How do we know when an angel story we hear today can be believed?
Give it the Bible test.
#1 Is the story consistent with what we know of God’s character and God’s Word?
#2 Does it support or contradict what is said elsewhere in God’s Word? Does it add to it?
The book of Revelation, chapter 22, verses 18-19 says this:
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book. If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”
One of the reasons the Mormon church, considered by many Christians to be a cult, is because it claims to base its teachings on the Bible PLUS the book of Mormon – supposedly written on tables given by an angel named Moroni to a man named Joseph Smith back in the 1800’s here in the US. That is an addition to the Word of God, something John the Apostle clearly warned about in the book of Revelation.
#3 Is it consistent with what the Bible tells us about the messages and ministries of angels?
· Is the person claiming to see or hear from angels a believer in Jesus?
o Hebrews 1:14 “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
o We read of a number of examples where known believers in Christ on their deathbed have sat up and said they saw Jesus and His angels coming to get them before they died.
o These stories can be believed because they are consistent with what Bible says about angels coming for believers at death.
o But if someone without a relationship with Jesus says they have had the experience of seeing an angel, it's good to be cautious. Either that person’s experience with lead them to faith in Jesus, or they just might be untrue.
· Remember that Satan was an angel himself. He is a deceiver and the "father of lies".
o In 2 Corinthians 11:14, the Apostle Paul says: “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”
o Satan would love to lull those who do not know Jesus into complacency about their eternal destiny with visions of angels that might give comfort to those who have no eternal comfort apart from Jesus.
#4 Is the message and/or the ministry of the angel glorifying to God or to the angel himself? The primary ministry of angels is to worship God and bring Him glory.
If someone claims to have heard from a personal angel guide giving his own advice or guidance – be suspicious.
Is the person relating the appearance giving glory to God, or to the angel and his message? An angel would never give a message inconsistent with the Word of God already given.
Satan would love to get our eyes off the worship of God and onto something else – like angels, or anything else that takes the place of God.
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