 91:1).  “Mighty in strength, who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word” (Psalm 103:20).
   
Wide is the variety of His commandments with respect to angelic ministry to believers. “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them” (Psalm 34:7). “They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone” (Psalm 91:12).

Not only physical protection, but also guidance and encouragement are angelic ministries. When a believer dies, angels translate his spirit to the Lord’s presence (Luke 16:22; 2 Cor. 5:8), and we can look forward then to meeting and thanking them personally as we come to understand better all their ministries on our behalf during our lifetime. They are keenly concerned with our salvation and spiritual progress, “things into which angels long to look” (1 Pet. 1:12). Finally, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne” as He judges the world (Matt. 25:31).