Assignments of the Angels

Assignments of the Angels:

They have been sent from God to bring messages to certain people - Daniel 9:20-23.

Since Jesus Christ is called "The Word of God" - John 1:1; there were times in the Old Testament when He appeared himself as "The Angel of the Lord" - Exodus 3:2.

Angels were also sent to assist certain people - Acts 12:7-10.

They were sent to protect certain people at particular times - II Kings 6:15-18.

They were also sent to inflict punishment at other times - I Chronicles 21:16.

Angels were assigned to Nations - Daniel 12:1.

Some were assigned to Children - Matthew 18:10.

Angels will be assigned to Churches - Revelation 1:20; 2:8,12,18; 3:1,7,14.

Angels are seen throughout the Book of Revelation executing God's wrath - Rev. 15:1.

They will be used at the second coming of Jesus Christ to gather Israel back to their promised land - Matthew 24:31.

The references to time in the above statements, alluding to the past and future days, such as "were" or "have been" and "will be" are deliberate. Since the Children of Israel were God's people and the heirs of Salvation; angelic ministry is especially associated with that Nation and God's Kingdom blessings promised to them upon this earth. Keep this point in mind as we consider this final question: 

 

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Angels are a Mystery

Even today Angels are a mystery. It appears everybody, just about, has his / her own ideas about angels, despite the fact that there are some things concerning them that most people agree on in general. By way of example, many individuals believe angels have great wings sprouting from their backs. One of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s popular short stories is about a character finding a injured angel with giant wings. I believe this pretty much sums up modern-day society’s notion of angels, not counting their depictions on tv, the movies, along with other forms of the visual arts.
Angels are also generally good. They’re servants of God and played an vital role during the events of the Bible. It’s precisely how we believe angels to be. Angels are good, have on long white robes and perform their services to God. This is what we think about when we think about angels.
However what are Angels, really? Precisely what else is there all of us are unaware regarding angels that the Bible verses are trying to inform us? As it happens, we all know about angels just as much as we do not know about them. We all owe it to ourselves to learn the Bible verses about angels so we can learn more about these mystical beings.
Here are some samples of Bible verses about angels.
Sources within the Old Testament:
“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.” (Judges 13:3)
“But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?” (Kings 1:3)
Sources from the New Testament:
“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15:10)
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39)
Based on the Bible verses, angels are generally God’s messengers. An angel is by no means a glorified human being, and also according to Matthew 22:30 angels do not ever marry or give birth like all of us humans. Moreover historical depictions also demonstrate that angels weren’t always recognized as having wings.
Apparently our perspective regarding angels evolved over time. Yet one thing is definite: angels are real and they exist in the service of the Lord. Within the Holy bible they’re noted 165 times within the New Testament in addition to 108 times within the Old Testament. Continue to examine the Bible verses to discover more about angels and their roles in God’s plan.

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Assignments of the Angels

Assignments of the Angels:

They have been sent from God to bring messages to certain people - Daniel 9:20-23.

Since Jesus Christ is called "The Word of God" - John 1:1; there were times in the Old Testament when He appeared himself as "The Angel of the Lord" - Exodus 3:2.

Angels were also sent to assist certain people - Acts 12:7-10.

They were sent to protect certain people at particular times - II Kings 6:15-18.

They were also sent to inflict punishment at other times - I Chronicles 21:16.

Angels were assigned to Nations - Daniel 12:1.

Some were assigned to Children - Matthew 18:10.

Angels will be assigned to Churches - Revelation 1:20; 2:8,12,18; 3:1,7,14.

Angels are seen throughout the Book of Revelation executing God's wrath - Rev. 15:1.

They will be used at the second coming of Jesus Christ to gather Israel back to their promised land - Matthew 24:31.

The references to time in the above statements, alluding to the past and future days, such as "were" or "have been" and "will be" are deliberate. Since the Children of Israel were God's people and the heirs of Salvation; angelic ministry is especially associated with that Nation and God's Kingdom blessings promised to them upon this earth. Keep this point in mind as we consider this final question:

Do Members of the "Body of Christ" have Guardian Angels?
Paul's epistles are written to the "Body of Christ" which comprises all believers through the "Gospel of the Grace of God" (Jew or Gentile) from the beginning of his special ministry until a future day in which the "Body" (whether asleep in the grave or alive) will be called up into the air to meet our Lord Jesus Christ in the heavens. (Acts 20:24; I Corinthians 12:27; I Timothy 1:12-16; I Thessalonians 4:13-18.)
This church called "The Body of Christ" is a "New Creature" distinct from God's people of Israel who were called "An Holy Nation." The church which is Christ's Body was brought into being for God's secret purpose called "The Mystery" - "Which He kept hid from ages and generations but now is made known..." as Paul writes; "To the intent that now unto the principalities and power in the heavenly places might be made known by the church the manifold witness of God." (Ephesians 1:22,23; II Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; I Peter 2:9; Ephesians 3:1-10)
In other words, God's purpose in saving us today in this "the dispensation of the grace of God" is for the prpose of teaching the angels in heaven, things that even they never knew concerning the many sides of God's wisdom.
Most importantly it teaches the Angels how God's wisdom in the Cross has defeated Satan and openly displays Satan's ignorance as God reveals the triumph of His wisdom and powever over him. (I Corinthians 2:7-9; Ephesians 1:8; Colossians 2:13-15)
In God's grace to us, He is using us to teach the Angels, and He will display us in the Heavens forever to demonstrate to the Angels "the riches of His kindness in His grace toward us" - Ephesians 2:4-7.
Since God's program for us involves teaching the Angels, and since this truth exposes the defeat, failure and doom of the devil and his angels, this truth and those who know it are in a spiritual warfare with "spiritual wickedness in high places" - Ephesians 6:10-12.
The armor God has given us is not "guardian Angels," but is the "truth," "righteousness," "peace," "faith" and "hope" found in our position in Christ. Furthermore, II Corinthians 10:4 tells us that the "weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds." They are not carnal (fleshly), but spiritual, for we do not fight against flesh and blood. Our weapon is spiritual. It is the Word of God.
Therefore Jesus Christ through Paul, his Apostle to us, warns us over and over not to be deceived; nor lured into the worship of Angels; nor to be spoiled of our rewards through Angels appearing to teach us another gospel or any other doctrine not found in Paul's epistles for us. (Colossians 2:18; Galatians 1:8; II Corinthians 11:13-15; I Timothy 4:1,2)
Interestingly, Colossians 2:18 implies that those who would have you believe a message from an Angel or to adore the Angels in worship, they have never even seen an Angel, though they may testify that they have seen an Angel.
To the contrary, the Apostle Paul says much about Angels observing, listening and learning of God's grace from us:

"We are made spectacles to the Angels..." - I Corinthians 4:9.
"We shall judge the Angels" - I Corinthians 6:3.
We ought to obey the authority God has established "because of the Angels" - (perhaps because they are watching our obedience) - I Corinthians 11:10.
Our position "in Christ in heavenly places" is a show of the kindness and grace of God to the Angels who never had seen such grace - Ephesians 2:4-7.
And it was God's intent in forming the Body of Christ to teach the Angelic Host about His "manifold wisdom" - Ephesians 3:10.
Paul acknowledges that his words are heard before "the Elect Angels" - I Timothy 5:21.
Today, we have the privilege and the ministry of using "the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God" (particularly "the Word of His grace" to us;) and by using it we can assist God in "spoiling principalities and powers" by the preaching of the Cross and thereby, through faith, save those (Jews or Gentiles) who were part of the kingdom of Satan - "the power of darkness" and "translate them into the Kingdom of God's dear Son." (Ephesians 6:17; Acts 20:32; Colossians 2:15; Ephesians 2:8,9; Colossians 1:12-14)

As God's purpose for Israel centers around His kingdom in the earth, so God's purpose for us - the Body of Christ centers around His kingdom in the heavens. Angels were used to help Israel by informing them and protecting them as a nation, in fulfillment of God's intent for the earth. However, today God is using the church which is His Body to help the Angels by informing them and warring against the spiritual wickedness in high places in fulfillment of God's intent for the heavens.
The more one understands the uniqueness of the age in which we live and how it is that we battle in a spiritual warfare for the heavenly places the more insight is gained as to the ministry of Angels today. We the Body of Christ are teaching and warring in their behalf in the heavenly places. We accomplish unseen victories as we "stand fast in the Lord and in the power of His might" using as the weapons of our warfare "the sword of the Spirit" and "praying always" for "boldness" to proclaim "the mystery of the gospel." From that point of view, why would we have guardian Angels?
Rather than Angels helping us, God has given unto us something much more comforting and powerful. He has given to us His Holy Spirit who strengthens us with "power" and "might in the inner man" and "seals" us as God's possession unto the day of our redemption; all to His glory. (Ephesians 3:14-21; Ephesians 1:13,14)
Instead of protecting us from all the evils that may befall us in life we are instructed to be "filled with the Spirit" and to learn that God's grace is sufficient. In fact we begin to understand that in our weakness God is made strong in us so that while we may suffer need, go hungry, be afflicted with pain, or suffer loss; we "can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth us!" What a testimony this is to the power of God's grace in us, both unto man and the Angels. (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:22,23; II Corinthians 12:7-10; Philippians 4:11-13)
There is an amazing truth which can only be received by faith. We are told in scripture that our afflictions in this life are working for us. As we walk by faith, motivated by grace, strengthened by God's Spirit, guided by His Word through all the difficulties of life we will be rewarded "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." If guardian Angels prevented such afflictions, they would be working against you, robbing you of rewards, and the glory God receives through His working in your life. (II Corinthians 4:16-18; Romans 8:16-18; II Timothy 2:9-13; 4:6-8) 


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How Angels Appear

How Angels Appear:

They are "Spirits" - Hebrews 1:7.

They are not made of the earth as we are - I Corinthians 15:48.

They are "Invisible" - Colossians 1:16, II Kings 6:17.

They are spoken of as "Men"; never as women or as children - Mark 16:5; Daniel 9:21.

They however, are not necessarily sexless:

As men, fallen angels have procreated with "the daughters of men" - Genesis 6:1-4.

They were and are created by God to be celibate:

God did not create them to marry nor to be given in marriage - Matthew 22:30

They are "Wingless" i.e.: the Bible never says they have wings.

So we assume they don't and there is no reason to assume otherwise.

They are powerful; exceeding man in strength and ability - Psalms 103:20; II Peter 2:11.

They possess the ability to appear as "ordinary men" - Hebrews 13:2.

They sometimes appear as men and yet there is something that distinguishes them as Angels - Genesis 18:1-3...19:1.

Perhaps they appeared larger than normal men - Genesis 6:4; Revelation 21:17.

They also have the ability to appear as "supernatural men" with radiant glory - Luke 24:4.

They are "Created" beings - not born - as is said of the Cherub Lucifer - Ezekiel 28:15.

They were created in Genesis 1:1 because they viewed the rest of creation - Job 38:6,7.

Because they are Spirit Beings they do not and cannot physically die - Luke 20:36.

This is why God created hell - Matthew 25:41

Because they are Spirit Beings they never age.

This is seen by the fact that the angel Gabriel appeared to Daniel - Daniel 8:16

then approximately 500 years later he appears unaged to Mary - Luke 1:19,26,26.

As Spirit Beings they do not take up space:

In Mark 5:9 there were a "Legion"=6,000+ in one man.

They are always viewing what happens on the earth - Daniel 4:17; I Corinthians 4:9.

They have been wondering, trying to figure out the prophetic plan of salvation God promised mankind in the earth - I Peter 1:12.

There is much joy among the Angels; over God's victories - Luke 15:10; Revelation 12:12.

Their estate is Heaven - they are called "The Angels of Heaven" - Matthew 24:36

And yet some of them left - Jude 6

They are associated with the stars - Revelation 1:20; 9:1.

Most likely they live on and rule territorially within the stars - Amos 5:26.

They are not to be worshipped! - Revelation 22:8,9.

They are not to be idolized! - Exodus 20:4,5; Acts 7:43.

They are not to be prayed to! - II Samuel 24:17.

Prayer in scripture is always directed to God - Matthew 6:6; Luke 11:2.

They are not to be looked to for guidance! - Isaiah 47:13.

God's Holy Spirit through His written Word leads and guides us - Ephesians 5:18.

They are not sent, nor are we to receive a gospel message from Angels today! - Galatians 1:8.

Our worship, our obedience, our trust and dependence which we owe to God aloone, is the desire of Satan and his Angels and is therefore the source and the reason behind all idolatry - Isaiah 14:12-14

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Within the Angels are Ranks of Authority:

• Archangel (meaning: "Chief")
  

  As is "Michael" among the Holy Angels - I Thessalonians 4:16; Jude 9

  And "Beelzebub" prince among the devils - Matthew 12:24.

• Principalities - As above, an office held by a Prince, Chief among others - Ephesians 1:21.
• Thrones - An office held by one who would be a regional King - Colossians 1:16.
• Powers - An office held by one having legal jurisdiction - Ephesians 1:21.
• Might - An enforcer; as in military or police or judge - Ephesians 1:21.
• Dominions - Assigned governmental authority over a territory - Ephesians 1:21.

These same offices of varying authority exist on the earth, visible to us as Kings or Presidents and Legislators and Governors and Judges and Police.

The same exists in the heavens, invisible to us but just as real - Colossians 1:16,16.

Heavenly counterparts to earth are warring the heavens - Daniel 10:12, 13,20,21. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Angels to the Rescue

At the outset of World War One, the British Expeditionary Force was pinned down near the French/ Belgian border town of Mons, whereupon something quite inexplicable was reported to have taken place. Here, the author investigates the matter.
Debunking is a pretty merciless process. It is seldom that, once debunked, an account of a supposedly paranormal event will ever again achieve credibility.
In the vast majority of cases, this is no loss. I have helped dispatch a number of claims of the extraordinary, and I’m happy to have done so. Much of what is claimed and reported has no substance at all, and we can well do without them.
Occasionally, though, something of value and significance risk being trampled in the rush to purge what seems unacceptable. This can occur where a rational explanation easily deals with a number of the elements of a complex investigation, but not necessarily with all the elements. The reports arising from alleged events during the retreat of the British Expeditionary Force from Mons in 1914 constitute just such a complex and confusing case. Resoundingly debunked since the summer of 1915 onwards, it is time to reconsider these reports. I think that an injustice has been done, through the details of that injustice remain difficult to define.
THE MONS LEGENDS
The Mons legends have always fascinated me.  They bring together several of my own areas of interest: the Great War, religious visions, divine intervention, folklore, the writer Arthur Machen, and the role of the paranormal plays in the lives of people-and nations- under great stress. I’ve been gathering materials on the subject for more than 10 years, but have only recently had the opportunity to bring it all together.

The Bowmen

Many will be aware of reports that Saint George and the Agincourt bowmen-or maybe some angels, or possibly both-came between the British and German forces, halting the German advance long enough for an organized withdrawals and regrouping to take place. Many, too, will have read that the reports were all myth, arising entirely from the retelling-Chinese Whispers style- of a short story by Arthur Machen entitled The Bowmen first published in the London Evening Standards on September 29, 1914. It’s an explanation  Machen himself originated  in the summer of  1915. It was probably misleading then, and has been ever since.
If anything wonderful happened, then it happened   in the last days of August 1914, as superior German forces pushed a tired, but heroic, BEF back through France from the Belgian border. I must stress that no contemporary history of the war mentions any visionary event of any kind, the earliest account from a military source being published in 1931, though apparently taken from letter written at the time. Certainly, when Machen’s  exquisite  little story of a beleaguered British Soldier invoking Saint George, and the saint arriving with a host of bowmen to drive back the Germans, first appeared in print, the public had read nothing of any claim of divine intervention. Few though, doubted that we had “God in our side.”
When The Bowmen was first published, the two leading paranormal journals of the time, Light and the Occult Review, both reported on its content and both enquired of Machen whether there was any truth in the tale. He replied that there was not, and both reported back to their readership accordingly.  By the end of October 1914, it seemed that the matter had been forgotten.
One of the intriguing mysteries of the Mons legends is what happened next.  After a full six months without tales of bowmen, or anything else, an account appeared in Light for April 24, 1915 under the title The Invisible Allies: Strange Story from the front. This refers back to Machen’s story and continues in part:
“A few days ago, we received a visit from a military officer, who asked to see the issue of Light containing the article in question. He explained that that, whether Mr. Machens story were pure inventions or not, it was certainly stated in some quarters that a curios phenomenon had been witnessed by several officers and men in connection with the retreat from Mons. It took the form of a strange cloud interposed between the Germans and the British. Other wonders were heard or seen in connection with this cloud which, it seems, had the effect of protecting the British against the overwhelming hordes of the enemy.
“They therefore turned round and faced the enemy, expecting nothing but instant death, when to their wonder they saw, between them and the enemy, a whole troop of angels.”
A Troop of Angels

two angels

Early in May, a fuller version of similar account turned up in the All Saints, Clifton, Parish Magazine. This both inquired of Machens whether there was any truth to the quotes in papers and magazine all over the country, attracting attention from the national press and also from senior churchmen wanting to present patriotic material in their sermons. It seems that the editor of the Parish Magazine had met the daughter of one Canon Marrable, who relayed to him what she had been told by”.. two officers, both of whom had themselves seen the angels who saved our left wing from the Germans when they came right upon  them during the retreat from Mons.
“They expected annihilations, as they were almost helpless; when to their amazement they stood like dazed men, never so much as touched their guns, nor stirred till we had turned round and escaped by some crossroads.”
One of Miss Marrable’s friends, who were not a religious man, told her that he saw a troop of angels between them and the enemy. He has been a changed man ever since. The other had been witnessed by a man she met in London.
She asked him if he had heard the wonderful stories of angels. He said he had seen them himself, and under the following circumstances:
“While he and his company were retreating, they heard the German cavalry tearing after them. They saw a place where they thought a stand might be made, with sure hope of safety, but before they could reach it, the German cavalry were upon them. They therefore turned round and faced the enemy, expecting nothing but instant death, when to their wonder they saw, between them and the enemy, a whole troop of angels. The German horses turned round terrified and regularly stampeded. The men tugged at their bridles, while the poor beasts tore away from our men.”
St. George and the Bowmen

st.george slaying a dragon

In the meantime, stories featuring bowmen were also appearing, the first in, of all places, the Roman Catholic paper The Universe for April 30, 1915:
“The story is told by a Catholic officer in a letter from the front, and is told with a simplicity which shows the narrator’s own conviction of its genuineness…
“A party of about thirty men was cut off in a trench, when the officer said to his men, ‘Look here, we must either stay here and be caught like rats in a trap, or make a sortie against the enemy. We haven’t much of a chance, but personally I don’t want to be caught here.’ The men all agreed with him, and with a yell of ‘St. George for England!’ they dashed out into the open. The officer tells how, as they ran on, he became aware of a large company of men with bows and arrows going along with them, and even leading them on against the enemy’s trenches, and after wards when he was talking to a German prisoner, the man asked him who was the officer on a great white horse who led them, for although he was such a conspicuous figure, they had none of them been able to hit him. I must also add that the German dead appeared to have no wounds on them. The officer who told the story (adds the writer of the letter) was a friend of ours. He did not see St. George on the white horse, but he saw the archers with his own eyes.”

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st. michael's parish, remuera, auckland new zealand

The Pink Dress

THE PINK DRESS
Author Unknown.
There was this little girl sitting by herself in the park. Everyone passed by her and never stopped to see why she looked so sad. Dressed in a worn pink dress, barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by.
She never tried to speak.
She never said a word.
Many people passed by her, but no one would stop.
The next day I decided to go back to the park in curiosity to see if the little girl would still be there. Yes, she was there, right in the very spot where she was yesterday, and still with the same sad look in her eyes.
Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. For as we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone. As I got closer I could see the back of the little girl's dress. It was grotesquely shaped. I figured that was the reason people just passed by and made no effort to speak to her. Deformities are a low blow to our society and, heaven forbid if you make a step toward assisting someone who is different.
As I got closer, the little girl lowered her eyes slightly to avoid my intent stare. As I approached her, I could see the shape of her back more clearly. She was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form. I smiled to let her know it was OK; I was there to help, to talk.
I sat down beside her and opened with a simple, "Hello." The little girl acted shocked, and stammered a "hi";! after a long stare into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked until darkness fell and the park was completely empty.
I asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me with a sad face said, "Because, I'm different." I immediately said, "That you are!"; and smiled. The little girl acted even sadder and said, "I know." "Little girl," I said, "you remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent."
She looked at me and smiled, then slowly she got to her feet and said, "Really?" "Yes, you're like a little Guardian Angel sent to watch over all people walking by." She nodded her head yes, and smiled.
With that she opened the back of her pink dress and allowed her wings to spread, then she said "I am." "I'm your Guardian Angel," with a twinkle in her eye. I was speechless - sure I was seeing things. She said, "For once you thought of someone other than yourself. My job here is done".
I got to my feet and said, "Wait, why did no one stop to help an angel?" She looked at me, smiled, and said, "You're the only one that could see me," and then she was gone.
And with that, my life was changed dramatically. So, when you think you're all you have, remember, your angel is always watching over you.
Like the story says, we all need someone ... And, every one of your friends is an Angel in their own way. The value of a friend is measured in the heart. I hope your Guardian Angel watches over you always.
Ps 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways ... 2jesus