SPECIAL TOPIC: GUARDIAN ANGELS

1. The Bible is silent on many aspects of the spiritual realm. There are hints about different kinds of angels.
   1. Heavenly council (see SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVENLY COUNCIL)
   2. National angels (cf. Deut. 32:8)
      1. Persia, Dan. 10:20
      2. Greece, Dan. 10:20
      3. Israel, Dan. 12:1
   3. Messenger angels
      1. theophany as the Angel of the Lord (see SPECIAL TOPIC: Angel of the Lord )
      2. just angels (see Special Topic above)
   4. Devil's angels (Rom. 8:38-39 used imagery for angels that separate, see SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELS IN THE BIBLE and SPECIAL TOPIC: DEMONS [fallen angels])
   5. Angels connected to YHWH's presence
      1. Cherubim (see SPECIAL TOPIC: CHERUBIM )
      2. Seraphim ( SPECIAL TOPIC: SERAPHIM)
   6. Angels that accompanied and protected Israel (as a whole) ‒ Exod. 14:19; 23:20; 32:34; 33:2; Ps. 34:8. The angel was a symbol of YHWH's personal presence, like the Shekinah cloud (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SHEKINAH)
   
   
2. What about guardian angels for individuals?
   1. There is very little specific information, but some hints.
      1. Psalm 91:11
      2. Matthhew 18:10 (at lease for new believers)
      3. Acts 12:13-15
      4. Hebrews 1:14
   2. Angels helped Jesus during His time on earth
      1. Ps. 34:7; Matt. 4:6,11; Luke 4:10,11 (temptation in the wilderness)
      2. Matt. 26:53; Luke 22:43 (in Gethsemane)
   3. Believers must be careful about an overemphasis on reliance on angels (cf. Col. 2:18). Believers have the indwelling Spirit.
      1. Why would we rely on angels?
      2. Humans can be tricked and tempted by evil angels.
   
   
3. The rabbis were influenced by Persian Zoroastrianism, which developed a conflict in the spiritual realm (Fravashi, lesser gods/spirits).
   1. see Encyclopaedia Judaica, vol. 2, p. 963
   2. see Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah
   
   
4. The early church and the concept of guardian angels
   1. The first church father to develop this idea was Origen of Alexandria. He was followed by Jerome. Both were influenced by the non-canonical book of The Shepherd of Hermas, which was widely circulated in the early church.
   2. This concept was further advocated and developed by
      1. Augustine
      2. St. Thomas Aquinas

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