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Patriarch Tychon was seized with a kind of ecstacy and overheard the singing of angels, the beauty of which he was afterwards unable to describe; neither could he at the moment grasp the words of that song, but was aware of it only as the harmony of many voices. -A Treasury Of Russian Spirituality-
Dr. S. Ralph Harlow
It was not Christmas; it was not even wintertime, when the event occurred that for me threw sudden new light on the ancient angel tale. It was a glorious spring morning and we were walking, my wife and I, through the newly budded birches and maples near Ballardville, Masachusetts.
What Can I say About Myself
Now I realize that this, like any account of personal experience , is only as valid as the good sense and honesty of the person relating it. What can I say about myself? That I am a scholar who shuns guesswork and admires scientific investigation? That I have an A.B. from Harvard, an M.A. from Columbia, a PhD from Hartford Theological Seminary? That I have never been subject to hallucinations? That attorneys have solicited my testimony and I have testified in the courts as a faithful reliable witness? All this is true, and yet I doubt any amount of credentials can influence the belief or disbelief of another.
In the long run, each of us must sift what comes to us from others through his own life experience, his view of the universe. And so I will tell my story.
Behind & Above
The little path on which Marion and I walked that May morning was spongy to our steps, and we held hands with the sheer delight of life as we strolled near a lovely brook. It was May, and because it was the examination reading period at Smith College where I was a professor, we were able to get away for a few days to visit Marion's parents.
We frequently took walks in the country, and we especially loved the spring after a hard New England winter, for it is then that the fields and the woods are radiant and calm yet show new life bursting from the earth. This day we were especially happy and peaceful; we chatted sporadically, with great gaps of satisfying silence between our sentences.
Then from behind us we heard the murmer of muted voices in the distance, and I said to Marion, "We have company in the woods this morning."
Marion nodded, and turned to look. We saw nothing, but the voices were coming nearer--at a faster pace than we were walking--and we knew that the strangers would soon overtake us. The we perceived that the sounds were not only behind us but above us, and we looked up.
How Can I Describe What We Felt?
Is it possible to tell of the surge of exhilaration that ran through us? Is it possible to record this phenomenon in objective accuracy and yet be credible?
For about ten feet above us and slightly to our left was a floating group of glorious beautiful creatures that glowed with spiritual beauty. We stopped and stared as they passed above us.
There were six of them, young beautiful women dressed in flowing white garments and engaged in earnest conversation. If they were aware of our existence they gave no indication of it. Their faces were perfectly clear to us, and one woman, slightly older than the rest, was especially beautiful. Her dark hair was pulled back in what today we would call a ponytail and although I cannot say it was bound at the back of her head, it appeared to be. She was talking intently to a younger spirit whose back was toward us and who looked up into the face of the woman who was talking.
Neither Marion nor I could understand their words although their voices were clearly heard. The sound was somewhat like hearing but being unable to understand a group of people talking outside a house with all the windows and doors shut.
Astounded
They seemed to float past us and their graceful motion seemed natural--as gentle and peaceful as the morning itself. As they passed, their conversations grew fainter and fainter until it faded out entirely, and we stood transfixed on the spot, still holding hands and still with the vision before our eyes. It would be an understatement to say we were astounded. Then we looked at each other, each wondering if the other also had seen.
There was a fallen birch tree just there beside the path. We sat down on it and I said, "Marion, what did you see? Tell me exactly, in precise detail. And tell me what you heard."
She knew my intent--to test my own eyes and ears to see if I had been the victim of hallucination or imagination. And her reply was identical in every way to what my own senses had reported to me.
I have related this story with the same faithfulness and respect for truth and accuracy as I would tell it on the witness stand. But even as I record it, I know how incredible it sounds.
Perhaps I can claim no more for it than that it has had a deep effect on our own lives...Since Marion and I began to be aware of the host of heaven all about us, our lives have been filled with a wonderful hope. Phillips Brooks, the great Episcopal bishop, expressed the cause of this hope more beautifully than I can do:
"This is what you are to hold fast to yourself--the sympathy and companionship of the unseen worlds. No doubt it is best for us now that they should be unseen. It cultivates that higher perception that we call 'faith.' But who can say that the time will not come when, even to those who live here upon earth, the unseen worlds shall no longer be unseen?"
The experience at Ballardvale, added to the convictions of my Christian faith, gives me not only a feeling of assurance about the future, but a sense of adventure toward it too.
Hmmmm.... Some things I've always wondered about angels...
Do they have hair, if so, why??
Why do they have wings? Is it to overcome the force of gravity on Earth?
Are they gendered? If so, why???
Oh, and why do they allegedly wear robes??? Is it to cover their gendered parts?? If so, why bother? Are the angels effected by the fall of Adam & Eve who were once naked and then had to cover up after their 'fall'???
Does anybody think about this sort of thing, or do they just take it that angels exist without ever considering these ideas?
I have thought about those things years ago when I also questioned everything and looked for proof through my senses..As you know, Troop, I don't take a lot of the bible as literal, so it allows me to have a more open and yet personal relationship with God and what I think about some things..About angels...They are real, they are messengers and at times protectors of us, I don't confuse angels with the Holy Spirit who gives me guidance..I think angels can transform into animals or even the image of someone we are grieving for in order to send a message of comfort to us..I think angels with white robes and huge wings are beautiful works of art by artists, and that is why so many people see angels that way..I don't think angels have gender, but can appear as men, women or children ..I don't hear the angels talking or singing as others have..Doesn't mean they don't..I do believe that I have been ministered to by angels a few times in my life Finally, angels are spiritual, not human, so they do not have the thoughts or consciousness as man..So I don't think they were affected by the fall of man. As always , all the above is my opinion only, and I am at peace with it.
I have thought about those things years ago when I also questioned everything and looked for proof through my senses..As you know, Troop, I don't take a lot of the bible as literal, so it allows me to have a more open and yet personal relationship with God and what I think about some things..About angels...They are real, they are messengers and at times protectors of us, I don't confuse angels with the Holy Spirit who gives me guidance..I think angels can transform into animals or even the image of someone we are grieving for in order to send a message of comfort to us..I think angels with white robes and huge wings are beautiful works of art by artists, and that is why so many people see angels that way..I don't think angels have gender, but can appear as men, women or children ..I don't hear the angels talking or singing as others have..Doesn't mean they don't..I do believe that I have been ministered to by angels a few times in my life Finally, angels are spiritual, not human, so they do not have the thoughts or consciousness as man..So I don't think they were affected by the fall of man. As always , all the above is my opinion only, and I am at peace with it.
Thanks for your response, blue. I do understand what you mean, but I was referring to the "apparitional" style of angel that seems to be personified by so many people who claim to have seen them. Like what many seem to consider an "act of God", I suppose people could personify a human or animal interaction as something "angelic". Of course, to me, as I'm sure you know, this doesn't mean it's true. My point was that people claim to have seen angels, and the description fits that of what you typically find in movies, books, and other works of art and it seems little forethought is presented to the matter such as "Why does this apparition wear a robe? Why are they gendered? Why do they have hair? Why do they have wings?" These are all seemingly products of artistic renditions and so I am extremely skeptical of anyone who says they have seen an angel fit this personified picture. To me, it's along the same lines as those who claim to have interacted with Jesus and when asked to describe him, they give the typical "European white looking guy with long hair" description without providing the forethought that Jesus was born in the Middle East.
My point is this: I can't prove to you that angels don't exist any more than you can prove that they do exist. However, I think that to personify something so 'heavenly' as gendered, with hair, wings, and robes only makes me more skeptical. I suppose the argument I expect to encounter is that "God sends angels to Earth, and the only way we can recognize them is by putting some sort of 'human' element into them." To that, I say, if blue (and I'm not caricaturing your intelligence) can find an angel in things such as other humans and animals, than why can't anyone else? Why the description so befitting of what we see and read about them?
My point is this: I can't prove to you that angels don't exist any more than you can prove that they do exist. However, I think that to personify something so 'heavenly' as gendered, with hair, wings, and robes only makes me more skeptical. I suppose the argument I expect to encounter is that "God sends angels to Earth, and the only way we can recognize them is by putting some sort of 'human' element into them." To that, I say, if blue (and I'm not caricaturing your intelligence) can find an angel in things such as other humans and animals, than why can't anyone else? Why the description so befitting of what we see and read about them?
This leads me to ask one final question:
Does God wear a long flowing white robe?
Can everybody say Michaelangelo and the Cistine Chapel ceiling? I think some people pretty much take an artists rendition of God, angels, etc must be what God and angels look like. Same with the image of hell as terrible tortrure and eternal fire..Those are the pictures that I remember from my Sunday School handouts when I was little..Now, I see those pictures for what they are... just a beautiful piece of artwork depicting one individuals imagination..
Now, as to Gods wardrobeIMO, He doesn't need any clothes, because he does not possess a human body..
Hmmmm.... Some things I've always wondered about angels...
Do they have hair, if so, why??
Why do they have wings? Is it to overcome the force of gravity on Earth?
Are they gendered? If so, why???
Oh, and why do they allegedly wear robes??? Is it to cover their gendered parts?? If so, why bother? Are the angels effected by the fall of Adam & Eve who were once naked and then had to cover up after their 'fall'???
Does anybody think about this sort of thing, or do they just take it that angels exist without ever considering these ideas?
Usually angles are unseen. They are spirit beings without physical bodies. The Bible does not explain how they assume bodies but teaches that they do and we do not recognize them as angles because they look like ordinary people.
Since angles do not have a soul I do not believe they were effected by the fall in the garden.
Hebrews 1:14 "But angles are only servants. They are spirits sent from God to care for those who will receive salvation". They are God's messengers and are under His authority.
Of course angels walk among us. It hasn't been too long that a TV series presented documented episodes of people being visited and helped by angels. That's proof enough.
Now, as to Gods wardrobeIMO, He doesn't need any clothes, because he does not possess a human body..
How does Jesus stand at His right hand if He doesn't have a hand?
How is the Earth His footstool if He has no feet?
How was Moses not able (at first) to look upon His face, if He has no face?
He spoke, this is my Son, in whom I Am well pleased, with our without vocal chords?
godspeed,
freedom
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Finally, angels are spiritual, not human, so they do not have the thoughts or consciousness as man..So I don't think they were affected by the fall of man. As always , all the above is my opinion only, and I am at peace with it.
IMO, He doesn't need any clothes, because he does not possess a human body..
