Author: Isabella Rosa
March 4, 2019
The early parts of our lives were spent on downloading information into our subconscious minds that created a world of mass deception and behavior control. Vaulting, sing a longs, with purple dinosaurs; repetitive counting; with soft plushy Dracula, to escaping near disaster with an astute talking bunny. All in which, to promote diversified thinking patterns that collaborate one to another across cultural and financial backgrounds. Suffice it to say, love for an alternate reality continues to alleviate ones mundane everyday existence. Meanwhile, as we reach for a familiarity and likeness to things less scary-we are absolutely misconceived when it comes to the topic of Angels. According to Grudem (2017), “For centuries, angels have been portrayed as beautiful humans with wings and glowing light, complete with halos, harps, and flowing white gowns.” Not missing the opportunity to incorporate false depictions of angels, they have been tied into traditional pagan holidays such as Christmas and Valentine’s Day. However, what does the Bible say about these angelic beings?
According to Grudem (2017), “Ezekiel and Revelation speak of other kinds of heavenly beings known as “living creatures” around God’s throne (Ezekiel 1:5–14, Revelation 4:6–8). They appeared like a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle, representing various parts of God’s creation (wild beasts, domesticated animals, human beings, and birds). They, too, worship God continually: “Day and night they never cease to sing, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’” (Revelation 4:8).” And here, Angels frequently appear as messengers in the Bible, traveling from place to another as in Luke 1;19, 26 and 27 which reads, “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin . . . and the virgin’s name was Mary” (Luke 1:26–27). Grudem (2017) also points out the presence of Angels in Daniel 10:12–14, “The fact that angels are not omnipresent is made explicit when an angel comes to Daniel and says: “I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, so I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia and came to make you understand what is to befall your people in the latter days.” Grudem 2017 makes a strong case for his argument by stating, “If angels were omnipresent, Michael wouldn’t have “came to help” because he would’ve already been there, and this angel wouldn’t need to leave Michael to bring this message. Unlike God, who is omnipresent, angels are finite creatures, limited to one place at one time.” Genesis 2:1 gives us a good idea of the time the host of Heaven were also created, which reads, “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them” 2 Peter 2:11 alerts us to the abilities of Angels, stating, “They are certainly “greater in might and power” than humans.” Psalm 103:20 tells us, “Angels are called “mighty ones. And in Matthew 22:30 Jesus proclaims, “That in the resurrection people “neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven” ” Daniel 10:13 gives tells of his experience with angels, he says, “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.” Revelation 12:7–9 gives us an account of the events going on in the Heavenly places, it states, “7 and there was a war in heaven Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,8 and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.9and the great ragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth; and his angels were cast out with him.
Although, one of the most important roles of angels is to praise and glorify God, let’s take a look at Isaiah 6:3 which says, “And one called out to another and said, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.’ And Revelation 5:11 further tells us, “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands.” Nonetheless, God have also extended tasks to His particular Angels to carry out specific duties, govern and maintain God’s perfect Will for Mankind. According to Carrico and Pounders (2018), “As told in our Holy Bible and the Book of 1st Enoch, there are 7 archangels that are sent out to Governs over all the Earth with specific “Restraining” abilities to hold back the forces of darkness.” Daniel 10:20-21 (kjv)”20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come, 21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.”
Also Carrico (2018) share with us the tasks given to the first of the7 archangels from 1st Enoch 20: 2 which reads, “ and there are the names of the holy angels who watch , Uriel, one of the holy angels who is over the world and over Tartarus (hell).” Carrico goes on to say, “2nd Peter translate Tartarus as Hell. It reads, “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgement.” And over other evil hellion spirits such as in Luke 8: 30-31 which reads, “30 And Jesus asked him, saying, what is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. 31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.”
The second of the 7 archangels is Raphael, one of the holy angels, who is over the spirits of men and also is said to have bound Azazel (1Enoch 20”4-5).His name Rapha means to heal or healer Carrico and Ponders (2018) gives a Biblical example of the restrainer Raphael’s tasks from Genesis 11: 6-7 reads, “6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” Carrico also gives us an account of the tasks of Raphael from the 1st book of Enoch chapter 80: verse 1 which tells us, “and those days the angel Uriel answered and said to me, “Behold, I have shown thee everything, Enoch, and I have revealed everything to thee that thou should of see this sun and this moon, and the leaders of the stars of the heavens and those who turn t hem, their tasks and times and departure.”
The third of the 7 archangels is Rageul, one of the holy angels who take vengeance on the world of the luminaries. Rev 9: 1-6 tells us, “And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. 5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. 6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.”
The Fourth of the 7 archangels is Sarquel, one of the holy angels who is over those who sin in the spirit. An example of the given task can be seen in Colossians 2:20 (KJV), “20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances” The word rudiments as explained by Carricco (2018) refers to the elemental spirits.
The Fifth of the 7 archangels is Michael, one of the holy angels to with he that is set over the best parts of mankind (Gods Remnant), and over chaos. Daniel 12:1 (KJV) tells us, “12 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book” and Galatians 6:14-16 (KJV) 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.”
The Sixth of the 7 archangels is Gabriel, one of the holy angels who are over paradise, serpent and the Cherubim {Ezekiel’s vision (Ezek. 1). Cherubim had an extraordinary appearance with four faces—that of a man, lion, ox, and eagle. They had four wings and feet like a calf, gleaming like burnished bronze}. Genesis 3:24 (KJV) gives an account of the task appointed by God to Gabriel it says, “24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim’s, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”
The Seventh of 7 archangels is Ramael, one of the holy angels who is over the guardian angels and restrains the powers of evil.
In conclusion, Angels are profoundly engrossed in man’s salvation in Jesus Christ our lord and Savior. They are judiciously discerning God’s multifarious acumen ever so astute as the unraveling of His perfect design of redemption. I am in agreement with Grudem (2017) as he points out the proceeding scriptural accounts of angelic servitude and rejoice toward Salvation through the blood of Christ; Rev. 5:8-14, angels, accompanied by the twenty-four elders (representatives of the church), direct their praise toward God’s gracious work of salvation through the Lamb in view of His worthiness to open the seven seals. He alone is found worthy to open the seven-sealed book and break its seals (Rev. 5:1).”