Angels play an integral role in the Bible. Sometimes, they appear as figures to guide humanity; other times, they symbolize divinity and eternal life, but above all, they’re used to inspire Christians to behave morally and devoutly. Here are 18 of the most inspiring biblical stories about angels.
Banishing the Devil
Archangel Michael is one of the Bible’s most prominent angelic figures. Britannica describes him as the leader of the heavenly hosts and a great warrior. His most inspiring feat is battling and banishing the Devil from Heaven in the Book of Revelation, demonstrating the triumph of faith and honor over corruption.
Announcing the Conception of Christ
The Annunciation is one of the most significant biblical stories, delivered by another famous archangel: Gabriel. Gabriel visited the Virgin Mary and announced that she would bear the Son of God. This event would go on to deliver salvation and inspire millions worldwide to convert to Christianity.
Saving Daniel From the Lions
Daniel is a biblical figure who represents devotion and innocence. He continued to pray to God despite a law that he should worship a mortal man instead. When Daniel was condemned to die in a pit of lions, an angel arrived and sealed the lions’ jaws shut, protecting Daniel and rewarding his piety.
Inspiring Balaam
Angels often acted as messengers in the Bible, serving God and inspiring mortals. That happened to Balaam, a prophet en route to curse Israel, until an angel appeared to him and inspired him to bless Israel instead. The angel serves as a reminder of God’s omniscience and omnipresence.
Guarding the Garden of Eden
The Garden of Eden symbolized the perfection of God’s creation, so it’s clear why God entrusted it to His angels. The cherubim stood as sentries at the entrance and were responsible for banishing Adam and Eve after they fell from grace. The angels’ immovable devotion inspires us all to aim for Heaven.
Visiting the Shepherds
God could have chosen to share Christ’s birth with the wealthiest men on Earth. Instead, He sent an angel to visit a group of humble shepherds. The angel symbolized God’s indiscriminate love for all types of men, regardless of wealth or social status, inspiring everybody to seek out Christ.
Warning Joseph to Flee
Angels also delivered their messages by visiting humans in dreams. Shortly after Jesus was born, this happened to Mary’s husband, Joseph. The Church of Jesus Christ remembers that an angel spoke to Joseph while he slept and warned him to flee Israel, which saved the Son of God from anti-Christian slaughter.
Blessing Manoah and His Wife
Manoah and his wife were the parents of Samson, the legendary warrior who helped free Israel from the Philistines. However, Samson would never have been born had the angel of the Lord not blessed Manoah and his wife. The angel rewarded them for their faith and facilitated the Christian work of their son.
Empowering Gideon
God inspires strength in humanity to empower us to fight for our faith, which is what the story of Gideon represents. Gideon questioned why terrible things happened to the Israelites if God existed, so an angel appeared to him to confirm God’s existence and empower him to free his people and condemn idolatry.
Protecting Three Hebrew Boys From Fire
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were three young boys sentenced to burn to death for refusing to worship idols, but God couldn’t leave His loyal followers to an excruciating fate. Instead, an angel accompanied the boys into the furnace and protected them, inspiring them to continue worshiping and trusting in God.
Liberating St. Peter
Peter was one of Jesus’ most devoted apostles, but not everybody was inspired by his sermons. King Herod imprisoned Peter and planned to force him to denounce Christ publicly, but an angel unshackled Peter and led him out of prison. This divine act inspired Peter to continue spreading the word of Jesus.
Comforting Jesus In Gethsemane
In the Bible, angels are often warriors seeking retribution, but they’re also comforting figures. The most prominent example is the angel who comforted Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Learn Religions reminds us that Jesus agonized over his impending fate, so the angel comforted and strengthened him, inspiring his selfless sacrifice.
Appearing to Ezekiel in Banishment
Ezekiel’s encounter with angels in the Bible was significant because it gave an idea of their physical forms. In a vision, Ezekiel described them as having four wings and four faces. God gave him these angelic visions to inspire Ezekiel’s prophetic work and demonstrate how He is constantly observing us.
Guiding Moses and the Hebrew People
During the Exodus, Moses received divine guidance to help him lead the Hebrew people to freedom. A mysterious angel, which some believe to be God, accompanied the group in the form of a cloud and a pillar of fire. This helped Moses and his people adapt to freedom and their true faith.
Revealing Heaven to John
In the Book of Revelation, an angel revealed Heaven to John. He saw the River and Tree of Life, which sustained and healed Heaven’s people. The angel urged John to write down what he saw and share it with the rest of humanity to inspire them toward eternal life in Heaven.
Stirring the Waters of the Pool of Bethesda
The New Testament describes the Pool of Bethesda as a miraculous body of water. However, the Gospel of John tells the story of an angel stirring the waters to bless them so afflicted people could step in and be cured. This story inspires us to believe in miracles and care for each other.
Prophesying Jacob’s Ladder
Jacob’s Ladder symbolizes how, one day, we will all ascend to Heaven, but it was first revealed in an angelic prophecy. Jacob dreamed of a ladder stretching from Earth to Heaven, with angels ascending and descending. The angels represent the unbreakable bond between God and His earthly people.
Announcing Christ’s Resurrection
Finally, Christ’s resurrection is perhaps the most important biblical story, and like his birth, it was first announced on Earth by angels. Christian Standard Magazine describes angels appearing in Jesus’ tomb and announcing to mourners that Christ had risen again, inspiring humanity to renew their faith in God and live new holy lives.
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