She wasn’t dying from any accident or painful disease. Her body was just giving out from old age. When I visited her for the last time, she didn’t open her eyes but only nodded to acknowledge my presence. After reading Psalm 23 and saying the Lord’s Prayer, she mouthed the word Amen. I sat quietly by her side for some time as her breathing seemed to lessen. All of a sudden, she asked with a clear voice, “Pastor, do you see them?”

I replied, “See who, Lydia?” 

“The angels,” she said. Moments later, she took her last breath and fell asleep in Jesus.

Perhaps you have heard stories about Christians seeing or hearing angels on their deathbeds. The question that quickly comes to mind is, “Does that really happen?”

Many of the answers we give can only be anecdotal. But some things the Bible teaches about angels can help us. Hopefully, we will see that it isn’t just a nice line to a hymn when we sing, “And when my short life is ended, by his angel hosts attended. . . .” (Christian Worship 432:3).

Served by angels in life

The Bible makes it clear that angels were created by God sometime during the six days of creation. We also know that angels serve believers on earth. Hebrews 1:14 states, “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”

Isn’t that amazing? Angels from heaven serve believers here on earth! But how? We know that angels often served as messengers of God. Angels announced the birth of the Savior to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. It was also the angels who announced on Easter, “He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:6). We also know that angels serve God’s people by protecting them. Psalm 91:11 reads, “He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”

Served by angels in death