If you are asking if angels actually appear “visibly” to people and that the people know it, my short answer to you would be, “I don’t know.” There have been many testimonies from people saying angels did appear to them in one form or another, but from what I have read, their stories could not be proven to be genuine. Having said that, we do read in Hebrews 13:2, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some have unwittingly entertained angels.” This seems to teach us that it is very possible that angels may appear to people physically, yet in this particular case it also teaches us that those who are visited by angels are not aware of it at the time they are showing them hospitality.

I can say with certainty that I do believe angels appear to people, but scripture seems to teach that their appearance is not in a visible form. I base this on Hebrews 1:13-14, “But to which of the angels has He ever said: ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool?’ Are they not all MINISTERING SPIRITS sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” This passage clearly teaches us TWO things: 1) Angels are SPIRIT BEINGS; and 2) Angels are SERVANTS who God sends to SERVE those who will inherit salvation. I take it this means that angels truly serve those who believe on Jesus Christ as their Savior. How do they serve us?  I would encourage you to read Psalm 91 where we see that angels have always been used of God to PROTECT US (i.e. believers) from harm in many ways. Verses 9-11 declare, “Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE OVER YOU, TO KEEP YOU IN ALL YOUR WAYS.” In the coming Day of Glory (when we get to heaven) we shall learn the many ways in which angels preserved us from physical danger AND also from spiritual harm when we were being assailed by Satan and his minions.

The last mention of an angel appearing to a believer in this church age (besides the Apostle John’s visions of angels in the book of Revelation) is in Acts 27:22-27, “And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For THERE STOOD BY ME THIS NIGHT AN ANGEL of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’” Paul was on his way to Rome to stand trial and a storm was threatening the life of all onboard the ship, yet an angel appeared to him assuring him that he and all on the ship would spared. Here is a classic example of an angel “ministering to one who was saved” and “keeping him from physical harm.” Yet this is the last example where the angel appeared in a form where one could see him.

In closing, let’s consider a few other passages which prove that angels are very interested in the “heirs of salvation” in this “church age.” In Ephesians 3:1-11 the Apostle Paul writes of his responsibility to make known to believers the revelation of the MYSTERY (a truth formerly hidden) of the church “that the Gentiles should become fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel” (verse 6). In verse 10 he adds, “to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church TO THE PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.” ANGELS ARE WATCHING US and learning more of God’s wisdom! In 1st Corinthians 11 Paul is teaching more truth about the Church and how women should, according to God’s order, put on a head covering to show her obedience to God’s role for her (see verses 2-6). In verse 10 we read, “For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, BECAUSE OF THE ANGELS.” ANGELS ARE WATCHING to see if women are subject to God’s order as dictated in His Word! And in Luke 15:10 we read, “Likewise, I say to you, there is JOY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ANGELS OF GOD over one sinner who repents.” ANGELS ARE WATCHING the gospel being preached and rejoice when a sinner repents!  (355.1)  (DO)