June 4: KEEN INTEREST

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders, and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. Revelation 5:11

Just how interested are the angels in the final outcome for mankind? This countless multitude of angels has joined in the chorus of praise to Jesus for His triumph! Like all creatures, the angels were created by Him (Colossians 1:16). To think of the tremendous power and might given to them (2 Peter 2:11) is to gain an idea of just how convincing the rebellious one—now known as Satan—must have been to succeed in causing a third of the mighty angels to choose wrongly.

Think of the legions of devoted angels standing by as Jesus was about to be arrested (Matthew 26:53) and those surrounding Elisha in chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:17). Even a single angel’s presence is so powerful that human servants of God are struck with awe and fear (Luke 1:12; 2:9; Revelation 19:10; 22:9). By contrast, those with no intention to serve God are struck with sheer terror at the sight of a single angel (Matthew 28:4). Might the Romans have heard the history of what happened to the 185,000 Assyrians by the hand of one angel under God’s command (see 2 Kings 19:35)?

The war (Greek: polemia) that broke out in heaven (Revelation 12:7)—before this world was created—was a war of words and ideas. It was initiated “guerilla-style” by a single individual, a very influential angel, who became a vendor of shadowy, slanderous, fraudulent accusations against God. The great tragedy of this inexplicable ill-will towards God produced a greater tragedy: other angels’ belief of the false accusations.

Today we call the spread of deceptive ideas “propaganda”. A grave danger of any deception is that belief of it occupies a place where truth should reside. Ezekiel was given some insight on this as the Holy Spirit inspired him to write: By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within . . . by the iniquity of your trading . . . (Ezekiel 28:16,18). To accept a lie is to exchange, or trade, it for truth. Lucifer inflicted violence within himself by believing his own lies. By choosing to mistrust God, he displaced his former peace (see Psalm 119:165).

We do not know how long the terrible controversy between the LORD and His adversary has raged. But we do know that it began with that one angel. And, ever since, all angels have been on a battlefield. We also know that just after Christ endured the cross and rose again, Satan and those angels who followed him were quarantined upon the earth (Revelation 12:10,12).

Yes, God’s angels joined in the new song to celebrate His Son’s victory. They are ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14). You can be certain that their interest in mankind is beyond keen. They serve the LORD with a commitment that has endured for thousands of years now, and they will serve Him throughout eternity. They freely chose God’s side in the war. And now, there is a question for you: whose side are you on?

Bless the LORD, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word. Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, you ministers of His who do His pleasure. Psalm 103:20-21