I’m often asked if people, particularly children, become angels when they die. The answer is no. Death is a relocation of the same person from one place to another. The place changes, but the person remains the same. The same person who becomes absent from his or her body becomes present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). The person who departs is the one who goes to be with Christ (Philippians 1:23).
Angels are angels. Humans are humans. Angels are beings with their own histories and memories, with distinct identities, reflected in the fact that they have personal names, such as Michael and Gabriel. Under God’s direction, they serve us on Earth (Hebrews 1:14). Michael the archangel serves under God, and the other angels, in various positions, serve under Michael (Daniel 10:13; Revelation 12:7). In Heaven human beings will govern angels (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).
Does This Matter?
When I shared about this topic on my Facebook page recently, we received 562 comments in response. Many commenters asked why this clarification even matters. Others wondered whether we should ever correct those who are grieving by sharing the biblical truth.
First, truth does matter. Scripture is clear that angels and humans are two very different types of beings. Unlike God and the angels, who are in essence spirits (John 4:24; Hebrews 1:14), human beings are by nature both spiritual and physical (Genesis 2:7). The fact that those who know Christ will forever remain human and one day experience resurrection is vital to our faith. Paul said that if there is no resurrection, “we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:19).
A grieving father wept as he told me, “I will never again hug my daughter.” I asked, “Don’t you believe in the resurrection?” He said, “Of course.” I responded, “But the resurrection means you will hug your daughter again and again!” Those who believe in the resurrection can grieve while consoling themselves that they will live forever with their Redeemer and their redeemed loved ones in their redeemed bodies on a redeemed earth.
Jesus Christ died to secure for us a resurrected life on a resurrected Earth. Let’s be careful to speak of our eternal future with Him in terms that deliver us from our misconceptions and do justice to the greatness of Christ’s redemptive work.
Second, grace also matters. Sometimes grieving hearts aren’t ready to hear the truth too soon after loss, but it is possible to share what Scripture says with those who are hurting—provided it is done carefully and sensitively, at the right time and in the right way. Scripture tells us this about Jesus: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Not 50% grace and 50% truth, but 100% of both. To be like Jesus is to be full of grace and truth.
In her book What Grieving People Wish You Knew, Nancy Guthrie writes, “So much of what other people say and what grieving people are tempted to grab hold of in the face of death is mere sentimentality or strange spirituality. Instead of taking hold of these things, we want to encourage grieving people to rely fully on the Scriptures and let the rock-solid truth revealed there be the ground underneath our unsteady feet and the anchor for our hopes.”
(A number of responses on that Facebook post mentioned the idea that our souls “sleep” until resurrection day. Other commenters questioned whether it’s biblical to say that our loved ones in Heaven might know at least some of what’s going on in our lives here on Earth. I’ve addressed soul sleep here, and the possibility of awareness in Heaven here.)
Meeting Angels
While we won’t become angels in Heaven, it appears that we will one day spend time with them. The fact that angels have served us on Earth will make meeting them in Heaven particularly fascinating. They may have been with us from childhood, protecting us, standing by us, doing whatever they could on our behalf (Matthew 18:10). They may have witnessed virtually every moment of our lives. Besides God Himself, no one could know us better.
What will it be like not only to have them show us around the present Heaven but also to walk and talk with them on the New Earth? What stories will they tell us, including what really happened that day at the lake thirty-five years ago when we almost drowned? They’ve guarded us, gone to fierce battle for us, served as God’s agents in answer to prayers. How great it will be to get to know these brilliant ancient creatures who’ve lived with God from their creation. We’ll consult them as well as advise them, realizing they too can learn from us, God’s image-bearers. Will an angel who guarded us be placed under our management?
If we really believed angels were with us daily, here and now, wouldn’t it motivate us to make wiser choices? Wouldn’t we feel an accountability to holy beings who serve us as God’s representatives?
Despite what some popular books say, there’s absolutely no biblical basis for trying to make contact with angels now. We’re to ask God, not angels, for wisdom (James 1:5). As Scripture says and as I portray in my novels Dominion, Lord Foulgrin’s Letters, and The Ishbane Conspiracy, Satan’s servants can “masquerade as servants of righteousness” and bring us messages that appear to be from God but aren’t (2 Corinthians 11:15).
Nevertheless, because Scripture teaches that one or more of God’s angels may be in the room with me now, every once in a while I say “Thank you” out loud. And sometimes I add, “I look forward to meeting you.” I can’t wait to hear their stories.
We won’t be angels, but we’ll be with angels—and that’ll be far better.
