(This was originally a tract from the 1990’s, now online.  I have added some things to make it pertinent to today. )

ANGELS.   “Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?”  Hebrews 1:14

Despite this sophisticated, high-tech society in which we live, people still find themselves drawn to the supernatural.  However, today’s fascination about angels is nothing new.

The book of Hebrews (13:2) advises us:

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

“Of the angels He says, ‘He makes His angels winds, and His ministers a flame of fire.’”  Hebrews 1:7

So how does one recognize an angel?  In the broad sense, “angel” means “messenger.”  And in this sense of a “messenger”, maybe I have been an “angel” to convey to you the Truth!  But for the purpose of this pamphlet, we are referring to supernatural beings.

The most important thing to remember regarding angels is that there are God’s angels and then there are those fallen angels that rebelled against their Creator and followed Satan in sinful pride.  How can you tell them apart?  Do you know that a demon can disguise himself as a person, a deceased relative, an “alien”, a serpent, and even a beautiful, shining, “helpful” being?

“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”                          2 Corinthians 11:14

What is our defense against mistaking a messenger of hell for an angel of God?  Surely, we do not want to follow the advice of fallen angels for their path, no matter how “beneficial” it may appear, is a path that leads to destruction in the long run.  We must be aware that every supernatural being is NOT sent from heaven.

Federal agents are trained to spot counterfeit cash by studying genuine money.  If you know the truth, a counterfeit is less likely to fool you.  While we may not be able to put an actual angel under a microscope, we do have the Word of God.

Now, if an angel is a messenger of God, then that angel cannot speak anything contrary to the revealed Word of God – the Holy Scriptures.   The Word of God is absolute truth in it’s original pure form.

If someone claims a spirit says to drown their baby (and something like this happened some years ago), that would be a demon.    Many “angelic” apparitions are not really angels of God, but messengers from hell, because they speak lies.

Awhile back, and not at my current church, a lady joined the choir.  I thought I’d take her out for coffee to get to know her better.   She told me she was having visions of a spirit.  But this being didn’t line up with the Word of God and claimed things contrary to the Scriptures.  The name of this “angel” was Lilith.   I knew something about this demon from studies. I told her she needed to repent to God for entertaining this demon.

When I was first saved, I was in the library.  I felt that “someone” was leading me to a book.  So I checked it out.  As I was reading this book, it didn’t track with the Scriptures.  That “someone” who was leading me wanted to throw me off track.  The book was on Theosophy, an occult philosophy.

It does pay to know the Word of God!

So if an apparition appears and exhorts one to pray the rosary, would you know that is wrong?  This is the Word of God on the subject:

“But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.”  Matthew 6:7 KJ2000

Another translation (NLT) puts it this way:

“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.”

Sadly, many Christians who don’t know the Bible fall into this trap.  Most pagan practices employ beads and repetitious chants.  God wants prayer from the heart!  Oh, if we only would seek God’s heart on a matter, we would not fall into so much evil!

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” lamented the LORD through His prophet Hosea (4:6).

The Word of God says,

“When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God, for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do this.”  Deuteronomy 18:9-14

According to this, the practices of astrology [not to be confused with astroNOMY], seances, and all such supernatural phenomena through any contrived source is evil and an abomination to God.  While God does give spiritual gifts to His people, they are bestowed on those whom He wills. They cannot be bought or conjured into existence.

On the other hand, Satan plays his deceptive games with us in the area of our mind, will, and emotions called the soul (Greek psuche).  The source of psychic information is fallen angels communicating deceptive information, possibly to a degree factual but omitting the whole truth through the mind or soul.

We can see this through that book and movie The Secret.  It speaks of gratitude, love, joy and happiness, all good things*, but it is decidedly New Age.  This movie explains “God” in terms of the “universe.”   That’s pantheism!   They omit YHWH God who is a personal God, the Great I AM.  That’s the “secret” they leave out.  God Almighty knows what is best and He “works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”  (Romans 8:28)  But

It is essential to know the Word of God so you don’t fall into the snare designed by demons!   That relationship with a fallen being will make you dependent on that being for guidance, and it will be lies!

“And when they say to you, ‘Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,’ should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?”  Isaiah 8:19

We should seek guidance and a relationship with the One True God!  

You see God has prophets.  Satan uses psychics and fortunetellers.

God works miracles.  Satan uses sorcerers and witches.  (There’s no such thing as a good witch or white witchcraft!)

God has angels.  Satan has fallen angels or demons that can appear as beautiful beings of artificial light.

God gives righteousness to those who believe in the LORD Jesus Christ.  Christ means “Messiah” or the “Anointed One”  who redeems us from our sins through His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary.

Satan demands religious rites where a person thinks he can climb the stairway to heaven or work his way up to “enlightenment.”

God grants forgiveness of sins freely to those who accept His forgiveness through faith because the penalty for the sins of all mankind has been paid in full by Jesus Christ who gave His life as a willing sacrifice.

Satan has nothing to give.  He only dangles corruptible incentives to deceive people into joining his ranks.

God IS Love, Light, and Life.

Satan hates.   He exists in darkness, and seeks to steal, kill, and destroy.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”  

But the end of that verse says, Christ “came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

CHOOSE this day whom you will serve.  If you choose the LORD who graciously and freely invites you to live with Him forever, pray and ask Him.  He is the Creator of heaven and earth.  Pray and ask the LORD for help to believe.   Believe in the LORD Jesus Christ and you will be saved to live eternally.

“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”  John 1:12

Jesus said, ““I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  John 14:6

And an angel, seen or unseen, may help encourage us in that salvation!  

BUT an angel of God will NEVER contradict the Word of God!  KNOW HIS WORD!

Other articles about how to spot deception:

Angels Everyday?    Angels Everyday? Part Two