The words guardian angels don’t appear in the Bible. And there are no references in the scriptures that teach whether each human has his/her own special guardian angel. But the inspired word of God illustrated that He has used angelic beings to “guard” His children all through history.
In Genesis 3, after the fall of man, God placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24). Then at the destruction of Sodom, the angels of the Lord truck blind a group of Sodomites and guarded Lot and his household from harm (Genesis 19:9-11). And when king Nebuchadnezzar threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego into the fire, “God sent His angel and delivered His servants” (Daniel 3:28. Also, when king Darius ordered that Daniel be thrown in the Lion’s den, God sent His angel to guard from the beasts (Daniel 6:21-22). And in the NT, God sent an angel to deliver Peter from prison, guarding him from the soldiers (Acts 12:1-10).
Those that teach the doctrine of “guardian angels” usually use the following verses to support their belief:
– “[t]he angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them” (34:7).
– “Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot” (Psalm 91:9-13).
– “After God sent an angel miraculously to release Peter from prison, Peter went to the house of Mary, John Mark’s mother. When he arrived at the door of the gate and knocked, a girl named Rhoda “recognized Peter’s voice,” and “because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate” (12:14). The people inside said to Rhoda, “You are beside yourself!” When she insisted, they said, “It is his angel” (Acts 12:15).
– “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).
While there is no direct reference in the Bible for the doctrine of guardian angels, the Lord shows His love through the ministry of His angels that guard and protect His children.
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
