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Angels and the Sons of God
By Mahlon Wickey, September 2013
The belief in supernatural spirit beings known as "angels" is a major part of the Christian faith and holds a certain fascination for millions of Christians, and this belief and fascination on angels has been a Christian tradition for many centuries. It is believed that angels are IMMORTAL spirit beings created by God to serve in the government of God. But it is also generally believed that a third of the angels REBELLED against the government of God in the far distance past, and these angels became known as "fallen" angels. But it is NOT explained WHY an all-knowing and all-powerful God in TOTAL control of His creation would create angels to serve Him (and Him ONLY) to have the potential to rebel against Him! Our churches confess that this angelic rebellion was AGAINST the WILL of God, which would mean that the WILL of these angels OVERPOWERED the WILL of an all-powerful God! But our churches obviously believe in this insanity! All things are POSSIBLE with an all-powerful God, so why didn’t God PREVENT this rebellion to keep His (yes, HIS) angels from going to the "dark side"?
Our churches of course have the "answer" as to why God did NOT use His POWER to intervene and put a STOP to this so-called angelic rebellion. Our churches explain that God created what is known as "free will" in these powerful angels so that they would be FREE on their own to PROVE their loyalty to their Creator without the Creator CAUSING that choice. This is WHY (it is believed) an all-knowing and all-powerful God did NOT violate the "free will" choice of these angels to REBEL against Him. Our churches believe that angelic beings (and also HUMAN beings) must be FREE from any CAUSE that would "force" them to either rebel or serve God, and this is WHY (it is believed) God NEVER intervenes in the choices of angels and mankind. This would mean that an all-powerful God has "tied His own hands" to be powerless to PREVENT evil and rebellion! Carefully read the links "Freewill" and "Sovereignty" on my web sites.
Many Christians believe these "fallen" angels became "devils" and "unclean spirits" that Christ had to "cast out" from many afflicted people. The Pharisees of Christ’s day believed these devils and unclean spirits were REAL spirit beings, and many Christians therefore believe WHAT the Pharisees believed! But this article will NOT address the subject of devils and unclean spirits, so carefully read the link "Devils" on my web sites.
This article will be only on the subject of so-called angels and the sons of God, and I want to say "right up front" that I do (yes, I DO) believe in angels simply because the term "angel(s)" is used very many times in our Bibles, as we all know. But I do NOT believe so-called angels rebelled against God, and I also do NOT believe they are immortal spirit beings as taught by our churches. I believe there is an INSPIRED obvious "mystery" about angels that our "natural" minds cannot understand, and it could be that God wants the truth on angels to be HIDDEN during this evil deceptive age for a GODLY purpose. This article will present what I personally have come to believe on angels, and the possible solutions to this obvious "mystery" on so-called angels.
The traditional Christian viewpoint on angels is BASED on what the Bible "supposedly" explains about angels, and when millions of Christians read about the angels in their Bibles they "naturally" ASSUME they are powerful immortal spirit beings. But does the Bible TRULY explain so-called angels in that way and manner? We shall see.
First of all, the term "angels" is NOT found in Rotherham, Concordant Literal Version, and Young’s Literal Translation, but there could be other Bibles that also do NOT use the term angel(s). As we all know, our Bibles are simply translations of the original words found in the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. So the final authority on the TRUTH of any theological subject such as "angels" and the "sons of God" HAS to come from the original words of scripture. Many Bible students are aware that our translated Bibles do not and CANNOT accurately convey the INSPIRED meanings of the original scriptures. Therefore certain statements in our Bibles should NOT be taken "literally", or what certain statements "appear" to be saying (if you know what I mean). But of course, our Bibles POINT to the TRUTH of the original scriptures, but careful sincere study is required to unravel certain truths and the obvious "mystery" on so-called angels.
The term "angel" (H4397 and G32) simply means "messenger" (authorized by God) that could be applied to MEN, as explained by both the Hebrew and Greek meanings. If modern Christianity would just "get past" the term "angel" and INSTEAD simply use the term "messenger" all the time, then ANOTHER concept of who or what angels are would be a part of "Christian" thinking. Christians HAVE to confess that "angel" simply means "messenger", but why (yes, WHY) do they assume and believe that these "messengers" (authorized by God) always HAVE to be powerful immortal angelic beings? Here is one example (among several) that MEN "appear" to be supernatural angelic beings….
Acts 1:10 KJV And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
The "Christian" viewpoint on these two men is that they simply were so-called angels. But why didn’t Acts 1:10 just simply say angels if (yes, IF) these two men were indeed so-called angels? The very important point is this; the INSPIRED explanation of WHO these two men were is that they were simply men (yes, MEN), and NOT immortal angels! Why is it so hard for "believers of truth" to simply BELIEVE that maybe God INSPIRED these two MEN to appear in white apparel and to speak the proper INSPIRED words to the apostles?
Another example is in Dan 9:21 in which the angel "Gabriel" was called a MAN, and he was caused to "fly swiftly". The words "fly" (H3286) and "swiftly" (H3288) means to tire, fatigue, and exhausted, and yes, these words could certainly apply to MEN. Immortal spirit beings do NOT get tired and exhausted, so just maybe the translators believed that Gabriel only APPEARED as a man but instead was a REAL spirit being that could "fly swiftly" (but NOT in a Boeing 747)! But is this the SAME man Gabriel that was alive for hundreds of years so he could appear to Zacharias in Luke 1:19? Or was this simply ANOTHER man called "Gabriel" that had a "message" (authorized by God) for Zacharias, and was given power to cause Zacharias to be dumb? The meaning of the name "Gabriel" is of Hebrew origin (H1403) that does INDEED mean "man of God" (yes, MAN of God)!
Some believers ASSUME that the "sons of God" mentioned in Gen 6:2-4 were the angels that sinned spoken of in 2Pet 2:4 and Jude 1:6. But these believers fail to explain WHY Gen 6:2-4 just simply didn’t say "angels"! Angel(s) are mentioned over a hundred times in the Old Testament, but again, (as in Acts 1:10) it is very strange that "angels" was NOT mentioned in Gen 6:2-4 if (yes, IF) the "sons of God" were indeed so-called angels.
These "sons of God" took wives "of all which they chose"; which caused the Lord’s Spirit to "strive" with them (H1777); which means to rule, to judge, but also to CONTEND. Gen 6:3 states that the Lord’s Spirit will "not always strive with man for that he also is flesh". What the "sons of God" did caused the MERCY of the Lord’s Spirit to "not always" contend with MAN that "also" (H7945) (on account of) was FLESH; which means that the sons of God were FLESH, and NOT immortal spirit beings!
But IF the sons of God were simply mortal men of Adam’s race WHY did the Lord’s Spirit strive (contend) with them for taking wives of the SAME race? In the eyes of God for whatever reason the sons of God were involved in UNHOLY marriages. My theory is that maybe these MORTAL sons of God were special men used by God for a divine PURPOSE. But for some reason the Lord’s Spirit "contended" with them for marrying "fair" women (H2896); which means "good" women (NOT necessarily beautiful woman), and maybe this divine purpose was NOT designed to be "shared" with GOOD and proper wives which they chose out of the daughters of men.
Some believers also assume that giants came from these unholy marriages, but if you read Gen 6:4 carefully it implies that the giants were in the earth BEFORE these unholy marriages took place because the statement; "and also AFTER that" was used. I take it to mean that AFTER the giants were ALREADY in the earth would of course be before (yes, BEFORE) the sons of God took wives of the daughters of men. The major point is this; AFTER the giants were in the earth was WHEN (the word "when" is used) the sons of God bare children which became mighty and "renown" men. "Renown" (H8034) means a "position" as a mark or memorial given to men of honor, authority, and character; which I do NOT believe were the giants! The term "renown" is also defined by a Google search simply as men of FAME. The term "giants" (H5303) means bullies and tyrants, and is taken from H5307 which means "to fall". It could be explained that these giants were a "fallen" RACE of bullies and tyrants; which could NOT be mighty men of HONOR, authority, character!
Giants (H5303) only occurs twice in the Bible (Gen 6:4 and Num 13:33), and some translations use the term "Nephilim", but the meaning is a mystery. Num 13:32-33 mentions men of "great statue" which were the giants, but they were still a RACE of bullies and tyrants, and NOT men of HONOR!
So where did these giants come from? Could it be that the natural genetic DNA code of certain people somehow "fell" from its natural genetic PURPOSE that produced the unnatural "fallen" race of giants? The natural seed of mankind is INDEED a "corruptible seed" (1Peter 1:23), and it is possible that this corruptible seed can produce defective births, but ALSO very small dwarfs and midges! Therefore it can ALSO produce very LARGE people, and it is possible this is HOW an unnatural race of giants was produced. But the unnatural seed of giants was bred out of existence long ago, and we no longer see giants in today’s world. Some believers also assume that when these unnatural giants died their UNNATURAL spirits became known as "unclean spirits" that are talked about in the New Testament many times that Jesus Christ had to "cast out" of many afflicted people of His day.
Another term for "giants" is H7497, which means in the sense of "invigorating", and H7497 was translated as the "valley of Rephaim" several times, which could be a valley of isolated men in certain regions that might NOT be men of great SIZE, but they could be the invigorated mighty men of "renown" that came from the "sons of God" of Gen 6:4. The term "Rephaim" is defined by a Google search as INDEED referring to residents of a certain region, and this concept is supported by the biblical term, "valley of Rephaim". But these "Rephaim" might NOT be a RACE of bullies and tyrants!
The term, "sons of God" is found eleven times in the Bible, and I personally find no biblical reason to call them anything OTHER than simply "sons of God" (members of the God family). Why do "believers of truth" assume (yes, ASSUME) they can be so-called angels when the scriptures NEVER calls them "angels"? The sons of God of Gen 6:2-4 could simply be called "divine men" that served God in a divine manner. In the New Testament the sons of God referred to MORTAL saints that served God in a divine manner, and to be consistent the sons of God of Gen 6:2-4 would also be MORTAL men.
But for some divine reason these MORTAL "divine men" had UNHOLY marriages that produced "mighty men which were of old; men of renown" (Gen 6:4). But HOW did the children of these "divine men" become mighty and powerful men of honor and fame (renown)? But more important, these "divine men" beget children that were of "old" (H5769); which means concealed vanishing point of past or future time (yes, TIME). But H5769 was translated "for ever" and "everlasting" many times in the Old Testament which we would call eternity; which is a spiritual realm that had NO beginning and has NO ending, and therefore has NOTHING to do with past or future TIME!
So the question is; why was the "vanishing point" of the AGE of these men CONCEALED or unknown, and also what CAUSED these men to become very mighty and powerful with honor and fame? As we all know, the lives and lifestyles of certain men is generally determined by how and what they THINK, believe, and their state of mind. My theory is that maybe the children born of these "divine men" INHERITED a special state of mind and THINKING ability. Keep in mind, the natural LAWS of genetic DNA codes are designed to produce the KIND of living creations "after his kind" (mentioned many times from Geneses to Deuteronomy).
Please understand; these genetic codes are designed to be inherited that can ALSO determine the kind (yes, KIND) of THINKING ability and state of mind of the offspring. So maybe these "divine men" were GIFTED with a SPIRITUAL thinking ability (which was NOT "natural") that had to be concealed from "natural" mankind. But these "divine men" sinned sexually, and maybe their DNA genetically affected the children born of these "divine men" to have a SPECIAL thinking ability and state of mind to become very mighty and powerful men with well respected honor and fame. My theory is that maybe the sons of God of Gen 6:2-4 were simply MORTAL men that sinned by misusing their divine purpose, and therefore they were NOT immortal angels!
The angels of Jude 1:6 also sinned, but they could NOT be "personal" fallen angels that are FREE to "possess" their victims simply because they are kept in chains (restraints) until they are judged, and in 1Cor 6:3 Paul did indeed say that the saints will judge angels (messengers). But HOW can the saints properly (yes, properly) judge angels if (yes, IF) they NEVER were angels (messengers) themselves? That is a very good question!
I believe angels can be explained simply as messengers sent by God to serve mankind with "messages" as NEEDED. But the question that our churches MUST answer is simply this; why (yes, WHY) can so-called angels be biblically called MEN if (yes, IF) they are immortal supernatural spirit beings?
Many believers are convinced that Job 38:6-7 PROVES that the sons of God were IMMORTAL spirit beings known as so-called angels….
KJV Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; (7) When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
But these many believers fail to truly STUDY what Job 38:6-7 is explaining! The term, "foundations" (H134) simply means "strength", but it is taken from H113 that could be explained as "sovereign rule", and was translated as "lord" and "master" in the Old Testament over 300 times!
Now notice what Isaiah 28:16 explains....
KJV Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
All that these many "believers of truth" have to do is read and BELIEVE Isaiah 28:16 to know what Job 38:6-7 was talking about! I believe that both these scriptures POINTED to the sovereign rule of Jesus Christ as Lord and Master, and also as the chief "corner stone" that is mentioned in Eph 2:20 and 1Peter 2:6. But since Isaiah 28:16 is generally ignored these "believers of truth" ASSUME that Job 38:6-7 was talking about WHEN the "foundations" of the EARTH was laid, and of course (it is assumed) that is WHEN all the immortal angels "shouted for joy". No, I believe all the MORTAL "sons of God" shouted for joy when they were INSPIRED by God to know of a sovereign rule of a certain Lord and Master, and that He would be the chief "corner stone" of a certain spiritual building of God! No wonder the "morning stars" SANG and all the MORTAL sons of God shouted for joy (yes, SHOUTED for joy) when they KNEW about the FUTURE gospel message!
"Morning star" is a symbolic title given to Jesus Christ (Rev 22:16), and this title is ALSO given to the saints that will have power over the nations (Rev 2:26-28). These saints will "shine" as the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Mat 13:43), and also as the stars "for ever and ever" (Dan 12:3). The term, "for ever and ever" means "times age-abiding and beyond", as explained by the Rotherham Bible. The RULING saints in the kingdom of their Father will ABIDE during the times of a certain AGE and beyond! The major point is; the "morning stars" and the "sons of God" of Job 38:6-7 were simply MORTAL men, and NOT powerful immortal angels!
It is also assumed that the "sons of God" of Job 1:6 and 2:1 were immortal angels that presented themselves before the Lord. But it was ONLY through a priesthood that MORTAL men (yes, MEN) could symbolically present themselves before the Lord, and the Lord could likewise symbolically present Himself. As we all know, there was indeed an established sacrificial system that Job used, and therefore there was ALSO an established priesthood. It could be that these sons of God were simply mortal priests, and the sons of God of Gen 6:2-4 could also have been mortal priests that served in the REAL eternal priesthood of God. The priesthood under Moses was only temporary that represented the REALITY of this eternal priesthood. The MORTAL sons of God during the new covenant were (and are) in training to have an ACTIVE part of this ROYAL eternal priesthood, as explained in 1Peter 2:9.
But wasn’t "Michael" (mentioned several times) a real PERSONAL immortal spirit being? Yes, I do believe (I repeat, I do BELIEVE) that Michael was indeed a real PERSONAL immortal spirit being, but who TRULY was he? Dan 10:13, 21, and 12:1 says that Michael was a PRINCE that stood for the children of Israel. But who TRULY was the prince that stood for Israel? The meaning of a NAME generally describes the nature and character of the person being talked about. The name "Michael" (H4317) is taken from H410 which is traced to mean "who is like God", and also means the strength of the ALMIGHTY. But there were several men named "Michael" in the Old Testament, but the "Michael" mentioned in Daniel was NOT a MORTAL man! So who (yes, WHO) truly "is like God" and has the spiritual strength of the ALMIGHTY, and also who TRULY was a PRINCE to the children of Israel? Michael was NOT only a prince to Israel but he was a GREAT prince that stood for and protected Israel (Dan 12:1). But could this Michael ALSO be the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6), the "Prince of life" (Acts 3:15), the "Prince and Saviour" (Acts 5:31), and the "prince of the kings of the earth" (Rev 1:5)?
Notice Jude 1:9….
KJV Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
What was the problem that called for this symbolic dispute? This so-called "devil" had a LEGAL right to the body of Moses because this so-called "devil" was PERMITTED by God to be IN the heart and mind of Moses for the SAME reason that this so-called "devil" is ALSO permitted (for a divine PURPOSE) to be IN the hearts and minds of all mankind! As we know, Moses witnessed the GLORY of God and this "glory" caused his face and body to "shine", and this was WHY his eyes were not dim and his natural force (vigor) never abated (vanished). This is all explained in Deut 34: 5-7. So when Moses died there HAD to be this symbolic "dispute" with this so-called "devil", and of course it was Michael that WON this dispute! Sure, this so-called "devil" had a legal right to claim the body of Moses, but the "special" body of Moses was TRULY the property of God, and God had to secretly bury the body of Moses.
There is the example of "Satan" ALSO being "rebuked"….
Zech 3:2 KJV And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan;
Notice WHO it was that spoke to Satan, and notice WHO it was that rebuked Satan! It was the LORD Jehovah of the old covenant, but it was ALSO Michael that SPOKE to the "devil" in Jude 1:9. This "devil" and "Satan" are two evil SPIRITS that are a MAJOR part of the thinking process of all mankind. But these two evil spirits are not YET to experience "railing accusation" (evil judging) UNTIL this so-called "devil" and "Satan" have served God’s divine PURPOSE during this evil deceptive age. This is why (yes, WHY) these two evil spirits that function in the hearts of all mankind are ONLY to be rebuked (admonished) (Zech 3:2, Jude 1:9) during this evil deceptive age! Carefully read the link "Satan" on my web sites.
Michael is the only (yes, ONLY) "archangel" (chief messenger) that is mentioned in the entire Bible. So from this premise carefully read 1Thes 4:16….
KJV For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Yes, the Lord himself will shout with the (yes, THE) voice of the ONE archangel (Michael). It does NOT say "AS" the voice of the archangel, which simply means that the voice of the Lord is (yes, IS) the voice of Michael; the ONE and ONLY archangel! 1Thes 4:16 says that the dead "in Christ" shall rise first with (yes, WITH) the VOICE of the ONLY archangel, and also with the symbolic seventh "trumpet" of God. But the ONLY voice that will raise the dead is the VOICE of Jesus Christ (John 5:25), but it will ALSO be WITH the VOICE of the ONE archangel (Michael); which means that the voice of Jesus Christ and the voice of Michael are ONE and the SAME voice! Michael is the "chief angel" and the ONLY divine "messenger" with a divine VOICE which separates and makes Michael different from all other so-called angels. So yes, I will say it; I believe Michael WAS the Lord Jehovah of the old covenant but ALSO the Lord Jesus Christ of the new covenant.
The book of Hebrews mentions angels many times, and these many examples most certainly "imply" that angels are NOT mortal men! But in Heb 13:2 is an example that angels were AMONG the saints, but the saints were UNAWARE of them simply because they looked like ordinary MEN! But were they spirit beings that only appeared as men, or were they mortal MEN that saints were simply unaware that they were "messengers" sent from God? Inspired scripture has to be CONSISTENT, so if (yes, IF) the angels of Heb 13:2 were simply mortal men then from this one example it would mean that ALL examples of angels in Hebrews would HAVE to be mortal men sent as "messengers" from God. Notice Heb 1:7 and 1:14….
1:7 KJV And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire
1:14 KJV Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
This is now the BIBLICAL definition just WHAT and WHO "angels" are! Angels are called spirits which are "ministering spirits". Notice; "who maketh (PRESENT tense) his angels spirits". It does NOT say "made" as in the PAST tense, (some Bibles say, "is making"). This means that these SPIRITS are continually being made when they are NEEDED and given by God to function in the HEARTS of His "ministers". His ministers (G3011) means "public servants" (OPEN to the public) that are also continually being MADE that are called a "flame of fire" since they will judge with the "fire" of God.
Angels are "ministering spirits" IN the hearts of His ministers that are MORTAL saints that are indeed "OPEN to the public" that SERVE the heirs of salvation. So-called angels therefore are NOT immortal spirit beings, but our churches still believe and INSIST that "ministering spirits" are "personal" angelic BEINGS. But notice WHAT Numbers 27:16 is explaining….
KJV Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
The term, "spirits" can be defined as the VITAL principle in (yes, IN) man that determines the character of man. Yes, the LORD is the God of the spirits of all flesh, which means that God owns (yes, OWNS) the spirits of all flesh of mortal mankind! Of course this is NOT talking about the flesh of animals, simply because the flesh of animals functions on the law and power of instinct, but all FLESH of mortal mankind functions on the LAW and POWER of good and evil SPIRITS that are INHERITED. These inherited good and evil spirits were caused by Adam’s sin; which in turn CAUSED the good and evil THOUGHTS of all mankind. This evil world and its governments all function on the THOUGHTS of corrupt mortal men, but these thoughts do NOT "come out of thin air"! They are all CAUSED by the LAW and POWER of good and evil spirits ALREADY in the hearts of all mankind! Yes, good and evil spirits RULE THE WORLD!
But there are ALSO "ministering spirits" (angels) that I believe are NOT inherited, simply because these "special" spirits must be given as determined by an all-knowing and all-powerful God for HIS purpose! "Ministering spirits" (angels) are given by God when they are NEEDED at certain times, and they are the MOST USEFUL of all other "good and evil" spirits because they are "ministering spirits" (angels) that minister (serve) the heirs of salvation with messages that are NEEDED! There are many examples in the New Testament of the terms, "minister(s)" or "ministering" that ALWAYS refers to Jesus Christ or MORTAL saints, but it is very STRANGE indeed that Heb 1:14 is the ONLY example that refers to so-called "angels" that are sent forth to "minister" for them who shall be heirs of salvation. Notice Heb 12:22-23….
KJV But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (23) To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Saints are presently "come" to an "innumerable" company of angels, but notice, they are ALSO presently "come" to the spirits (yes, SPIRITS) of just men made perfect. This could be explained that saints are presently among a company of "ministering spirits" (angels) but ALSO presently among OTHER spirits of just men. The major point is that "ministering spirits" are separate and different from all OTHER "good and evil" spirits that can be made PERFECT. This mixture of good and evils spirits can be MADE into a PERFECT mixture of GODLY spirits. The saints with "ministering spirits" and ALSO other spirits that are made PERFECT are presently in the spiritual country (Sion) and in the spiritual city of the living God.
Notice that these "ministering spirits" (angels) are innumerablE (G3461); which means ten thousand (myriad), or it could also mean an indefinite number. I believe "ten thousand" is a symbolic number (NOT an actual number); which is why the number of angels could be "indefinite". So from a "natural" viewpoint this would mean that the number of angels continually CHANGES. But if (yes, IF) the creation of immortal angels is COMPLETE then the total number of angels would always be the SAME. But if (yes, IF) so-called angels can DIE or be replaced then the number of angels most certainly would be indefinite. I believe the word "innumerable" shows that angels could simply be MORTAL saints that of course CAN DIE, or be disqualified as "messengers" in SERVING the heirs of salvation. Notice Jude 1:14-15….
KJV And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, (15) To execute judgment upon all....
The word "cometh" (G2064) was used ONLY in the PRESENT and imperfect tenses, and this word was used very many times in the New Testament that applied in everyday situations. Therefore when the Lord "cometh" with a myriad (G3461) of His saints does NOT necessarily mean a FUTURE "coming" of the Lord! Carefully read the link "Coming" on my web sites.
Now notice what 2Thes 1:7-8 says….
KJV And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, (8) In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
BOTH Jude 1:14-15 and 2Thes 1:7-8 speak of executing judgment and taking vengeance, therefore BOTH these scriptures DEMAND this question; is it a "myriad" of SAINTS or is it mighty ANGELS that will be with the Lord to execute judgment with "flaming fire" on the ungodly? The BIBLICAL answer is this; saints are angels and angels are saints! They are BOTH the SAME messengers sent and authorized by God to execute judgment by "fire" on the ungodly!
Notice this very interesting scripture….
Act 7:53 KJV Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
The term, "disposition" (G1296) means arrangement or institution, but how (yes, HOW) did Israel TRULY receive the Law of Moses? Israel received the Law of Moses by the arrangement and institution of the MORTAL human priesthood under Moses! It was "ministering spirits" (angels) in the hearts of MORTAL priests instituted by Moses that SERVED the children of Israel with the MESSAGE of the Law of Moses. Acts 7:53 should be a "red flag" for "believers of truth" that happen to believe that IMMORTAL angels SERVED the Law of Moses, and it also shows another major CLUE on just who and what so-called angels are!
The term "angel of the Lord" is found 68 times in our Bibles, but just WHO was TRULY the "chief messenger" with the VOICE of the Lord? There are several "clues" that show that the "angel of the Lord" could very well be Michael; the Lord Jehovah HIMSELF! There is the example in Exodus 3:2-6 that says the "angel of the Lord" was in the midst of the burning bush, but it ALSO says that God (yes, God) called Moses "out (yes, OUT) of the midst of the bush" saying the famous words; "I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob". It was the "angel of the Lord" and ALSO God that spoke to Moses, which would mean they were BOTH the great "I AM"!
Stephen explained this SAME event in Acts 7:30-38. When Moses drew near the burning bush he heard the voice of the Lord which was the voice of the "angel" in the burning bush! This "angel" spoke to Moses ALSO at Mount Sinai, and ALSO with "our fathers", as Stephen explained.
Isaiah 63:7-9 says the Lord was the SAVIOUR of Israel, but it says the "angel of the His presence" ALSO saved Israel! This "angel of his presence" and the Lord Jehovah were the SAME person!
Exodus 14:19-24 explains that an "angel of God" went before and after Israel in the pillar of the cloud, but it was ALSO the Lord that went before and after Israel, and it was the Lord that parted the sea. This "angel of God" and the Lord Jehovah were the SAME person!
But I want to make this point; ALL angels are TRULY "angels of the Lord", but the term could simply mean a "message of the Lord", and the "messenger" could be the Lord HIMSELF since it is the Lord’s OWN message, therefore the Lord would be the "angel of the Lord"! But it is also possible that an "angel of the Lord" could appear in a DREAM or in a VISION, such as the "angel of the Lord" appeared to Joseph in a DREAM to warn him to flee to Egypt (Matt 2:13). But it was TRULY God himself that KNEW of the danger to the young Christ child, and therefore it could have been God HIMSELF as the "messenger" that warned Joseph in a dream, and INDEED it was God HIMSELF that warned the "wise men" in a DREAM not to return to Herod (Matt 2:12).
Luke 2:9-15 mentions the "angel of the Lord" that announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds, and then the "heavenly host" suddenly appeared. I believe this event was a VISION that God provided for the shepherds to actually witness this glorious event of the MESSAGE of the birth of the savior of the world! I believe the "heavenly host" HAD to be a vision, which is WHY this entire event could have been a vision. The term, "heavenly host" (G4756) means the heavenly ARMY; which I believe are saints that are "in heaven". The term, "heaven" (G3772) is an "elevation" (as the abode of God), and Christ and His Father will make their ABODE (G3438) (residence) with the saints that keep Christ’s words (John 14:23). This is the "heavenly host"; the army of God in a spiritual "elevation" called "heaven" (NOT a literal "location")! Notice Mat 22:30….
KJV For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
Those in the resurrection do NOT MARRY because they are no longer FLESH (only FLESH has a sex drive), and are as the angels of God "in heaven" that also are NOT flesh. They are SPIRITS inspired by God AS NEEDED to be USED by saints to SERVE other saints! I believe the angels of God "in heaven" and the ARMY of God are simply saints with Christ and His Father making their ABODE (residence) with them, and are therefore INSPIRED to be "messengers" (angels)!
The term angel(s) is found 75 times (yes, 75 times) in the book of Revelation. Please understand; the entire book of Revelation is a book of SYMBOLS! Every time a "message" was NEEDED there was this "angel" that suddenly appeared and told the apostle John what to write. Or it could simply be explained that Jesus Christ INSPIRED John with 75 "ministering spirits", and EACH spirit came IN the heart and mind of John at the "right moment" with the RIGHT message! The major point is that these ministering spirits were NOT "personal" angelic beings that suddenly appeared BESIDE John and then told John what to write. They were already IN the heart of John, and it was Jesus Christ that INSPIRED the apostle John, therefore Christ did NOT inspire powerful "personal" spirit beings.
What Jesus Christ sent to John were "ministering spirits" (angels) with messages to the seven churches, and the SYMBOLIC events of the entire revelation of Jesus Christ unfolded IN the heart of the apostle John, and he wrote what these "ministering spirits" inspired him to write. I do NOT believe Christ used so-called immortal supernatural angels to REVEAL himself to the seven churches!
Toward the end of John’s writings he might have been "overwhelmed" with all these "ministering spirits" (angels), which might be WHY he wanted to WORSHIP a "ministering spirit" (angel) INSTEAD of worshipping God! Notice this very interesting statement this "ministering spirit" (angel) told John….
Rev 22:9 KJV Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
This so-called angel said "I am thy fellowservant" (G4889); which means "co-slave". John was ALSO a "fellowservant" (co-slave) in the SAME manner as this so-called angel was! But notice, this "ministering spirit" was ALSO of John’s brethren the prophets, and ALSO of the saints that KEEP the sayings of the book of Revelation. This sounds to me like "ministering spirits" (angels) are of (yes, OF) MORTAL saints!
But the question is; WHY has this certain belief in immortal so-called angels been a Christian tradition for many centuries, and WHY are many "believers of truth" compelled to REJECT even the THOUGHT that so-called angels might simply be MORTAL saints that are inspired to USE a "ministering spirit" sent by God with a message to SERVE other saints? From a SPIRITUAL point of view this could be WHY there is an INSPIRED obvious "mystery" about so-called angels simply because some Christians with very sincere hearts would claim this very important status of truly being an ANGEL with a "message" sent from God! You see, the DANGER is that sincere Christians with "swelled heads" would TRULY believe their "messages" would be authorized by God to SERVE the heirs of salvation!
But ONLY God knows WHO His TRUE "messengers" are, and they HAVE to remain UNAWARE to other believers (Heb 13:2), and likewise REAL true "messengers" of God are also UNAWARE that they are REAL true "messengers" authorized by God! This is WHY "angels" (messengers) that MISUSE "ministering spirits" HAVE to be judged (corrected) by other saints in the next age (1Cor 6:3).
The belief in angels as immortal spirit beings is "rock solid" in the hearts and minds of most Christians, and nothing and no one can shake their belief in how they are compelled to believe on angels! Christians in their obvious "sincerity" are compelled to believe EVERY word in their translated Bibles, and in doing so they FAIL to see that translated words are changed words from the original inspired words! They also FAIL to see the "big picture" of the FOREST because they are looking ONLY at the "trees"! The major point is; our bibles nowhere states that angels are immortal spirit beings! But Christians still assume and believe that they are!
In conclusion, of course there are many more examples of "angels" that could be addressed in this article, and I realize that some examples (especially in Hebrews) "imply" that angels are NOT mortal saints! I have stated my theories several times in this article, and I realize that my theories could be wrong. But they are based on what I have personally come to believe on angels, and they are now written in this article for what it’s worth to others. I truly believe with honest sincere study there are enough "clues" BEHIND the translated words in our Bibles that "shines" a different theological "light" on so-called angels than what is commonly believed and taught by most of our Churches!
By Mahlon Wickey September, 2013
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