The book of Revelation provides a lot of insight into how God operates in these last days. It gives us glimpses into how the physical and spiritual worlds interact as well as their affects on each other. As in other books of the Bible, Revelation shows how important angels are to carrying out the Lord’s will.
In chapters 2 and 3 of this book we are shown that angels are not only spiritual beings but that they can also refer to a human who delivers God’s messages to a church. There are also two other incidents that take place toward the end of Revelation that reveal another interesting aspect of who can be considered an angel.
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: … And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Revelation 17:1, 19:10
This angel was assigned to escort John into the spirit realm to show him what would happen to spiritual Babylon. John tells us that he is one of the seven angels who had one of the seven vials to pour out one of the seven last plagues on the earth. When John was shown what would happen, he was so overwhelmed emotionally that he bowed down to worship the angel. How did the angel respond? He commanded John not to worship him since worship was only for the Lord to receive. The angel identifies himself as a “fellowservant” and one “of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus.” Regular angels in heaven are never referred to as fellowservants or brothers of believers in Christ, nor do they have the testimony of Jesus since Jesus did not die to save them.
Hebrews 2:16-17 tells us that Jesus made himself lower than the angels to be made like his brethren, the human saints. Ephesians 3:8-11 and 1 Peter 1:10-12 reveal to us that God established salvation for mankind through Jesus Christ to show the angels through his church just how vast his power is. Therefore, it is impossible for the regular heavenly angels to have Jesus’ testimony of salvation from sin that brings righteousness and eternal life to every believer. That being the case, this “angel” who took part in pouring out one of the last seven plagues is actually a Christian. He is a saint that has died and dwells in heaven who God told to take part in punishing the Earth during the great tribulation. There is a second similar incident in Revelation:
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. … And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. Revelation 21:9, 22:8-9
So another angel carrying one of the seven last plagues takes John on a spiritual tour of New Jerusalem. John once again becomes emotionally overwhelmed and worships the angel. Like the previous angel, he claims to be a fellowservant. But he also says he is a brother who is a prophet and who practices the word of God. These terms, like the terms I discussed above, can only refer to a Christian. Although regular angels prophesy, they are never called prophets and as I stated before, they are never referred to as being our brothers. So now we see there are at least two saints of God who have a hand in pouring out God’s judgment on the Earth.
Could it be that once believers die and go to heaven, God gives us certain assignments to carry out? I think that’s an interesting concept.
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? 1 Corinthians 6:2
–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–
November 26, 2007 at 9:22 pm |
Well said. I believe you are right. Also, the saints that are “raptured” in a twinkling of an eye ride with Jesus, to defend Jerusalem, don’t they? Rev. 19:19.
Of course, Christ opens His mouth and the enemy is destroyed but the saints do ride with Him to do battle.
December 9, 2007 at 1:51 pm |
If you have read even a single post of Bro Eli, more so, when you read it all, those posts are enough proof, even the verse below, that Bro Eli is concerned for our salvation and is warning as too of the danger/peril that a false teacher can lead us to. The same concern that he learned from the Apostles, the same who learned from Jesus Christ; by reading the Holy Scriptures with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the holy men of God.
Colossians 2:18-19 (The Message)
Don’t tolerate people who try to run your life, ordering you to bow and scrape, insisting that you join their obsession with angels and that you seek out visions. They’re a lot of hot air, that’s all they are. They’re completely out of touch with the source of life, Christ, who puts us together in one piece, whose very breath and blood flow through us. He is the Head and we are the body. We can grow up healthy in God only as he nourishes us.
Mga Taga-Colosas 2:18 (Ang Salita ng Diyos)
18May taong nasisiyahan sa paggawa ng huwad na pagpapakumbaba at pagsamba sa mga anghel. Huwag ninyong hayaan ang gayong tao na dayain kayo at hindi ninyo makuha ang inyong gantimpala. Siya ay nagkukunwaring nakakita ng mga bagay na hindi naman niya nakita. Ang kaniyang isipang makalaman ay nagpalaki ng kaniyang ulo nang walang katuturan. 19Siya ay hindi nanatiling nakaugnay sa tunay na ulo, na kung saan ang buong katawan ay lumalago sa pamamagitan ng paglago na mula sa Diyos. Ito ay sa mga ibinibigay ng mga kasukasuan at ng mga litid na siyang nagpapalusog at nag-uugnay-ugnay sa buong katawan.
Colossians 2:18-19 (English Standard Version)
18Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
Colossians 2:18-19 (King James Version)
18Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
http://esoriano.wordpress.com/archives/
December 9, 2007 at 1:54 pm |
I learned that God sent the spirit of Elijah to John the baptist. But angels in the book of Revelations are angels, not christians. This I need to further hear from our Presiding Minister Brother Eliseo Soriano. Try asking him too at his wordpress
esoriano.wordpress.com
December 9, 2007 at 11:41 pm |
Elman,
I hope you understand that John the Baptist did not literally have Elijah’s spirit. He came in the same “type” of spirit that Elijah had and is the Elijah of Messianic prophesies in the symbolic sense, not the literal sense. Some of the angels in Revelation are in fact human messengers. Who do you think Christ was giving his messages to when he had John write the seven letters to the angels of the seven churches? If they were literal angels from heaven, he wouldn’t have needed John to write anything for him but he could have said something to them directly from his throne in heaven.
Spiritual angels have to get their assignments straight from the Lord and have to report back to him after they complete their assignments. This is why Jacob dreamed of angels ascending and descending on a stairway to heaven, and why Ezekiel had a vision of angels with wheels in the middle of a wheel, and why Christ told his disciples that they would witness angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man.
December 10, 2007 at 9:16 am |
Then prove by giving the verses from the bible that some angels stated in revelations are Christians. And if you can’t give me the verses then the bible says:
1 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
My friend, it is not your plan, but God’s plan to send a real angel to tell the revelation to John. I say according to the scriptures that Elijah’s spirit is literally sent, because it is the will of God to send him.
Revelation 22:8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
The angel in rev 22:8 has supporting verses, one was mentioned by St Paul that we should not bow down to angels even listen to human that has no spiritual mind.
Col 2:18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
Haven’t you noticed yourself having two conflicting paragraphs on your comment?
Even these angels are now waiting of what the Church of God will become. It is because their existence and what will become of them is dependent to the end result of the works of the Church of God.
To know more, I hope you can visit esoriano.wordpress.com and his podcast. There you can ask him anything and the bible shall answer.
December 10, 2007 at 11:08 pm |
Elman,
Are you arguing that I’m promoting the worship of angels? That’s not what I’m saying at all. John encountered several angels during his revelation and two of them were dead saints living in heaven based on what they said. Two of them claimed to be his brother. Angels that originate in heaven have never been nor will ever be our brothers based on what it says in Hebrews.
You misunderstand scripture if you think John the Baptist literally had Elijah’s spirit. I took a look at the website you mentioned and I’ll have to do some research on the organization you represent because if I’m not mistaken, I think it’s a cult.
July 20, 2008 at 8:42 pm |
Wow, great post again, Harry. I can’t believe I never saw that. I was looking through Revelation, too, to see how the saints in Heaven were described–what they looked like, what they did and said, etc., and I just can’t believe I didn’t pick up on this.
I’m so glad I saw this post in your sidebar and decided to click on it. Thanks!
God bless,
Cindy
August 11, 2008 at 10:37 am |
Yes, you do not know what you are talking about when it comes to knowing what worship of angels means. The verse itself defines what worship of angels mean. But here you are, giving your own definition of what worship of angels is, therefore, you thought you are not worshiping angels. But read again the verses and reflect on the second statement:
Col 2:18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize.
Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.
19He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
You unsipritual mind puffs you up with idle notions. Where in the bible says that John bowed down to a person who was called an angel?
Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. Revelation 21:9, 22:8-9
You are wrong when you interpreted it that the angel is a prophet too when in fact that angel said that he is a fellowservant of John; and fellowservant of John’s brethren, the prophets; and those which keep the sayings of this book.
The prophets are John’s brethren, while these prophets are fellowservant of that angel. There is no mention that the angel is a prophet too.
Let me ask you, which of the sayings in that book does that angle practices? And how can that angel practice the same things living people keep? Tell me!
And now, you are very inconsistent in your belief. You claim that these two angels are saints but you are opposing that the spirit of Elijah is with John the Baptist!
But since it is John the Beloved wrote the revelation. You can ask him about these things. But it is only those who have spiritual mind who can understand this. That is why I said the above inivitation.
May God bless you with grace.
August 11, 2008 at 6:06 pm |
Elman,
Your accusations against me for having “idle notions” and being “puffed up” are unfounded and just plain not true. Worshipping angels is wrong and not something I do, as you have falsely accused me of doing. Your attempt to try to prove me wrong and discredit me using your misunderstanding of the scriptures is not going to work for those who have read the scriptures for themselves and can clearly see, with the Holy Spirit’s help, that what I said here is true.
I suspect that you are probably a new Christian who is overzealous to try to exalt yourself at my expense or at the expense of others who aren’t part of your religious clique.
When the term “fellowservant” is used in scripture, it refers to someone acknowledging that someone else is their equal. For example, Paul in Colossians 1 called Epaphras his fellow servant and in Colossians 4 called Tychicus his brother and fellow servant. Humans are created lower than the angels as stated in Psalm 8:4-5 and believers will only become equal to the angels after we receive our resurrected bodies, as stated by the Lord himself in Luke 20:34-36. I discuss this in detail in my post titled “Is man a little lower than God or a little lower than the angels?” Hebrews 2:17 says Jesus was made like his brethren, the saints, and Hebrews 2:19 says he was made a little lower than the angels–spiritual beings like Gabriel.
The “angels” John spoke to acknowledged that they were his brothers. Since Jesus was made like his brothers, John included, then these particular “angels” are saints. This idea of a saint being a type of angel–but not the heavenly beings like Gabriel–is true to what is expressed in the opening chapters of Revelation when John wrote letters to the “angels” of the seven churches. These “angels” were human ministers. Therefore, I’m not contradicting myself to say John spoke to “angels” that were humans, but not to angels that were like Gabriel.
There is also another argument I can make. John was shown a lot of things of which he was ignorant in Revelation and described what he saw first and then was eventually given explanations for what he saw. When he called these saints angels, he spoke from what he perceived them to be, but later received an explanation for who they were from these saints themselves.
Your false belief that the literal spirit of Elijah inhabited John the Baptist is nothing more than a belief in reincarnation, which is anti-Biblical. The fact that these two angels are saints is in agreement with the Bible, as I have already stated before.
Elman, you err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God.
August 15, 2008 at 12:58 pm |
Harrygaylord, may I just remind you of what I said? I said, “…And now, you are very inconsistent in your belief. You claim that these two angels are saints but you are opposing that
the spirit of Elijah is with John the Baptist!”
What did I say? I said that the spirit of Elijah was with John the Baptist. Is this reincarnation? Definitely not. But you thought this is reincarnation.
But this is not reincarnation, just like what you said harrygaylord, “Your false belief that the literal spirit of Elijah inhabited John the Baptist is nothing more than a belief in reincarnation, which is anti-Biblical.”
Is a literal spirit of Elijah inhabiting John the Baptist is an example of reincarnation?
If I said that Elijah is John the Baptist, maybe you can accuse me of believing in reincarnation? But that is not what I said.
Your conclusion, your interpretation leads you to your unbiblical and non-biblical belief and understanding. I did not give an example of “reincarnation” but instead, maybe, your conclusion makes you think that what I am relaying to you is an idea of reincarnation, which is way too far off from what I said.
Col 2:18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize.
Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.
Yeah, ain’t that an obvious unspiritual mind of yours interpreting what I read from the Holy Bible as reincarnation? Definitely, I am not talking about reincarnation. If God sends the spirit of Elijah to John the Baptist to guide him, you cannot contradict that nor misconstrued me, because I just read it.
2 Kings 2:
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise not.”
11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.
13 He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.
15 The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
Luke 1:
11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.[b] 16Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
19The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”
That is what I am talking about. Now, why is it that I am correcting you with your delapidated argument that the angel who spoke to John the Beloved is a saint? Because angels serves man who fears God.
Revelation 8:4
The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand.
And there are more verses that has this spirit. I hope you put off your unspiritual mind first of all and learn to read again. Pray so that you will receive the grace too.
Hebrews 1:14
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
To continue, I also said, “…Let me ask you, which of the sayings in that book does that angel practices? And how can that angel practice the same things living people keep? Tell me!…”
Revelation 1:1
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
What are these angels, then?
Psalms 34:
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
These saints have angels. And these angels have things to do.
Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. Revelation 21:9, 22:8-9
You see, the angel was talking about actually of the sayings in this book.
Revelation 8:4
The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand.
Can you distinguish now who is an angel and who are saints?
And if you will just read it again, different charactes need to know which sayings are intended for whom. It just so happened that the angel was relating to John that, being an angel, he also needs to follow the sayings of the book intended for him. Did you get it? The verse imparts that since prophets, those who are given the task to follow and prophesy and take care of the flock; and angels who guards those who fears God, they are all fellowservants but it doesn’t mean that that angel is a man saint.
Do you think an angel does not concern himself with another angel guarding a church? Of course he will remind his fellow angel of what he learned.
But if you will follow the events in the Revelation, you definitely should also realize that each creature concerned has to keep instructions written in it. And definitely, “…He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches….”
Daniel 12:
8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”
9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
Revelation 1:
17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
1 Timothy 5:
21I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.
Angels will know of the things written by John. But who will read to them?
Revelation 1: 3Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Revelation 10:7
But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”
1 Peter 1:12
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
1 Corinthians 4:9
For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.
1 Corinthians 6:3
Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!
Hebrews 5:
11We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Galatians 1:8
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!
Revelation 10:9
So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”
Revelation 10:10
I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.
I am not here to fight with you and I am just giving hints of what you can learn when you stop your unspiritual mind puffing up with idle notions.
May you recieve the grace. Thanks for the space. I am an unworthy servant.
August 15, 2008 at 6:54 pm |
Elman,
Your attempt to confuse by misquoting a barrage of Bible verses is not going to work against the truth that I’ve written in this post. Quoting all of the Bible verses in your comment is nothing more than an attempt to try to confuse people, but it won’t work for those who know the truth. I think your ranting just reveals your own confusion.
You claim you aren’t here to fight, but use words that obviously show you ARE trying to fight. Then you try to display a false humility to make it seem as if you’re more spiritual.
I believe you’re probably jealous of the truths that God has revealed to me, which is why you’re so determined to attack and discredit me. There is never any need for one Christian to be jealous of another. God reveals different things to different Christians because we have different spiritual gifts, but when we are willing to share them and to accept what God reveals to our sisters and brothers in Christ instead of being jealous, the whole body of Christ is strengthened.
I suspect that you probably run back to someone in your religious group when you leave a comment to boast about how well you argued and how much more enlightened you are than I am. But that’s fine because your arguments won’t detract from the truths that I’ve spoken.
March 26, 2009 at 12:54 pm |
“Could it be that once believers die and go to heaven, God gives us certain assignments to carry out?”
I absolutely believe so. I believe some of the children of God, when they die, that some rest in white robes for a little season, while other’s carry out God’s Will and his preparation for our Lord’s return. And I can’t wait to receive my assignment. I always wanted to be one of the angels that hold back the wind, but maybe I’d rather have a sword! Whatever my Father God commands me to do, I will do.
March 26, 2009 at 12:56 pm |
… the south wind preferrably:o)
TL11
March 26, 2009 at 1:30 pm |
Elmantheman, since you spend so much time referencing Bro Eli, you’d probably be better off on his site.
Any soul belonging to God knows in their heart that by the writings and information given by Harry A. Gaylord, God our Father is with him. It is that simple.
Instead of using our Father’s Word to discredit a child of God, you should be using it to bring in the Body of Christ. Because at present, you hinder rather than glorify our Lord.
One in Christ,
Tasha