Angels can Materialize

It was already noted that angels are spiritual beings. Yet, it would be inaccurate to say they are incapable of manifesting themselves in the physical realm. These creatures are capable of materializing.

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Several scriptures support this truth. Paul said, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2).  Here, Paul is saying that people have spoken to others believing they were speaking to human beings but were in actuality conversing with angelic beings. This statement clearly reveals that angels have materialized looking like humans. When saying this, he could have been referring to Lot who the bible said entertained angels not knowing who they were.  While Lot lived in Sodom, “there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;”. Lot said to them, “Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.” (Genesis 19:2, 3). Lot greeted the angels saying “my lords” because the spirits disguised themselves as men. The phrase “my lords” was the common way to offer salutations to men in Lot’s days. Lot must have been considerate of the safety of these "strangers" and decided to offer them his place to stay for the night instead of allowing them to be exposed to the evils of the streets of Sodom. It is hard to believe that he knew they were angels, for if he did, it is unlikely that he would have pressed for them to stay with him. The knowledge of what angels are capable of would have been enough for him to know that they are more than capable of caring for themselves.  Additionally, the bible claimed the men of Sodom, “called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them”. (Genesis 19:5). These men of Sodom were referring to the angels Lot showed hospitality towards. Evidently, these men saw the angels as humans based on their request to be intimate with them. The bible goes on to state tthat the men of Sodom attacked Lot when their wishes were not granted: “And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.” (Genesis 19:9) However, “the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.” (Genesis 19:10,11). Clearly, these “men” that Lot offered social graces to were not merely humans, but angels who materialized, disguising themselves as humans. The fact that they were able to make the perpetrators blind attests to this. The ability to influence the human body is an ability that angels have (see more on this on the article "Influence the Body"). The angels here used this ability to protect Lot from this malicious group. One more crucial thing to consider in the whole story is that Lot gave the angels food, and the angels ate. If the angels approached Lot as spiritual beings, how could they have eaten physical food? Only by taking physical form would they have been able to do this. So, there is a wealth of evidence in this story to not only support, but prove, that the theological viewpoint that angels can indeed take physical forms holds true.

Another biblical narrative wherein this truth is revealed can be found in the book of Luke chapter Twenty-Four. Early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and some women visited the sepulchre where Jesus was buried and they never saw his body, so they were confused. Verse four of this chapter says, “And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:” (Luke 24:4).  These men said the following to the women “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen:” (Luke 24:5,6). The women then, “returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.” (Luke 24:9). Two of the disciples which the women spoke to “went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.” (Luke 24:13) They saw Jesus who intentionally hid his true identity. While they spoke, Jesus approached the two disciples and asked, “What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?” (Luke 24:17). Their response was, “Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?’ (Luke 24:18) Jesus then asked, “What things?” (Luke 24:19). They replied, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.” (Luke 24:19-23). Notice how the disciples said “angels” (in verse twenty-three) but earlier the bible said the women saw two “men”? (in verse four). The only way these texts can be logically coherent is if the angels the woman saw were actually materialized spiritual beings posing as men. It turned out that the woman must have somehow figured that the men were angels (possibly due to the fact that they were in shining white clothes). The story goes on to say that Jesus eventually revealed himself to the two disciples before suddenly disappearing. So there goes another story in which we find angels materializing, specifically looking like humans.

 

An interesting thing to think about is the events which occurred in the Garden of Eden where the devil, an angel, took the guise of a snake and tempted Eve. Genesis three verses four to six  say, “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” This serpent is the devil according to the book of Revelation which says “that old serpent,” is “called the Devil, and Satan” (Revelation 12:9). While it is not explicitly clear how the devil approached Eve, there is strong evidence to support the view that he materialized, taking the physical form of, not a human, but a serpent, and then successfully attempted to deceive her.

 

Of course, more biblical examples exist, but based on the cited scriptures there is no doubt that the bible teaches that angelic spirits can materialize. This gives the godly hope as they can rest assured that these beings are not locked away quarantined in some unreachable realm but actively able to engage and interact with mankind, helping them. The bible says that “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” (Psalm 34:7). This was the case with Lot and can be the case for you. Will you fear God today and secure his angelic guard in your life?