WHEN THE BETHLEHEM SHEPHERDS ARRIVED HOME

By Dr. M. R. Dowler

In light of Christmas this week, we briefly return to the subject of angels. There was a strange story that emerged from the tragic events of September 11, 2001; a story that was reported by several national and international news agencies. It goes like this---an FBI official arrived several hours after the United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Pennsyl-vania, killing all 44 onboard. The official was called upon to serve as liaison between the victim’s families and law enforcement.

After first responders had secured the crash site, the official claims she saw a mist emerging from the wreckage crater and hundreds of brightly clad angels seemingly standing guard over the remains. Strange? Undoubtedly. Most disbelieve the FBI official’s claims, thinking she was merely trying to capitalize on a horrendous tragedy. Admittedly, the official’s story lacks credibility for several reasons---one, no one else made the same claims; two, she told no told one at the time of her supposed angelic encounter, and three, the first time she ever mentioned the incident was in a book she wrote two years after 9/11.

Theologically, most of the time, angels are not visible. When they are seen, they are human-like in appearance, so that they are naturally mistaken as human men (Genesis 18:2; 19:1; Mark 16:5; Acts 12:7-10; Hebrews 13:2). The Bible speaks of several occasions when the bright shimmering glory of God shined from the angels making them brilliant to look upon. This was their appearance on the night of Jesus’ birth and the morning His resurrection (Luke 2:9, 13; Matthew 28:2-4).

The Bible describes the angel of the Lord’s message to the shepherds of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem (Luke 2:8-12). After the message a multitude of angels appeared to the shepherds (Luke 2:13-14). There were probably some that didn’t believe the shep-herds’ story when they returned home, just as there are some that do not believe the FBI official’s story of angels. However, the difference between the shepherds’ claims (which I believe) and the official’s story (which I do not) is that the shepherds account has cred-ibility because it was related to Luke from the very lips of the Creator God Himself (Psalm 33:4; 2 Timothy 3:16). Think about it. Merry Christmas.