The greatest interest in angels today is a focus on the concept that there is a guardian angel for everybody on earth. That is on its face a statement that most Christians would disagree with because it would go against our belief that God’s messengers, the angels, are intended to minister only to those who have been born again.
Psalm 91:11 (NLT)11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.
Hebrews 1:14 (NLT)14 Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.
Having addressed the issue of who God will send His angels to protect let’s go to the question of whether there are angels assigned to every Christian to protect them Guardian Angels. Many say that we all have at least one Guardian Angel others say that we have two.
Here’s the definition of Guardian Angel from The Encyclopedia of Angels - a guardian is “an angel who is attached to a person from birth to death, providing constant guidance, protection, and companionship.”
The Bible is clear that angels can protect people from harm and even intervene supernaturally to rescue people from danger. Angels visited Lot before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and intervened to protect him.
Genesis 19:9-11 (NLT)9 “Stand back!” they shouted. “This fellow came to town as an outsider, and now he’s acting like our judge! We’ll treat you far worse than those other men!” And they lunged toward Lot to break down the door.10 But the two angels reached out, pulled Lot into the house, and bolted the door.11 Then they blinded all the men, young and old, who were at the door of the house, so they gave up trying to get inside.
Later they led Lot, his wife, and daughters out of Sodom before its destruction.
Genesis 19:15-16 (NLT)15 At dawn the next morning the angels became insistent. “Hurry,” they said to Lot. “Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction of the city!”16 When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the LORD was merciful.
There was Peter’s release from jail;
Acts 12:6-8 (NLT)6 The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate.7 Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists.8 Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered.
Then there was of course Daniel:
Daniel 6:21-22 (NLT)21 Daniel answered, “Long live the king!22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
There is nothing in any of these instances that indicate that the angels that protected or helped these men were ones that were permanently assigned to them which is the definition of a guardian angel. They do not say that “my angel” or “his angel” what the scriptures say is “angel(s)”.
The scripture that I refer to earlier in the post, Psalm 91:11, is one that some use to say that we all have a permanently assigned Guardian Angel. What this Psalm does say is that God will send angels to protect you in response to an order by Him. There is not indication that these are specific angels permanently assigned to protect and minister to you. God's response or sending ipan unspecified number of angels and does not fit the model of one or two angels permanently assigned to guard one specific person.
Another scripture used for the argument of Guardian Angels is;
Matthew 18:3-10 (NLT)3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.7 “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.
8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet.9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.10 “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.
This doesn’t fit the definition of Guardian Angel either because the angels that Jesus refers to are in heaven not on earth protecting their assigned children. Given the entire context of Jesus’ statement the best explanation is that these angels are prepared to avenge those who despise or abuse children. They are watching from heaven ready to respond to His orders.
Even in Peter’s case he never says anything to indicate that he believed that he had been released by his own personal Guardian Angel. Here's what he says is
Acts 12:11 (NLT)11 Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!”
The only time that an angel assignment is mention is in;
Daniel 10:21 (NLT)21 Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one helps me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince.
Daniel 12:1 (NLT)1 “At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued.
In these instances the angel Michael is shown to be the angel assigned to the nation of Israel not an individual.
Coincidentally this same passage says that demonic spirits or bad angels have assignments too.
Daniel 10:12-14 (NLT)12 Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.13 But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.14 Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”
Psalm 91:11 (NLT)11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.
Hebrews 1:14 (NLT)14 Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.
Having addressed the issue of who God will send His angels to protect let’s go to the question of whether there are angels assigned to every Christian to protect them Guardian Angels. Many say that we all have at least one Guardian Angel others say that we have two.
Here’s the definition of Guardian Angel from The Encyclopedia of Angels - a guardian is “an angel who is attached to a person from birth to death, providing constant guidance, protection, and companionship.”
The Bible is clear that angels can protect people from harm and even intervene supernaturally to rescue people from danger. Angels visited Lot before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and intervened to protect him.
Genesis 19:9-11 (NLT)9 “Stand back!” they shouted. “This fellow came to town as an outsider, and now he’s acting like our judge! We’ll treat you far worse than those other men!” And they lunged toward Lot to break down the door.10 But the two angels reached out, pulled Lot into the house, and bolted the door.11 Then they blinded all the men, young and old, who were at the door of the house, so they gave up trying to get inside.
Later they led Lot, his wife, and daughters out of Sodom before its destruction.
Genesis 19:15-16 (NLT)15 At dawn the next morning the angels became insistent. “Hurry,” they said to Lot. “Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction of the city!”16 When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the LORD was merciful.
There was Peter’s release from jail;
Acts 12:6-8 (NLT)6 The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate.7 Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists.8 Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered.
Then there was of course Daniel:
Daniel 6:21-22 (NLT)21 Daniel answered, “Long live the king!22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
There is nothing in any of these instances that indicate that the angels that protected or helped these men were ones that were permanently assigned to them which is the definition of a guardian angel. They do not say that “my angel” or “his angel” what the scriptures say is “angel(s)”.
The scripture that I refer to earlier in the post, Psalm 91:11, is one that some use to say that we all have a permanently assigned Guardian Angel. What this Psalm does say is that God will send angels to protect you in response to an order by Him. There is not indication that these are specific angels permanently assigned to protect and minister to you. God's response or sending ipan unspecified number of angels and does not fit the model of one or two angels permanently assigned to guard one specific person.
Another scripture used for the argument of Guardian Angels is;
Matthew 18:3-10 (NLT)3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.7 “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.
8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet.9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.10 “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.
This doesn’t fit the definition of Guardian Angel either because the angels that Jesus refers to are in heaven not on earth protecting their assigned children. Given the entire context of Jesus’ statement the best explanation is that these angels are prepared to avenge those who despise or abuse children. They are watching from heaven ready to respond to His orders.
Even in Peter’s case he never says anything to indicate that he believed that he had been released by his own personal Guardian Angel. Here's what he says is
Acts 12:11 (NLT)11 Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!”
The only time that an angel assignment is mention is in;
Daniel 10:21 (NLT)21 Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one helps me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince.
Daniel 12:1 (NLT)1 “At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued.
In these instances the angel Michael is shown to be the angel assigned to the nation of Israel not an individual.
Coincidentally this same passage says that demonic spirits or bad angels have assignments too.
Daniel 10:12-14 (NLT)12 Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.13 But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.14 Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”
God Surrounds Us With A Host Of Angels Not Just One Or Two Guardian Angels
The Bible does say that God surrounds us with a host of angels to protect us, go before us, and minister to us and that should give us great confidence. The important thing is not the angels and we should not become preoccupied with or worship them. Only God is worthy of our worship and only Jesus saves us. Our trust is in Him alone.
Acts 4:12 (NLT)12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
God does use angels in ministering to us. It is scriptural to say that He uses them as He uses us; that is, He in no way needs us or them to accomplish His purposes, but chooses to use us and them nevertheless.
It cannot be emphatically answered from Scripture whether or not each believer has one or more Guardian Angels assigned to him/her. In the end, whether or not we have an angel assigned to protect us, we have an even greater assurance from God, and that assurance is that if we are His children through faith in Christ, He works all things together for good, and nothing can separate us from him. With Him, even without angels, we are more than conquerors.
Romans 8:28-39 (NLT)28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.
34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
He will never leave or forsake us.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT)6 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
If we have an omniscient, omnipotent, all-loving God with us, we don’t need Guardian Angels!
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