How do angels look?

Angels hang all over our Christmas trees. Like me, you probably have angel ornaments that look like babies with sweet, flushed faces and tiny wings.  

I don’t like those baby angels.

Since the death of my fourteen-month-old son, Corey, years ago--these baby cherubs sort of turn my stomach. My son did not become an angel. Nowhere in the Word of God is it ever suggested this suggested. Angels are their own category of God’s creation. People do not become angels when they die.

I wrote a book about the spiritual battle I faced after my son’s death titled

Forgiving God: A Woman's Struggle to Understand When God Answers No

So, through the years, hundreds of grieving mothers have contacted me. Many of these bereaved mothers fervently believe their child in now an angel who watches over them. I know this isn’t Biblical, yet I never contradict a grieving mother because for many it is the only thing that gives them any sort of comfort.

Angels in Scripture are messengers of God. One of the angels named in scripture is Gabriel. God sends Gabriel to accomplish specific tasks. He sent Gabriel to Daniel two times to interpret visions (Daniel 8:15-19 and Daniel 9:20-23). When Daniel saw him, Gabriel looked like a man.

Many years later, God sent Gabriel to Zechariah to announce the coming birth of John the Baptist. From these verses in Luke 1, we learn more about Gabriel. Zechariah, a priest, was in the Holy Place burning incense when suddenly an angel appeared to the right of the alter of incense. And this Gabriel was no baby cherub.

In scripture when an angel appears to people, they don’t have to be told they are an angel. People KNOW they are angels. And their appearance of a powerful messenger caused great fear and inspired awe.

When Zechariah saw Gabriel, he was troubled and fear gripped him. Gabriel said, “Don’t be afraid.” That would have been comforting to the terrified Zechariah. He told Zechariah that God was going to answer their prayers for a child. The child, John the Baptist, would prepare the people for the Lord.

I can only imagine how many years Zechariah and Elizabeth had prayed for a child. Throughout their marriage, they probably hoped year after year but never had a baby. Now they were both considered too old. I suspect they had both given up by this point in time. Zechariah said what he thought to Gabriel, “How is this going to happen now that we are both old?”

Gabriel’s answer gives us a glimpse into heaven. He says: 

“I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God . . . ‘’

Just think of that for a moment. Gabriel, the archangel of God, ever stands in the presence of God. At God’s command this powerful created angel was sent from the glory of heaven to earth with a message. Yet Zechariah did not believe the words of Gabriel immediately. As a result, Zechariah was unable to speak until John’s birth.

Can you imagine what Zechariah must have said once he had his voice back? Did he tell everyone he talked to about the miracle of God and of seeing Gabriel? How many times did he tell his son John about the circumstances surrounding his birth?

A few months later, God sent Gabriel to earth with the most important message of all. He was sent to the little nowhere village of Nazareth to a little nobody virgin girl named Mary. Gabriel, the powerful, majestic, awe-inspiring archangel’s first word to this simple girl was, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” Gabriel tells her Mary she will give birth to the Son of God, Jesus. Mary is confused and afraid but she listens carefully. She too asks a question. But it isn’t a doubtful question like Zechariah’s, it is a logical one. Mary asks, “How can I have a son since I’m a virgin?” When Gabriel explains that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her and she would bear a child without a human father who would be the Son of God.

Then without another question, or any doubt, or hesitation, this young girl says, 

“Behold, the bondservant of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.”

What magnificent, unwavering, earth-shattering faith of this teenage girl!

Gabriel had completed the message he was to deliver to Mary. This angelic message bearer returned to heaven. Gabriel is at this moment standing in the presence of our Holy God.

Mary was left in the dusty village of Nazareth to ponder in her heart all Gabriel told her. This young girl was filled with faith in God and total trust in Him.

We aren’t told about the uncomfortable conversations she must have had with her betrothed husband Joseph or her parents. Or the condemning looks from the people of Nazareth. It must have been rough for Mary and Joseph and their families. Yet, Mary, a tower of faith, held on tight to the words of Gabriel. Mary accepted God’s plan for her life even when it was hard.

In the space of a few months, Gabriel was sent to announce the birth of two sons.

The first announcement Gabriel gave to Zechariah, a righteous, mature man, who was a priest of God—who doubted the angel’s words.

The second announcement Gabriel gave to Mary, a poor, pure young teen, who had no special religious training—who immediately believed the angel’s words.

She probably didn’t understand it all, but Mary had confidence that Jesus would reign over a kingdom without end.

Just as Gabriel said.

Carla Killough McClafferty

Forgiving God: A Woman's Struggle To Understand When God Answers No

A Bible study I wrote about comfort:

The Life of David Through His Psalms: Comfort from the Shepherd