Angelic Visitations
"Jacob saw angels ascending and descending, but none standing still" (unknown). C.T. Cook said: "The Bible assumes, rather than asserts, the existence of angels, as it does the fact of God Himself." T. Hewitt said: "Angels are clothed with God's power to accomplish His will in the realm of nature." (Quotes taken from More Gathered Gold - a treasury of quotations for Christians)
The Scriptures are full of verses pertaining to angels. Some of the most popular are as follows:
Hebrews 1:13-14: "But to which of the angels said He at any time, sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Hebrews 13:2: "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unaware." Psalm 91:11-12: "For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone."
Notices that these Scriptures emphasize the angels are "ministering spirits sent forth" by God by His direction. He does not say that they are to be prayed to, commanded, or worshipped by man.
This information and more: http://www.galatians5.com/Angelic%20Visitations.htm
Angelic Visitations and Revelations
When one takes a look at history; we find that many major religions have been started from an angelic visitation and divine messages. The Jehovah Witnesses, Mormonism, Islam and most other new religions are no exception. The New Age movement receives their “divine” information from what is called “spirit guides” through deep channeling and automatic writing. Many of these groups hold “angel seminars” so one may learn how to make contact with their appropriate angel or spirit guide. Psychics also receive their spiritual guidance by spirits who may be identified as “fallen angels”. One could also say
Christianity was started by a visitation from the angel Gabriel who brought God’s message to Mary, Joseph and other shepherds in the field.
Since the beginning of recorded time, angels have been involved in relaying the spiritual and divine to mankind. They have also been known to bring false information. This depends on which spirit one makes contact with. 42% of Americans believe they have had some type of contact with the deceased, and almost 15% agree that the work of spirit mediums is a legitimate practice. These and other religions have communion with spirits and or angels for creating extra-biblical books. They are given new revelation or new additions applicable to the Bible.
Can the same angel say two different things concerning a single subject and both have validity? Islam for example, claims this has transpired in the Koran. They believe the Koran was dictated verbally by the angel Gabriel (the Holy Spirit) based on heaven’s eternal tablets.
In the Bible, the angel Gabriel announces of the birth of Christ to Mary, and is told he would be called the Son of God (which means having the same nature as God). (Luke.1:35 also in Matthew.1:23) He would be called "Emmanuel", God with us. This is allegedly the same angel that told Mohammed that God does not have a son, and that god is unable to incarnate as a man, which is ultimate blasphemy for a Muslim. This and other info: http://www.threeq.com/pdf/4A.Religionsstartedby.pdf
Angelic Appearances at the Time of the Advent
“And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day, in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:9-11).
There are few in the Christian world not deeply affected by the biblical accounts of Jesus’ birth into the world. Children are often touched by the Christmas story as recounted in the bible. Although some view this story as a cliché, it is adored by millions throughout the world. It has the ability to warm the hearts of many, and to stir up our affections. This and other information at: http://www.newchurchvineyard.org/2003dec/application/fr_angelicappearances_heinrichs.pdf
Angelic Visitations
The following full article may be found by visiting: http://theremnant.com/augdex5.html
SACRAMENTO, CA — Jim Goll related a story of how over nine weeks the Presence of God came and visited his wife. We found this to be very interesting and will relate the story as written in the book called, "The Lost Art of Intercession." The following is an excerpt of the words of Jim and Michal Ann Goll.
On October 6, 1992, at 11:59 p.m:
I was suddenly awakened by a crash of lightning that brightly illuminated our bedroom. It was the Day of Atonement, the ancient day of sacrifice, salvation, and new beginnings observed by Jews around the world for thousands of years. In the eerie flickering light in our backyard I saw a man standing in our room. He looked strangely at me. I blinked and looked at him again, and he continued to look at me for what seemed like the longest minute of my life. Then I heard the words, "Watch your wife. I’m about to speak to her." Michal Ann was still asleep when the being spoke to me, but when the clock reached the midnight hour, the manifested appearance seemed to leave the room. I could sense the being’s presence although I could no longer see him. Michal Ann instantly woke up, and trembling in the fear of the Lord, I whispered to her, "An angel has just come!" Together we shook in the bed with the covers pulled up right to our faces for the next 30 minutes. Tyler, our four-year-old son, had moved to our room when he had become frightened by the storm, and he was asleep on the floor on my side of the bed through the whole ordeal. For some reason, I floated off to sleep for a while without telling Michal Ann what the "man" had said. She was now left wide awake as the sense of the presence increased and I slumbered away.
While I slept, the Holy Spirit began to move upon Michal Ann in some rather unusual ways. At one point she felt a hand in the middle of her back exerting great pressure, and she heard herself moaning and groaning as the activity increased. It was so intense that she was afraid to even look at herself in the mirror, thinking she might discover that her hair had turned white or the appearance of her face had been dramatically rearranged. Just as this portion of the intense encounter came to an end, I woke up again. A light was shining over our bedroom dresser. We continued to tremble as the fear of the Lord was ever so strong. We tossed up a feeble prayer and said, "Lord, if this visitation is of You, then cause one of our children to have a dream about an angel to confirm this visitation. We waited and quietly prayer, "Oh God, oh God, oh God!" I think we identified with the old gospel hymn, "Were You There" in the line where it says, "sometimes He cause me to tremble, tremble, tremble." I then fell asleep for the rest of the night, but Michal Ann was left alone again until 5:00 a.m. with God’s terrifying Presence thick in the room.
Later that morning we awakened to find Tyler standing right beside me, and he said, "I had a dream last night that an angel come and visited our house." Justin, our first born, was asleep in his room right above us on the second floor. He was all excited that morning when he told us that he, too, had a dream that angels had come. In the dream he was shown a white horse that was being prepared for a mission that was yet to come. Interesting, huh? Michal Ann was shown the same horse when at one point she seemed to have been "taken up in the Spirit." How comforting and reassuring this was! God was watching over His Word to perform it. Remember, when something is truly of the Lord, He will confirm it by the witness of two or three. For the complete story see: http://theremnant.com/augdex5.html
Angels Minister To God's People
Though ordinarily one does not “see” an angel, it is evident from holy scripture that angels are often in the company of children. If one fully believes that there are heavenly persons in our vicinity who might be watching our daily conduct and permeating our thoughts, it may have a profound effect in our lives and help us make certain decisions. In the book of Matthew 18:10, we find Jesus giving counsel to be as little children in our attitudes and general spirit. In verse 18 he states: "Their Angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven". In Psalms 34:7: "The angel of the Lord encampeth round them that fear Him, and delivereth them". Again in Hebrews 1:14, concerning Angels: "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation."
There are a great number of other scriptures such as these found in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and other sacred scriptures. The Bible states: "Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses let a thing be established". Why then are angels not seen more often and in our modern day? According to some of the above scriptures, angels appear in a visible form to the naked eye, not to everyone, but to those chosen for special purposes such as prophets.
It is believed that for some reason, persons other than prophets have been permitted to see andreceive accounts from angels. Elisha, the Prophet was able to see the mountains around his besieged city, but the young man with him could not see it. The Bible states that Elisha prayed and asked God to open the young man's eyes (spiritually) so that he was able to see. In answer to the prophet's prayer God permitted the young man to see the heavenly host of the Lord (2nd Kings 6:17). This and more information at: http://www.biblebelievers.org/mansent9.htm
