See Our Guardian Angel First
QUESTION: I heard in a recent Sabbath School lesson discussion that E.G. White wrote that the first being we shall see upon our resurrection (or transformation) upon Christ’s 2nd Coming will be our own Guardian Angel and that we will immediately recognize him. The teacher was not able to offer a citation or a reference. Do you know if that is a fact stated by E.G. White? Secondly and if so, do you know what the reference is?
ANSWER: Yes, Ellen White does state that the first one to greet the resurrected upon arising in the resurrection is their guardian angel: “The angel who was his guardian from his earliest moment; . . . was the first to greet him in the resurrection morning—what will it be to hold converse with him. . . .” Education, p. 305.
Actually there are several paragraphs in that part of the book Education that deals with angels, and it is very interesting reading. We are including them for your edification:
“Not until the providences of God are seen in the light of eternity shall we understand what we owe to the care and interposition of His angels. Celestial beings have taken an active part in the affairs of men. They have appeared in garments that shone as the lightning; they have come as men, in the garb of wayfarers. They have accepted the hospitalities of human homes; they have acted as guides to benighted travelers. They have thwarted the spoiler’s purpose and turned aside the stroke of the destroyer.
“Though the rulers of this world know it not, yet often in their councils angels have been spokesmen. Human eyes have looked upon them. Human ears have listened to their appeals. In the council hall the court of justice, heavenly messengers have pleaded the cause of the persecuted and oppressed. They have defeated purposes and arrested evils that would have brought wrong and suffering to God’s children. To the students in the heavenly school, all this will be unfolded.
“Every redeemed one will understand the ministry of angels in his own life. The angel who was his guardian from his earliest moment; the angel who watched his steps, and covered his head in the day of peril; the angel who was with him in the valley of the shadow of death, who marked his resting place, who was the first to greet him in the resurrection morning—what will it be to hold converse with him, and to learn the history of divine interposition in the individual life, of heavenly co-operation in every work for humanity!
“All the perplexities of life’s experience will then be made plain. Where to us have appeared only confusion and disappointment, broken purposes and thwarted plans, will be seen a grand, overruling, victorious purpose, a divine harmony.” Education, pp. 304-305.
The statement regarding the guardian angels being the first to greet the resurrected can also be found in My Life Today, p. 367, and Maranatha, p. 314.
“A guardian angel is appointed to every follower of Christ. These heavenly watchers shield the righteous from the power of the wicked one. This Satan himself recognized when he said: ‘Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not Thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?’ Job 1: 9, 10. The agency by which God protects His people is presented in the words of the psalmist: ‘The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.’ Psalm 34:7. Said the Saviour, speaking of those that believe in Him: ‘Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father.’ Matthew 18:10. The angels appointed to minister to the children of God have at all times access to His presence.” GC 512-513.
“We know not what results a day, an hour, or a moment may determine, and never should we begin the day without committing our ways to our heavenly Father. His angels are appointed to watch over us, and if we put ourselves under their guardianship, then in every time of danger they will be at our right hand. When unconsciously we are in danger of exerting a wrong influence, the angels will be by our side, prompting us to a better course, choosing our words for us, and influencing our actions.” COL 341-342.
Angels of God are all around us. . . . Oh, we want to know these things, and fear and tremble, and to think much more of the power of the angels of God that are watching over and guarding us than we have done hitherto. . . . “ 5 MR 125.
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