THE FUTURE AND ANGELS

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

MOSES AND THE FLAMING BUSH

Moses was a man who possessed two characteristics that pleased God: faithfulness and meekness. The words that God used to describe Moses could not be more highly esteemed. The Bible says, in Numbers 12:3, of Moses, “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.”

Excluding Jesus, Moses walked and conversed with God like no other person recorded in the scriptures. God directly communed with Moses. Of Moses, God said, “And he said, Hear now my words; If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” (Numbers 12:6-8)

Verse two chapter three of the book of Exodus, states that the angel of the LORD appeared unto Moses, and verse six goes on to say, "I am the God of thy father and Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look upon God."

It is clear that it was God himself who spoke to Moses."Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Hereb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God." (Exodus 3:1-6)

In the New Testament, just prior to his being stoned to death, Steven speaks of Moses' experience. "And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai and angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground. I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people, which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt. This Moses whom they refused, saying, who made thee a ruler and a judge? The same did God send to be a ruler and a deliver by the hand of the angel, which appeared to him in the bush." (Acts 7:30-35) Continuing in verse 38, Steven says,"This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the Mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:"

Moses spent many mysterious days up on the mountain speaking with God and receiving instructions, which include the well-known Ten Commandments that are so much a part of all our lives today.

Encounters by Abraham and Family

Many encounters with angels are recorded throughout the book of Genesis in relation to Abraham and his family. The first example involves, Hagar, the discouraged maid of Abraham’s wife, Sarah. Hagar found herself in the middle of an awkward situation after discovering she was pregnant with Abraham’s child. Even though Sarah had turned Hagar over to her husband for that sole purpose, to have a child in Sarah’s stead, Sarah became so jealous that she could no longer stand to look at Hagar. Hagar then, under great stress, left her home.
When you consider it, Hagar had to have been a special individual in God’s eyes. Few people are recorded as receiving the attention that Hagar received. Even Sarah never had an angel appear and speak to her.
An angel, possessing supernatural knowledge, appeared to Hagar. He informed Hagar that she was pregnant with a male child and he had the authority to give this child the name of Ishmael. Here, the angel is called, “the angel of the LORD.” LORD, being in all caps would indicate God’s name. There are two ways we could look at this, either it was God himself or an angel sent by God himself. I believe it to be God himself because he makes the statement, “I will” to her.

The angel assured Hagar that she would have innumerable descendents. These descendents are considered to be the Arab-Islamic nations of today. This message was important in the fulfilling of God’s plan. "And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness by the fountain in the way to Shur. And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? And whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.” (Genesis 16:7-11) The angel revealed to Hagar that she would be the mother of a huge number of people. He then offered a prophetic description of her future son, Ishmael. “And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?" (Genesis 16:12-13) Hagar in obedience did as the angel had instructed and returned to her position as Sarah’s maid.

A second incident occurred after Hagar’s son, Ishmael, was born and Abraham had tossed her from her home. Without doubt, God had a purpose and plan for this first son of Abraham. An angel spoke to Hagar, and her son, but in this situation the sympathetic angel was not visible. Once more, God, through the voice of the angel, promised the sorrowing Hagar that her son would be the father of a great nation. "And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her. What aileth thee, Hagar? Fear not, for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation." (Genesis 21:16-18) The descendants of the two sons of Abraham, Isaac (his son with Sarah) and Ishmael (his son with Hagar) still are at war today.

We discover that Abraham called three angels that one day appeared to him, “men”. There must have been something unique about these men that made it clear to Abraham that they were from a higher realm. Abraham obtained water and washed their feet, and we see that they consumed the same foods that flesh-man eats, such as bread, butter, milk and meat.
One particular angel, whom Abraham identified as LORD, promised Abraham he would return and Sarah would have a baby and the child would be a boy. The idea of having a child caused Sarah, Abraham's elderly wife who was now 90 years old, to laugh. Consider the fact that this announcement was made before the child was conceived, giving evidence, from the scriptures, that when we will be born and what sex we will be is determined before we are conceived in the womb. God’s statement, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee,” in Jeremiah 1:5 also confirms this.
“And the LORD appeared unto him (Abraham) in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground. And said, My Lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou has said. And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. And Abraham ran unto the heard, and fetch a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man: and he hasted to dress it. and he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent. And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind them. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, after I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." (Genesis 18:1-14) It is later revealed to Abraham that the child is to be named Isaac. “And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.” (Genesis 17:19)

The mysterious appearance of an individual in the Old Testament is “Melchizedek,” who scripture states was never born and never died. Nowhere in scripture is this being referred to as an angel. The name is spelled “Melchisedec” in the New Testament and “Melchizedek” in the Old Testament. The word means king of the just, or king of peace. He made his one and only recorded appearance to Abraham, as he returned from battle. Abraham recognized him as a priest and paid tithes so him. The only being to fit the description of king of peace, to me, would have to be Jesus himself. “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blesses him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.” (Genesis 14:18-20) He is again presented as a priest in a single verse, recorded in the book of Psalms. “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalms 110:4)

Although he only appeared to Abraham, more information is actually written about Melchisedec in the New Testament: “Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.” (Hebrews 6:20) “For this Melchisedec king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him, To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salam, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham; But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?” (Hebrews 7:1-11)

“And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.” (Hebrews 7:15-17)

In an appearance to Abraham's nephew, Lot, we witness the power that angels possess. Two angels were able, in a moment, to blind all those who were attacking Lot as well as the angels themselves. The angels said, “We will destroy this place”. These angels ended up having to drag Lot and his family out of Sodom. Unfortunately, Lot’s sons-in-law and wife did not heed the angels warning and died. The only survivors were Lot and two of his daughters.
"And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. And they said, Stand back. And they said again, this one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut the door. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door. And the men said unto Lot. Hast thou here any besides? Son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou has in the city, bring them out of this place. For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and they two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed." (Genesis 19:1-17)

On the day that Abraham offered his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice, there was a voice from the angel of the LORD to Abraham. "And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham; and he said, Here am I." (Genesis 22:11) The voice instructed Abraham not to harm his son. "And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son." (Genesis 22:12-13)

Abraham's grandson Jacob had a variety of curious encounters with angels. In a location somewhere between Iraq and Israel of today, Jacob had a dream. In that dream Jacob describes seeing a stairway or ladder between the earth and heaven. Jacob called it the “gate to heaven” and named the place Bethel, which in the Hebrew means, “house of God”. "And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. and he lighted upon a certain place and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful (awesome) is this place! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate to heaven. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it." (Genesis 28:10-18)

Several years later, an angel spoke to Jacob again in a dream concerning the vision he had seen at Bethel. "And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowest a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.” (Genesis 31:11-13)

The angels met Jacob, in person, twice more during Jacobs return back to his homeland. "And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.” (Genesis 32:1-2)

The following experience reveals that significant point in history when the name Israel came into being. It came about after a strange night of Jacob wrestling with a man. Who was this man? Note Jacob’s statement that he has seen God face to face. At the conclusion of this strange night, Jacob walked away with a limp. “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, what is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and has prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said; tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Peniel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh." (Genesis 32:24-31) The name Jacob is pronounced Ya’agob (yah-ak-obe) in the Hebrew and means “heel holder” or “supplanter.” The name Israel is pronounced Yisra’el (Yis-raw-ale) and means “God prevails.”

The book of Hosea corroborates this strange encounter of wrestling that the book of Genesis describes. "Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial." (Hosea 12:4-5)

ANGEL SENT FOR HEZEKIAH

Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came up against Hezekiah, king of Judah. The people prayed and the LORD sent an angel to intervene. This story is referred to in three different locations in the scriptures. The report does not say how it happened, but indicates that one angel annihilated five thousand-one hundred and eighty of the Assyrians. A mighty outcome was released by their prayers.

"For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake. And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrans an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold they were all dead corpses. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh." (II Kings 19:34-36)

It is given again in II Chronicles 32:20-21 "And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land."

Isaiah the Prophet also spoke of this incident. "Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand; and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses." (Isaiah 37:36)

Angel Under the Oak

Because they had grown evil, God allowed the children of Israel to be oppressed by the Midianites for seven years. They became impoverished and cried unto God, who heard their cry and chose the man Gideon to lead the people to freedom. Gideon was a meek man, not from a rich family, and felt himself to be the least among his brothers. Gideon made food for this angel, but unlike we read in several other circumstances, the angel did not eat. It is written in the book of Judges that Gideon had a difficult time believing that he was the one God was going to use to free the people, and he insisted on a sign. Displaying a more casual appearance, the angel that appeared to Gideon sat down under an oak tree and spoke to Gideon. The angel assured him that God was with him and pronounced Gideon a mighty man of valor.

“And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? And where be all his miracles, which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? But now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us unto the hands of the Midianites. And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? Behold my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.

And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me. Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.

And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it. And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so. Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight. And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! For because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face. And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.” (Judges 6:11-23)

Even after the angel appeared to him, Gideon was still not convinced. Gideon requested another sign, and then yet another. “And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.” (Judges 6:36-37)

Gideon got up in the morning and was able to wring a bowl of water out of the cloth, but he still wasn’t sure if he was the one to save Israel. He requested that the Lord next make the floor wet with dew, but the fleece stay dry and the following night God did as Gideon had requested. Gideon was persuaded, and accomplished, with God’s help, to defeat the Midianites, as described in Judges 8:28: “Midian was subdued and the country was at peace for forty years in the days of Gideon.”

AWESOME APPEARANCE

A mystifying angel appeared to Samson’s parents, Manoah and his wife. Manoah’s wife states that this angel’s countenance was terrible which, in our day, would be better described as awesome. Here once again is an appearance to announce the birth of a son. It is interesting to note that Monoah’s wife’s name is not given, although she was the one to whom the angel directed all his information. When Manoah asked the angel what his name was, the angel refused to say and told Manoah it was a secret. Envision this man-angel, whose name is a secret, rising up in the flame and smoke and disappearing from their sight. Manoah and his wife perhaps stood with their jaws dropped contemplating, “Is this really happening to us?”

“And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not. 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. Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing. For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name: But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.

Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born. And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her. And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.

And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am. And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him? And the Angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware. She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe. And Manoah said unto the Angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee. And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must officer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the LORD. And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour? And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is a secret? So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on. For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the alter, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the alter. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground. But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife.

Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD. And Manoah said unto his wife, we shall surely die, because we have seen God. But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have showed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these. And the women bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. (Judges 13:2-24)

Their unique son, Samson, at the end of his life, did accomplish what the angel had years before pronounced. Samson was taken into custody by the Philistines. They were able to subdue him and took out his eyes. During the Philistines celebration, which included at least three thousand people, they brought Samson out of the prison and tied him between two pillars and made sport of him. Samson then prayed for strength. "And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life." (Judges 16:29-30)

Captain Of The Host of the Lord

Joshua’s spectacular meeting with an angel is described as him being with the captain of the host of the LORD. As with Moses, Joshua was told to loosen his shoes from his feet. This angel stood before Joshua with a sword drawn in his hand.

"And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant? And the captain of the LORD’s host said unto Joshua. Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.” (Joshua 5:13-15)

The Lord promised Joshua that the city of Jericho and its king would be given into his hands. He then gave Joshua the exact instructions on how to accomplish this. These were unusual commands, which are covered in Joshua chapter six, but Joshua did as he was instructed, and the walls of Jericho fell. The scripture also states in Joshua 6:27: “So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.”

Toward the end of Joshua’s life the angel of the Lord chose to speak to the people. The words the angel spoke caused the people to weep. “And the angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I swear unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.” (Judges 2:1-4)