Question about the appearence of an angel

[zorgblar]

If an angel would appear to you in their pure form would it be scary or beautiful? 

[Neighbor]

Well in "pure" form they might be neither by appearance as they do not have appearance.

If one fears what they do not see then I guess they would be scary. If one welcomes what is spirit then I suppose they are less than scary, and  might be a great comfort. 

If they seem to appear and be scary in the appearance they have taken on, when they take on an appearance, then I suppose that is by design for affect.

Edited April 9, 2017 by Neighbor

[missmuffet]

I think it  would be a very rare occasion and we had better be sure it was an angel from God.

Question: "Do angels appear to people today?"

Answer: In the Bible angels appear to people in unpredictable and various ways. From a casual reading of Scripture, a person might get the idea that angelic appearances were somewhat common, but that is not the case. There is an increasing interest in angels today, and there are many reports of angelic appearances. Angels are part of almost every religion and generally seem to have the same role of messenger. In order to determine whether angels appear today, we must first get a biblical view of their ancient appearances.

The first appearance of angels in the Bible is in Genesis 3:24, when Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden. God placed cherubim to block the entrance with a flaming sword. The next angelic appearance is in Genesis 16:7, about 1,900 years later. Hagar, the Egyptian servant who bore Ishmael to Abraham, was instructed by an angel to return and submit to her mistress, Sarai. Abraham was visited by God and two angels in Genesis 18:2, when God informed him of the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The same two angels visited Lot and instructed him to escape the city with his family before it was destroyed (Genesis 19:1-11). The angels in this case also displayed supernatural power by blinding the wicked men who were threatening Lot.

When Jacob saw a multitude of angels (Genesis 32:1), he immediately recognized them as the army of God. In Numbers 22:22, an angel confronted the disobedient prophet Balaam, but Balaam did not see the angel at first, although his donkey did. Mary received a visit from an angel who told her that she would be the mother of the Messiah, and Joseph was warned by an angel to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt to protect them from Herod’s edict (Matthew 2:13). When angels appear, those who see them are often struck with fear (Judges 6:22; 1 Chronicles 21:30; Matthew 28:5). Angels deliver messages from God and do His bidding, sometimes by supernatural means. In every case, the angels point people to God and give the glory to Him. Holy angels refuse to be worshiped (Revelation 22:8-9).

According to modern reports, angelic visitations come in a variety of forms. In some cases, a stranger prevents serious injury or death and then mysteriously disappears. In other cases, a winged or white-clothed being is seen momentarily and is then gone. The person who sees the angel is often left with a feeling of peace and assurance of God's presence. This type of visitation seems to agree with the biblical pattern as seen in Acts 27:23.

Another type of visitation that is sometimes reported today is the “angel choir” type. In Luke 2:13, the shepherds were visited by a heavenly choir as they were told of the birth of Jesus. Some people have reported similar experiences in places of worship. This experience does not fit the model so well, as it typically serves no purpose other than to provide a feeling of spiritual elation. The angel choir in Luke’s Gospel was heralding some very specific news.

A third type of visitation involves only a physical feeling. Elderly people have often reported feeling as though arms or wings were wrapped around them in times of extreme loneliness. God is certainly the God of all comfort, and Scripture speaks of God covering with His wings (Psalm 91:4). Such reports may well be examples of that covering.

God is still as active in the world as He has always been, and His angels are certainly still at work. Just as angels protected God's people in the past, we can be assured that they are guarding us today. Hebrews 13:2 says, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” As we obey God's commands, it is quite possible that we may encounter His angels, even if we do not realize it. In special circumstances, God allowed His people to see His unseen angels, so God’s people would be encouraged and continue in His service (2 Kings 6:16-17).

We must also heed the warnings of Scripture concerning angelic beings: there are fallen angels who work for Satan who will do anything to subvert and destroy us. Galatians 1:8 warns us to beware of any “new” gospel, even if it is delivered by an angel. Colossians 2:18 warns against the worship of angels. Every time in the Bible when men bowed down before angels, those beings firmly refused to be worshiped. Any angel who receives worship, or who does not give glory to the Lord Jesus, is an imposter. Second Corinthians 11:14-15 states that Satan and his angels disguise themselves as angels of light in order to deceive and lead astray anyone who will listen to them.

We are encouraged by the knowledge that God's angels are at work. In special circumstances, we might even have one of those rare personal visitations. Greater than that knowledge, however, is the knowledge that Jesus Himself has said, “Surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Jesus, who made the angels and receives their worship, has promised us His own presence in our trials.

https://www.gotquestions.org/angels-appear.html

[Neighbor]

Ol' Got Questions declares angelic appearances to be rare. I suspect their declaration to  be quite wrong. Their manner of proof is by dating appearances of Bible accounts. Then they warn us of fallen angels. Why? Just how many fallen angel accounts by date does the Bible present?

If we go by that,  fallen angels  appearance seem to be  quite rare indeed.

Children have angels watching over them always. How many,? Is it multiple angels per child? Or, is it a cluster of angels watching an even larger "cluster" of children?

Ask ol' Got Questions "What Are The Heavenly Hosts?", and see if the response given does not give impression  of vaste sums of angels, numerous beyond human ability to count. Just how many will be returning  with our Lord Jesus? How many  are with each child, each person, and do they make physical appearance to both  believers in Christ Jesus as God, and also to the deniers as well?  Do they appear in physical form to our opponents at times, scaring off people intending harm?

And just How many were caste to earth at one time by the tail of the dragon to combat and prevent Christ jesus  from His mission?

Seems to me there is reason to think angels and even fallen angels, are present in vast numbers, that there is order within their ranks, and assignments given them. So why would I think their appearances to be so very rare? 

The accounts of angels presence today  is not being added to the Bible. Seems to me that I cannot then take the number of recorded appearances as accurate testimony of their numbers nor their frequency  of appearance in forms that may be seen.

 I declare that  I was held to account  by an angel, and was made aware of the demand by the Holy Spirit for me to make decision to turn about or be damned.  That angel had taken on full human form. He appeared unnaturally and was gone the same way. 

I also experienced a situation where my son was in grave danger when suddenly his five predators  up and left the scene without harming him. He knows not why, but I while  some 1200 miles away had been made aware of his immediate danger and was in prayer for his protection. Angels? Perhaps. I can only say, " Thank you Lord Jesus."

My little daughter  became  injured, while I was out  on a bicycle ride and I was made aware of her screaming cries  while some  distance away by bicycle, myself having been stopped  on my ride because of suffering my own injury. I immediately  returned home  by foot to find my injured young daughter, in need of additional comforting and care. Angels?

None of that will be found as canon, the accounts will not be in the Bible. Do I discount them?

I do not.  I am still overjoyed and in awe. I praise God for His mercy, and look to the stars when I am in the country marveling at the hosts of Heaven in the vastness, all creations of my own creator's wisdom and power. God is awesome beyond word  and beyond emotion's capacity to grasp.

Hey sometimes, the "Angels In The Outfield", they get in the game ( Just a bit o fun ). Personally, I understand  angels to be serious business of creation by God. They have His good purposes to serve in worship of Him by deed as well as by praise.

 

 

 

Edited April 10, 2017 by Neighbor

[OneLight]

11 hours ago, zorgblar said:

If an angel would appear to you in their pure form would it be scary or beautiful? 

What is their pure form?

[*Zion*]

11 hours ago, zorgblar said:

If an angel would appear to you in their pure form would it be scary or beautiful? 

Daniel 8:15-17

¹⁵ Then it happened, when I, Daniel, had seen the vision and was seeking the meaning, that suddenly there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. ¹⁶ And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” ¹⁷ So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.”

 

Revelation 22:7-9

⁷ “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

⁸ Now I, John, saw and heard^[a] these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.

⁹ Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For^[b] I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

 

What do you think about these verses?  

Cool topic!

[Dennis1209]

11 hours ago, zorgblar said:

If an angel would appear to you in their pure form would it be scary or beautiful? 

I'm guessing how they might manifest themselves, in their natural created state, or taking human form? Off the top of my head each time an angel appeared to a human in their natural created state, it seems the human did a face plant. Descriptions given when angels took on human form seem to indicate something was special and different about them. 

We are commanded to test the spirits, to see if they are from God. From that statement I would assume angelic interaction (good vs. bad spirits) with humanity would not be uncommon.

The Bible says we are made a little lower than the angels. I've always wondered in what 'sense' that refers to? Another thing I've heard somewhere or read, angels are forbidden to preach the Gospel. If I remember correctly, the reason given was angels have no sin and are unfallen, and do not experience physical death so they can't relate to our nature. Yet in Revelation, there is an angel flying preaching the Gospel during the tribulation. I wonder whom this special angel might be?

[Spock]

1 hour ago, *Zion* said:

Daniel 8:15-17

¹⁵ Then it happened, when I, Daniel, had seen the vision and was seeking the meaning, that suddenly there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. ¹⁶ And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” ¹⁷ So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.”

 

Revelation 22:7-9

⁷ “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

⁸ Now I, John, saw and heard^[a] these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.

⁹ Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For^[b] I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

 

What do you think about these verses?  

Cool topic!

Great references Zion.  Awe would have been my first choice.  Of course, I hope I never see a bad angel. 

[*Zion*]

We won't - until they are let out of the pit, and I really would like to get the timeline straight on the end of days stuff.  I hope we're all caught up in the air with Jesus by then!

[TheMatrixHasU71]

14 hours ago, zorgblar said:

If an angel would appear to you in their pure form would it be scary or beautiful? 

It would be beautiful if they appeared in their true form but as they don't want to distract by their beauty they far more often than not appear in the form of ordinary people.