CAMPBELLTON, New Brunswick, February 22, 2024 – Angels are a fascinating topic not only for believers but also for those who claim not to believe in anything at all except maybe angels. Many people have had what they consider to be an angelic encounter, though at the time they were unaware that the person they were interacting with was actually an angel in human disguise. That’s because the number one rule for God’s holy angels when they take on human form is: “Do not tell anyone you’re an angel!” So, if you’ve based your understanding of holy angels on movies like “It’s a Wonderful Life” or TV shows like “Touched by an Angel”, your understanding is going to need an overhaul to align with reality.

Prior to my rebirth, I didn’t have any encounters with God’s holy angels. Those only started after I was reborn. That’s not to say that God’s holy angels weren’t acting in my life in some way when I was an atheist – I believe they certainly were. I just didn’t see any, either in their glorified or human form. Or better said, God didn’t let me know about the encounters. But less than a year after I was reborn, I met my first holy angel in human form, at least the first one that God let me know about. A few years after that, I met my second holy angel in human form, and a few years after that I met my third. Again, these are the encounters that God’s pointed out to me (after the fact). That’s not to say I didn’t have other encounters that God hasn’t yet revealed.

In every instance, I was in a major pickle and the angels appeared seemingly out of nowhere to help me out of it. I was unaware, of course, at the time, that they were angels, but there was something about each of them that struck me as odd, though I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. I also recall the following about them (again, in hindsight):

1. Deep feeling of familiarity: I had the sense that we already knew each other, or at least that they knew me. There was nothing awkward about our conversation. I felt I could trust what they were saying to me and offering to do for me, though for all intents and purposes we were complete strangers.
2. Insisted on helping: They wouldn’t take “no” for an answer and were gently but firmly insistent that I accept their help. Their insistence was almost mesmerizing, as if I couldn’t say “no” even if I’d wanted to.
3. Wore costumes rather than clothes: Their clothing could be better described as costumes than clothes. For example, one of them looked like he’d been tasked with dressing like a tourist from England in the early 20^th century, and so sported a tweed jacket with elbow patches, a white shirt and a tie, good leather shoes, cufflinks, etc., and a 1930’s-style men’s haircut. He didn’t look out of place; he just looked distinctive.
4. Suddenly appeared and disappeared: In all cases, the angels appeared suddenly; when I turned, they were unexpectedly there. (I didn’t see them approaching.) They also disappeared the same way, unexpectedly and when I was looking the other way.
5. Brief encounter. Our encounters were very brief – no more than a minute or two. But I also had the sense that time changed when I was with them. It’s possible that our encounters were longer (in Earth time) than they seemed at the time to be.
6. Incredibly warm, polite, and respectful: Along with a deep sense of familiarity, I found the angels to be genuinely warm and incredibly polite and respectful. They spoke English perfectly, but it was a very formal style of English, as if they’d donned the language the same way they’d donned their costumes. Still, there was no affectation in their words or their mannerisms. Everything about them was genuine.
7. Instant friendship: I liked them immediately and I sensed that they liked me. Even for the brief time we were together, I felt like we were friends.

Remember that Jesus told us we’ll be like the holy angels if/when we make it to Heaven. I believe that our time here on Earth as born-again believers is angel-training of sorts. All the things that the angels did for me in my encounters with them, I’m expected to do for others in the same warm, respectful, and unaffected way, as a follower of Jesus.

I sure hope I’ll meet up with my angels again if and when I make it Home. They disappeared so fast, I didn’t have the chance to thank them or even to say good-bye. I have the feeling, though, that if I do make it Home, I’ll not only see my angels, but we’ll be friends forever.