Hebrews 1:7
The Ministration of Angels
And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire
In a previous article I wrote concerning angels versus man; now, we need to consider the ministration of angels. Throughout time God has given angels ministry in a vast way to man. The first recorded ministration of angels was at the entrance of the garden of Eden. They were placed there along with the flaming sword of God’s judgment to prevent Adam from returning to the garden. We see throughout Genesis occasions of these visitations by angels in the lives of Abraham, and Jacob. And I would suppose that they were influential in the dreams of Joseph and in the ministration of his protection and care. As we move through Scripture we have Moses who was given the law so that he would be a mediator between God and man. Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. (Acts 7:53) The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. (Psalm 68:17) These two verses show the presence, and the mediation of the angels of God when God revealed the law to Moses on Mount Sinai. They are involved in direct ministration of the law of God. Israel refused to follow God’s law, but the angels constantly reminded them of their responsibility to that law. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. (Galatians 3:19) For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; (Hebrews 2:2) Once again, we see a direct connection with the ministration of angels with the law, and the Old Testament saints; how much more are they involved in the Church age. Verse 14 of Hebrews, chapter 1 reads, Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? ( 1 Peter 1:12) Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. In the Church Age, the angels of God are to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation. We, as the children of God, have entertained angels unawares. We have been ministered to both in protection and guidance by these heavenly beings. They are always at God’s command, and truly they delight to do His will. They have looked into the things of our salvation, and they have marveled as we see our Creator as the great Redeemer, and they also marvel at His death upon the cross. Remember, when He was in the tomb, God the Father gave them charge over the body of His Son. As He lay on the mercy-seat in the tomb, there was one angel at His head, and the other at His feet; thus, displaying the Old Testament type of the mercy-seat on the Ark of the Covenant. This is marvelous in their sight. And they take their position and their responsibility to us with all divine righteousness and holiness. Even though we cannot look into heaven, the reality of the angels has been given to us in the inerrant Word of God. Through God’s Word and the knowledge of our God we have windows into His very presence with the host of angels round about Him. If we look back to Sinai in Psalm 68 we have the presence of angels with God as He gave the law to Moses. Though they are not recorded in Exodus, God by the Holy Spirit wanted us to know their presence, and gave us the record in Psalm 68. We not only have the presence of angels on Sinai, but Sinai is called ‘that holy place.’ This links with Peter’s declaration of the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ, when he called the mount, ‘that holy mount.’
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:16)
For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (2 Peter 1:17)
And his voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. (2 Peter 1:18)
In both references of Psalm 68, and 2 Peter 1:18, Sinai is called ‘the holy mount.’ I ask you a question, who were the 7 men of Sinai? Study, search, and find these 7 men. It’s there underneath the cloud of unbelief. Tradition will not reveal these men to you, only the Spirit of God. Soon, I will post the message, ‘Seven Men of Sinai,’ but until then, dig deep in God’s Word, and find them for yourself with the Spirit of God. Now back to our angels. . . .
Michael the archangel, disputed with the devil over the body of Moses. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. (Jude 1:9) Up to now, we have seen the presence of the angels at Sinai, the ministration of angels to both the servants of God in Abraham, and the children of God in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ; also the judgment that the angels cast forth for not only the ungodly, but for the godly as well. In the Old Testament, we have David who was a man after God’s own heart. David had sinned with Bathsheba concerning the death of Uriah, the Hittite, and for this sin David was judged by God. Also we have the sin of numbering the people. God sent an angel of judgment, with the flaming sword of God’s judgment in his hand, he held it over Jerusalem; then David beseeched God, and offered up sacrifice in the purchased field of Araunah to stay the judgment from the people. This is part of their ministry as ministering spirits, and as the ministers of fire. We see again the angels of God in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, as ministers of fire. The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. (Revelation 8:7) Also read chapter 9 of Revelation. The fiery judgment sent forth at the angels hand is the working of Jehovah’s will through the angels. In complete obedience, the angel sends forth the fiery indignation of God against the world gone mad in their sins. This revelation of angels and their involvement in God’s dealing with men is very important to us, as the children of God. Once again, God opens the looking glass in His book, so that we can see and understand part of the mysteries of both Himself and His creation. These are holy angels, performing as ministers of righteousness. We have this as they minister to the seven churches in the Book of the Revelation. They are to minister the Word of the Lord to the churches. The wording, by the Holy Spirit, is not a rebuke to the angels, but they as ministers of truth they deliver the rebuke to the churches. As Moses held the law as a mediator between God and man, so too these angels handled the Word of God in like fashion. I am thankful for their ministration during the Church age both collectively, and individually to the saints of God. They have the ministry of support, the ministry of comfort, the ministry of guidance, and the ministry of strength to strengthen us when tried by fire.
In Hebrews, chapter 1, verse 7 is linked with verse 14, both these verses reveal to us that we are not alone in God’s unseen world. We never consider ourselves as being ‘unseen,’ and yet, can any one see the new born babe, born in Jesus Christ. Can they see our soul? Can they see our spirit? Can they see our renewed conscience in the righteousness of God? The unseen things of God’s creation are all around us, and in us as well. Take a drop of our blood under a microscope, there is a world of organic life living within us. So too, with the entire creation, the things that we have seen are but small in comparison to the things that are unseen. We have the dimensions that we live in, and the dimensions that are unseen. The angels are in their dimension, as they minister unto God and in complete obedience unto Him, also minister unto us. They at times have passed into our dimension, revealed themselves to men like Abraham, David, Elijah, and Daniel (a man greatly beloved). We will one day have our eyes opened to the spirit world, when we leave our rags of life behind, and have our glorious body fashioned by the Lord Himself. Then we will know the true value of the angels of God, and what they have meant to us all the days of our sojourn here on earth. In the importance of their ministry and strength, we have a great example in the garden with our Savior. He being weakened by what was before Him, prayed to God the Father And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26:39) Also read Luke 22. And there appeared an angel of God to strengthen Him. The Lord of glory, the Creator of all things now takes strength from one of His created beings. What a scene in this garden. Surely, not seen by men, but revealed to us by the Spirit of God so that we, like the angels, can look and wonder. The Sovereign in subjection to His creation. How can that be? Let’s stop and muse here, and consider the full vision of this revelation. The power of an angel to strengthen His own Creator. Oh, what mysteries lies ahead for us in our dealings, and our guidance with God’s holy angels. Have they not strengthen us? Yet in reverence to God, they are only angels. They are neither man, nor God; but like us, servants of the Most High God, Possessor of heaven and earth. The Savior was heard in that He feared.
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (Hebrews 5:7)
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; (Hebrews 5:8)
The shadow of the cross was over Him. He knew that His hour had come. He knew all that would take place in that day. The long strands of prophecy would be fulfilled that day, in His death upon the cross of Calvary. He drew strength from the angel. What a mystery, and what a wonder. Verse 7 of Hebrews of chapter 1, refers to the ministers of fire. Have we not seen some of these in God’s Word? Consider the prophet Elijah, was he not a minister of fire?
And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. (2 Kings 1:10)
Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly. (2 Kings 1:11)
And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. (2 Kings 1:12)
Elijah called fire down on these men, as a minister of fire. But then, God sent an angel to strengthen Elijah, and to tell him that he could go with the next 50 men, and that he would be safe and preserved by the Lord. We also remember Elijah while under the juniper tree, once again, God sent an angel to strengthen him. God’s servants doing the will of God in both man and angels. What a wonderful combination of the connection of earth and heaven. So too with us, at our weakest point God is able to send an angel from heaven to strengthen us. If we dare to stand before the world as ministers of fire, God will Himself send His angels to strengthen us. And not only His angels, but the very presence of the Lord Jesus. He, Himself, will strengthen us in our weakness. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13) And the Lord Jesus echoes this thought with ‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.’ Amen.
© Copyright 2015, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. “Freely ye have received, freely give.”
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV).