Article September 8, 1923 Issue

Angels are God's Messengers

GEORGE C. PALMER

The subject of angels, their nature, function, appearance, and message, has been the source of much difference of opinion. The earnest Bible student has believed that angels have frequently presented themselves under trying conditions to those able to see them; and many are the passages of Scripture promising their guidance and protection. May we inquire, Is the angel of to-day different in its office and purpose from the angel of other days?

The Scriptures record angels as foretelling the advent of some redeemer who would save from bondage, as guarding the way to Truth, as correcting the disobedient, as encouraging the one in earnest to follow the light, eliminating the mistakes that would hinder the pilgrim, and revealing the infinite good that is proof against all human error. The Scriptures also inform us of the varying conditions under which these divine representatives have appeared,—to awaken the true sense of divine rule (Judges 6:11); to testify to God's omnipotence (Joshua 5:14); to the spiritually hungry (I Kings 19); during the process of purification (Daniel 3); as comfort and protection from malice and hate (Daniel 6); deliverance when freedom seemed prohibited by a sense of error's strength (Acts 12); and in many other instances.

Many earnest searchers for God who have read these passages still may not find it easy to accept our Leader's interpretation of angels as given in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 581): "God's thoughts passing to man; spiritual intuitions, pure and perfect; the inspiration of goodness, purity, and immortality, counteracting all evil, sensuality, and mortality." One may say: It seems to me that angels are more than messages; they are messengers. In order to arrive at a point of view that coincides with the divine understanding, we must begin by understanding God as the divine Principle of all. If we wish to be on the right line in working out any problem, this must be the starting point. It insures a spiritually scientific analysis of the situation, and brings into the light the seeming cause of discord. This step precedes demonstration; for error is then seen to be error, which may be proved through Christian Science to be unreal.

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