In heaven we shall be in the presence of an innumerable company of angels. Every class and order of these glorious beings will be there. This company exists already, and in the faith of our souls we have come to the conscious knowledge of their existence.
Angels are the divine guardians of God’s people. “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them” (Psa. 34:7). Elisha’s life illustrates this guardian care. When compassed about by his enemies, Elisha says to his servant, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” The whole mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. An angel was sent to shut the lions’ mouths that Daniel would not be hurt (Dan. 6).
The Lord as Man was in the guardian care of angels, as we read, “He shall give His angels charge over Thee, to keep Thee in all Thy ways” (Psa. 91:9-12). Angels waited upon Him at His birth; angels ministered unto Him in the Garden of Gethsemane; angels guarded His tomb and were in attendance at His ascension.
At the present time believers are under the guardian care of angels, as we read, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” In the world to come, they will still exercise their guardian care, for they stand at the gates of the heavenly city.
H. Smith, adapted