ANGELS
The fact of the existence and activity of Angels is
everywhere
assumed in the Scriptures. Both the Hebrew word mal'ah, and the
Greek
word angelos, translated "Angel," mean, literally,
"messenger."
Suggesting the idea of the office rather than the nature of the
celestial being. Over 230 times in the Bible record we find Angels
busily engaged in carrying out their office work. It is
interesting
to note that Angels were present at every crisis in the unfolding
Panorama of the Ages.
There is a great deal
revealed in the Bible about angels. They can
appear in human form, (Genesis 19:5, 10, 16) they spoke as men,
took
men by the hand, even ate men's food, (Genesis 18:8; 19:3, 16) are
capable of direct physical combat, (Death of the Firstborn in
Egypt,
Exodus 12; Sodom and Gomorrah, Genesis 19; 185,000 troops
slaughtered, 2 Kings 19:35) some are the principal forces behind
the
world powers. (Daniel 10) They don't marry (in Heaven - Matthew
22:30), but are capable of producing offspring. (Genesis 6:1-2; 2
Peter 2:4; Jude 6). They act as messengers of God (Genesis 16:7 -
10,
Matthew 1:20-24). They can remain invisible to us if they wish
(Numbers 22:22 - 35). They protect God's people (Psalm 34:7). They
can perform mighty works and wonders (Judges 6:21 - 22). The Bible
also reveals the startling fact that these unseen spiritual
intelligences are divided into two distinct and innumerable hosts.
The one, holy and active as "ministering spirits" of the
Almighty--
the other, servants of Satan, equally as active, but with evil
intent
to hinder and destroy that which is wrought of God in the world
(cosmos).
THE Creation OF ANGELS
God's Word clearly teaches that Angels were the first and highest
order of created things. It is assumed (Colossians 1:16-17;
Nehemiah
9:6; Psalm 148:1-5) that Angels were created simultaneously. That
is,
they constitute a created "host" in distinction from "a
race". Each
angel being a direct creation of God, not brought into being by
propagation as in the human family. As immortal, infinite, spirit
beings not subject to death or procreation, the angelic hosts,
created a perfect and complete company, will remain numerically
unchanged throughout their eternal existence.
While it is true that certain Angels violated the will of God and
the
purpose of their created existence, each one must, in the end,
give
account to his Creator for his own conduct (II Peter 2:4; Jude 6;
Matthew 25:41; Ezekiel 28: 14-16).
How long after
the creation of the celestial hosts God created the
material universe, we do not know, But this we do know that Angels
were present as heavenly choristers (Job 38:4-7) rejoicing at the
marvel of the divine works. We do not read of these celestial
spectators rejoicing over the creation of any other planet--Mars,
Jupiter, Saturn--but the Earth. Perhaps the great Creator revealed
to "the heavenly hosts" (who were to be so closely associated
with
this world) that this tiny planet was to be the center of the
whole
story of amazing Grace, the scene of their future and faithful
concern as they were " sent forth to minister for them who shall
be
heirs of salvation" (Hebrews 1:14).
THE FORM AND NATURE OF ANGELS
The most learned scholars are greatly divided on the subject of
the
embodiment or unembodiment of Angels. In other words, are Angels
purely spirit, absolutely immaterial (not consisting of matter)
and
incorporeal (having no substance or parts) , as God is purely
spirit?
Or are they clothed in an indescribably refined fabric of material
nature unknowable to us but suited to their being and purpose? The
Apostle Paul speaks of celestial "bodies" and terrestrial
"bodies.
The glorified saints upon their arrival in heaven, we understand,
will have "a spiritual body"; thus, it would appear that
"spirits"
have a determinate form which is adapted to the law of their
being.
When Jesus said "... a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see
me
have," He did not imply that spirits have no form at all, but
rather
that in whatever form they are enshrined it is different from the
form His disciples were then looking upon--His own glorified
humanity
(Luke 24 : 37-39).
Though Angels were often sent as "messengers of God" to
approach the
sphere of human life, these "appearances" in no way proved
the
material substance of their form, since they were occasioned by
God's
sovereign will and purpose--to make Angels visible and
understandable
to the senses of men.
DO ANGELS HAVE WINGS?
In the account of Daniel's supplication (Daniel 9: 21) it is
recorded
that an angel was "caused to fly swiftly," while other
passages
suggest the same idea of the flight of angels. The supposition
that
all angels have wings, as we think of wings, has been generally
accepted largely because angels have been "pictured" with
wings in
the Art and Literature of centuries.
It is true that Cherubim and Seraphim are described as having
wings,
and the swiftness of angels' movements in executing the commands
of "The Lord God of Hosts" is represented as
"flying" on their
missions. Because angels are unseen spirit-beings their means of
flight must remain a mystery. We cannot know by what means of
movement a "spirit" is dispatched upon its errand. Legions of
angels
would have descended from heaven to Gethsemane in an instant had
Jesus prayed the Father. Thus we see the possibility of angelic
activity far beyond our finite understanding.
THE NUMBER OF ANGELS
Such figures as "ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands
of
thousands" (Revelation 5:11), "an innumerable company
[Greek,
knyriads']" (Hebrews 12:22), "thousand thousands and ten
thousand
times ten thousand" (Daniel 7:10), "a multitude"
(Luke
2:13), "legions" (Matthew 26:53), were not intended to give
a
definite or limited number of the heavenly hosts, but to convey a
sense of immensity beyond all finite computation.
THE ABODE OF ANGELS
It is generally understood that the throne of God and the abode of
angels is "in the heavens" (Psalm 103:19-21). In the
Scriptures,
however, the word "heaven" is used in so many ways that it is
often
difficult to visualize which Part of the heavenly sphere is
designated. In Genesis 1:1 we read, " God created the heaven and
the
earth." In the Hebrew, "heaven" is in the plural form,
"heavens,"
which somewhat clarifies the fact that at least three
"heavens" are
identified in the Scriptures. Paul tells us that he was caught up
into "the third heaven" (11 Corinthians 12:2), which
naturally
presupposes a first and a second.
The location of the heaven of which Paul speaks is not revealed,
but
is generally accepted as the "heaven of heavens", where
"He whom all
heavens can not contain" reveals His Glory. It is also the abode
of
angels who behold the unveiled Glory of the Lord God Of Hosts--the
heaven of the Redeemed, who will ever be with the Lord (Revelation
4:1-4).
Next, in descent, would be the starry, or
stellar heavens, identified
by such references as "the stars of heaven" (Genesis 26:4).
"··· he
made the stars also"--"... the firmament sheweth his handywork"
(Genesis 1:16; Psalm 19:1).
Next, the atmospheric
heavens of which such references are made
as "birds of the heaven" (Matthew 18:20), "the clouds of
heaven"
(Matthew 24: 30), "the windows of heaven" (Genesis
7:11).
These distinctions are important to our
study of Angelology. It is
clear, from the Scriptures, that all angels were created good,
clothed in form suited to their spirit-nature, and assigned to an
habitation, or first-state, particularly their own in God's
sovereign
purpose. It is also clear that a great multitude of the angelic
order
left their first estate, and "the heavenly places," or lower
heavens,
stand for the unseen spiritual realm in which these fallen spirits
now have temporary habitation.
THE Classification OF ANGELS
The Scriptures reveal various ranks or orders representing
governmental authority or supremacy among the angelic hosts, as
mentioned in Colossians 1:1-16, namely: Thrones (thronoi),
Dominions
(kuriotetes), Principalities (archai), Authorities (exousiai) and
Powers (dunameis).
The Bible revelation regarding angels and the heavenly sphere of
governmental rule and authority is greatly veiled, but even by the
yardstick of earthly realities we may rightfully assume these
denominations to be representative of great dignity and varying
degrees of rank and station.
CHERUBIM AND SERAPHIM
Another order of exalted celestial beings is mentioned, apart from
those of rank and authority listed above, namely: Cherubim and
Seraphim. Some learned scholars believe that these name-words are
merely symbols of God's attributes. The majority of expositors,
however, maintain that they refer to exalted spirit-beings of the
angelic order closely related to the throne and zealous of the
majesty, the holiness and the unceasing worship of the Lord of
Hosts.
Cherubim: We find the first appearance of cherubim in the Garden
of
Eden, where God had dispatched them to guard the way of "the Tree
of
Life" from fallen Adam (Genesis 3:24). Alexander Cruden
defines "cherub" as one of an order of angels. Plural,
properly "cherubim" ("cherubims" in the Authorized
Version, Exodus
25:18-22). Upon the ark of the covenant golden replicas of
cherubim
were cast in one piece with the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies,
where God dwelt in the midst of His people. Thus it is said, " .
.
thou that dwellest between the cherubims . . . (Psalm 80:1). The
curtains of the Tabernacle and the veil of the Temple were
embroidered with a pattern of cherubim (Exodus 26:1; II Chronicles
3:14). The walls, doors and the sanctuary were decorated with
Carved
cherubim overlaid with gold (I Kings 6:23-35).
The
symbolical significance of the cherubim "ever before the
people"
may justify the thinking of many Bible scholars; namely, that the
proper signification of the word "cherub" is "to cover,
guard,
protect." The cherubims "guarded" the way in Eden.
Lucifer was
appointed the "covering" cherub (evidently belonging to the
order of
cherubim). Their high and holy position, closely related to the
Throne of Jehovah--even as the carved symbols of their presence,
with
out- stretched wings, in the Holy of Holies--suggested attendance
and
readiness to be dispatched from the throne of God
as "guardians," "coverers," "defenders" of
His absolute Holiness.
The "Living
Creatures" mentioned in Ezekiel's visions of the Shekinah
Glory of the Lord (chapters 1 and 10), are identical with the
cherubim.
Seraphim: A plural word occurring only
in Isaiah 6:1-7: Isaiah's
vision of Jehovah. Like the cherubim, seraphim are seen attending
on
the Lord of Hosts as He is seated ". . . upon a throne, high
and
lifted up. . . ." The Hebrew word translated "burners" is
of
uncertain origin. Fire was often connected with the attendants of
deity among many peoples, and it is probable that "burning"
may lie
at the base of the idea. One of the seraphim is seen in the vision
as
an agent of burning, or purifying the lips of the penitent
Prophet,
possibly bespeaking a ministry of purification and unceasing
worship.
Thus, these glorious beings are expressive of that holiness which
demands "cleansing" before "serving." With what
reverence we Should
approach the Throne of Divine Majesty, when seraphim hide their
faces
and cover their feet in conscious humility and unceasing
praise.
LUCIFER-MICHAEL-GABRIEL
Three celestial princes are named in the Scriptures: Lucifer ("son
of
the morning")--Michael (Hebrew, "who is like
God")--Gabriel ("mighty
one").
Lucifer: The most exalted of the angels, by creation and
appointment,
occupies the place of prominence in the Scriptures, second only to
the Godhead. By his sin, the first created being to cross the
will,
the word and the purpose of the Creator, he became a devil--The
Devil
(ho diabolos). He appears about forty times throughout the
Scriptures
under different titles. (From the second panel of Chart No. 1 we
shall begin our study of "Satanology.")
Michael:
This distinguished angel is named five times (Daniel 10:13,
21; 12:1; Jude 9; Revelation 12:7). He is referred to as
"standing"
for Daniel's people, therefore he is regarded as the heavenly
patron
of Israel and the watchful guardian of God's people against both
earthly and satanic foes.
In Daniel 10:13, Michael
is called "one of the chief princes," a term
which presupposes other princes in the angelic hierarchy. In
Daniel
10 we find reference to "the prince of Persia" and "the
prince of
Grecia." These mighty angels, now fallen and corrupted, ap- pear
to
be subservient to Satan, who is called "the prince of demons,"
"the
prince of the power of the air " "prince of this world
[cosmos]. it
is Michael who opposes Satan in a dispute concerning the body of
Moses (Jude 9). It is Michael who leads the angelic army in heaven
against "that old serpent, called the Devil," and his
angels
(Revelation 12:7).
In Jude 9, Michael is called
"the archangel" (the Scriptures do not
speak of the plural, "archangels"). It is generally believed
that the
unnamed archangel whose voice will be heard when Christ descends
from
heaven to meet His raptured Saints--is Michael (I Thessalonians
4:16). Thus, the rank of archangel is mentioned only twice, and is
applied to the mighty prince of angels, Michael.
Gabriel:
Gabriel is named four times (Daniel 8:16; 9:21; Luke 1:19;
1:26). He is not identified as an archangel, although the meaning
of
his name is "the mighty one. While Michael appears to be the
messenger of Law and Judgment, Gabriel is the messenger of Mercy
and
Promise .
It was Gabriel who brought the message
to Zachariah; announcing the
birth of John the forerunner of the Messiah (Luke 1:19). It was
Gabriel who brought the annunciation of the Saviour's Birth to
Mary.
It was Gabriel who was dispatched by God with the answer to the
fervent prayers of Daniel, the bewildered, burdened Prophet. After
being delayed by a contest with Satan's emissary, Gabriel brought
a
revelation of the most momentous import to the praying Prophet,
disclosing to him a summary of all that was to come to his people,
in
the great prophecy of "The Seventy Weeks of Years" (Daniel
9:20-27).
When God became Man
Isaiah 720 BC, Psalms 1000 BC, Micah 620 BC......Twenty Prophecies
fulfilled in His First Coming
How do you know it is true??? Buried inside the Ancient
Hebrew
writings (Old Testament) written hundreds and some over a
thousand
years BC is the foretelling of what would take place when God
became
man. This is how you know it is true. The prophecies were
very
specific and told exactly when and where God would come to
earth.
The New Testament (written in Greek after the death of Christ)
confirms these truths.
He would be born in Bethlehem (Beit Lechem). (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:4-
6; John 7:42)
The exact time of His crucifixion was known (483 years from the
decree to build the temple, which was around 444 B.C.E.). (Daniel
9:25; Nehemiah 2:1-8; 5:14)
He would be born of a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20-23;
Galatians 4:4; Genesis 3:15)
His name would be Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew), which means
"Savior"
or "Salvation." The word Yeshua in Hebrew means
"salvation." It is
derived from another Hebrew word, Yashah, which means "to
save,
deliver, preserve, bring salvation, get victory." (Matthew
1:21)
He would be the Son of G-d and G-d would be His Father.
(Psalm 89:26-27; 2 Samuel 7:8,12-14; 1 Chronicles 22:7-10; Hebrews
1:1-2,5; Mark 14:36; John 20:30-31)
He would go to Egypt and return to the land of Israel.(Hosea 11:1;
Matthew 2:13-15))
He would be preceded by a messenger (a type of Elijah [Eliyahu]
known
as John (Yochanan) the Immerser [Baptist]) who would prepare the
way
of the Lord. (Malachi 3:1; Luke 1:13,76; Matthew 11:7,10
He gave up the glory in Heaven for the poverty of earth. (Luke
9:58;
2 Corinthians 8:9)
He would ride into Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) on a donkey.
(Zechariah
9:9; Matthew 21:5)
He would be sold for 30 pieces of silver. (Zechariah 11:12;
Matthew
26:14-16)
He would be nailed to a tree. (Deuteronomy 21:22-23; Psalm 22:16;
John 19:18; 20:25)
He would die for our sins. (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1
Peter
2:24)
He would be spit upon. (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 26:67, 27:30)
He would be given gall and vinegar to eat and drink. (Psalm 69:21;
Matthew 27:34,48)
Not one bone would be broken. (Psalm 34:20; John 19:33,36)
He would be pierced. (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34,37)
He is King of the Jews (and the world). (Psalm 2:6; John 18:33,37;
19:19-22)
His soul would not be left in hell. (Psalm 16:10; 49:15; 56:13;
Acts
2:27,31; 13:33-35)
He would rise from the dead. (Psalm 16:10; Luke 24:6,31,34; Acts 2:27-
31; 13:35)
He would rise the third day from the grave. (Jonah 1:17; 1
Corinthians 15:4; Luke 24:45-46; Matthew 12:40)
Websites
for your home studies....
Rapture study
http://www.ldolphin.org/raptpromise.html
A series of studies on
the book of
Daniel....end times, prophecies, etc.
http://www.pbc.org/dp/stedman/daniel/index.html
Studies
on Revelation....
http://www.pbc.org/dp/stedman/revelation/index.html
God
does not ask that people believe in Him without evidence....He
uses many
forms of knowledge to demonstrate who He is. One of these is
prophecy.
Thousands of years ago God spoke to the prophets of Israel to tell
them He
was coming to earth. He told them where and when and under
what
conditions
and that He would suffer and die so that man could be saved.
The
fact that
Jesus was a man is a historical fact. We know He lived, just as
we
know Nero
and Alexander the Great lived. The Bible is divided into two
parts...the Old
Testament and the New. The Old Testament was written in
Hebrew....the last
book was written approximately four hundred BC. The New
Testament
was
written in Greek from after Christ died primarily by eye
witnesses.
We know
the Old Testament existed long before Christ due to the discovery
of
the Dead
Sea Scrolls and the historical fact that the Jews built temples
and
taught
from the scrolls. Following are just a few of the prophecies
contained in
the Old Testament that Christ ( the Messiah, the Savior) was
coming.
The
entire Bible is the revelation of God, of Christ. Prophecy is
the
prediction
of a future event. It is given by God to prove who He is.
There are
literally hundreds of prophecies in the Bible, dealing with the
past
that has
proven correct but also future events yet to happen.
Zec 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of
Jerusalem:
behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he [is] just, and having
salvation; lowly,
and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
In
Zecariah (spelling)..the prophet foretold that Zion's (Israel)
King would
come riding an ass. I find this one of the most interesting
from
several
aspects. First, the King, would offer salvation, eternal
life.
Second,
notice that He will be riding the colt of an ass. No King in
history
rides a
donkey, it just doesn't happen. They always rode stallions.
Also
notice
that it is the colt of an ass. A colt has never been broken,
an
unbroken
horse will buck you off. Also notice that He will ride into
Jerusalem. Now
we know that Christ rode into Jersusalem on Palm Sunday before His
execution.
He was riding a colt of an ass. When He rode in many common
people
(but not
the religious leaders) yelled Hosanna (this means save us).
Zecariah
was
written hundreds of years before the event.
Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among
the
thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me
[that is]
to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old,
from
everlasting.
Micah is a very small book in the Old
Testament. Notice in this
prophecy
several things...first it tells where Christ will be
born....Bethlehem was a
tiny city...it says the King will come from this town...it also
says
something very interesting..His goings forth have been from old,
from
everlasting...why, becasue Christ is God, He existed before the
universe was
created. If you look in the New Testament Joseph and Mary had
to
travel to
Bethlehem before He was born.
'Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a
virgin
shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isaiah
was written about 720 BC. This prophecy spells out that a
virgin
would give birth to a son. The name Immanuel in Hebrew means
"God
Amoung
You". The name Jesus is from Greek translation. In
Hebrew, Jesus's
name was
Yeshua which meant "Jehovah saves". There is a reason
God had to
come into
the world thru a virgin...not just as a miracle sign. Each man
is
born from
the "seed" of another man..the blood of that man transmits the
sin of
his
father....what we call original sin....it is in all of us...you
don't
have to
teach a child to lie.
Behold, my servant shall prosper,
he shall be exalted and lifted up,
and shall be very high.
As many were astonished at him --
his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,
and his form beyond that of the sons of men --
so shall he startle many nations;
kings shall shut their mouths because of him;
for that which has not been told them they shall see,
and that which they have not heard they shall understand. {Isa
52:13-15 RSV}
Again Isaiah...notice that God's servant, the
Christ, is foretold.
Notice it
says He will be lifted up...as Chirst was lifted up on the
Cross.
Notice
that He is foretold to be beaten to point that people are
astonished
and that
His face was to be beaten until you couldn't tell who He was.
Notice
that,
not the Jews, but the rest of the world will understand who He is.
Who
has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not. {Isa 53:1-3 RSV}
Isaiah
again...notice Christ was not a man people would think was
beautiful
or a King. It was foretold in 720 BC that He would be
rejected...that He
would see grief...that He would be despised.
.
Psa 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt
thou
suffer
thine Holy One to see corruption.
The Psalms were
written in about 1000 BC. This prediction says that
God will
not leave Christ's soul in Hell....or see corruption..rot. His
body
would
not rot. Notice it says thine Holy One, the Savior. Now this
also
foretells
something else...that the Savior would have to die...as He
did......if you
study carefully in the New Testament you will see that Christ
"gave
up His
spirit". He was not killed as you and I think of being
killed...He
chose to
die...if He had wished...He could still be hanging there today.
Psa 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have
inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the
inhabitants
of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they
shall look
upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one
mourneth
for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that
is in
bitterness for [his] firstborn.
These two prediction come
from Psalms and Zechariah...notice that
they
foretell a number of things which had to happen....first His hands
and feet
had to pierced..they were when nailed to the cross...notice also
that
the
Jews will someday (when He returns) see him and mourn for the one
they
pierced...this refers to the fact that Christ had a spear thrust
into
him on
the cross to make sure He was dead. Remember all these writings
are
hundreds
of years before Christ came.
Zec 11:12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give [me] my price;
and if
not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty [pieces] of
silver.
Zec 11:13 And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a
goodly price
that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty [pieces] of
silver, and
cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
Back to
Zechariah...this foretells Christ being sold out for thirty
pieces of
silver. If you look in the New Testament you will see that
Judas
sold him
out to the Romans for exactly thirty pieces of silver and then the
money was
later thrown potter. Only God could foretell such a small detail
of
His
betrayal hundreds of years before it happened.
Websites for your
home studies....
Rapture and Return
http://www.ldolphin.org/kingdom/ch14.html
http://www.ldolphin.org/kingdom/ch4.html
http://www.ldolphin.org/Return.html
http://www.ldolphin.org/raptpromise.html
A series of studies on the book of
Daniel....end times, prophecies, etc.
http://www.pbc.org/dp/stedman/daniel/index.html
Studies on Revelation....
http://www.pbc.org/dp/stedman/revelation/index.html
God's Calendar
http://pbc.org/dp/stedman/leviticus/0520.html
The Jewish Wedding and the Bride of Christ
http://www.ariel.org/ff00113c.html
Olivet Discourse......
http://www.pbc.org/dp/stedman/olivet/index.html
Israel....birth pangs
http://www.ldolphin.org/odino.html
New World Order
http://www.ldolphin.org/kingdom/ch7.html
Genesis study
http://www.pbc.org/dp/stedman/genesis/index.html
Temple studies…
http://www.ldolphin.org/ezektmp.html
http://www.ldolphin.org/whytemp.html
http://www.ldolphin.org/kingdom/ch9.html
New Bodies
http://www.ldolphin.org/newbodies.html
Misc. study sites
http://www.pbc.org/
http://www.ldolphin.org/
http://www.geocities.com/his_emissary/
http://www.levitt.com/
http://www.direct.ca/trinity/king.html
http://www.blueletterbible.org/index.html
http://pbc.org/dp/stedman/adventure/0241.html http://www.prophecyinthenews.com/index.asp
Seventy Prophecies fulfilled in His First Coming
Ancient Hebrew writings (Old Testament) written hundreds and
some
over a thousand years BC. This is how you know it is true.
The
prophecies were very specific and told exactly when and where God
would come to earth. The New Testament (written in Greek after
the
death of Christ) confirms these truths.
He would be a descendent of Abraham (Avraham). (Genesis 12:1-3;
18:18; 22:18; Matthew 1:1-2,17; Galatians 3:8,16)
He would be from the tribe of Judah (Yehudah) . (Genesis 49:8-10;
Hebrews 7:14; Revelation 5:5)
He would be a descendent of David. (2 Samuel 7:4-5,12-13; 1
Chronicles 17:11-14; Psalm 132:11; Luke 1:32-33,67-69; Acts
2:29-30;
Matthew 1:17; Romans 1:3)
He would be born in Bethlehem (Beit Lechem). (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:4-
6; John 7:42)
He would be from Nazareth and be called a Nazarene. (Matthew 2:23;
Luke 1:26-27; John 1:45; Judges 13:5-7,24)
The exact time of His crucifixion was known (483 years from the
decree to build the temple, which was around 444 B.C.E.). (Daniel
9:25; Nehemiah 2:1-8; 5:14)
He would be born of a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20-23;
Galatians 4:4; Genesis 3:15)
His name would be Immanuel. Immanuel in Hebrew means "G-d with
us."
(Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-23)
His name would be Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew), which means
"Savior"
or "Salvation." The word Yeshua in Hebrew means
"salvation." It is
derived from another Hebrew word, Yashah, which means "to
save,
deliver, preserve, bring salvation, get victory." (Matthew
1:21)
His name would be the Messiah. The word Christ in English comes
from
the Greek word Christos, which means "The Anointed One."
Christos in
Greek is the word Mashiach in Hebrew, which also means "The
Anointed
One." The word Mashiach means "Messiah," who is Yeshua.
(John 1:41)
He would be the only begotten Son of G-d. (Psalm 2:2,6-7; John
1:14;
Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:1-2,5)
He would be the Son of G-d and G-d would be His Father.
(Psalm 89:26-27; 2 Samuel 7:8,12-14; 1 Chronicles 22:7-10; Hebrews
1:1-2,5; Mark 14:36; John 20:30-31)
He would be circumcised the eighth day according to the law of
purification. (Luke 2:21-24; Leviticus 12:1-6)
He would go to Egypt and return to the land of Israel.(Hosea 11:1;
Matthew 2:13-15)
Young babies would die in an attempt to kill Yeshua at His birth.
(Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:16-18)
He would be preceded by a messenger (a type of Elijah [Eliyahu]
known
as John (Yochanan) the Immerser [Baptist]) who would prepare the
way
of the Lord. (Malachi 3:1; Luke 1:13,76; Matthew 11:7,10)
The messenger, John (Yochanan) the Immerser (Baptist), would be
preaching in the wilderness. (Isaiah 40:3-5; Luke 1:13,80,3:2-6)
He would be a prophet like Moses (Moshe). (Deuteronomy 18:15; John
1:45; Acts 3:20-23)
He would be anointed of the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh). (Isaiah
11:1-2; 42:1; Matthew 3:16)
He would preach and teach in the temple (Beit HaMikdash). (Malachi
3:1; Luke 4:16; Matthew 26:55; John 7:28; 8:1-2)
He came specifically to the house of Israel and not to the
Gentiles.
(Matthew 15:21-26)
Yeshua would be rejected by His own people Israel (corporately).
[Note: It should be pointed out that many, many individual Jews
were
believers in Messiah during the first century. This can be seen
very
clearly by carefully examining Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the
Book of Acts.(Psalm 69:8; 31:11; 88:8,18; Job 19:13; John 1:11;
7:3,5)] Yeshua is the stone that the builders rejected.(Psalm
118:22; Isaiah 3:10-12; Romans 9:11)
Yeshua would be received by the Gentiles (corporately). [Note: It
should be pointed out that many Gentiles are not believers in Yeshua
and many others are believers in name only and not true followers
with their hearts. The believers in Messiah are commanded to follow G-
d with all of their heart (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).] (Isaiah 11:10;
42:6;
49:6,22; 54:3; 60:3,5,11,16; 61:6,9; 62:2; 66:12,19; Malachi 1:11;
Luke 2:30-32; Acts 28:28)
He would speak in parables. (Psalm 78:2-4; Matthew 13:34-35)
The ministry of Yeshua would be in Galilee. (Isaiah 9:1-2; Matthew
4:12-16,23)
His ministry would be to heal the sick, set the captives free, and
preach deliverance. This is known as the basar (gospel) in Hebrew.
(Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:16-21; Matthew 4:23; 9:34-35; Acts 2:22;
10:38)
Yeshua was to be the shepherd of Israel because Israel had no
shepherd. (Ezekiel 34:5-10; 1 Kings 22:17; Zechariah 10:2; Genesis
49:22,24; Psalm 23:1; 80:1; Isaiah 40:10-11; Ezekiel 34:23-24;
37:24;
John 10:11,14-15)
His message would not be believed. (Isaiah 53:1; John 12:37-38)
The meek would praise Him. (Psalm 8:1-2; Matthew 21:15-16)
Illegal merchandise trading would be done in the temple. (Psalm
69:9;
John 2:13-17; Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 21:12-13)
He would be hated. (Psalm 69:4; 35:19; 109:2-3; 119:161; John 15:24-
25)
He would be a reproach to the people. (Psalm 69:9; 89:50-51;
Romans
15:3)
He would not seek publicity. (Isaiah 42:1-2; Matthew 12:15-19;
9:30;
8:4)
He can be trusted and would be compassionate. (Isaiah 42:3;
Matthew
12:15,20-21)
No evil words would proceed from His mouth. (Isaiah 53:9; Luke
23:41;
1 Peter 2:21-22; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
His disciples would forsake Him. (Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 26:31-
35,56)
There was nothing physically beautiful in Him to be desired.
(Isaiah
53:2; Psalm 22:6; Mark 6:1-3; Philippians 2:7)
He gave up the glory in Heaven for the poverty of earth. (Luke
9:58;
2 Corinthians 8:9)
He would publicly enter Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) before the time
of
His crucifixion. (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:1-5)
He would ride into Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) on a donkey.
(Zechariah
9:9; Matthew 21:5)
He would be sold for 30 pieces of silver. (Zechariah 11:12;
Matthew
26:14-16)
His betrayal price would be given for a potter's field. (Zechariah
11:13; Matthew 27:3,7-10)
He would be betrayed by a friend. (Psalm 41:9; John 13:18-21)
Both Jew and Gentile would conspire against Him. (Psalm 2:1-2;
Acts
4:27-28; Matthew 26:3; 27:1-2)
He would be nailed to a tree. (Deuteronomy 21:22-23; Psalm 22:16;
John 19:18; 20:25)
He would suffer for others. (Isaiah 53:6; Matthew 20:28)
He would die for our sins. (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1
Peter
2:24)
He would be mocked. (Psalm 22:7-8; Matthew 27:39-43)
He would die with the transgressors. (Isaiah 53: 12; Mark
15:27-28)
He would make intercession for His murderers. (Isaiah 53:12; Luke
23:34)
He would be smitten. (Micah 5:1; Isaiah 50:6; Lamentations 3:30;
Matthew 26:67; 27:30)
He would be spit upon. (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 26:67, 27:30)
He would be forsaken by G-d. (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46)
He would be given gall and vinegar to eat and drink. (Psalm 69:21;
Matthew 27:34,48)
He opened not His mouth when accused. (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew
26:63-64;
27:12-14)
His garments would be parted. (Psalm 22:18; Matthew 27:35)
Not one bone would be broken. (Psalm 34:20; John 19:33,36)
He would be pierced. (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34,37)
He would be like a lamb going to the slaughter. (Isaiah 53:7; Acts
8:26-35)
He is King of the Jews (and the world). (Psalm 2:6; John 18:33,37;
19:19-22)
He would be buried with the rich. (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60)
He would die. (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:50)
His soul would not be left in hell. (Psalm 16:10; 49:15; 56:13;
Acts
2:27,31; 13:33-35)
He would rise from the dead. (Psalm 16:10; Luke 24:6,31,34; Acts 2:27-
31; 13:35)
Others would rise from the dead with Him. (Psalm 68:18; Ephesians
4:8; Matthew 27:52-53)
He would rise the third day from the grave. (Jonah 1:17; 1
Corinthians 15:4; Luke 24:45-46; Matthew 12:40)
He would ascend into Heaven. (Psalm 68:18; Acts 1:9; Luke
24:50-51)
He would sit at the right hand of G-d. (Psalm 110:1; Hebrews
1:2-3;
Ephesians 1:20-21; 1 Peter 3:22)
He would usher in a New Covenant (Brit Hadashah). (Jeremiah 31:31;
Luke 22:20)
He would be a sure foundation to all who believe. (Isaiah 28: 16;
Romans 10:11; 1 Peter 2:4-6)
by
Lambert Dolphin
Introduction
"It is important to recognize...that God doesn't just sit in
heaven
and push buttons on a control panel. He uses "messengers,"
better
known to us by the Greek word: angels. The Biblical view of the
universe is not the modern one of vast reaches of barren space
interrupted every couple of million miles or so by flying dead
boulders. The Biblical view of the universe is that it is teeming
and
throbbing with life everywhere. The cosmos is heavily populated
with "legions" and "myriads" of angelic beings, of
various ranks
(Colossians 1:16) and "species" (see, for instance, the
descriptions
in Ezekiel 1:5-25 and Revelation 4:6-8). Angels are associated
with
astronomical phenomena throughout the Bible (Judges 5:20; Job
38:7;
Isaiah 14:13; Matthew 24:29; Jude 13; Revelation 1:20; 8:10-12;
9:1;12:4) as well as with the activity of the weather: wind,
storms,
and lightning are spoken of in connection with the actions of God
and
the angels in both blessing and curse (Genesis 8:1; 41:27; Exodus
10:13,19; 14:21; 15:10; 19:16; Numbers 11:31; Psalm 18:10;
104:3,4;
107:25; 135:7; 147:18;148:8; Ezekiel 1:4ff; Matthew 24:31; John
3:8;
Acts 2:2; Revelation 7:1-3; 8:5,7; 16:8, 17, 18). Clearly, the
Biblical worldview does not attribute changes in weather to
impersonal "forces" or "processes,"
He makes
the clouds his chariot
and rides on the wings of the wind.
He makes winds his messengers [angels],
flames of fire his servants. (Psalm 104:3, 4, NIV)
"God
controls the government of the universe," said Calvin. "No
wind
ever arises or increases except by God's express command."
Further, "since angels are the powers of God, it follows that
they
never cease from their office of working. For God never can rest:
he
sustains the world by his energy, he governs everything however
minute, so that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without his
decree (Matthew 10:29)...God works continually by angels...so that
all creatures are animated by angelic motion: not that there is a
conversion of the angel into an ox or a man, but because God
exerts
and diffuses his energy in a secret manner, so that no creature is
content with his own peculiar vigor, but is animated by angels
themselves." Martin Luther, as usual more pithy and direct,
took
seriously the psalmist's statement that the wind has wings. After
a
particularly severe and violent storm, he offered his opinions on
the
subject: "The devil provokes such storms, but good winds are
produced
by good angels. Winds are nothing but spirits, either good or
evil.
The devil sits there and snorts, and so do the angels when the
winds
are salubrious."
"The Biblical worldview is
uncompromising: God is running the world.
Every atom in the universe is under His command. His Word created
and
sustains in Him. That is why He can assert His power and authority
in
such absolute terms:
I form the light and create darkness,
I make peace and create calamity,
I, the LORD, do all these things. (Isaiah 45:7)
Who can
speak and have it happen
if the LORD has not decreed it?
Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
that both calamities and good things come?
(Lamentations 3:37, 38, NIV)"
(from Power in the
Blood, by David Chilton, p66-67, Wolgemuth and
Hyatt, Brentwood, TN, 1987)
Art work by Rodney rtreadway@e... (by permission)
The Creation of the Angels
The angels were created sometime during creation week, after
Genesis
1:1. They were not in existence prior to that. It is most likely
the
angels were created early-on, as they were apparently observers of
the work of creation.
Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the
heavens, praise him in the
heights! Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his host!
Praise
him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him,
you
highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise
the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created. And
he
established them for ever and ever; he fixed their bounds which
cannot be passed. Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters
and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind
fulfilling
his command! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
Beasts and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of
the
earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young
men
and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the
name
of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above
earth
and heaven. He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all
his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise
the
LORD! (Psalm 148)
The association of the angels with the stars
suggests that the angels
were created one by one, and each named, as the stars are all
named, "He determines the number of the stars, he gives to all
of
them their names." (Psalm 147:4)
God questioned Job about
his knowledge of the creation, "Where were
you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have
understanding. Who determined its measurements --surely you know!
Or
who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or
who
laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and
all
the sons of God [bene elohim, the angels] shouted for joy?" (Job
38:4-
7)
The angels belong to ranks and orders, but they are not
related to
one another, that is they are not a connected race as we are. The
Letter to the Hebrews tells us that salvation is not offered to
the
angels but is reserved for the human family, for the descendants
of
Adam.
...we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower
than the
angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of
death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for every
one. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things
exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of
their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies
and
those who are sanctified have all one origin. That is why he is
not
ashamed to call them brethren, saying, "I will proclaim thy name
to
my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise
thee."
And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Here
am I, and
the children God has given me." Since therefore the children share
in
flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature,
that
through death he might destroy him who has the power of death,
that
is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death
were
subject to lifelong bondage. For surely it is not with angels that
he
is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had
to
be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become
a
merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make
expiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has
suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are
tempted.
(Hebrews 2:9-18)
The Inhabitants Of The Spiritual Realm
Most of modern science pays little heed to anything that exists in
the spiritual realm. In the first place, the scientific method
limits
scientific investigation to the physical world. The prevailing
secular scientific world view today is that of naturalism, or
scientism. Naturalism holds that only the physical world is
relevant.
God if He exists at all, He plays no role in the day by day
running
of the universe. At most, God could be a "First Cause," but if
so, we
do not need God to explain anything to us after the Big Bang
begins.
Or, many say that the material world is all there is, so-called
spiritual truth either does not exist or has no relevance to the
world of science. These views are radically different in
comparison
to a Biblical world-view. The physical world is only half of the
creation, and the invisible half of creation is the more permanent
and substantial than the physical world. In many ways the material
world is a world of shadows. Not only did God design the universe,
He
constructed it in minute detail over a period of time and then set
it
all in motion. Furthermore, without His moment by moment
sustaining
power the very atoms themselves would fly apart and the universe
would go up in smoke. This is clear from statements such as
Hebrews
1:1-4.
Ultimately, all energy and power and life come into the
physical
world from the unseen spiritual world as the source, even though
we
do not know how to formulate scientific laws to describe the
interactions between these two realms. Since science is bounded by
many intrinsic limitations, the responsibility for our failure to
be
fully-informed and educated concerning the dual realms of creation
should probably be laid at the door of the church. God's people
are
given the task of explaining to the world those areas of knowledge
that depend upon divine revelation, subjects that are, by nature, out-
of-bounds for science.
"The amazing fact which the
Scripture clearly declares, but which
thousands of Christians have failed to see, is that God has
designed
that his church should be a kind of government on earth undergirding
visible governments. This would make possible a climate of
benevolent
law and order, the rule of justice and peace, and would hold in
restraint the wild forces of tyranny, anarchy and murder. (See
Matt.
5:13,14; Phil. 2:14,15; 1 Tim. 2:1,2.) Whenever the church has
approached the biblical pattern, righteous conditions have begun
to
prevail. And when it has turned from this divine pattern to rely
on
secondary forces it has become proud, rich and tyrannical, or
worldly, weak and despised by all." (Ray C. Stedman, Body Life).
According
to the Bible, there are two levels of creation: one
physical and one (the more important) spiritual. The two
realms---the
material and the spiritual---were "tightly coupled" before the
fall
and though there is still coupling between these realms it is less
than it was in former times. Both spiritual and material domains
of
reality have become flawed, subsequent to creation, and active
evil
is present in both realms. Scientific observations of the physical
world have been, are now, and will be, affected by happenings in
the
spiritual world. Although we may not see the causes, the effects
will
be there. The fall of man is accompanied by a "curse" on
nature
described in Genesis 3:
And to Adam he [God} said, "Because
you have listened to the voice of
your wife, and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you,
`You
shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in toil
you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles
it
shall bring forth to you; and you shall eat the plants of the
field.
In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to
the
ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust
you
shall return.
The effect of the curse is to reduce the
fecundity, resilience and
vitality of nature allowing "opportunistic" thorns and
thistles and
weeds to compete more successfully with crops and fruits useful to
men and animals.
Additional "curses" which are
consequences of human evil are
described as the Biblical account unfolds. For example God spoke
to
Cain, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood
is
crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the
ground,
which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from
your
hand. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield to you
its
strength; you shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the
earth."
(Genesis 4:11-12)
Adam's sin cost him his position as Manager
and Steward over the
earth. God had granted this to Adam at the time of his creation,
Then
God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness;
and
let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the
birds
of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over
every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." So God created
man
in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and
female
he created them. And God blessed them, and God said to them,
"Be
fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have
dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air
and
over every living thing that moves upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26-28)
Man's
lost dominion is described in the opening chapters of Hebrews.
There Jesus Christ is presented as the Federal head of a new race
of
men who will place man back again in the position of dominion over
creation:
"For it was not to angels that God subjected the
world to come, of
which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, 'What is
man
that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou carest
for
him? Thou didst make him [man] for a little while lower than the
angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honor, putting
everything in subjection under his [man's] feet.' Now in putting
everything in subjection to him, [man] he left nothing outside his
control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to
him
[man]. But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower
than
the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering
of
death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for every
one. For it was fitting that he, [Jesus] for whom and by whom all
things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the
pioneer
of their salvation perfect through suffering." (Hebrews 2:5-10).
Verse
five contains a hidden and important clue about who governs the
universe. The age which is to come is not ruled by the angels, the
author says. The implication is that the age we live in, is ruled
by
the angels (acting on God's behalf). On this important passage Ray
C.
Stedman says the following,
"Some fascinating themes are
introduced by this observation. It
raises immediately the question, What is meant by the world to
come?
It can mean (1) life after death, (2) the future kingdom of Christ
on
earth (the millennium) or (3) the new heavens and the new earth.
Since almost nothing is said in Hebrews about life after death
(9:27), (1) can be dismissed without further development for it is
obviously not what he refers to in the phrase about which we are
speaking. That limiting phrase probably looks back to 1:11-12
which
emphasizes the changes which the material creation will
experience.
Paul, in Ephesians 2:7, speaks of "coming ages," indicating
that at
least two more ages lie ahead. The two which Scripture continually
names are the restored Davidic kingdom (the millennium) and the
new
heavens and the new earth. In several places Scripture describes
the
new heavens and earth as lasting forever, intimating It would be
the
last age yet to come. But the word world (Gk okoumene) in 2:5
refers
not to the cosmos, but to the inhabited earth, and this would
strongly suggest the writer has in mind (2), the kingdom of Christ
on
earth. Hughes calls the world to come, "the age of the Messiah
in
which the messianic promises and prophecies of old find their
fulfillment." It is surely to this that Jesus refers in
Matthew
19:28, 'Truly, I say to you, in the new world
[palingenesia, 'restoration'], when the Son of man shall sit on
his
glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel' (RSV). Several
passages
in Hebrews (6:5 and 12:22-24) suggest that this kingdom is in some
sense already available to those who live by faith. Perhaps, we
should see this new age to come as spiritually arrived, yet
physically still to come.
"A reference to the new heavens
and new earth seems unlikely in view
of the mention of judgment in Matthew 19:28, for sin will have no
place in the new creation. Also Israel will not play a distinctive
role among the nations, for then 'the kingdoms of this world are
become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall
reign for ever and ever' (Rev 11:15 KJV).
"If as this
writer claims, the world to come has not been subjected
to angels, it raises the possibility that the present age is
subject
to angelic governance, F.F. Bruce supports this view citing the LXX
rendering of Deuteronomy 32:8:
When the Most High gave to the
nations their inheritance
When he separated the children of men,
He set the bounds of the peoples
According to the number of the angels of God.
"He further
quotes Daniel 10:20, which names angelic beings as 'the
prince of Persia' and 'the prince of Greece,' and Daniel 10:21 and
12:1 speak of Michael as 'the great prince' who champions the
people
of Israel. This concept would explain why the fallen angel called
Satan is referred to as 'the god of this world' and is permitted
his
control until the Lord returns and the new age begins and the
curse
is lifted from nature. Then, too, the devil will be bound and cast
into a bottomless pit for a thousand years (Rev 20:2-3).
"This
background seems to give special meaning to the quotation from
Psalm 8 which the writer of Hebrews now invokes. His vague
reference
to his source (Gk "Someone somewhere has testified") is not
due to
uncertainty but to a desire to stress Scripture as speaking, not a
mere human author (Bruce, Kistemaker and Hughes). David's psalm is
a
wondering reaction to the majesty of the night sky as it reveals
the
power and wisdom of God and forces the question, What part do puny
human beings play in such a universe? The answer is that we were
made
a little lower than the angels, but then crowned with glory and
honor, and everything has been put under our feet. This is a
direct
reference to Genesis 1:26:
Then God said, "Let us make man
in our image, in our likeness, and
let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air,
over
the livestock over all the earth, and over all the creatures that
move along the ground."
"Here is glory and honor (made
in the image and likeness of God) and
authority and power (ruling over all the earth). Some commentators
take the 'made a little lower than the angels' in a temporal
sense, 'made for a little while,' to imply that human existence in
this space-time continuum is only for a brief lifetime, and then
we
are freed to live the life of eternity. Whichever way the phrase
is
read, it is clear that our intended destiny was one of power and
authority over all the conditions and life of earth. If this was
our
commission from the moment of creation, what light it sheds on our
responsibility to care for this planet and its creatures! We were
not
given dominion so the earth and the animals should serve us;
rather,
we are given authority to develop them to the fullest extent
intended
by the fruitful mind of the Creator. We are to serve them by
thorough
knowledge and loving care, in the form of servant-leadership which
the Lord himself manifested when he came.
"Yet, says this
writer in what must be the understatement of the
ages, we do not see everything subject to him. No, there are many
things fallen humans cannot control: the weather, the seasons, the
instincts of animals, the tides, our own passions, international
events, natural disasters, and on and on. The increasing pollution
of
the planet, the spread of famines and wars, the toll taken by
drugs,
accidents and disease, all tell the story of a lost
destiny..."
(Hebrews by Ray C. Stedman, The IVCP New Testament Commentary
Series,
IVCP Press, Downers Grove IL, 1992)
Cherubim And Seraphim
In the hierarchy of the angels as revealed to us in Scripture, the
greatest and mightiest are known as the "cherubim," among whom
are
the "Four Living Creatures." The King James Version of the
Bible
calls them "the four beasts," but this is a poor translation
of the
Greek, zoon, which means "living beings." They are
remarkable
creatures, first described for us in detail by the prophet Ezekiel
at
the time of the Babylonian captivity of the Jews in July 593 BC
Isaiah
may have seen these same great angels earlier in his vision
recorded in Isaiah 6. The Hebrew word found in the latter passage
is
Seraphim, ("burning ones"), rather than Cherubim, thus many
Bible
scholars treat the Seraphim as a separate, but very high class of
angels. Our common notion of "cherubs," as childlike harmless
angels
with tiny fluttering wings is very unbiblical.
Cherubim with
whirling, flaming swords guarded the gate of access
back into Eden after Adam and Eve were expelled, to keep them from
eating of the Tree of Life in their fallen condition. In other
words,
they could not return to fellowship with God except by the way of
the
cross. Two figures of cherubim with outstretched arms covered the
mercy seat which sat on the top of the Ark of the Covenant in the
Tabernacle of Moses and later in the Temple of Solomon.
Visions, Dreams, And Revelations
Ezekiel had the clearest visions of God seen by all the prophets.
As
a young man in his twenties, he was carried into captivity to
Babylon
(along with Daniel) but was allowed to see the glory and splendor
of
the Holy One of Israel. He was given to know details about the
long
term future of the nation, and to foresee the last and greatest
temple the Jews would one day build under Messiah's personal
direction. Visions differ from dreams and hallucinations in the
Biblical record. God sometimes spoke audibly to individuals in the
Bible; at other times, He influenced men such as Joseph and Daniel
by
giving clear and specific guidance through dreams.
Today, now
that Scripture is complete, God's last word to man is
Jesus, as the opening verses of the letter to the Hebrews states.
Colossians admonishes us,
"Let no one pass judgment on you
in questions of food and drink or
with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath. These are
only
a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
Let
no one disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of
angels, taking his stand on visions, puffed up without reason by
his
sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the
whole
body, nourished and knit together through its joints and
ligaments,
grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to
the
elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still
belonged to the world?" (2:16-20)
The cultures of society,
human traditions, habit patterns, and
lifestyles are actually controlled to a large degree by angelic
forces operating behind the scenes of the world-system. We need
not,
and should not, rely on visions or experiences as reliable sources
of
information about the unseen world. When one becomes a Christian
he
or she is taken out from under the Satanic government of the world-
system and placed under the direct rulership of Jesus Christ.
He
has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us
to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the
forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)
Not all visions come
from God. The enemy is the great counterfeiter
and even has the power to accomplish signs and wonders and
miracles.
Hallucinations, such as those experienced by individuals on drugs,
or
under severe emotional stress, or deprived of sleep, are usually
heightened imaginations. Many false religions and cults base their
teachings on the visionary experiences of their founders. Islam
was
born because the "prophet" Mohammed received a vision from an
angel.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints (the Mormon
church)
was initiated by a supposedly divine revelation given to Joseph
Smith. Demons and evil spirits and Satan himself coming "as an
angel
of light" are capable of counterfeiting experiences so that
they
appear to be coming from God when they are not. Such visions have
most assuredly not come from the God who gave us the Bible.
"For
such men [i.e., false teachers] are false apostles, deceitful
workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no
wonder,
for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is
not
strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of
righteousness." (2 Corinthians 11:12-15)
Genuine visions,
such as those seen by Ezekiel, Daniel, the Apostle
John and other Biblical writers were experiences when the seer was
allowed to briefly look behind the veil into the invisible world,
(into the heavenly places). They saw into that more permanent
world
of the Spirit. Today, only if an experience can be confirmed by
direct words from scripture can the Christian be sure what is
happening is coming from God. The Christian faith is not
existential,
not based on experiences or emotion, but it is grounded in a
thorough
and complete body of knowledge given to us in the Bible. Biblical
events are historically true as well, not at all based upon myth,
folklore or tradition which form the backdrop of common world
religions. Peter says,
"For we did not follow cleverly
devised myths when we made known to
you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were
eyewitnesses of his majesty." (1 Peter 1:16)
Ezekiel's Vision
In regard to the Four Living Creatures, Ezekiel saw them in a
great
vision as standing around the chariot-throne of God. They must be
frightening and awesome creatures of great intelligence, with four
faces, four great wings, and they are constantly engaged in
ceaseless
energetic activity.
"As I looked, behold, a storm wind came
out of the north, and a great
cloud, with brightness around about it, and fire flashing forth
continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming
bronze. And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living
creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the form of
men,
but each had four faces, and each had four wings. Their legs were
straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a
calves
foot; and they sparkled like burnished bronze. Under their wings
on
their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their
faces
and their wings thus: their wings touched one another; they went
everyone straight forward without turning as they went. As for the
likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man in front; the
four had the face of a lion on the right side; the four had the
face
of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle
at
the back. Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out
above; each creature had two wings, each of which touched the
wings
of another, while two covered their bodies. And each went straight
forward, wherever the spirit would go they went, without turning
as
they went.
Ezekiel's "wheels" are not UFO's but
mysterious wheels within
wheels "full of eyes round about." They seem to symbolize the
great
multi-dimensional mobility of God's portable chariot throne.
"In
the midst of the living creatures there was something that looked
like burning coals of fire, like torches moving to and fro among
the
living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire
went
forth lightning. And the living creatures darted to and fro like a
flash of lightning. Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw
a
wheel upon the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of
the
four of them. As for the appearance of the wheels and their
construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of a chrysolite;
and the four had the same likeness, their construction being as it
were a wheel within a wheel. When these went they went in any of
their four directions without turning as they went. The four
wheels
had rims and they had spokes; and their rims were full of eyes
round
about. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside
them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the
wheels
rose. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, and the wheels rose
along with them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the
wheels. When those went, these went, and when those stood, these
stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along
with
them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
A
great platform, the "sea of glass" stretches out above the
throne
of God, over the heads of the four living creatures. In recent
years
transparent metallic glass gold has been produced in the
laboratory.
The image of the crystal sea reappears in the Book of the
Revelation
(4:6, 15:2).
"Over the heads of the living creatures there
was the likeness of a
firmament shining like crystal, spread out over the heads. And
under
the firmament their wings were stretched out straight, one toward
another; and each creature had two wings covering its body. And
when
they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many
waters, like the thunder of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like
the
sound of a host; when they stood still they let down their wings.
And
there came a voice from the firmament over their heads; when they
stood still, they let down their wings. And above the firmament
over
their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like
sapphire, and seated about the likeness of a throne was as it were
the likeness of a human form. And upward from what had the
appearance
of his loins I saw as it were gleaming bronze, like the appearance
of
fire round about; and downward from what had the appearance of his
loins I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was
brightness around about him. Like the appearance of the bow that
is
in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the
brightness round about. Such was the appearance of the likeness of
the glory of the Lord." (Ezekiel 1:4-28, see also Chapter 10)
(Modified KJV).
Seated on the throne is a human form. This man
seems to be the same
Person as the "ancient of Days" named in Daniel. (See also
Revelation
4:1-9, 5:1-7, 6:16, 19:4). Daniel records,
"As I looked,
thrones were placed and one that was ancient of days
took his seat; his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his
head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, its wheels were
burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came forth from before
him;
a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten
thousand
stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were
opened...I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds
of
heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the
Ancient
of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given
dominion
and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which
shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be
destroyed." (Daniel 7:9-14)
Four Mighty Angels Around The Throne
The Four Living Creatures, the Cherubim, correspond one-to-one
with
the four Gospels with which the New Testament opens. Lion, ox,
man,
and eagle all symbolize various attributes of God in four-fold
symmetry. Since the number "four" is symbolic of the world
in
scripture, we have in the four cherubim around the throne, a
picture
of God's government and concern for all aspects of the physical
world, and the world-system which we call "human society." The
lion
corresponds to the Gospel of Matthew---here Jesus is seen as the
Lion
out of the tribe of Judah, the rightful king, depicting God's
kingly
sovereignty over Israel and the nations. The ox pictures for us
servitude and sacrifice (Mark); The Cherubim's face, like that of
a
man, corresponds to Luke's Gospel and pictures divine
intelligence;
and the eagle symbolizes the lofty sovereignty and deity of the
Son
of God (John's Gospel). The four Gospels are also God's complete
message to the descendants of Shem, Ham, Japheth, and to mankind
in
general, in the same order. The "wheels" of Ezekiel (God's
"chariot
throne") appear to symbolize divine mobility, (the ability of God
to
observe, to move and to act, anywhere and at anytime, unrestricted
by
the limitations of the material world). The entire vision seems to
picture for us God's government of human affairs and of nature.
Similarly,
the cherubim, the highest class of the angels, are also
described for us in detail by John the Apostle on the Isle of Patmos
about 95 AD:
"At once I (John) was in the Spirit, and lo, a
throne stood in
heaven, with one seated on the throne! And he who sat there
appeared
like jasper and carnelian, and round the throne was a rainbow that
looked like an emerald. Round the throne were twenty-four thrones,
and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clad in white
garments, with golden crowns upon their heads. From the throne
issue
flashes of lightning, and voices and peals of thunder, and before
the
throne burn seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of
God; and before the throne there is as it were a sea of glass,
like
crystal.
"And round the throne on each side of the throne,
are four living
creatures, full of eyes (depicting the omniscience of God) in
front
and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second
living
creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a
man, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. And the
four
living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes
all
around and within, and day and night they never cease to sing,
'Holy,
holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to
come!'
And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks
to
him who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, the
twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the
throne
and worship him who lives for ever and ever; they cast their
crowns
before the throne, singing, 'Worthy are thou, our Lord and God, to
receive glory and honor and power, for thou didst create all
things,
and by thy will they existed and were created.'" (Revelation
4:2-11)
Angels And The Government Of The Universe
The Cherubim also seem to represent "God's Intelligence
Agency" (Ray
Stedman)---with their all-seeing eyes and ability to move quickly
in
all four directions. The number "four" indicates they have a
central
role in God's government of human society. The Four Living
Creatures
seem to represent the topmost level of the system of angels who
fall
into definite hierarchy and class structures hinted at in scripture.
The
Apostle Paul says there are angelic principalities (arche),
powers (exousia), thrones (thronoi), dominions (kuriotes), and
powers
(dunamis). Thus, there appear to be angels with power over a
nation
or a city or a planet or a star such as our sun. In addition to
all
manner of greater and lesser angels, the Mighty Archangel Michael,
guardian of Israel, and the great messenger Gabriel are also
named.
(Only Michael, of all the angels, is actually called an archangel
in
scripture. Lucifer is however named as one of the cherubim. He was
probably the highest of all the angels. Bible scholar James
Montgomery Boice calls him "the prime minister of the
universe" (see
Genesis: An Expositional Commentary, 1982 Zondervan, Grand Rapids,
MI).
God created great numbers of spirits, some now
fallen, and known now
as demons. Demonic forces operate in all forms of idolatry and
false
religion, for instance. Demons, deceiving spirits, familiar
spirits,
and unclean spirits do not have bodies of their own; hence, they
seek
to possess humans (and can possess animals also). The popular New
Age
fad of "channeling" appears to be a good example of demons
acting
through men and women who make themselves available to evil
spirits
so as to receive hidden, esoteric wisdom alleged to come from the
past or from "other worlds."
Guardian angels watching
over the lives of God's people are mentioned
in the opening verses of the letter to the Hebrews, in the Psalms
and
in the Gospels. In the Book of the Revelation we are told of four
angels who have charge over the "four winds that blow from the
four
corners of the earth." We also read of four fallen, now-bound,
angels
who are to be unloosed at the Euphrates River. The Greek word angelos
and the Hebrew word malakh mean "messenger," but it is clear
in the
Bible that angels do much more than run errands and deliver
telegrams
for God.
Great and mighty angels will take charge in the
unfolding of God's
terrible judgments on the earth that are to come upon us at the
end
of the present age as described in the last book of the Bible. As
mentioned earlier, angels seem to have control over the forces of
nature and human events in their roles as instruments of God. This
does not cause man to be a mere puppet, tossed, and buffeted about
by
the unseen activity of these mighty beings. However, the Bible
emphasizes that we cannot understand what is happening in the
world
or in history without understanding the activity of God and of the
angels.
Most of the angels are not named for us in the Bible.
Commenting on
Revelation Chapter 8 Ray Stedman says,
When he opened the
seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for
about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before
God,
and to them were given seven trumpets. (Rev 8:1-2 NIV)
"...This
word about silence reminds us of the prophet Habakkuk's
cry, "The Lord is in his Holy Temple; let all the earth keep
silence
before him!" {Hab 2:20 KJV}. This silence comes as a dramatic
contrast to the shouting of praise and the playing of harps that
has
been going on in heaven up to this point. Millions of angels,
hosts
of redeemed humans, and other heavenly creatures have been crying
out
before the throne of God, and singing praises to him. But now
suddenly everything ceases. When the seventh seal is opened there
is
total silence. It is a most dramatic pause. It reminds one of that
moment of silence just before the last great "Hallelujah!" in
the
Hallelujah Chorus of Handel's Messiah. This is the silence of
mystery, a silence of intense anticipation of what is about to
happen. Our good friend, Earl Palmer, in his commentary on
Revelation
says, "It communicates in a dramatic way the full and awesome
authority of God. Everything must wait for his kingly move."
"That
move begins, as this account tells us, with seven angels being
given seven trumpets to sound. It is all part of the opening of
the
seventh seal. These are impressive angels indeed. We are told they
are the angels "who stand before God." That calls to mind the
story
in Luke 1:19 of an angel sent to Joseph to tell him that Mary will
be
the mother of a child. The angel identifies himself as "Gabriel,
who
stands in the presence of God," (cf, Luke 1:19 NIV). These
seven
angels are probably archangels, and they are given an extremely
important task in the sounding of these trumpets. They doubtless
include Michael the archangel, who appears also in the book of
Daniel. In fact, the apocryphal book of Enoch, an ancient book
which
is not part of our Bible, gives the names of all seven angels.
They
are Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Sarakiel, Gabriel, and Phanuel.
Notice, their names all end in "el," which is short for the
name of
God. These are "angels of God," powerful angels, who are given
these
trumpets to sound. (Angels of Doom)
Ray Stedman also notes (in a
sermon on the gospels) that when Jesus
calmed the sea of Galilee during a ferocious storm, he evidently
spoke to a local angel who had charge of the weather. The angel's
response was immediate,
"And behold, there arose a great
storm on the sea, so that the boat
was being swamped by the waves; but he [Jesus] was asleep. And
they
[the disciples] went and woke him, saying, 'Save, Lord; we are
perishing.' And he said to them, 'Why are you afraid, O men of
little
faith?' Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there
was
a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, 'What sort of man is
this, that even winds and sea obey him?'" (Matthew 8:24-27)
THE Angel of the LORD
One special angel is "The Angel of the Lord" who makes a
number of
appearances in the Old Testament. These are believed by careful
Bible
scholars to be a theophanies, or appearances of the Son of God,
prior
to His incarnation and birth in Bethlehem. [THE Angel of the
Lord)]
The Armies of the Lord
The angelic host is under the direction of The Lord of Hosts
(Yahweh
Sabaoth), or the Lord of Armies. In the New Testament, Jesus heads
up
these military resources of the Godhead which include the angels,
and
eventually also the saints of God. The active warfare in heaven
between good and evil in the spiritual realm involves conflicts
between fallen and unfallen angels as well as campaigns having to
do
with angelic interactions with human affairs. An interesting
incident
in 2 Kings 6 in the life of Elisha the prophet gives a behind-the-
scenes glimpse at God's angelic armies. Alarmed at the ability of
Elisha to warn the armies of Israel against impending attacks from
the king of Syria, the latter attempted to capture Elisha when he
was
at Dothan. The sequence of events which follows clearly shows
clearly
the course of events is in reality controlled not by visible
circumstances or "luck," or by Elisha's cleverness, but by the
Lord
working through angels:
"So he (the king of Syria) sent
horses and chariots and a great army;
and they came by night, and surrounded the city. When the servant
of
(Elisha) the man of God rose early in the morning and went out,
behold, an army with horses and chariots was round about the city.
And the servant said, 'Alas my master! What shall we do?' Elisha
said, 'Fear not, for those who are with us are more than those who
are with them. Then Elisha prayed, and said, 'O LORD, I pray thee,
open his eyes that he may see.' So the LORD opened the eyes of the
young man, and he saw; and behold the mountain was full of horses
and
chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when the Syrians came
down
against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, 'Strike this
people, I pray thee with blindness.' So God struck them with
blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha.
"And
Elisha said to the Syrians, 'This is not the way, and this is
not the city; follow me, and I will bring you to whom you seek.'
And
he led them to Samaria. As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha
said, 'O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.' So
the
LORD opened their eyes, and they saw' and lo, they were in the
midst
of Samaria. "When the king of Israel saw them he said to Elisha,
'My
father, shall I slay them? Shall I slay them?' Elisha answered,
'You
shall not slay them. Would you slay those whom you have taken
captive
with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before
them;
that they may eat and drink and go to their master.' So he
prepared
for them a great feast; and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent
them away and they went to their master. And the Syrians came no
more
on raids into the land of Israel." (2 Kings 6:14-23) (Modified KJV)
Angels at War with one another
Another interesting illustration showing how angelic activity
interrelates with human affairs is given for us in the book of
Daniel. Prayers by Daniel had reached the ears of God immediately
(faster than the speed of light), but God's answer to these
prayers,
sent by angelic messenger, was delayed due to a mighty conflict
between the messenger angel and evil angels who had charge of the
affairs of nations around Israel:
"In those days I Daniel
was mourning three full weeks. I ate no
delicacies, no meat nor wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint
myself at all, till three whole weeks were ended. And in the
twenty
fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great
river, that is the Tigris, I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and
behold a man [an angel in human form] clothed in linen, whose
loins
were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: His body was like beryl, and
his
face like the appearance of lightning, and his eyes like flaming
fire, his arms and his feet were like in color like burnished
bronze,
and the voice of his words like the noise of a multitude. And I,
Daniel, alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw
not
the vision; but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to
hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great
vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my radiant
appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. Yet
heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his
words, then I fell on my face, in a deep sleep with my face toward
the ground.
"And, behold, a hand touched me, and set me
upon my hand and knees.
And he [the angel] said to me, 'O Daniel, man greatly beloved,
understand the words that I speak to you, and stand up: for to you
I
have been sent.' And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood
trembling. Then said he to me, 'Fear not, Daniel: for from the
first
day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself
before your God, your words were heard [by God], and I have come
because of your words. But the prince [chief angel] of the kingdom
of
Persia withstood me twenty one days: but, [archangel] Michael, one
of
the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the
kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what shall
befall your people [Israel] in the latter days: for the vision
applies to man days from now' And when he had spoken these words
to
me, I [Daniel] set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.
"And,
behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men [the angel]
touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spoke, and said to
him
who stood before me, 'O my lord, by reason of the vision pains
have
come upon me, and I have retained no strength. How can the servant
of
my lord talk with my lord? For as for me, there remains no
strength
in me, nor is there breath left in me.' "Then one who had the
appearance of a man came again and touched me, and strengthened
me,
and said, 'O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be to you, be
strong, yes, be strong.' And when he had spoken to me, I was
strengthened and said, 'Let my lord speak; for you have
strengthened
me. Then said he, 'Do you know where I have come from to you? And
now
will I return to fight with the [angelic] prince of Persia: and
when
I have gone forth, lo, the [angelic] prince of Greece will come.
But
I will show you that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and
there is no one who stands with me in these things, but [the
archangel] Michael your prince." (Daniel 10:2-21. Modified KJV)
Daniel
was in Babylon at the time of the experience described above.
The great angel who visited him in person was probably Gabriel. He
was dispatched by God to assist Daniel but delayed en route
because
of "fighting with the prince (angel) of Persia." The angel
mentioned
that after the warfare with the angel over Persia was ended then
would come "the prince (high angel) of Greece." Here, we get a
hint
that angelic activity then taking place in the heavenlies---involving
God's angels warring against the angel over Persia---was relevant
to
current events in Babylon. That is, the kingdom of Babylon had
fallen
already, Persia would soon fall as a great world power and then
Greece would rise. The rise and fall of nations and kingdoms is
thus
linked to warfare among the angels at the highest levels. All of
this
warfare is of course under the sovereign direction of the
Commander
in Chief, Yahweh Sabaoth, the LORD of hosts. We know from
subsequent
human history after Daniel's time that the angel over Greece, in
the
time of Alexander the Great who came to power thereafter, would be
in
ascendancy.
Angels work behind the Scenes of History
In Daniel, Chapter 12, the prophet records that the angel
responsible
for Israel, Michael, would "arise" [ascend in power] at the
close of
the latter days on behalf of God's people Israel. Associated with
the
rise of Michael would come the throwing down to earth of Satan and
the "time of Jacob's trouble" spoken of by the prophet
Jeremiah, "a
time of trouble such as never has been since there was a nation
till
that time..." (Daniel 12:1-3). Thus, angelic activity in heaven
runs
parallel with events on earth though it is difficult to establish
a
one-to-one correspondence between events transpiring in heaven and
the timing of events on earth. Satan has not yet been cast out of
heaven, but Jesus foresaw this future event clearly,
The
seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are
subject to us in your name!" And Jesus said to them, "I saw
Satan
fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you
authority
to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of
the
enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in
this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your
names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:17-20)
The actual
future day when Satan is excluded from heaven and confined
to earth is described in the book of the Revelation, Chapter 12,
Now
war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the
dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were
defeated
and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the
great
dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the
Devil
and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world --he was thrown down to
the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a
loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power
and
the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come,
for
the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them
day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the
blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they
loved
not their lives even unto death. Rejoice then, O heaven and you
that
dwell therein! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has
come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is
short!" (7-12)
In Zechariah, Chapter 1, are recorded the dreams of the prophet
in
which he saw horses riding to the corners of the earth. These
horses
symbolize divine activity in human affairs as do the better-
known "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" (Revelation, Chapter
6). In
the Book of the Revelation the attention of the reader is turned
to
events in heaven; then the scene switches back to events
transpiring
on earth in human history. As the Book of the Revelation unfolds,
the
two realms merge so that there is a closer connection
("closer
coupling") between the two worlds. This is the meaning of the
word
apocalypse---"unveiling."
Angels keep records and
execute judgments for God (Ezekiel 8-9). In
fact there are apparently angels whose sole work is to record
human
deeds in great detail. Ezekiel saw them as scribes with parchment,
pens and ink, but in our era it is easier for us to imagine these
angels as using some kind of advanced laptop computers. Angels,
acting for God, reduced the mighty world-conqueror Nebuchadnezzar
to
seven years of psychotic wanderings to humble him so that he would
come to see who was really running the universe (see Daniel 4).
Angels
announce important events in scripture, such as the birth of
Jesus, for example. Ordinarily when angels appear among men, they
take on human form and may even be mistaken for ordinary men.
Hence,
the writer of the letter to the Hebrews tells us, "Do not neglect
to
show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained
angels unawares." (Hebrews 13:2) The writer perhaps had in mind
the
visit of THE Angel of the LORD and two other angels to Abraham's
tent
on their way to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18). After a
meal
and a conversation (which included Abraham's petitions for the
doomed
cities), the two other angels departed. Upon arriving in Sodom,
they
were treated by the men of that city as if they were only
handsome,
desirable young men with whom the citizens of Sodom wished to
entice
into their immoral sexual activities. These angels rescued Lot,
but
Lot apparently remained in some doubt about the true identity of
these visitors---were they ordinary men or somehow extraordinary?
Some stories of angels appearing occasionally among us in our time
seem to be well-founded. Angels evidently are able to take on
human
form from time to time.
In the Book of the Revelation, angels
are frequently seen in dazzling
appearances. The aged Apostle John, who had spent his youth
traveling
with Jesus as one of the apostles, and after that, six decades of
godly ministry in daily fellowship with the living Lord, was
nevertheless so overwhelmed by the splendor of the angels he saw
in
his visions that he was twice tempted to worship them---thinking
they
were actually the Lord in His risen splendor! Demons and evil
spirits, on the other hand, seem incapable in taking on physical
appearance but gain access to the physical world by possessing
men.
Demon possession is not uncommon in the world today and more and
more
is encountered in the United States due to our rapidly declining
moral conditions and open Satan worship.
Man is involved in the Angelic Conflict
The New Testament also emphasizes that the Christian cannot
understand what is happening to him and to the world he lives in
unless he takes the angelic conflict seriously. The subject
deserves
very careful study by every Christian. The Apostle Paul writes,
"For
though we live in the world [system] we [believers] are not
carrying on a worldly war, for the weapons of our warfare are not
worldly [carnal] but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We
destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of
God,
and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to
punish
every disobedience, when your obedience is complete." (2
Corinthians
10:3-6)
Paul also writes clearly on this subject in the closing
portion of
his letter to the church at Ephesus:
"Finally, be strong in
the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put
on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand
against
the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh
and
blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against
the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual
hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the
whole
armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and
having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your
loins
with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
and
having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace;
besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can
quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet
of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
To
that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for
all the saints." (Ephesians 6:10-19)
The Chief of the Fallen Angels
The Bible does not explain or justify the existence of God or of
the
devil; the existence of evil is already clear by Genesis, Chapter
3.
As the Bible unfolds, we glean more and more information about the
Tempter. He first appears in Genesis as a serpent---probably a
dazzlingly beautiful creature who later became identified with the
snakes we all tend to dread and fear. Satan may have appeared to
Eve
as a "shining one"---that is, an angel of light, a subtle
counterfeit
of the Presence of God who came to the garden regularly to
fellowship
with man.
Bible scholars agree that although on the surface
Isaiah 14 and
Ezekiel 28 passages seem to be written about evil earthly kings,
they
are also figurative pictures telling us much more. Behind certain
key
individuals who have appeared on the world stage is a supernatural
personality, an Evil Entity who controls and possesses men to
varying
degrees. When this "prince of the power of the air" takes
full
control of a Caesar, or a Hitler, or a Stalin we have what the
Apostle John calls, "an antichrist." Ultimately in history
Satan will
become fully incarnate in a "man of sin"---THE [one, unique,
and
final] Antichrist. Satan's attributes can be seen in powerful and
evil human rulers of the past: the King of Babylon, the King of Tyre,
the Caesars, Hitler, etc. Isaiah and Ezekiel seem to be telling us
about one of the Mighty Cherubim, perhaps the greatest of the
archangels, who fell because of pride:
"How are you fallen
from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How
are you cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You
said in your heart,
'I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:
I will sit upon the mount of the assembly, in the far north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will be like the most High'.
"Yet you shall be
brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the Pit.
Those who see you shall stare at you, and ponder over you, 'Is
this
the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms; who made
the
world like a desert, and overthrew its cities; who did not let his
prisoners go home? All the kings of the nations lie in glory,
every
one in his own tomb. But you are cast out of your sepulchre, like
a
loathed, untimely birth, clothed with the slain, those thrust
through
with a sword, who go down to the stones of the Pit; like a dead
body
trodden under feet you will not be joined with them in burial,
because you have destroyed your land, and slain your people. 'May
the
descendants of evildoers nevermore be named! Prepare slaughter for
his sons because of the guilt of their fathers, lest they rise and
possess the earth, and fill the face of the world with
cities.'"
(Isaiah 14:12-22) (Paraphrased KJV)
From Ezekiel we have
additional light on one of the greatest of the
angels and his first estate in the garden of God,
"Moreover
the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'Son of man, take
up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'Thus says
the Lord God; you were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom,
and
perfect in beauty. You were in Eden the garden of God; every
precious
stone was your covering, carnelian, topaz, and the diamond, beryl,
onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and lapus lazuli, and gold;
and
wrought in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day
that you were created they were prepared. "You were the
anointed
guardian cherub who covers (guards), and I placed you there. You
were
upon the holy mountain of God; you walked in the midst of the
stones
of fire.
"You were blameless in your ways from the day that
you were created,
until iniquity was found in you. In the abundance of your trade
you
were filled with violence, and you sinned: so I cast you as
profane
from the mountain of God. And I have destroyed you, O covering
(guarding) cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your
heart
was lifted up because of your beauty, you corrupted your wisdom
because of your splendor: I cast you to the ground, I exposed you
before kings, that they might feast their eyes on you. You have
defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities, in
the
unrighteousness of your trade. Therefore I have brought forth fire
from the midst of you, it consumed you, and I have turned you to
ashes on the earth in the sight of all those who see you. All who
know you among the peoples are appalled at you: you have come to a
dreadful end, and shall be no more forever." (Ezekiel
28:1-19)
(Paraphrased KJV)
Lucifer, the "Light-Bearer"
"Lucifer" is sometimes known as the "light
bearer"---very possibly
the very high angel who had stewardship over light, energy and
power
in the old creation. As the "anointed guardian Cherub" in the
garden
of God (a place in the heavenlies corresponding with the garden in
Eden on earth), he may well have had enormous power and influence
over the entire angelic host. In the New Testament, Paul warns
that
he sometimes comes among men disguised as an angel of light
(through
false teachers and also as a giver of deceptive visions). In fact,
he
has now become the Prince of Darkness. Lucifer may have been
originally God's appointed watch guard over the forces of nature;
for
example, he could have been in charge of such physical phenomena
as
the propagation of light. I believe it is quite possible that the
observed decrease in velocity of light over time might have begun
when Satan fell. {See separate files on the velocity of light]
It
is certainly appropriate for Christians to reexamine the entire
visible, created universe and look for evidences of the
destructive
work of Satan since his fall, as there is no doubt from scripture
that the Evil One has wrought havoc not only in man and society,
but
also in nature. In league with Satan are a third of the angels he
has
succeeded in turning away from serving God.
We usually
think of Satan as responsible for the fall of man, our
present fallen, mortal state as children of Adam. We think of the
devil as the tempter and the enemy of our souls. But in addition
to
these roles he seems to have had some important place as
"prime
minister" in God's government of the physical universe. The
universe
we now live in has been damaged by the fall of man and the angels---
it is now a dying old creation, subject to the degenerative
principle
known in physics as the "Second Law of Thermodynamics."
Biblically
speaking this is referred to in Romans,
"I consider that
the sufferings of this present time are not worth
comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the
creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of
God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own
will
but by the will of him who subjected it in hope; because the
creation
itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the
glorious liberty of the children of God. We know that the whole
creation has been groaning in travail together until now; and not
only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of
the
Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the
redemption of our bodies." (8:18-23)
This passage links the
redemption of the believer's physical body
with the unveiling of a whole new creation which God has already
prepared for those who love him.
That Ancient Serpent
Satan is given a number of titles and descriptors in the Bible. He
is "the prince of this world (cosmos, the world system),"
"the prince
of the power of the air," "the god of this age (aion),"
"the prince
of demons," "the devil," "that ancient
serpent," "the great red
dragon," "the evil one," "the destroyer,"
"the tempter," "the accuser
of the brethren," "the spirit that now works in the sons
of
disobedience," "a liar and a murderer from the
beginning," "the
deceiver."
Satan's actual power over the world can
be seen in the offers he made
to Jesus during the latter's 40 days' temptation in the
wilderness,
recorded in Matthew, Chapter 4. Satan is the ruler over fallen
angels, (believed to number one-third of the angelic host
according
to Revelation 12:4). He is the opposer of God's Person; the
counterfeiter of truth, "the deceiver of nations".
Everything
Satan does he must do by direct permission of God, as the
book of Job clearly shows, so it is not as if there were two
warring
gods, one good and the other evil, (a philosophy known as
"dualism").
The devil is a defeated enemy, his evil plan and power were undone
by
the work of Jesus on the cross though we wait in our time for his
final defeat and removal from the heavens and the earth, by
Michael
the Archangel. If we look at circumstances around us it seems he
is
winning and gaining ground unchecked. If we open our Bibles,
however,
his defeat is spoken of repeatedly as an already accomplished
fact.
Christians have no need to fear the devil, although we are warned
by
Peter,
"Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil
goes around like a
roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. Resist him, firm in your
faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required
of
your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered
a
little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his
eternal
glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen
you." (1 Peter 5:8-10)
These notes on the angels are brief
and sketchy---the reader is
encouraged to become well acquainted with all of Scripture and to
read classic Christian books on spiritual warfare and angelology
to
gain a better understanding of the role of good and fallen angels
in
creation. Difficult though it is for us to grasp, the laws of
physics
are apparently not operative apart from the angels who are part of
the management system of God's government of creation. Just how
angelic activity affects events in the physical world is not known
to
science, nor is much revealed in the Bible. Actual transfer of new
energy from the spiritual dimension into the physical may not
necessarily be involved most of the time when angels act---since
such
energy transfers would most likely appear to us to be violations
of
the laws of conservation of energy. Such violations do not occur
as
far as science can detect. Another way of stating this is to say
that
God works within the laws of nature which He has established and
most
of the time does not circumvent these laws. It goes without saying
that the discussion of various types of miracles is a complex
subject
in theology.
Angels and Cosmic Warfare
In connection with a computer conference I took part in some years
ago between a group of individuals concerning the interesting
geological history and some unusual surface features of the planet
Mars, I spend an exciting few hours quizzing Ray Stedman on the
role
of the angels in the universe. Ray suggested as a matter for
"the
sanctified imagination" that we could consider the
possibility
perhaps that Mars had once been attacked by fallen angels during
an
early-history war between the angels. The purpose of such an
hypothesized angelic war involving Mars and other planets might
have
been to prevent the birth of the Savior of mankind whose coming
was
foretold in the Bible as early as Genesis, Chapter 3. The earth
has
been central to God's plan for the redemption of mankind. On no
other
planet did Christ become incarnate, and no where else did He die.
It
is not inconceivable, therefore, that the other planets were once
angelic "watchposts" guarding the earth. Satanic attempts to
destroy
the earth through angelic warfare following his fall could have
reduced all the planets (except earth), to ruined, desolate,
barren
worlds. This is an admittedly unusual speculation but would serve
to
illustrate yet another of the devil's attempts to prevent the
redemption of man. From scripture we do know that good and fallen
angels war against one another, evidently using powerful weapons
rather than mere swords of steel. We would expect such mighty
creatures, with such vast influence, to have weaponry in advance
of
that imagined by our government's proposed Space Defense
Initiative,
and even beyond the imaginative concepts raised for our sci-fi
entertainment in programs such as "Star Trek" and "Star
Wars."
Evil Angels Thwart The Work Of God And His Messiah
The curse on the serpent in Genesis is described as perpetual
enmity
between the godly line of Eve and the enemy of mankind, Satan:
"I
will put enmity between you and the woman (God says to the
serpent) and between your seed (the Antichrist) and her seed (the
Messiah); he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his
heel."
(Genesis 3:15)
After Cain murdered Abel, another son, Seth, was
born to Eve. This
begins the godly line of promise leading to Jesus. Matthew's
Gospel,
Chapter One, picks up this genealogical line from Abraham to
Joseph
showing that Jesus was the rightful legal heir to the throne of
Israel on Joseph's side, but rightful blood heir on Mary's side
also.
Luke's Gospel, which records the line of Mary goes all the way
back
to Seth.
A systematic Old Testament study of the line of promise
vividly shows
that Satan has made numerous attempts to permanently interrupt
this
line so that the qualified Messiah, Jesus, would never be born and
thus no legitimate heir would ever come to Israel and mankind.
Reading the Old Testament accounts that center around the godly
line
of ancestors of Jesus shows that Satan made many attempts, some
almost successful, to destroy or interrupt the coming of the
promised
seed of the woman. To cite two examples: Athaliah, daughter of
Jezebel tried to wipe out the royal line, but young prince Joash
escaped by the grace of God (2 Kings 11:1). Herod the Great (d. 4
BC), upon hearing of the birth of Jesus from the wise men of the
east, murdered all the male infants in Bethlehem under 2 years of
age
(Luke, Chapter 2); however, having been warned by an angel, Joseph
had already fled into Egypt with Mary and Jesus, where they
remained
for several years in a part of Old Cairo still known today.
Even
during the life of Jesus, the devil attempted numerous times to
thwart Jesus' primary purpose of becoming a cosmic sacrifice for
the
sins of all the mankind. It was necessary for our Lord to
carefully
plan and orchestrate his three-year public ministry so that He
arrived in Jerusalem precisely on Palm Sunday riding on a donkey
and
presenting Himself as the legitimate heir to the throne of David.
In
doing so, many exact detailed prophecies concerning Him were
fulfilled in minutest detail.
In addition to rescuing lost men,
some theologians believe that Jesus
also "ransomed" lost property and territory belonging to God
from any
claim the enemy may have had upon it, whether those claims were
all
legitimate or not. This concept can be inferred from the broad
scope
of a passage in Colossians,
"He [Jesus] is the image of the
invisible God, the first-born of all
creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on
earth,
visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or
principalities
or authorities---all things were created through him and for him.
He
is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is
the
head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born
from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. For in
him
all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to
reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven,
making peace by the blood of his cross." (Colossians 1:15-19)
The
Temptation of Jesus by the devil recorded in Matthew, Chapter 4
is illustrative of the promises Satan made to Jesus if the latter
would but renounce his dependence upon the Father and bow before
the "god of this world." If the four Gospels are read with
this theme
in mind, the enemy's desperate stratagems can be seen on every
page.
Fortunately for us, all the enemy's wily attempts to thwart the
plan
of God have been and will be unsuccessful!
We ought not to
forget that as far as we are concerned here on earth
that Satan's hatred and war against the Jews goes on more than
ever
in our time---in ever-renewed anti-Semitism around the world, and
especially attacks of all kinds against the emerging State of
Israel,
which is to become God's showpiece nation on the stage of history.
War
In Heaven---Satan cast down to Earth
Satan's last attempt to rule the universe and overthrow God and
His
kingdom occurs on earth, not in outer space. Scripture speaks of
many
antichrists who oppose Jesus and counterfeit His claims, but there
is
to be THE final Antichrist, the "man of sin" who will one day
take
charge of our world under one world government having full and
economic controls. As part of His plan, God has determined to
allow
evil to run its full course on earth. Antichrist is to be an
incarnation of Satan so that he, the Evil One, will fully possess
and
indwell one unique man in history more than he has ever done
before
in history. [Those unfamiliar with the relevant scriptures should
read Matthew 24-25, 2 Thessalonians 2, and Revelation 13, as well
as
the Book of Daniel].
Revelation 12 includes a description of the
throwing down of the
devil to earth in a yet-future time (as introduced above) which
will
result in the greatest conflagration our planet has ever seen.
This
last war, which will involve all of mankind and very nearly
destroy
the entire human race, will begin in space (i.e., in the heavenlies).
It will be a gigantic, unprecedented event in the annals of
angelic
warfare. The battle is fought by the archangel Michael and his
thousands of unfallen angels:
"And a great portent appeared
in heaven, a woman (Israel) clothed
with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a
crown
of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs
of
birth, in anguish for delivery.
"And another portent
appeared in heaven; behold, a great red dragon,
with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems upon his heads.
His
tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven, and cast them to
the
earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear
a
child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth;
she
brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with
a
rod of iron, but her child (Jesus and His Body the church) was
caught
up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the
wilderness,
where she has a place prepared by God, in which to be nourished
for
one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
"Now war
arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the
dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were
defeated
and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the
great
dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the
Devil
and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world---he was thrown down to
the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
"And I
(John) heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, 'Now the
salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the
authority
of his Christ (Messiah) have come, for the accuser of the brethren
has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our
God.
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by their
testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
"Rejoice then, O heaven and you that dwell therein (the church)!
But
woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in
great wrath, because he knows his time is short!' And when the
dragon
saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the
woman
who had borne the male child. But the woman was given the two
wings
of the great eagle that she might fly from the serpent into the
wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time,
and
times, and half a time (3.5 years). The serpent poured water like
a
river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with the
flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth
opened its mouth and swallowed the river which the dragon had
poured
from his mouth. Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went
off to make war on the rest of her offspring (the believers who
come
out of the tribulation period), on those who keep the commandments
of
God and bear testimony to Jesus." (Revelation 12:7-17)
A Vision of Israel's History and Destiny
The above scriptures give us with a vision which has significance
in
the light of ancient, uncorrupted Hebrew astrology. Like many
visionary, apocalyptic images in the Bible this picture is outside
of
time. The woman is Israel and the child is Jesus. This passage of
scripture suggests to us that one-third of the angels fell along
with
Satan and became instruments of evil. After sketching out in a few
brief words the entire 2000-year history of ancient
Israel---depicted
as a woman crowned with 12 stars representing the 12 tribes---the
vision moves swiftly from the birth of Jesus to His ascension into
the heavenly places 40 days after His resurrection. (Ray Stedman
notes that the rapture of the church is implied in this passage---
because Jesus has joined himself to His body, the church, and
where
the Head of the church is, there the Body is also).
Revelation
12 continues to describe the plight of the woman in the
end-times (yet to come) when the small faithful remnant of
believing
Israel is forced to flee to Petra in Jordan to survive the ravages
of
a Great World War which will center in Israel. There, in the
wilderness east and south of Jerusalem, Jesus will return to this
faithful remnant, then appear in power and glory to conclude the
battle of Armageddon. Isaiah 63 describes this return of Jesus
first
to Edom and Revelation 19:11ff, His coming in open splendor before
the entire world to save a remnant of mankind from total self-
destruction and to restore our broken planet.
The Last War: Men against God
The Bible has much to say about this final war. It begins with an
invasion of the Holy Land by Egypt (Daniel 11: 36-45) and is
followed
by a full invasion by Syria/Russia (Ezekiel 38, 39). Other Old
Testament prophets such as Joel, Isaiah, Zechariah, and Zephaniah
add
to our understanding of these events. The Olivet Discourse by
Jesus
(Matthew 24, 25) concentrates on these final events as they will
be
experienced by the Jews living in Israel at the time of the end
when
the Third Jewish Temple has been built, dedicated, and is
functioning. The invading Northern armies and their threat to
Israel
is met at first by the Western powers: sending landing forces into
Israel, probably at the sea port of Haifa. The armies from the
North
are, however, destined to be destroyed, by direct intervention of
God. Nuclear warfare seems to play a part in the conflagration
because "fire rains down on the coastlands" according to
Ezekiel. The
coastlands are the continents, where mankind spread after the
Tower
of Babel confusion of languages (Genesis 10-11).
The Coming Invasion of Jesus and His Angels
The early campaigns of Armageddon will pit the armies of earth
against one another. A great horde of troops from China, Japan and
the Far East will evidently join in, according to the descriptions
given us in the Book of Revelation. In the later stages
(coinciding
with the throwing down of Satan from space to earth by the
archangel
Michael), the war between men on earth will apparently become a
united attempt to thwart the approaching space armies of Jesus.
That
is, human military and political leaders under Antichrist will
unite
to fight against Jesus returning to earth with His mighty armies
of
the heavenly hosts. Although the armies of the world meet on the
Plains of Sharon (Esdraelon) in Israel to fight against one
another,
during the course of this terrible war their generals suddenly
realize that this war is not really against one another but
against
the Lord of hosts and his armies:
"And I saw the beast and
the kings of the earth with their armies
gathered to make war against him who sits upon the horse and
against
his army." (Rev. 19:19)
Viewed from earth, the returning of
Jesus to earth in a cloud of
glory will no doubt be seen by the last generation of evil men as
an
invasion of "enemy aliens" from outer space. Earth's final
leaders
will be men who have been fully and successfully deceived by
Satan.
God is fallen man's ultimate enemy, and sad to say, most men hate
God
more than anyone else in the final analysis.
Another
illustration of the different timing of events as seen in
heaven compared to earth is seen in Luke 10:18; Jesus said, "I
saw
Satan fall like lightning from heaven." This is a prophetic
passage
from our earthly point of view, but Jesus saw it as happening
"now"
in His frame of reference. As the "Great I AM", Jesus made a
number
of statements in the Gospel of John linking His oneness with
Yahweh
and His (Jesus') unique relationship with the Father. In several
instances, His perception that He was fully aware of eternity (as
none of us are) while He was on earth are evident from the things
He
said.
Planets Devastated by Angelic Wars?
To speculate a bit further, perhaps there is some reason to
suppose
that Mars was the site of an ancient angelic "war" which was
part of
a great Satanic plan to destroy the line of Eve that would lead to
Messiah and to establish his (Satan's) own total and final
dominion
over mankind. One of the mysteries in the geophysics of the
planets
is that most cratering on the moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars seems
to
have occurred early in the history of these bodies. "Early
bombardment" seems to have decreased greatly after about a
billion
years or so of radio-clock time had elapsed. If there were an
angelic
war on Mars long ago (and this of course is only speculation), it
seems to us that it was not limited to Mars, but quite likely
involved Venus and at least Mercury and the moon as well. Some
have
even wondered if the asteroid belt beyond Mars is indeed all that
is
left of a planet destroyed in an ancient war. A possible modified
model of the solar system is this: All the planets (not just
earth)
were created "good;" that is, in pristine,
"inhabitable" condition,
but all except earth have been drastically altered by the angelic
wars of eons past. Angelic warfare has never ceased since the fall
of
Lucifer, and angelic wars are not over yet. This "threat from
the
heavens" is still with us, so we not only have the dim, ancient
past
to worry about; we have our own future to be ready for.
Even
though the hypothetical "war on Mars" (that is, an early
geological disaster on Mars) appears to have occurred millions of
years ago, this is a date measured in atomic clock time. According
to
Barry Setterfield and others, the true age of the universe is
apparently less than 8000 years because of the decreasing velocity
of
light. This implies that the radioactive clock run rate has slowed
by
as much as a factor of 10 million times with respect to dynamical
clock of history. In this speculative model, radical changes on
Mars
could have been initiated by the onset of radioactive decay rates
at
the fall of man, or by collision with a comet, or by events
connected
in some way with the flood of Noah. Mars gives evidence of a
ruined,
wasted place (as do Venus and Mercury as well). Apparently Mars
and
Venus once had oceans. Mars has now lost its atmosphere and mild
climate and its water is now frozen beneath the surface as ice or
permafrost. Venus now has a dense atmosphere rich in sulfuric
acid,
active volcanoes, and a surface temperature comparable to that of
molten lead. It is thus entirely possible that the solar system is
not in its original created condition, but has been badly damaged
by
the activity of evil angels since the fall of Satan. Likewise, it
is
possible that many astronomical events visible today may not be
events that are part of the original creation, but may be in
reality
destructive disruptions amongst the stars caused by the activity
of
the Evil One. [See Tom Van Flandern's recent book referenced below].
In
several of the Old Testament battles (involving angels) in which
God is said to participate directly, we find descriptions such as
the
throwing down of great 100-pound hailstones from heaven and rains
of
fire and brimstone (sulfur), from heaven. This type of warfare is
what one would expect on the planets if indeed they have been
devastated and wasted by such a galactic, angelic war in the ages
past. None of this speculation about ancient space wars can
be "proven" from the Bible nor at present from scientific
evidence
but at least the Bible does not exclude such a possibility. [I
hope
readers will take these matters as highly speculative and not as
gospel truth that can be proved from either science or from the
Bible].
The return of the Shekinah Glory
Ezekiel the prophet assigned to the Jewish remnant in the
Babylonian
exile, saw the shining presence of the Glory of God, the Shekinah
("the cloud," or "the glory") depart from the Temple
in Jerusalem
just prior to its destruction. This departure occurred in stages,
see
Ezekiel 3:12, 13; 8:4, 9:3, 10:4, 18; 11:22. This same glorious
cloud, into which Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives forty
days
after His resurrection, will come again, for scripture says His
splendrous presence will return to open visibility before all men.
After Messiah's return, the cloud will remain over the Temple
Mount
in Jerusalem, according to Isaiah. Ezekiel also describes the
return
of the Glory to Israel, as does Isaiah,
"Afterward he [an
angel] brought me [Ezekiel] to the [Golden} gate,
the gate facing east. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel
came
from the east; and the sound of his coming was like the sound of
many
waters; and the earth shone with his glory. And the vision I saw
was
like the vision which I had seen when he came to destroy the city,
and like the vision which I had seen by the river Chebar; and I
fell
upon my face. As the glory of the LORD entered the temple by the
gate
facing east, the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me into the
inner
court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple. While
the
man [the angel] was standing beside me, I heard one speaking to me
out of the temple; and he said to me, 'Son of man, this is the
place
of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will
dwell in the midst of the people of Israel for ever. And the house
of
Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their
kings, by their harlotry, and by the dead bodies of their kings,
by
setting their threshold by my threshold and their doorposts beside
my
doorposts, with only a wall between me and them. They have defiled
my
holy name by their abominations which they have committed, so I
have
consumed them in my anger. Now let them put away their idolatry
and
the dead bodies of their kings far from me, and I will dwell in
their
midst for ever.'" (Ezekiel 43:1-9)
Isaiah says,
"In
that day the branch [a title of the Messiah] of the LORD shall be
beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the
pride
and glory of the survivors of Israel. And he who is left in Zion
and
remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, every one who has been
recorded for life in Jerusalem, when the Lord shall have washed
away
the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of
Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit
of
burning. Then the LORD will create over the whole site of Mount
Zion
[the Temple Mount] and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and
smoke
and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory
there will be a canopy and a pavilion. It will be for a shade by
day
from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and
rain." (Isaiah 4:1-6)
An even more familiar passage is
Isaiah 40:
"Comfort, yes comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to
Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her
iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand
double for all her sins. A voice cries: 'In the wilderness prepare
the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our
God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill
be
made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough
places
a plain.
"'And the glory of the LORD shall be
revealed, and all flesh shall
see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.' A voice
says, 'Cry!' And I said, 'What shall I cry?' All flesh is grass,
and
all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers,
the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it;
surely
the people is grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the
word of our God will stand for ever. Get you up to a high mountain,
O
Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O
Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, fear not; say to
the
cities of Judah, 'Behold your God!' Behold, the Lord GOD comes
with
might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him,
and
his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd,
he
will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his
bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.'" (40:1-11)
On
the basis of what is said in scripture, it is quite likely that
more frequent manifestations of angels will be common among men in
coming days as our world continues to collapse and the heavenly
places break through into our realm of space and time. For
example,
the Book of the Revelation begins with a clear distinction
between "things on earth" and "things in heaven";
but as the
Revelation unfolds the invisible is made known to men on earth.
Those
days will not be a time for fear, if (and only if) one's life is
entrusted into the hand of the Great Shepherd, but they will be
terrible indeed for all those who continue in their unbelief. In
the
final days of this age we live in the unseen will break in upon
mankind in overwhelming judgments against human evil, and against
fallen angels. God's New World order, His New Creation will be, at
last, an answer to the most often prayed prayer in the Bible,
"Pray
then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy
name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our
debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors; And lead us not into
temptation, But deliver us from [the] evil [one]." (Matthew 6:9-13)
Concerning
the end of our age, the prophet Joel has written,
"And it
shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit
on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your
old
men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even
upon the menservants and the maidservants, in those days, I will
pour
out my Spirit. And I will give portents in the heavens and on the
earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be
turned
to darkness and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible
day
of the Lord comes. And it shall come to pass that all who call
upon
the name of the Lord shall be delivered..." (Joel 2:28-30)
(Modified
KJV)
Of the angels God says,
"Who makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of
fire..."
Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve,
for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation? (Hebrews 1:7,14)
REFERENCES
1. Almost any book on conservative Christian theology contains a
section on Angelology. Ron Rhodes of the Creation Research
Institute
is the author of an excellent book on the angels. He deals
thoroughly
with the recent explosion of New Age, popular, mythical, and occultic
books on the angels. ( Angels Among Us, Harvest House Publishers,
Eugene, OR, 97402, 1994) The leading Bible encyclopedias are quite
helpful. An older but excellent recent book on the angels is C.
Fred
Dickason, Angels, Elect and Evil (Moody Press; Chicago 1975). The
Apocryphal Books of the Bible (found between the Old and New
Testaments of some Bibles) name a few of the angels not mentioned
in
the inspired portions of scripture. Only one archangel is
specifically named in the Bible, Michael, the guardian angel of
the
nation of Israel. One ancient apocryphal book lists seven
archangels
who stand in the presence of God. They are named as: Uriel,
Raphael,
Raguel, Michael, Sarakiel, Gabriel, and Phanuel.
James
Montgomery Boice describes Satan well (The Snake in the Garden)
in his outstanding commentary on Genesis. (Zondervan, Grand
Rapids,
MI, 1982))
2. Arthur C. Custance has written an outstanding book
on biblical
genealogies. See Noah's Three Sons (Zondervan Publishing; Grand
Rapids, 1975).
3. Concerning the anomalous features on
Mars, see Randolfo Rafael
Pozos, The Face of Mars: Evidence for a Lost Civilization?
(Chicago
Review Press; Chicago, 1986) and Richard C. Hoagland, The
Monuments
of Mars: A City on the Edge of Forever (North Atlantic Book;
Berkeley, 1987).
4. At least two outstanding older studies on
Hebrew astronomy
concerning the ancient constellations known to the Jews and their
significance as a prophetic chart, have been reissued because of
their lasting value: E.W. Bullinger, The Witness of the Stars (Kregel
Publications; Grand Rapids, 1893/1981) and Joseph R. Seiss, The
Gospel in the Stars (Kregel Publications; Grand Rapids, 1882/1982).
5.
The Sourcebook Project of William R. Corliss, PO Box 107, Glen
Arm, MD 21057 is an amazing library of books and references to the
odd and unusual in nature. Compiled from reputable journal
abstracts
and reports, mainly, Corliss has several books of his own in print
and he also stocks rare, unusual and eclectic books on scientific
subjects. Free newsletter.
6. Dark Matter, Missing
Planets and New Comets: Paradoxes Resolved,
Origins Illuminated by astronomer Tom Van Flandern Ph.D. (North
Atlantic Books, Berkeley 1993) presents a radical new approach to
cosmology. The book is full of thought provoking discussions that
ought to be of interest to almost anyone interested in origins and
the early history of the universe, whether or not you end up
agreeing
with him. Tom also publishes a journal, The Meta Research
Bulletin.
Both are available by writing PO Box 15186, Chevy Chase, MD 20825-
5186. Phone (202) 362 9176, FAX (202) 362 8279, email
metares@w...
7. C.S. Lewis has written a marvelous science
fiction trilogy, Out of
the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength which
should
be read by all Christians interested in the creation as a realm of
men and of angels. The first book of the series concerns Mars
which
is found to have been partially devastated by the activity of the
Evil One. Venus, in the second book is as yet an unfallen world,
but
the Tempter is actively trying to bring its downfall. Earth is the
place of greatest darkness and the final battle ground between
good
and evil, in the third book of this trilogy. This last book is
especially close to the Biblical picture concerning Earth as the
center of the universe because it is the place of God's
"universally
effective" redemptive activity and the final battleground where
Satan
is ultimately totally defeated. Even though fictional accounts, C.S.
Lewis is well-known in our time for his profoundly-accurate
perceptions of Biblical reality. On the subject of spiritual
warfare,
see Ray C. Stedman's Spiritual Warfare: Winning the Daily Battle
With
Satan.
8. Highly recommended (not merely as a commentary on the
Revelation)
Ray C. Stedman's, God's Final Word: Understanding Revelation, has
many helpful insights into the angels and God's working in human
affairs. (Discovery House, Grand Rapids, 1991)
9. Outstanding recent book: Robert C. Linthicum, City of God, City
of
Satan, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1991. This book is concerned with
ways angelic forces are embedded in our social institutions,
especially in the major cities of the world.
10. Must Reading!
Stephen F. Noll, Angels of Light, Powers of
Darkness, IVP, Downers Grove, IL, 1998. By far the most thorough
and
captivating treatment of the whole subject of angels.
11. Female
Angels? Angels are depicted as male throughout the Bible
with one puzzling exception: ...I [Zechariah] lifted my eyes and
saw,
and behold, a flying scroll! And he said to me, "What do you
see?" I
answered, "I see a flying scroll; its length is twenty cubits,
and
its breadth ten cubits." Then he said to me, "This is the
curse that
goes out over the face of the whole land; for every one who steals
shall be cut off henceforth according to it, and every one who
swears
falsely shall be cut off henceforth according to it. I will send
it
forth, says the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the
thief, and the house of him who swears falsely by my name; and it
shall abide in his house and consume it, both timber and
stones."
Then the angel who talked with me came forward and said to me,
"Lift
your eyes, and see what this is that goes forth." And I said,
"What
is it?" He said, "This is the ephah that goes forth." And
he
said, "This is their iniquity in all the land." And behold,
the
leaden cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting in the ephah!
And he said, "This is Wickedness." And he thrust her back into
the
ephah, and thrust down the leaden weight upon its mouth. Then I
lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, two women coming forward! The
wind was in their wings; they had wings like the wings of a stork,
and they lifted up the ephah between earth and heaven. Then I said
to
the angel who talked with me, "Where are they taking the ephah?"
He
said to me, "To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it; and
when
this is prepared, they will set the ephah down there on its
base."
(Zechariah 5)
Angels in heaven do not marry (Matt. 22:30)
but they may not be
sexless beings. See Notes on the Nephilim.
2nd Peter 3:8 But do not forget this one thing
dear
friends, that with the lord a day is like 1000yrs
and
1000yrs as one day.
According to the findings of David Reid, a
scientist
and a good Christian.
If a space craft were to be traveling around the
earth
at nearly the speed of light and the astronauts
beam
their video cameras on the earth. Four days of
earth's
activities will be recorded in One of the
spaceship's
seconds.
This was realized according to Peter's
realizations
in
2peter 3:8.
ALSO IF WE WERE TO CONSIDER THE RATE AT WHICH MAN
HAS
BEEN PROGRESSING IN SPEED FOR SPACE FLIGHT.
AS A STRAIGHT LINE GRAPH STARTING FROM 1900, WITH
ORVILLE AND WILBUR WRIGHT.
It will reveal space time travel at the speed of
light
at about the year 2018! WE ARE NEARER TO TRAVELING
AT
THE SPEED OF LIGHT THAN WE THINK WE ARE.
TH/TE = 365000
TH = time in heaven
TE = time on earth.
Time travels on earth much faster than it does in
heaven.
Let us look at the rapture .
According to the book of revelations the trumpet
God
will sound then the dead in Christ shall arise
and we all will be caught up with them to meet the
lord
in the air. However there are there schools of thought to the
great
tribulation.
1 Pre-tribulation
2 post-tribulation
3 mid-tribulation believers
I want to look at the first two.
According to the pre-tribulation believers. We will
be caught up before the great tribulation. We will
spend
and equivalent of 7 earth years in Heaven!@
Now boy that is an tremendously long period of
time. According to our equation 7 earth yrs in
heaven
is
2,555,000 yrs. About 2.5 million years.
Okay let us compare that with the truth.
According
to
the bible and Jewish customs a wedding ceremony
takes
seven full days to complete. That creates some
kind
of
in consistency and does not meet prophetic
standards.
Then the second school of thought The
post-tribulation. The belief will get the Christian
whose picture of Christianity, is Fun all the way,
itchy.
The belief is that we will be on earth till the
sounding of the seventh trumpet. Which is indeed
the
trump of God. Revealations11:15. Basically this will
release the wrath of God into the world- the thing
that is to be feared about the whole tribulation. The saints will
escape this , why you may ask?
and how?
Once that trumpet sounds we will be seen with the Lamb
as the lord enters to take over the earth.
The big question then is when will the wedding take
place , I mean the 7 day wedding!
Any way this is the BIGGIE once the trumpet sounds
the
lord will be revealed wall the saints in heaven.
Also
this will take 1.6 earth seconds .By our equation
1.6
earth second is equivalent to 7 days in heaven! So the question
stand , wouldn't the whole Christian
race be wiped out by then , since the beast will be
given freedom.
The bible declares that there will be the greatest
release of the power of the holy ghost in t5host
days, like never before.
So get ready fo the greatest faith adventure of
all
time.
