“Do guardian angels really exist?”
September 2010 – Grace & Truth Magazine
QUESTION: My friends are always talking about guardian angels. Do they really exist? What does the Bible say about them?
ANSWER: That guardian angels exist to help us is implied by the rhetorical question asked in Hebrews 1:14: “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
Acts 12:7-15 tells us that an angel was guarding Peter while he was in prison, and that the common Jews believed in guardian angels. Peter was in chains, guarded by two soldiers. “Suddenly an angel appeared ... and woke him up. ‘Quick, get up!’ he said, and the chains fell off ... Peter followed him out of prison ... Then Peter came to himself and said, ‘Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches.’” When the servant girl told those in Mary’s house who were praying for Peter’s release that Peter was at the door, they said, “It must be his angel” rather than Peter.
The Bible tells us that there are also guardian angels who look after little children. Jesus said: “See that you do not look down on one of these My little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven” (Mt. 18:10). There is a special place in God’s presence for those angels charged with the care of “little ones.” Then Jesus said: “Your Father in heaven is not willing than any of these little ones should be lost” (Mt. 18:14).
In the letters to the seven churches in Asia (Rev. 2-3) we find that churches have “angels” (messengers) looking after them. Satan has vast spiritual forces against whom we fight, so we need all the help we can get. The angels of the churches and our own personal guardian angels have their work cut out for them in the bitter spiritual warfare going on all around and within us.
While some people may make way too much of guardian angels, it appears from these few examples that our Father in heaven does provide them for our care.
Answered by Roger Penney