An Encounter with an Angel
•June 9, 2014 • 3 Comments
The following testimony was shared with me back in 2007 by a lovely viewer of Revelation TV, for a programme that we were putting together at that time also on this topic of Angels, and which she kindly allowed me to share on my blog. I found this story beautiful, reassuring and inspiring. I hope it also blesses you, as the last post in this series about Angels …
It was an early, winter morning. It was still dark when Derrice received the call. Her mother had been found on the floor, unable to move, unable to communicate, and body contorted. The situation was desperate and the prognosis looked bad.
Derrice arrived at her elderly parents’ home within minutes. She prayed all the way. If her mother was to die today there was so much left to say, so much left to share. And so many questions. Did her mum really know God, Derrice wondered. She grew up in a generation of churchgoing, but you can attend church and still not be saved.
There was an urgency when Derrice arrived with paramedics and other family already making arrangements to transport Glenna to the nearest hospital by ambulance. When she saw her mother, Derrice was shocked and distressed. Glenna’s eyes were wide and frightened, one side of her face was paralysed and her hands were taut and twisted by her body. She could not say a word.
The family formed a circle and prayed to God, interceding for their much loved wife, mother and grandmother.
‘Is it a stroke?’ Derrice asked the medical staff. They thought so, and insisted she get to hospital immediately, as the situation was serious.
Glenna was laid and fastened on the stretcher in the ambulance. A paramedic boarded with her, and strapped himself beside her. Derrice boarded too, and was belted into a seat near-by. The doors were closed, and the ambulance sped away.
The siren blared. Ahead was a sea of red brake lights, as cars parted to make way for their speeding vehicle. They lurched forward as the ambulance took a bend at speed. Just as well Mum is strapped in, Derrice thought.
She looked over at her mother. She looks so frightened. What is she trying to tell us? Will we ever be able to communicate again?
Glenna was extremely distressed, twisting and making noises. Still unable to speak and desperately looking around the ambulance with wide frightened eyes.
Derrice was scared and helpless, what was going to happen to her? She started to pray again. That God would heal her mother and give them all a second chance. That He would give Glenna a divine encounter with Him, so that she would have a chance to know Him for real.
Suddenly the atmosphere in the ambulance changed. Derrice felt a powerful presence over her mother. She recognised this as the presence of God. “I could describe it as a hovering blanket of power or mist,” she says, “but it seems far too holy to describe it in such a way.”
Instantly, Glenna’s hands stopped twisting, the expression in her eyes changed and she became calm. Fear left her. There was a thick peacefulness. At that moment, Glenna’s speech returned.
“I can’t believe it, your mum is talking,” the paramedic said. “That’s the power of prayer.” Derrice replied. “It’s something,” he said, nodding his head in almost disbelief.
* * * * * * * *
A week later, Derrice sat with Glenna in her hospital room. They talked about the trauma of that morning that had brought them here, and what had happened in the ambulance. “Do you remember anything unusual?” Derrice asked.
“Not really,” Glenna said casually. “Just the three of us in the back of the ambulance, and that other woman.”
Derrice paused, puzzled. There was not another woman in the back of ambulance. “Do you mean the lady at your house earlier, the paramedic?”
“No, not her. That lady said good-bye to us the ambulance door. She asked you if she should drive your Dad to the hospital behind the ambulance.
No, the woman in the ambulance, was a very tall lady. She stepped into the ambulance just before the doors closed.”
Derrice’s heart began to race. Maybe her mum was confused. There was no other woman in the back with them. She began to test Glenna to see if her mind had been muddled, but Glenna recounted every detail correctly – the conversation Derrice had had with the hospital paramedic, where they were each sitting, even the route to the hospital.
“This lady was extremely tall. She had very fair, almost white hair, down to her shoulders. She stepped into the ambulance, with her head down and stood behind the ambulance man next to my bed. She was dressed as a paramedic. I remember you waving at me from your seat, Derrice, then the lady moved forward and stood over me, and I couldn’t see you behind her.”
Derrice remembered how she had sensed the presence of God so strongly over her mother on the journey.
“The lady touched the equipment above me. As she did, she said to me, ‘Don’t worry, you will be alright.’ She had the most beautiful light in her hands as she touched the equipment. Like golden, crystal, diamonds. It was a very bright light and I was admiring how beautiful it was. It seemed to get brighter and brighter, and suddenly it got so bright I couldn’t look at it anymore, and turned my head.”
Derrice remembered the expression in Glenna’s face change, the way she became peaceful, and wondered if that was the moment.
“I did think it was funny, you know,” Glenna said; Derrice looked at her.
“Well, we were all strapped in, but this lady wasn’t. She wasn’t even holding onto anything. The ambulance was going all over the place, and she didn’t fall. I remember this one very sharp turn, and I really thought the lady would fall on me as she was standing right over me, but she didn’t.”
Glenna sat taking it all in, questioning her own sanity. Physically, there had only been three in the back of that ambulance that morning. Her mother, herself and the hospital paramedic. As she reflected, words from Scripture came to her mind, “For He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways,” Psalm 91:11. “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14. The excitement set in. Derrice was filled with awe and joy that an angel of God had ministered healing to her mother. That God had answered her prayer for this healing, and for a divine encounter so that Glenna would know God is real.
“Needless to say, my Mum feels so blessed,” Derrice says. “It has totally changed her. She realises that I am not “quite so mad” after all. And how privileged she is to be healed by Almighty God Himself, through Jesus Christ, who came for us. She of course is back home and doing very well.
The medical staff did think she had a stroke. It didn’t make sense to them though because there was no sign of it on the scan.”
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14
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If you would like to read any of the previous posts in this series, you can find these here:
For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11
© Article and Photo by Birgit Whelan Copyright 2014
Guardian Angels
•June 8, 2014 • 1 CommentIt’s such a comforting thought that God gives His angels charge over us. This verse says that because we have made God our dwelling place, the Person in Whom we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28), then no harm shall befall us. For He will give His angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways. They will accompany, defend and preserve us. They will lift us up in their hands, so that we will not even strike a foot against a stone Psalm 91:9-13.
This gives me confidence to pray in line with this promise and ask God for His angels to accompany and preserve my family and me in situations that may feel uncertain or unsafe, for example. And I believe He answers at these times and I am reassured that I am in the presence of His angels.
But what about a particular angel? One special angel that the Lord has set aside and assigned just to me, to watch over me for my whole life?
The truth is, Scripture is not definitive on this question, except in the case of children. When Jesus was speaking about children one day, He said to His disciples, “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven” Matthew 18:10.
We can infer from this that particular angels are assigned to particular people. But then, from what Jesus is saying here, there is more than one angel assigned.
Whether or not there is a specific angel for each of us, we know that God has commanded His angels to guard us. I am so thankful for this, but then for me personally, nothing compares with knowing that God Himself, Who is all-powerful, is the One protecting me and looking after me. “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One Who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” Deuteronomy 31:6.
In tomorrow’s post, I will be sharing an account of an encounter with an angel. This will coincide with the day that our programme To the Point will be broadcast in the evening, all about the topic of Angels (if you would like to see this, you can view the programme online at 20:30 at www.revelationtv.com or on Revelation TV SKY 581 in the UK).
© Article by Birgit Whelan Copyright 2014
Fallen Angels
•June 7, 2014 • 2 Comments
A third of the angels fell from Heaven. They were cast down with Lucifer.
Lucifer held the rank of “anointed cherub,” and according to what God said of him, he was originally something very special, “the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” Ezekiel 28:12. Because of his beauty and splendour, his heart became full of pride. So much so that he had ideas of usurping the throne of God. Filled with this arrogance and rebellion, God cast him out and down to Sheol, the abode of the dead.
It was not only Lucifer that rebelled, angels did too. When Michael won the battle with Satan in heaven, “that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” Revelation 12:9. Revelation 12:4 reveals that “one third” of the heavenly host were cast out with Lucifer. Satan and his fallen angels.
So we know that not all angels are good. And we know that these fallen angels are in chains and in darkness and will face God’s judgment 2 Peter 2:4. But we also know that they are our spiritual opponents here and now Ephesians 6:12.
Having worked in a Christian setting, I have heard many stories of people who have experienced unnerving supernatural presences. Sometimes in a particular room at home, sometimes when they wake from sleep, and sometimes in nightmares. I remember one person describing a sensation of being physically overpowered and held down in his bed one night by a dark kind of presence. In his terror, he knew to cry out to God. When he did, God intervened. The dark presence instantly left him, as did the physical sensation of being held down. The spiritual climate in the room changed and there was peace. He since became a Christian.
When I was very young, a lovely Christian woman I knew said something to me which I’ve never forgot. She said, “If ever you are in a situation of danger, whatever it is, call upon the Name of Jesus. If it’s all you can do, just call out His Name. There is power in it.” She is right. There is power in Jesus’ Name. Evil spiritual beings are terrified of Him and are subject to Him (Mark 5:6-8). Jesus is “far above all principality and power and might and dominion” Ephesians 1:20.
In acknowledging the existence of fallen angels (and/or demonic presences) we should not be afraid of them, in Christ. “In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him (Jesus) who loved us” Romans 8:37. And He says to us, “Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” Luke 9:19.
Scripture says that God has given His angels charge over us Psalm 91:11, tomorrow’s post will look at this verse, and at the question – do we have a Guardian Angel?
© Article by Birgit Whelan Copyright 2014
The Archangels
•June 6, 2014 • 4 Comments
Scripture reveals a hierarchy in heaven. There are not only angels, but also archangels, cherubim and seraphim. There are principalities, powers and dominions. Jesus even spoke of “legions of angels” Matthew 26:53 which gives us some idea that angels are grouped in an organised kind of way. Over angels are the archangels. While Scripture only mentions two archangels by name – Michael and Gabriel, the Jewish Rabbinical tradition also mentions Raphael and Uriel which I’ve also included here.
There is something that interested me about each of the names which is that each ends with the syllable el which means God, so each of the archangels refer to or point to God in some way in their name. Each also has a particular role in God’s Kingdom:
Michael – His name means ‘Who is like God.’ Michael appears in Daniel, Jude and Revelation. He is a warrior angel, the mighty commander of those angels who do warfare for God against evil. The ultimate example is where Michael fights against Satan in the great battle in Revelation 12, and Satan is cast out of heaven. The photo above is a stunning sculpture depicting this from a visit to St Michel in Paris.
Gabriel – His name means ‘Strength of God.’ Gabriel “stands in the presence of God” Luke 1:19 and has a major role in both Testaments. Gabriel is an angel of annunciation – he appears as God’s trusted and chief messenger, conveying God’s purposes to His people. It was Gabriel who appeared to Mary and announced that she was highly favoured and blessed among women, and that she would be Jesus’ mother in Luke 1.
Raphael – His name means ‘Healing of God.’ Raphael does not actually appear in the Bible but rather in the ancient Jewish texts. Here, Raphael appears as an angel of mercy and is attributed with a role of ministering God’s healing to those who are sick or suffering. Raphael is thought by some to have been one of the three who visited Abraham after his circumcision In Genesis 18. Also, some people evidently think it was Raphael who was the angel at the pool of Bethesda in John 5, stirring up the water so that people could be healed.
Uriel – His name means ‘Fire of God’ or ‘God is Light.’ Uriel, like Raphael, does not appear Scripturally and is identified only on the basis of Jewish Rabbinical tradition. There is also a beautiful stained glass depiction of him at Canterbury Cathedral, where he holds a fiery sphere seemingly symbolising his name. Some Christians believe that one of the cherubim that God placed at the east of the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were driven out, was Uriel – ‘So He drove out the man and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life’ Genesis 3:24.
While studying for this topic, the role of the seraphim of the heavenly hierarchy also really impacted me. The seraphim are mentioned only once in Scripture, in Isaiah 6. The account describes them as worshipping God continuously, calling out to each other in antiphonal praise, and attesting to God’s holiness, majesty and glory, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory’ Isaiah 6:3.
Tomorrow’s post will cover the angels that rebelled against God ~ Fallen Angels.
© Article and Photo by Birgit Whelan Copyright 2014
All About Angels
•June 5, 2014 • 3 Comments
Next week on Monday 9 June, Richard and I will be discussing the topic of ‘Angels’ on To the Point. On the programme, I mention that I will re-post a series which I originally published here in 2008 all about angels, in case anyone would like to follow up on some of the themes that we cover during the show. So over the next five days, there will be articles here on the themes of guardian angels, the archangels, and on fallen angels (which we ran out of time to talk about unfortunately), as well as more general information here today about what angels are, what they do, and should we pray to them? which has been done as a kind of question and answer. The last article in the series is called ‘An encounter with an Angel’. This is a testimony which a lovely viewer of Revelation TV shared with me back in 2007 for a programme that we were doing about this topic back at that time, and which she kindly allowed me to share on my blog.
I hope this series might give an opportunity to go a bit deeper with what we discuss, and be a blessing. Thanks for your interest :).
So what exactly are angels? They are spiritual, celestial beings, and they exist on a plane somewhere between God and man.“Angels belong to a uniquely different dimension of creation that we, limited to the natural order, can scarcely comprehend … [God] has given angels higher knowledge, power and mobility than we ….” *
What does ‘angel’ mean? It means ‘messenger.’ In the Old Testament they are called mal’ak in the Hebrew, and in the New Testament – ángelos in Greek. These words mean “a messenger.”
Have they always existed? No, they are created beings. God is their Creator Psalm 148:2;5.
Do angels die? No, angels are immortal, they cannot die Luke 20:36.
Are there ‘male’ angels and ‘female’ angels? As spiritual beings, angels have no gender. This in the sense that angels do not procreate; there’s a verse about this in the Bible that says “in the resurrection [people] neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels of God in heaven” Matthew 22:30. BUT when angels appear in human form in the Bible, they typically appear as males.
Can humans become angels when we die? Angels are an entirely different form of creation to humans. The Bible says that when we die, and we belong to Jesus, then we will receive a new spiritual body as opposed to turning into angels.
Should we worship angels? No, angels are not divine and should not be worshipped. More about this later.
What are some of the things angels do? Two main things that angels do are worship God Revelation 5:11-12 and minister to God’s people. The Bible says that angels are “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation” Hebrews 1:14. Some of the ways angels do this are by protecting God’s people, bringing messages or guidance from God, carrying God’s people to heaven.
Should we pray to angels or ask them for guidance? Angels are servants of God, not of ours. God may send an angel to offer us guidance at a point in our lives, but we cannot summon God’s angels. Anyway, God made us. He’s the One Who knows us inside out and has all the good plans for us, so why not go straight to Him?
How many angels are there? There masses of angels in existence. According to the Bible, the number is “innumerable” and too many to count! Daniel had a vision where he saw God on His throne surrounded by literally millions of angels – “A river of fire as flowing coming out from before Him. Thousands upon thousands attended Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him” Daniel 7:10. If you work that sum out, it numbers more than one hundred million!
Tomorrow’s post is about one special group of these angels ~ ‘The Archangels’ …
* This programme will air on Monday 9 June at 20:30, and can be viewed in real time online at www.revelationt.com or on Revelation TV (SKY 581). A repeat will air on Sunday 15 June at 13:30.
*Quote Reference: Graham, B; 1995; Angels: God’s Secret Agents; W Publishing Group; 30.
© Article and Photo by Birgit Whelan Copyright 2014
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