The New Testament tells us that it is possible for us to unknowingly meet an angel of God, one that has taken on the appearance of a man. Hebrews 13:1-2 reads, “Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” The writer exhorts us to show loving hospitality to those that need it, even if we don’t know them. One reason he gives is there is the possibility that the stranger is an angel in disguise!

What does hospitality have to do with angels?

Needed growth for the Jewish believers included “the extension of love to those who were strangers. Hospitality in the ancient world often included putting up a guest overnight or longer. This is hardest to do when experiencing a time of persecution. The Hebrews would not know whether a guest would prove to be a spy, or a fellow believer being pursued.

This (word about angels) is not given as the ultimate motivation for hospitality but to reveal that one never knows how far reaching an act of kindness might be. This is exactly what happened to Abraham and Sarah (Gen. 18:1–3), Lot (Gen. 19:1–2), Gideon (Judg. 6:11–24), and Manoah (Judg. 13:6–20).”[1]

Another quote gives a little more insight on the context:

“Moses (Gen. 18) gives the story of Abraham showing generous hospitality to Jesus Christ and two of His angels. Abraham did not know who they were when he welcomed them; it was only later that he discovered the identities of his illustrious guests. You and I may not entertain angels in a literal sense (though it is possible); but any stranger could turn out to be a messenger of blessing to us. (The word “angel” simply means “messenger.”) Often we have had guests in our home who have turned out to be messengers of God’s blessings.”[2]

Looking for Angels

We have no reason to think that angels don’t still appear as men at times. We cannot make angels appear. Nowhere are we encouraged to look for angels. But there is the possibility that we could interact with an angel disguised as a man and not even know it.

Well, what about meeting an angel today and knowing it? I don’t think in the age of the Church we will meet angels like those we read about in Scripture, for those angels were sent at key moments in God’s revelation and for very important purposes. 

We should definitely reject anyone today that claims to be given new revelation by God via angels (like Mohammed, Joseph Smith). It is by no accident that the last book of the New Testament written, Revelation, says this in its last chapter:

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book” (22:18-19).

However, it seems that that we could still meet an angel in this age.

Did I Meet an Angel?

I was maybe 17, a high school student in the Chicago area. At times on Wednesdays, the youth group would participate in community evangelism before the midweek prayer meeting.

One Wednesday we went to the Woodfield Mall to distribute gospel tracts and talk to people. Woodfield Mall at the time was, I believe, the largest mall in the USA.

When we arrived at the mall, we divided up into groups. My group consisted of four teen guys. We were all close friends, all committed believers, young men that wanted to serve God. This didn’t keep us from experiencing the fear of man, however. We had our gospel tracts ready to give to shoppers, but our hearts were far from ready. Embarrassed, we were huddled together chatting while trying to block out our shame from not witnessing.

An old man in a wheelchair, pushed by someone else (I cannot remember that person), wheeled up to us. He had what I thought was a Scottish accent. He asked, “Are you young men here today proclaiming the Gospel?” We sheepishly told him that we were. The man exclaimed something like this, “Praise God! There are so few young men today that are willing to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so glad that you are telling people about Jesus!” He might have said a few more words urging us to remain faithful, then said good-bye.

We four were stunned and convicted about our failure to witness for Christ. After a quiet moment we began to set out to do what we came to do. We had been standing in the middle of a great big open area. I turned to look for the old man in the wheelchair—he was gone! There was no way he could’ve gotten to the nearest stores or anywhere else in that brief moment.

The other three guys started walking, I guess assuming I was with them. I took off and looked in all of the nearest shops and hallways to see where the man and his helper had gone. They had disappeared. I have goosebumps just recalling the goosebumps I had at that moment. My conclusion right away, and ever since, is that the man in the wheelchair was an angel.

I ran back to the other guys and explained what I had done and what I thought. None of them seemed inclined to think anything special had happened. In my soul, I felt sure God had sent an angel to encourage us.

Angel or No Angel, Encouraged by God’s Messenger

I have recalled that day at the mall many times. It has encouraged me to be bold in witness and to stand for Christ. Tears come to my eyes even as I type this.

For a long time, I told no one other than my wife about this experience. Years later, I decided to tell our pastor to see what he thought. His response was that he thought it quite possible and shared that he too had something similar happened to him. He said he keeps that to himself.

I shared this experience with my father-in-law. He told me that he believed God used an angel to encourage his faith as a new convert during basic training under ungodly officers who ridiculed his faith. You may have experienced something that leads you to think you have been visited by an angel.

Processing Potential Unusual Experiences

While I believe I met an angel that day, does it matter? No, not really. I know one thing for sure–God uses that memory of the man in the wheelchair to encourage my soul to this day. I see that experience as God’s mercy upon me as a young man burdened to serve Jesus Christ to “man up” by His grace. Whether human or not, this man was a messenger of God’s grace to me and therefore an “angel”.

Spiritual experiences must not be what determine our beliefs or how we live. Only God’s Word can be the objective and clear guide for our lives. The completed written Word of God is far better than the amazing experiences those few believers had in previous times (2 Peter 1:16-21). The Bible provides all that we need to faithfully follow Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 3:16). Only as an experience encourages obedience to the revealed Word of God does it have potential value anyway. God’s Word, not experiences, is what matters.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking God’s Word is not enough. We are nowhere in Scripture encouraged to seek spiritual experiences or even desire them. Our focus must remain on Christ and His Word.

[1] John MacArthur, Hebrews: Christ—Perfect Sacrifice, Perfect Priest, MacArthur Bible Studies (Nashville, TN: W Publishing Group, 2001), 118.

[2] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 327.

All Scripture quotations are taken from the ESV unless otherwise noted.