Part of the angelic assignment appears to be protecting God’s elect until the day of their salvation. For instance, in Hebrews 1:14, we are told that angels are “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation.” Notice the future tense employed in this verse—“who shall be heirs of salvation.” Angels apparently safeguard God’s elect prior to their conversion so as to assure their survival until the day of their salvation. 

In Revelation 7:1-8, we have a good example of this scriptural truth. Here, 144,000 are sealed by angels for their protection at God’s command. As a result, this Jewish remnant, one third of the Jewish people (Zechariah 13:8), will survive end-time tribulation to finally turn to Christ as their Messiah at His Second Coming (Zechariah 12:10-13:6). When they do so, God will “remove the iniquity of [their] land in one day” (Zechariah 3:9). In addition, as the Apostle Paul predicts, “all Israel [the surviving Jewish remnant] shall be saved” (Romans 11:26-27).

Many professed Christians look back on their lives before conversion and are bewildered at their survival of past debauchery. It is amazing to them that they did not contract some sexually transmitted disease, were not killed in an automobile accident while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or did not end up as some crime statistic at the hands of the corrupt company they used to keep. Does all of this not suggest the possibility of angelic intervention in the lives of the saints while they were still sinners?

Angelic intervention in the lives of the saints subsequent to salvation is scripturally substantiated. The Scripture is strewn with such instances of angelic intervention. The Bible even teaches us how God “gives his angels charge over” us so that we will be protected in “their hands” from dashing our “foot against a stone” (Psalm 91:9-12). Still, though it is a lesser known truth, Scripture also substantiates angelic intervention in the lives of the saints prior to their salvation. 

When we consider the fact that man fell with the aid of a fallen angel, it is only fitting that he should be aided in his salvation by unfallen angels. This angelic assignment of safeguarding God’s elect until the day of their salvation also helps to explain why there is such rejoicing “in the presence of the angels” every time a sinner is saved (Luke 15:10). What satisfaction this must bring to God’s “secret service,” knowing that each sinner who survives to repent is another angelic mission accomplished!

Sample Prayer:

I praise you O Lord, for you are as superior to the angels as your name is to theirs. I pray that you will send your angels to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation. May the lost for whom I am burdened be sealed and safeguarded by your angels until the day of their salvation. Afterward, give your angels charge over them, lest they dash their foot against a stone. Amen.