There are many people today who are seeking to "connect with their angels" or have some sort of experience or other with an angel. The internet is full of websites like this, and there are many books promoting this concept, such as Ask Your Angels. There are also many traditional occult tools that have been re-packaged to have an angelic feel to them. Some Ouija Boards have become "Angel Boards", some Tarot Cards have been called "Angel Cards", or "Oracle Cards", and the practice of channelling so called departed spirits has been extended to channelling angels. Despite these clear associations with the occult, many people are coming to this subject with their guard down. It seems that just because something is labelled "angel" then that somehow makes it a true angel, or something automatically good and acceptable. Is this really wise? The Bible tells us that we are to test the spirits to see whether they are from God or not (1 John 4:1) because "Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light" (2 Cor. 11:14). It would therefore be foolish, and dangerous, to simply accept every spirit claiming to be an angel as being a true, legitimate, messenger of God.

The following excerpt is from a book where a Christian author is telling the story of an encounter he had (as a relatively new Christian) with a man who claimed to channel angels:

"As a young man just out of college, I received a telephone call from a gentleman who claimed he was in constant contact with angels. It would have been easy to dismiss him as someone who needed a good therapist, except he was somewhat of a psychic celebrity and used these "angels" to help the police solve baffling crimes. In fact, he even told me that my telephone number had come to him in a dream.

As we talked, he told me that the angels sometimes spoke through him, and he offered to let me speak to one of them. I agreed. Immediately, his voice changed - completely. It became stronger, deeper, more authoritative.

Being young and naive, I was excited by this possibility and remember putting my hand over the mouthpiece and whispering to my wife, "I think I’m talking to an angel!"

Over the next couple of days, I had more conversations with this fellow and several of his "angels." Was he faking it? I didn’t think so. Each entity that spoke through him was so unique, with its own voice and distinctive way of speaking, that I felt certain I was talking to several different beings. Besides, they told me things about myself they couldn’t have known except through supernatural means. They knew, for instance, that I was an aspiring writer. In fact, one of the voices assured me that I was going to be a successful author, and that I was going to accomplish great things for God through my writing. Of course, this is what I wanted to hear! The "angels" went out of their way to feed my pride and tantalize me with visions of glory. They constantly flattered me and made me feel I was somebody special.

They also seemed to help me achieve this fame by offering to help me write a book proclaiming to be the "deeper mysteries of God’s love."

I grew uneasy. I didn’t know much about angels then, but I began to suspect that these beings didn’t really have my best interest in mind. They were a bit too slick. And instead of encouraging me to grow in humility and love, I sensed them stirring up my pride and desire for success.

Finally, I decided to ask one of these beings a crucial question: "Is Jesus Christ your Lord?"

"Absolutely!" he said. But before I could even breath a sigh of relief, he added, "In fact, not only is He my Lord. He’s also my brother."

I could feel the hair on the back of my neck rise.

Why? Because I knew Satan and his demons have always been driven by a desire to be considered God’s equals. In fact, the Bible says, "You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God...but you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit’" (Isa. 14:12-15).

Satan and his angels are so full of pride that they simply can’t help themselves. If they see a chance to equate themselves with God, they go for it.

I knew then that I wasn’t talking with angels. I was dealing with demons. And once they realized I had caught on to their identity, their attitude toward me changed completely. At first, they tried to reason with me, but their reasoning had a sharp, sarcastic edge to it. They wondered how I could be so narrow-minded, and why I insisted on clinging so stubbornly to my outdated beliefs. When I wouldn’t give in, they took to insulting me, saying I was stupid, calling me names, and behaving in ways that didn’t exactly fit the angel personality profile."(Bill Myers and David Wimbish, The Dark Side of the Supernatural, pp. 25-27.)

Later on in the book the writer explains how the above mentioned man who was channelling the ‘angels’, eventually sought deliverance through Christian prayer, whereby a number of demons were exorcised.

The messages that many of today’s New Age angels give out is in direct conflict with what the Bible says. As mentioned earlier, there are many books by New Age authors on angels. Most of these books tend to be somewhat similar in the practices they promote, so I have chosen one modern angel book to critique and compare with the teachings of the Bible. New Age author, Diana Cooper, holds workshops for people to contact angels. She herself claims to allow angels to guide her life. However, when one reads through her books it soon becomes apparent that the teachings that she and her angels are giving out is in direct conflict with what the Bible teaches. Whatever these spirits are, they are certainly not the angels of the Bible.

Cooper states:

"Angels of light say, "Follow your heart. This is your higher purpose." (Diana Cooper, A Little Light on Angels, p. 108).

and...

"Religions tell people what to do and what to believe. Spirituality tells people to listen to their own guidance and follow their hearts." (Diana Cooper, A Little Light on Angels, p. 114).

The Bible says that the heart of man is wicked.

Cooper makes the popular claim that the Bible originally taught reincarnation but was subsequently removed:

"In AD 553 at the Second Council of Constantinople, the Emperor Justinian had reincarnation written out of the Bible. He and the Church wanted to claim power over people’s souls." (Diana Cooper, A Little Light on Angels, p. 114).

The Bible does not teach reincarnation and there is no evidence at all that it ever did. The earliest manuscripts of the Bible show no evidence that this doctrine was in the Bible. Additionally, the early Church Fathers quoted the New Testament so extensively in their writings that if the doctrine of reincarnation was removed there would have been some quotations of some of the passages that were removed. Regarding the New Testament citations by the early Fathers J. H. Greenlee said:

"These quotations are so extensive that the New Testament could virtually be reconstructed from them without the New Testament manuscripts." (J. H. Greenlee, An Introduction to New Testament Textual Criticism, p. 54.)

Likewise, D. Dalryma discovered that it is possible to reconstruct the entire New Testament, except for eleven verses, by using the writings of the Fathers of the second and third centuries (See: Charles Leach, Our Bible: How We Got It, pp. 35-36).

Cooper also dismisses the Biblical concept of Hell:

"Anyone who preaches hellfire and damnation is energising the darkness and therefore working for it" (Diana Cooper, A Little Light on Angels, p. 114).

I wonder if Cooper realises that in making such a statement, she also inadvertently accuses Christ of "energising the darkness and therefore working for it", as He spoke a great deal about Hell and damnation whilst on the earth. Strong statements for someone to make against Christ, especially when the Bible declares that He is over all the angels (Heb. Ch. 1)!

The angels recommends that the author:

"Simply focus on angels!" (Diana Cooper, A Little Light on Angels, p. 119).

The Bible tells us to focus on Jesus:

"looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb. 12:2).

The Bible also warns us to watch out for those who seek to lead us away from God by focusing on His servants, the angels, instead:

"When I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, 'Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you...and all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!" (Revelation 22:8-9).

"Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,..." (Col 2:18).

Cooper encourages her readers to "ask" the angels to help us, "Invite them" to come, and to "thank them". (Diana Cooper, A Little Light on Angels, pp. 116; 121-128). This is basically the same as praying to, and worshipping angels, refuted by the two Bible texts mentioned above. The Bible is very clear that prayer and worship should be for God alone. God wants us to have a relationship with Himself, through Christ, not with His creatures, the angels. Throughout the Bible angels are always seen as directing attention to God and Christ, never to themselves.

Throughout Coopers book, there are constant references to such New Age practices as: auras, meditation, reincarnation, past life regression, karma, clairvoyance, psychic powers, the akashic records, the Age of Aquarius, and references that all religions are true and acceptable to God. All such teachings are at strong variance to the Bible. From the above evidence, it can only be concluded that these angels are most certainly not in allegiance with the God of the Bible. Not only that, but it appears that they stand diametrically opposed to many cardinal Christian doctrines. What beings would seek to do this? It can only be concluded that these beings are actually highly deceptive evil beings trying to pass themselves off as legitimate angels of God. The Bible calls such beings "demons" and "evil spirits". They do not serve God, but rather Satan himself, who "... masquerades as an angel of light" (2 Cor. 11:14). Involvement with such beings will lead a person away from God and Christ and has the potential to spiritually, and mentally, ruin a person.