angel can sing—of Jesus the God-man and His saving grace (John 1:12-13;
Hebrews 2:9-12).
We must reject any teaching of universal restoration of all men. or even of
Satan, to God. Only humans can he saved, and only those who trust Christ in this
life will he saved. So taught Christ, who died and rose again (Matthew 25:41;
John 5:29; 8:24). The lake of fire is an eternal torment for wicked men and
angels (Revelation 14:10-11; 19:20; 20:11-15).
2. Conflict. The division of elect and evil angels came as the result of a rebellion.
Separation of some from God introduced spiritual enmity and warfare. We read of
conflict between the good and evil angels as they battle behind the scenes of human
governments and the course of world events (Daniel 10:13; 12:1; implied in Isaiah
14:4-17; Ezekiel 28:12-19). We read of a conflict in the future tribulation period
between Michael and his angels and the devil and his angels (Revelation 12:7-9). This
is warfare in the angelic sphere.
There is also warfare in the human sphere. The devil and his demons
wrestle with God's people on earth to discourage and to defeat spiritual advance
in the individual and in the church. The reality of this warfare and the believer's
resource and victory are set forth in Ephesians 6:11-18.
III. POWERS
The power of angels is very great. Originated and limited by God. angelic
power manifests itself in several relationships.
A. SOURCE OF POWER
/. Cmuted by Cod. The angelic creatures themselves recognize God as the
source of their beings and powers when they cry. "Holy, holy. holy, is the Lord
God, the Almighty. . . . Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they
existed, and were created" (Revelation 4:8. II). Htnlgc writes, "The power of
angels is. therefore, (I) Dependent and derived. (2) It must be exercised in
accordance with the laws of the material and spiritual world. (3) Their
intervention is not optional, but permitted or commanded by God, and at his
pleasure."4
45
2. Governed by God. Hodge has already hinted at the limitation of angelic power.
The Scripture presents this limitation as due not only to God's creation hut also to
God's control.
Angelic power is exercised by God's will. God sent two angels to destroy
the wretched city of Sodom, and by their power they also delivered Lot from the
judgment (Genesis 19:12-16). When David sinned in numbering Israel and
Judah, God sent an angel to smile Jerusalem with a pestilence as chastisement (2
Samuel 24:14-17). The many judgments found in the book of Revelation are
under the control of Christ, who opens the book that contains the judgments
described in the seals, the trumpets, and the bowls. The angels involved in the
administration of these, therefore, are subservient to Christ (cf. Revelation 6-16).
Angelic power is excluded by God's will. God limits the exercise of angelic
potential in the cases of both good and evil angels. When God's angel would
have completed the destruction of Jerusalem, God's merciful will stopped him (2
Samuel 24:1 3-16). During the Great TVibulation to come, angelic messengers
of judgment withhold their destruction until the will of God is accomplished in
protecting His own (Revelation 7:1-3). Even Satan, who seems to be the greatest
of all angels, was limited by God in his affliction of Job (Job 1:12: 2:6). Satan's
forces are restrained by good angels acting in the will of God and are finally
defeated (Revelation 12:7-9).
How comforting for the believer to know that angelic power, great as it is,
is under God's good and gracious control. In our weakness, we can only trust in
our Father's grace and power.
B. SPHERES OF POWER
We can best understand the extent of angelic power as we note what the
Bible presents about their power in certain relationships or areas of influence.
/. In relation to the human world. Angels may express human functions. The
story of Abraham entertaining three strangers (Genesis 18:1-19:1) seems to
identify these three in the ap|H*arance of men as really angels (18:1 -2. 22:
19:1), though one may have been an ap|)carancc of Jehovah Himself (18:1, 11.
22). From this we learnangel can sing—of Jesus the God-man and His saving
grace (John 1:12-13; Hebrews 2:9-12).
We must reject any teaching of universal restoration of all men. or even of
Satan, to God. Only humans can he saved, and only those who trust Christ in this
life will he saved. So taught Christ, who died and rose again (Matthew 25:41;
John 5:29; 8:24). The lake of fire is an eternal torment for wicked men and
angels (Revelation 14:10-11; 19:20; 20:11-15).
3. Conflict. The division of elect and evil angels came as the result of a rebellion.
Separation of some from God introduced spiritual enmity and warfare. We read of
conflict between the good and evil angels as they battle behind the scenes of human
governments and the course of world events (Daniel 10:13; 12:1; implied in Isaiah
14:4-17; Ezekiel 28:12-19). We read of a conflict in the future tribulation period
between Michael and his angels and the devil and his angels (Revelation 12:7-9). This
is warfare in the angelic sphere.
There is also warfare in the human sphere. The devil and his demons
wrestle with God's people on earth to discourage and to defeat spiritual advance
in the individual and in the church. The reality of this warfare and the believer's
resource and victory are set forth in Ephesians 6:11-18.
IV. POWERS
The power of angels is very great. Originated and limited by God. angelic
power manifests itself in several relationships.
C. SOURCE OF POWER
/. Cmuted by Cod. The angelic creatures themselves recognize God as the
source of their beings and powers when they cry. "Holy, holy. holy, is the Lord
God, the Almighty. . . . Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they
existed, and were created" (Revelation 4:8. II). Htnlgc writes, "The power of
angels is. therefore, (I) Dependent and derived. (2) It must be exercised in
accordance with the laws of the material and spiritual world. (3) Their
intervention is not optional, but permitted or commanded by God, and at his
pleasure."4
45
ANOHI.S KI.KCT ANI)
KVII.
3. Governed by God. Hodge has already hinted at the limitation of angelic power.
The Scripture presents this limitation as due not only to God's creation hut also to God's
control.
Angelic power is exercised by God's will. God sent two angels to destroy the
wretched city of Sodom, and by their power they also delivered Lot from the
judgment (Genesis 19:12-16). When David sinned in numbering Israel and Judah,
God sent an angel to smile Jerusalem with a pestilence as chastisement (2 Samuel
24:14-17). The many judgments found in the book of Revelation are under the
control of Christ, who opens the book that contains the judgments described in the
seals, the trumpets, and the bowls. The angels involved in the administration of
these, therefore, are subservient to Christ (cf. Revelation 6-16).
Angelic power is excluded by God's will. God limits the exercise of angelic
potential in the cases of both good and evil angels. When God's angel would have
completed the destruction of Jerusalem, God's merciful will stopped him (2
Samuel 24:1 3-16). During the Great TVibulation to come, angelic messengers of
judgment withhold their destruction until the will of God is accomplished in
protecting His own (Revelation 7:1-3). Even Satan, who seems to be the greatest
of all angels, was limited by God in his affliction of Job (Job 1:12: 2:6). Satan's
forces are restrained by good angels acting in the will of God and are finally
defeated (Revelation 12:7-9).
How comforting for the believer to know that angelic power, great as it is, is
under God's good and gracious control. In our weakness, we can only trust in our
Father's grace and power.
D. SPHERES OF POWER
We can best understand the extent of angelic power as we note what the
Bible presents about their power in certain relationships or areas of influence.
/. In relation to the human world. Angels may express human functions. The story of
Abraham entertaining three strangers (Genesis 18:1-19:1) seems
to identify these three in the ap|H*arance of men as really
angels (18:1 -2. 22: 19:1), though one may have been an
ap|)carancc of Jehovah Himself (18:1, 11. 22). From this we
learn
