How did angels appear to people in the Bible? Do angels appear to people today?

TL;DR:

The Bible acknowledges the existence of angels and records visits by them to people on earth. Angels appearing to people reminds us that there is a spiritual realm and that what we see physically is not all there is.

what does the bible say?

Angels in the Bible appeared to people in three main ways: personally (Genesis 18:1–3; Luke 1:26-38), in dreams (Genesis 28:12; Matthew 1:20–21), and in visions (Zechariah 1:8; Revelation 1:9–20). Today, while angelic encounters are rare, they will align with Scripture and will not contradict God's revealed truth. Claims of frequent angelic encounters should be approached with caution, distinguishing between true messages, deceptions, and human misunderstandings. We are called to recognize God and serve Him regardless of other spiritual visitations we may receive. Angels potentially appearing to people reminds us that there is a spiritual realm and that what we see physically is not all there is.

from the old testament

Angels appeared to people in the Bible in three ways: in human form (Genesis 18:1–3; 19:1–22), in dreams (Genesis 28:12), and in visions (Zechariah 1:8; Ezekiel 1; 10).
When people in the Bible saw angels, they often reacted with fear and awe, such as when Daniel fell on his face and was terrified by an angel's appearance (Daniel 10:7–9).

from the new testament

Angels also appeared in a human or recognizable form in the New Testament. For example, the angel that announced the virgin birth to Mary appeared in some kind of recognizable form (Luke 1:26–38) as did the angel who appeared to the shepherds and the angelic multitude who praised God (Luke 2:8–15).
Angels also appeared to people in dreams in the New Testament. This was especially true surrounding the birth of Jesus. An angel appeared to Joseph, the man engaged or betrothed to Mary, in a dream to tell him to take Mary as his wife and that their son would be Jesus, the Messiah (Matthew 1:20–21). An angel also appeared to Joseph in another dream to warn him to flee to Egypt with his family (Matthew 2:13).
Angels appeared to John in a vision as described in the book of Revelation. These visions were distinct from dreams, as they took place when the individuals were awake. However, these visions were also different from appearances in which angels came to people in a recognizable way, or as humans, and could be seen by others.
Just as Daniel responded in fear when he saw an angel, so angels produced fear when they appeared to people in the New Testament. The shepherds were initially terrified by the angel's sudden appearance but were comforted by the message (Luke 2:9–10).

implications for today

When we discuss whether angels appear to people today, we must be careful to note that both holy angels and fallen angels (called demons) still exist. All angel visitation claims fall into one of three categories. First, they can be made up, whether intentionally or sincerely (having a human explanation). We must remember that angelic encounters were and are rare or uncommon. Even God's apostles and prophets only saw an angel on limited occasions. Anyone who claims to see angels regularly is making claims inconsistent with Scripture. Second, an angelic visit could be a deception by an evil spirit. Third, a person may have a true angelic encounter.

True angelic encounters will involve messages or activities that do not contradict God's clear revelation in Scripture. A messenger of God will not give a message that is in conflict with the truth of God since God does not lie (Titus 1:2). It is possible God sometimes communicates with an individual through angels today. In fact, many reports have come from around the world over the years regarding times when unexplained encounters have involved an individual that could best be described as an angel.

Perhaps this is one reason Hebrews 13:2 teaches, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." We cannot plan for angelic encounters or simply seek them. God controls when and if an angel will appear to minister to someone in need (Hebrews 1:14). We are called to faithfully serve the Lord regardless, knowing that God works in ways beyond that which we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

understand

In the Bible, angels appeared as humans, in dreams, and in visions.
Angels often produced fear when people saw them.
Today, true angelic encounters align with Scripture. Frequent claims should be scrutinized to distinguish genuine experiences from deceptions or misunderstandings.

reflect

How might the way angels appeared to people in the Bible influence your understanding of the spiritual realm?
How can you distinguish between genuine spiritual experiences and those that may not align with Scripture, based on what you have learned about angels in the Bible?
How does understanding the different ways angels appeared in the Bible reveal about God’s desire to communicate with people?

engage

How do the different ways angels appeared in the Bible shape our understanding of their role and purpose?
Given the rarity of angelic encounters in both the Bible and today, how should we approach claims of angelic visitations? What criteria should we use to evaluate their authenticity?
How can angelic appearances, both historical and contemporary, impact our daily faith and spiritual practices? How can we stay grounded in Scripture while being open to the possibility of angelic encounters?