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From Here to Forever
Guardian Angels
A guardian angel is appointed to every follower of Christ. “The
angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and
delivereth them.” Said the Saviour, speaking of those that believe
in Him: “In heaven their angels do always behold the face of my
Father.”
Psalm 34:7
;
Matthew 18:10
. God’s people, exposed to
the unsleeping malice of the prince of darkness, are assured of the
unceasing guardianship of angels. Such assurance is given because
there are mighty agencies of evil to be met—agencies numerous,
determined, and untiring.
Evil spirits, in the beginning created sinless, were equal in na-
ture, power, and glory with the holy beings that are now God’s
messengers. But fallen through sin, they are leagued together for the
dishonor of God and the destruction of men. United with Satan in
rebellion, they cooperate in warfare against divine authority.
Old Testament history mentions their existence, but during the
time when Christ was on earth evil spirits manifested their power in
the most striking manner. Christ had come for man’s redemption,
and Satan determined to control the world. He had succeeded in
establishing idolatry in every part of the earth except Palestine. To
the only land not fully yielded to the tempter, Christ came, stretching
out His arms of love, inviting all to find pardon and peace in Him.
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The hosts of darkness understood that if Christ’s mission should be
successful, their rule was soon to end.
That men have been possessed with demons is clearly stated
in the New Testament. Persons thus afflicted were not merely suf-
fering with disease from natural causes; Christ recognized the di-
rect presence and agency of evil spirits. The demoniacs at Gadara,
wretched maniacs, writhing, foaming, raging, were doing violence
to themselves and endangering all who should approach them. Their
bleeding, disfigured bodies and distracted minds presented a spec-
tacle well pleasing to the prince of darkness. One of the demons
controlling the sufferers declared, “My name is Legion: for we are
many.”
Mark 5:9
. In the Roman army a legion consisted of from
three to five thousand men. At the command of Jesus the evil spirits
departed from their victims, leaving them subdued, intelligent, and
gentle. But the demons swept a herd of swine into the sea, and to