Do angels deliver messages from God to people today? If they do, how can we be sure they are angels and that they are angels from God?
We continue our special series When Angels Speak. If you have not read previous parts of this study, we invite you to start here.
"One of the ways that God speaks to us is through angelic visitation ... I have had several angelic visitations where angels have ministered to me. That's primarily what I've had, where I know that angels have fought for me, where I've seen the presence of angelic visitation ... an impression in my spirit. I've never heard an audible voice from an angel, but I have seen angels. So, that's one of the ways God will speak to us and how we can recognize His voice. " Paula White, The 8 Ways God Talks to Us
White's experience is similar to those of New Age mediums and psychics ( see part 5 of our study) who said they had an impression in their thoughts or emotions that was evidence of the influence of angels in their lives.
What do angels look like and what do they say? The first example if with Bob Jones, well-known prophet and leader in the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR).
Jones passed away in 2014. He had a big impact on other NAR leaders including Mike Bickle, founder of the International House of Prayer (IHOP) and Rick Joyner, founder of MorningStar Ministries.
Here is the second example -
"As an Episcopal priest, I have seen angels sitting on a rafter in the church where I used to serve, especially when many of us were worshiping God. I became curious about my guardian angel, whom I had never seen, so I prayed, asking if I could have a glimpse of him. A short time later, as I was driving across the connector to the island where my church was located, I saw him. I was thrilled. He looked to be about fifteen feet tall, and he was gliding effortlessly above the front of my car. He was holding a long rope in his hand that was attached to my car. I knew he was guarding me that day and always. Later I asked the Lord if my angel had a name, and He spoke a name to me I had never heard before. I thanked my angel for protecting me, and I heard his reply in my spirit: He said he was following Jesus' orders, and that I should thank Jesus, not him. Since then, I do not talk to him. I just ask Jesus to please thank him for me. Once I asked the Lord if my guardian angel had been with me for a long time, and Jesus answered that he had been assigned to me since conception." Rev. Hazel L. Wilkinson, Ph.D., Quoted in Judith MacNutt's book Encountering Angels: True Stories of How they touch Our Lives Every Day, Chosen Books, 2016
Some people also claim to have seen angels in Heaven. Here's an example concerning Apostle Doctor Robin Harfouche, Founder of the Apostolic Women movement:
"There are many examples in the Word of God of men and women having tremendous visions and revelations of the Lord. Early in her ministry, Doctor Robin found herself caught up in one such vision, when the Lord Jesus brought her to Heaven for an extremely urgent commission. Having laid His hands on her personally, He sent her back to the earth with a revelation of the spirit of pain and insight and direction concerning a global move of the Holy Spirit and an outpouring of the creative miraculous. In Heaven, she experienced the intense and passionate worship which is constantly brought up to God surrounding His throne. As she witnessed saints and angels singing together, dancing, and expressing audibly on all types of instruments and drums, both familiar and unfamiliar, she was downloaded with the sound of Heaven. This impartation can be clearly heard today in her prophetic worship and breakthrough praise. Doctor Robin was ordained by Dr. Lester Sumrall, and has been blessed to have uniquely close relationships with many powerful generals of the faith including Dr. R. W. Shambach, Dr. Norvel Hayes, Dr. Morris Cerullo, and Dr. John Avanzini." GlobalRevival.com
What do angels say when they speak? Here are some examples:
"I can remember having conversations with archangel Gabrielle. One of my favorite activities with archangel Gabrielle was to sit with him and watch spiders make cobwebs. Now, this might sound really strange but it was such a peaceful moment and in that moment the archangel Gabrielle would really tell me how special these beautiful beings were, how patient they were and all the qualities a spider possessed that makes them really, really remarkable." Jessy Diwan, Angel Whisperer
"I was here in church one time and said, 'God, would you show me the angels that are in here?' ... And all of a sudden I saw this huge angel standing through the roof. I started looking at his weapon, I started looking at his clothes, I started looking at his face. I asked him his name and he tells me his name. I typed it in on Google ... It's a financial company and I realized this angel's here for our finances here at Bethel ... I asked him about his weapon ... What is that? He said 'it's the sword of reflection.' Anytime the enemy attacks he simply flips it around and reflects the attack back at the enemy." Seth Dahl, Bethel Church, Redding, CA
"I grew up and became a psychotherapist specializing in eating disorders, and you would come to me asking for help with an eating disorder or to lose weight or whatever, and I would be talking with your angels and they would be telling me, 'Yeah, she went to Baskin Robbins this weekend and she had three bowls of double chocolate chip ice cream,' and you would think I was just a really good therapist. You would have no idea how I was getting this information." Doreen Virtue, Speaking to the Angels at I Can Do It
Doreen Virtue said she talked with angels, but did she really? Doreen wrote many books about talking with angels, including Archangels 101: How to Connect Closely with Archangels Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Others for Healing, Protection, and Guidance. She also produced many angel and oracle cards used throughout the New Age world.
Doreen called herself a 'sensitive lightworker' and communicated regularly with spirit beings. She also used the terms Indigo, Crystal, and Earth Angel to describe what she and other 'lightworkers' do. She encouraged and taught other people how to take up the mission of being a 'lightworker.'
"The great news is that, as a lightworker, you've been making a positive difference your entire life. You radiate healing energy that soothes others and brings peace wherever you go. That's because your main global purpose is to love, which is something you do naturally. You care about people; and you wish that everyone could be happy, healthy, and well provided for. You are a giver.
So, the form that your mission takes is secondary as long as you extend Divine love. In other words, when you think about a career as a spiritual healer or teacher, the type of work you do isn't important. Whether you teach or practice Reiki, Angel Therapy, mediumship, or some other modality . . . if it's done from a place of loving service, everything else is details." Are You A Lightworker? Choosing A Career In Healing, Doreen Virtue, 2016
Doreen was one of the leading voices in the New Age world for many years until she became a Christian. That caused a lot of concern for New Agers because she began saying that what she formerly believed and said was wrong and demonic. How could anyone so connected to New Age leave it for a worldview that opposed it? Doreen is now writing books and recording videos to answer that question.
What does Doreen say about talking with angels now that she is a Christian and not a New Ager?
"Demons disguise themselves as angels, and can give amazingly accurate predictions which tangle you up in a satanic web of deceit. The demons will give you a mixture of truth and lies, to hook you in and lead you to deception.
The Bible is filled with references to the angels. But nowhere in the Bible does it say we should call on angels. It only says that we should pray to God and he sends us angels. The Bible also warns that the devil disguises himself as an angel (2 Corinthians 11:14), so we need to be very cautious with angels.
The new age teaches that demons and the devil don't exist, so that demons can operate undercover without being noticed. They convince everyone in the new age that the only problem is fear or negativity, when in reality many problems are caused by demons and the devil . . . and Jesus is the cure.
Many of Jesus' healings recorded in the gospels, involved him casting demons out of people, which resulted in instant healings. In the Old Testament, demons are called "unclean spirits." The Bible teaches that these demons are fallen angels. When we practice New Age methods, or have New Age items in our home, it's breaking God's commandment against idolatry. It's also opening the doorway for demons to mightily mess with you and your life.
Always remember that demons lie, so they may falsely claim to be Jesus, an angel, a departed loved one, or an entity. You don't want to take advice from a demon, as they will tangle you into a stronghold. Avoid channelers, and avoid channeled material (including so-called Christian channeled books from Jesus).
The New Age false promises are the same ones that the serpent gave to Eve . . . and the serpent continues to try to feed us the same false promises today. Beware of these New Age practices, which can lead you astray, cost you your relationship with God and loved ones, and entangle you with demons who are posing as angels, fairies, aliens, and departed loved ones." An A-Z List of New Age Practices to Avoid, and Why, Doreen Virtue, 2019
Excellent insights from someone who was deeply involved in communicating with angels (spirit beings). It is good advice for any Christian who believes they are talking to and hearing from angels.
Bethel Church and Angels
Bethel Church in Redding, California believes in talking with angels and teaches thousands of young people how to do it in the church and in Bethel's School of Supernatural Ministry. Here is some insight into their beliefs and practices in communicating with angels.
[Fast forward the video below to an hour and 10 minutes and 30 seconds for the discussion about speaking with angels. We also invite you to watch the entire video when you have time. It's insightful into the New Age beliefs of Bethel's pastors and elders as written in the book The Physics of Heaven - a heretical publication.]
What would you do if an angel told you God had sent them to you to correct the wrong teachings of Christianity? Would you do what the angel told you to do? I ask because that has happened in the past and is still happening today. We'll look at that issue in the next part of our special series When Angels Speak.
