A mystery is spoken of in the first chapter of Revelation, concerning seven candlesticks and seven stars. The mystery is then revealed: the seven stars are angels. The seven angels are the overseers of the seven candlesticks, which are seven churches. This discloses to us, that an additional job of the angels is to be the administrator, manager or overseer of the churches. "The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven candlesticks, which thou sawest, are the seven churches." (Revelation 1: 20) A unique message is given, in the second and third chapters, to each of the angels, concerning the churches that they oversee.
Just prior to God’s plan for mankind being revealed, the book of Revelation describes an angel sealing seven imminent truths in the foreheads, or in the minds, of his servants. Four additional angels, who have been given the duty of hurting the earth and the sea, are asked to hold off, until the sealing is complete. “And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea. Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them, which were sealed; and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.” (Revelation 7:1-4)
It is interesting to note that, after the sealing takes place, the instructions are given that the only ones to be harmed by the four angels holding the four winds are persons who have not been sealed by God in their forehead. The angels have been instructed not to hurt the earth or the sea. “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. (Revelation 9:4)
In the Old Testament book of Ezekiel, a similar account is portrayed. One difference is Ezekiel depicts a mark instead of a seal, being placed on, not in, the forehead. The people who were chosen to receive the mark were chosen because they had faith in God and demonstrated a concern about the corruption that was going on among their own people. As with the seals, the destroyers are told not to harm the ones with the mark. We may want to ask ourselves, are we concerned about corruption going on in Christendom today? God was offended that the people were saying, “The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.” Not unlike words spoken by some today.
“HE cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even everyman with his destroying weapon in his hand. And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brazen alter. And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side; And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women; but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin with my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men, which were before the house. And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.
“And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! Wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem? Then said he unto me, the iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not. And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head. And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.” (Ezekiel 9:1-11)
Referring once again to the book of Revelation, seven angels, who have been given trumpets, are seen standing before God. "And I saw seven angels, which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets." (Revelation 8:2) Each of the seven angels, as they blow their trumpet, causes an action to occur. The scriptures say that when the seventh angel performs his task, the mystery of God, which has been reported by the prophets, will be finished, or accomplished. This verse does proclaim that the prophets have previously informed us of this mystery. The books written by the prophets Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and others have given us advance warning. "But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.” (Revelation 10:7)
When the sixth angel, in Revelation 9:15, sounds his trumpet, four additional angels appear, which have been given an assignment to perform at one set point in history. Their job is to eliminate one third of mankind. "And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men."
The Bible, without doubt, describes angels as having an enormous role to play in the future events of mankind, especially relating to the return of Jesus Christ. “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.” (II Thessalonians 1:7)
Angels are to be responsible for some day removing all that is negative, offensive and wicked out of this world. It is difficult for us as humans to imagine, although we dearly desire it, a world such as that. “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.” (Matthew 13:41) Jesus points out that this action will take place at a time described as the “end of the world”. There is to be a separating of the wicked from the just. This seems to indicate that there are only two categories, the just and the wicked. “So shalt it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just.”(Matthew 13:49) “Then shall he say also, unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matthew 25:41)
According to Jesus’ words, there will come a day of reckoning. There will be a day when all will be made right and fairness and justice will be the rule. He says, “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” (Matthew 10:26) This reckoning will not only remove the negative, but Jesus says there will be rewards given to those who are left. “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” (Matthew 16:27) This is also repeated in the last chapter of the Bible, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Revelation 22:12)
God will also one day instruct the angels to gather all his followers in heaven and on earth. “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:31) This is confirmed again in Mark 13:27 “And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven." The word “elect” in the Strong’s Concordance Greek dictionary means “picked out” or “chosen.”
Jesus teaches us not to set a date as to when this is going to occur, since neither he, nor the angels, knows the exact date. “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matthew 24:36) Again the fact that only God knows that time is brought forth in the book of Mark. “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” (Mark 13:32)
Jesus points out in a parable that he has servants who are to feed truth to his family at that time “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of.” (Matthew 24:44-50)
Several scriptures reveal that when Jesus reappears, his holy angels will be with him and he will then sit on the throne and rule. “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats." (Matthew 25:31-32) Jesus says that when he comes with his angels, he will be ashamed of those who were previously ashamed of the word of God, and of him. "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38) This is once more confirmed in the book of Luke. "For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and the holy angels." (Luke 9:26)
Although it is difficult to comprehend, according to the apostle Paul, in the future, Christians shall be responsible for judging the angels. Paul writes in the first letter to the Corinthians, "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life." (I Corinthians 6:2-3)
The Bible says that one day, in the end, a large number of us, along with the angels will stand before the throne of our God. “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.”
(Revelation 7:9-12)
Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him all his hosts.
Psalms 148:2
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