In Genesis Chapter One, ix times God pronounces His work "good." On Day Seven He said it was "very good." Creation took place in paired days, 1-4, 2-5, 3-6, 7, outside of our present space-time continuum.

Time as we know it now commenced on Day Eight of creation week. There was no sin anywhere during Creation Week:

At the end of Day One space, time, matter, and energy had been brought into existence as amorphous raw materials out of which a finished universe would be sculpted and formed during the five days which were to follow. The ancient Greeks thought the four building blocks of the universe were air, earth, fire and water. Four is the Biblical number for the world---the Greeks weren't too far from being on the right track if we compare air/space, fire/energy, and earth/matter. They missed the "element" of time as a building material for the construction of the universe. 

Prior to this creative activity of God none of these entities existed. However God, who is Spirit, existed. In fact He has always existed and His existence is independent of time and space, and also of all created things. It was not necessary for God to create a universe. God is complete and whole in His own Being and the existence of a universe with all its life-forms and awesome extent adds nothing to God. 

Although God is One God, He exists in three Persons. This we know from God's own self-revelation of Himself to us as recorded in the Bible. The Persons of the Godhead work together in Creation as they do in the sustenance and management of the universe, in the redemption of men, in judgment, and in the creation of the new world which is to come. The God of the Bible is a "personal" God. He is a living, intelligent, loving being and has created us capable of relationships with Him and with one another.

  The Bible emphasizes that the universe was created in six days.

"...for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it. " (Exodus 20:11)

The Hebrew word for an ordinary 24-hour day, yom, is used. Endless and often futile debates have raged over whether or not the seven days of Creation Week were literal 24-hour days or long periods of time. 

Part of the problem in understanding creation week is that this interval of time---when God was in the process of creating everything---was truly unique and never to be repeated. I have attempted to depict this situation by the following diagram. The time frame we live in now is represented by the broad line extending to the right, but I have shown creation week as a wheel or disk at right angles. "Eternity past"---when there was no universe at all, lies to the left of the colored disc.

Genesis One (since it is recording truth in logos format) describes the order of creation as Day 1, followed by Day 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and finally 7. After that man's history begins. However I have color-coded Days 1 and 4, Days 2 and 5 and Days 3 and 6 to show that they bear a relationship to each other (as will be described a bit later). God is outside of time, so while constructing the universe He could actually have worked on all six days at once, or built them separately as modules and put them together into one pie all at the end. 

There is an "observer" present in the narrative of Genesis One, and the observer appears to be standing on the Earth as his observation platform, but the observer is clearly God Himself in Genesis Chapter One. In Jewish rabbinical legends, while creating the universe God is said to have stood on the "Foundation Stone" which would later be under the Holy of Holies of the Temples in Jerusalem.

The following chart shows how the total energy and entropy of the universe may have changed during Creation Week as God acted by creating and then fashioning our universe step by step. This chart is probably a bit fanciful---I have included it to emphasize what I believe about creation, namely that creation was not a single spoken event by God that set everything into motion, but that a Designer and Architect and Craftsman built the universe. We live in a hands-on universe. It does not belong to us.

The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that "entropy always increases" (in a fallen universe). Entropy measures (1) the amount of available energy to do useful work, (2) the degree of order in a system. Low entropy means lots of available energy and a high degree of order and complexity. Prior to the fall of the angels (who govern the universe under God), the Second Law was evidently not in effect, i.e., the physical universe was apparently not degenerative, or it was self-renewing. Apart from God's intervention the present universe is running down and becoming more and more disorderly. During the coming Millennial kingdom, Jesus the Lord will evidently restore nature and probably reverse the Second Law. It is always God who brings order out of chaos, light out darkness, and life out of death.

Captions on the chart:

A. Day 1: Entropy is undefined before creation begins. To the left of the graph is "eternity past." God exists outside of time and space. There is no pre-existing matter. 

B. Day 1: Space, time and matter are brought into existence. Entropy drops sharply because of large reservoir of energy capable of doing work is now in existence. This energy is in the form of rest mass, E=mc2.

C. Day 1: Light is created. Photons (perhaps of all wavelengths) imply that additional energy has now been added to the universe. Entropy drops further because of the creation of this new energy.

D. Day 2: The heavens are stretched out and attain their maximum diameter, which is the present diameter of the universe. A further addition of energy from God is involved, due to work done stretching the fabric of space. Entropy drops further.

E. Day 3: Genetic codes and living systems are created. This lowers the total entropy of the universe further because of the high degree of order, or information content in genetic codes. Random, simple molecules are assembled into highly-ordered structures by God as Artisan.

F. Day 4: The sun, moon and stars created. Energy created on Day 1 is concentrated. Amorphous matter also created on Day 1 is assembled into the heavenly bodies. The universe now has a higher degree of order, hence still lower entropy. 

G. Day 6: The creation of man and the higher animals. Orderly living systems are built and programmed with "seeds" for replicating.

H. Day 7: God "rests," that is, He ceases from the work of creating and begins his work of sustaining the cosmos.

I. Day 7: The universe is now complete and entropy has its lowest value (maximum energy reserves plus highest degree of order). Since the entire universe is interlinked, it could not function as a working system until the end of Day 6. The finished universe now begins to function and history as we know it begins to be measured. The Biblical clock is established by the motion of the moon, earth and heavenly bodies. 

J. Date Unknown (after creation week): The fall of the angels. The government of nature is disrupted. Angels play a prominent role in the management of the forces of nature during the age we now live in. The sin of man brings a "curse" on the earth further increasing the tendency of all things to rust, rot, wear out, and decay. Nature yields less bountifully. Thorns and thistles and opportunistic diseases increase.

K. The "Old" Creation is now "ruined" and hopelessly flawed. The Second Law of Thermodynamics is in effect, and from now on, "Entropy always increases." God's ultimate remedy will be the creation of "new heavens and a new earth."

L. The Flood of Noah. The rate of disorder and decay is probably accelerated at this time. Human life spans diminish after the Flood, for instance. The language of 2 Peter suggests the Flood affected the entire universe, not just the earth. The Flood was a major cataclysm as the Greek word suggests. The Hebrew mabbul suggests the same thing: an overwhelming disaster.

A Biblical World View discusses Angels as if they were a subject everyone knew about ahead of time. The purpose of this discussion is to collect and present what can be learned from the Bible on the assumption it is fully inspired by God. Someone recently accused me of being a follower of Velikovsky, which I'm not.

I have suggested a definite beginning of everything by the creative hand of God. The universe began as a set of modules when time undefined until all the modules were complete. Day Eight is the first day of recorded history. The angels were evidently all created on Day One or so. They observed the events going on in the seven modules of creation week. None of the angels had yet fallen. The highest angel, Lucifer, the Light-Bearer seems to have had a third of the angels in his group. Angels, by he way, exist in a great hierarchy:

Secular humanism assumes that God does not exist, or if He does exist, He is irrelevant. Man therefore controls and determines his own destiny. Scientism is a similar philosophy--it assumes that the physical, material world is all there is. Scientific methods will therefore completely explain the universe fully and completely-given enough time and effort. Few today say they are atheists, denying that there is any higher power. Most people I know are "religious" to one degree or other.

The Biblical world-view is way more specific and detailed! God brought to entire universe into existence---ex nihilo ---out of nothing. An invisible spiritual dimension, inhabited by great numbers of angels, powerfully influences our daily affairs and the course of history. Not only did God bring everything into existence, but He actively maintains ("upholds") the universe--supplying both force and power input from "the other side" of the vacuum (See What Holds the Universe Together?). Genesis tells us that God's purpose for man was stewardship, exploration, and governance over the Creation on His behalf (Genesis 1:26-28). But a revolt among the angels, led by the mighty archangel Lucifer, threw the physical universe into disarray and spiraling decay. Infiltrating the human race through Eve, this destroying, murderous spiritual being, now known as Satan, seized control of earth's throne, thus becoming for a season "the god of this world (age)" (Ephesians 2:2).

The issue of man's loss of control over the Creation is discussed by the writer to the Epistle of Hebrews in the New Testament. The writer describes the impeccable credentials of Jesus Christ who will restore man's dominion in the age which immediately follows the one in which we now live:

It has been testified somewhere, "What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou carest for him? Thou didst make him [man] for a little while lower than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his [man's] feet." [Psalm 8] Now in putting everything in subjection to man, he left nothing outside his control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to man. But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for every one. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who makes whole and those who are made whole have all one body. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, "I will proclaim thy name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee." And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Here am I, and the children God has given me." Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage. (Hebrews 2:6-15 RSV)

A short cryptic verse immediately precedes this description of the restorative work of Jesus:

"For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking." (Hebrews 2:5)

A little reflection will show that if the Millennial kingdom which immediately follows the return of Christ is not governed by the angels--then evidently the angels do now have a prominent role in how God governs the present age. Can we find examples in the Bible of God's governing work through the agency of angels in the present age? Indeed we can!

The book of Job begins with a description of the bene elohim, the angels, appearing in heaven before the throne of God. Among them is Satan. In order to develop deeper character in Job, his faithful servant, God allows Satan to test Job to the limits. Only Job's life is to be spared:

And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that Job has is in your power; only upon himself do not put forth your hand." So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house; and there came a messenger to Job, and said, "The oxen were plowing and the asses feeding beside them; and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them, and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you." While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you." While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The Chaldeans formed three companies, and made a raid upon the camels and took them, and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you." While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house; and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you..." Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. And the LORD said to Satan, "Whence have you come?" Satan answered the LORD, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you moved me against him, to destroy him without cause." Then Satan answered the LORD, "Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face." And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your power; only spare his life." So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD, and afflicted Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes. (Job 1:12-2:8)

Much sound theology is found in this passage: Satan can do nothing without permission from the Lord--He must always stay within appointed bounds. Yet he apparently does have power over raiding bands of nomads, over weather, and the forces of nature, and over Job's physical health. This passage does not imply that Satan causes all disease and suffering, or that all natural disasters are Satan's mischief. But from Job we gain the insight that when Jesus calmed the raging storm on the Sea of Galilee, He may have spoken to an angel:

"One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, 'Let us go across to the other side of the lake.' So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a storm of wind came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, 'Master, Master, we are perishing!' And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, 'Where is your faith?' And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, 'Who then is this, that he commands even wind and water, and they obey him?'" (Luke 8:22-25)

Jerusalem was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon for almost a year before it fell on the 9th of Av, 586 BC. However in September 592, 6 years earlier, the prophet Ezekiel was caught up and taken "in visions of God to Jerusalem" by THE angel of the Lord (1). The prophet was shown the inner idolatries of the people, the priests, and the leaders which had made God's judgment inevitable. Ezekiel is shown the destruction of the city as the work of six destroying angels (Ezekiel 9:2). But we know from history that the armies of Nebuchadnezzar were the visible agents of the city's destruction. Ezekiel is also shown a seventh angel at work just prior to the destruction-he was a "recording angel" who marked the foreheads of the godly remnant in Jerusalem with an invisible "X" (the handwritten letter Tav). Thus those who wept and groaned over Jerusalem's impending doom were spared.

Not only did Ezekiel witness what was going on behind the scenes of Nebuchadnezzar's destruction of Jerusalem, he "time-traveled" in the Spirit some six years into the future to see this event before it happened! (For the full account see "The 9th of Av, 586 BC: Ezekiel and the Destruction of Jerusalem"),

Late in the reign of David, Satan incited the King to take a census of his army. Evidently David had lapsed to counting on his own resources forgetting that God was the power behind the throne. This census greatly displeased the Lord who gave David three choices as to the consequences of this sin, Thus says the LORD, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you...Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me." Then David said... "I am in great distress; let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man." So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning until the appointed time; and there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand men. And when the angel stretched forth his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented of the evil, and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, "It is enough; now stay your hand." And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was smiting the people, and said, "Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let thy hand, I pray thee, be against me and against my father's house..." And David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD heeded supplications for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel. (2 Samuel 24:4, 1 Chronicles 21) Here we see that an angel under the direction of THE Angel of the Lord was the behind-the-scenes cause that brought death by pestilence to 70,000 Israelites.

A well-known account of angels bringing about a military victory for Israel is found in 2 Kings 18ff and 2 Chronicles 32.

In about 701 BC Sennacherib King of Assyria assaulted Jerusalem when Hezekiah was King. Despite his successful conquest of neighboring cities and other plundering and pillaging campaigns, it was not time for Jerusalem's judgment and would not be for another century. God answered the intercessory prayers of the King and the prophet Isaiah in a spectacular way: "Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city or shoot an arrow there, or come before it with a shield or cast up a siege mound against it. By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and he shall not come into this city, says the LORD. For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David." And that night THE angel of the LORD went forth, and slew a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went home, and dwelt at Nineveh. And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, slew him with the sword, and escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead. Herodotus, the Greek historian, says that the Assyrian army was suddenly infested in mice overnight. Perhaps God's appointed mice brought about a sudden attack of a virulent form of bubonic plague. Without a sword being drawn 185,000 Assyrians died in short order and Sennacherib was killed shortly after by his own sons.

The Epistle to the Hebrews speaks of guardian angels who protect the elect of God (Hebrews 1:14). The story of Job's testing is clear evidence that most of the time we all enjoy wonderful and continuing protection from evil. If Satan had his way with us, we would all be shredded and destroyed in very short order. Bookstores these days feature rows and rows of popular books on angels. The spirits they describe are a far cry from the mighty spirit beings the Bible reveals. God rules the universe, nothing is outside His control-and there are no accidents.

"It is important to recognize...that God doesn't just sit in heaven and push buttons on a control panel. He uses "messengers," better known to us by the Greek word: angels. The Biblical view of the universe is not the modern one of vast reaches of barren space interrupted every couple of million miles or so by flying dead boulders. The Biblical view of the universe is that it is teeming and throbbing with life everywhere. The cosmos is heavily populated with "legions" and "myriads" of angelic beings, of various ranks (Colossians 1:16) and "species" (see, for instance, the descriptions in Ezekiel 1:5-25 and Revelation 4:6-8).

Angels are associated with astronomical phenomena throughout the Bible (Judges 5:20; Job 38:7; Isaiah 14:13; Matthew 24:29; Jude 13; Revelation 1:20; 8:10-12; 9:1;12:4) as well as with the activity of the weather: wind, storms, and lightning are spoken of in connection with the actions of God and the angels in both blessing and curse (Genesis 8:1; 41:27; Exodus 10:13,19; 14:21; 15:10; 19:16; Numbers 11:31; Psalm 18:10; 104:3,4; 107:25; 135:7; 147:18;148:8; Ezekiel 1:4ff; Matthew 24:31; John 3:8; Acts 2:2; Revelation 7:1-3; 8:5,7; 16:8, 17, 18). Clearly, the Biblical world view does not attribute changes in weather to impersonal "forces" or "processes:"

He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. He makes winds his messengers [angels], flames of fire his servants. (Psalm 104:3, 4, NIV) "God controls the government of the universe," said Calvin. "No wind ever arises or increases except by God's express command." Further, "since angels are the powers of God, it follows that they never cease from their office of working. For God never can rest: he sustains the world by his energy, he governs everything however minute, so that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without his decree (Matthew 10:29)...God works continually by angels...so that all creatures are animated by angelic motion: not that there is a conversion of the angel into an ox or a man, but because God exerts and diffuses his energy in a secret manner, so that no creature is content with his own peculiar vigor, but is animated by angels themselves." Martin Luther, as usual more pithy and direct, took seriously the psalmist's statement that the wind has wings. After a particularly severe and violent storm, he offered his opinions on the subject: "The devil provokes such storms, but good winds are produced by good angels. Winds are nothing but spirits, either good or evil. The devil sits there and snorts, and so do the angels when the winds are salubrious."

"The Biblical world view is uncompromising: God is running the world. Every atom in the universe is under His command. His Word created and sustains in Him. That is why He can assert His power and authority in such absolute terms: I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity, I, the LORD, do all these things. (Isaiah 45:7) Who can speak and have it happen if the LORD has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come? (Lamentations 3:37, 38, NIV)" (2)

Notes: 1. THE Angel of the Lord (with the article THE) is a theophany, or Old Testament appearance of the Son of God in human form, see l. This angel reveals himself to Joshua as Yahweh Sabaoth, the commander of the armies of the Lord, in Joshua 5:13-15. A glimpse of these vast resources of God was shown to Elisha's servant in 2 Kings 6:15-17. Angels appear prominently in the book of the Revelation taking a major role in events of the tribulation period, see Revelation 2-3; 7:1-2; 8:3-12; 9:1, 11, 13-14; 10:1-7; 11:15; 14:6, 8, 15-17; 16:2-17; 17:7, 18:1, 21; 19:9, 17; 20:1; 22:6, 8, 16. 2. David Chilton, Power in the Blood, (Wolgemuth and Hyatt, Brentwood, TN, 1987), p. 66-67.

See also: God and the angels for more details and conjectures about damage to the created universe by the Fall of the angels. To speculate, perhaps there is some reason to suppose that Mars was the site of an ancient angelic "war" which was part of a great Satanic plan to destroy the line of Eve that would lead to Messiah and to establish his (Satan's) own total and final dominion over mankind. One of the mysteries in the geophysics of the planets is that most cratering on the moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars seems to have occurred early in the history of these bodies. "Early bombardment" seems to have decreased greatly after about a billion years or so of radio-clock time had elapsed. If there were an angelic war on Mars long ago (and this of course is only speculation), it seems to us that it was not limited to Mars, but quite likely involved Venus and at least Mercury and the moon as well. Some have even wondered if the asteroid belt beyond Mars is indeed all that is left of a planet destroyed in an ancient war. A possible modified model of the solar system is this: All the planets (not just earth) were created "good;" that is, in pristine, "inhabitable" condition, but all except earth have been drastically altered by the angelic wars of eons past. Angelic warfare has never ceased since the fall of Lucifer, and angelic wars are not over yet. This "threat from the heavens" is still with us, so we not only have the dim, ancient past to worry about; we have our own future to be ready for.

Even though the hypothetical "war on Mars" (that is, an early geological disaster on Mars) appears to have occurred millions of years ago, this is a date measured in atomic clock time. According to Barry Setterfield and others, the true age of the universe is apparently less than 8000 years because of the decreasing velocity of light. This implies that the radioactive clock run rate has slowed by as much as a factor of 10 million times with respect to dynamical clock of history. In this speculative model, radical changes on Mars could have been initiated by the onset of radioactive decay rates at the fall of man, or by collision with a comet, or by events connected in some way with the flood of Noah. Mars gives evidence of a ruined, wasted place (as do Venus and Mercury as well). Apparently Mars and Venus once had oceans. Mars has now lost its atmosphere and mild climate and its water is now frozen beneath the surface as ice or permafrost. Venus now has a dense atmosphere rich in sulfuric acid, active volcanoes, and a surface temperature comparable to that of molten lead. It is thus entirely possible that the solar system is not in its original created condition, but has been badly damaged by the activity of evil angels since the fall of Satan. Likewise, it is possible that many astronomical events visible today may not be events that are part of the original creation, but may be in reality destructive disruptions amongst the stars caused by the activity of the Evil One.

In several of the Old Testament battles (involving angels) in which God is said to participate directly, we find descriptions such as the throwing down of great 100-pound hailstones from heaven and rains of fire and brimstone (sulfur), from heaven. This type of warfare is what one would expect on the planets if indeed they have been devastated and wasted by such a galactic, angelic war in the ages past. None of this speculation about ancient space wars can be "proven" from the Bible nor at present from scientific evidence but at least the Bible does not exclude such a possibility. [I hope readers will take these matters as highly speculative and not as gospel truth that can be proved from either science or from the Bible]. 

Man's Lost Dominion is Being Restored

The Palingenesia

The end of rule by and through angels is declared in Hebrews. God intends to restore Man to his original mandated role as steward over the earth. What was lost to us in the Fall of Adam is being given back to us in Jesus, the Second or Last Adam. 

For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying: 
“What is man that You are mindful of him,
Or the son of man that You take care of him? 7 You have made him (man) a little lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
And set him over the works of Your hands. 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” 

For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying:

“I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”
13 And again:

“I will put My trust in Him.”
And again:

“Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”

14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.“ (Hebrews 2:5-18)

Details: The Management of the Universe

Satan Tempts Jesus 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.  3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” 5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:| ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” 8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. 12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: 16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

References

Absolute Geocentricity

God and His Angels

God's Rule Through Angels

Signs in the Stars?

The Management of the Universe

The Snake in the Garden

THE Angel of the Lord

Spiritual Warfare Series

Notes on the Nephilim

Glimpses of God

Physics Problems for Creation Week

Entropy in the Old Creation

The Macrocosm and the Microcosm

Invasion Soon

Orbiters

God's House

The Left Behind

Man's Lost Dominion Restored

C.S. Lewis: Science Fiction Trilogy | PDF

ANGELS Graham Brodie (1997) God and His Angels The fact of the existence and activity of Angels is everywhere assumed in the Scriptures. Both the Hebrew word mal'akh, and the Greek word angelos, translated "Angel," mean, literally, "messenger." Suggesting the idea of the office rather than the nature of the celestial being. Over 230 times in the Bible record we find Angels busily engaged in carrying out their office work. It is interesting to note that Angels were present at every crisis in the unfolding Panorama of the Ages.  There is a great deal revealed in the Bible about angels. They can appear in human form, (Genesis 19:5, 10, 16) they spoke as men, took men by the hand, even ate men's food, (Genesis 18:8; 19:3, 16) are capable of direct physical combat, (Death of the Firstborn in Egypt, Exodus 12; Sodom and Gomorrah, Genesis 19; 185,000 troops slaughtered, 2 Kings 19:35) some are the principal forces behind the world powers. (Daniel 10) They don't marry (in Heaven - Matthew 22:30), but are capable of producing offspring. (Genesis 6:1-2; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). They act as messengers of God (Genesis 16:7 - 10, Matthew 1:20-24). They can remain invisible to us if they wish (Numbers 22:22 - 35). They protect God's people (Psalm 34:7). They can perform mighty works and wonders (Judges 6:21 - 22). The Bible also reveals the startling fact that these unseen spiritual intelligences are divided into two distinct and innumerable hosts. The one, holy and active as "ministering spirits" of the Almighty--the other, servants of Satan, equally as active, but with evil intent to hinder and destroy that which is wrought of God in the world (cosmos).  THE CREATlON OF ANGELS God's Word clearly teaches that Angels were the first and highest order of created things. It is assumed (Colossians 1:16-17; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 148:1-5) that Angels were created simultaneously. That is, they constitute a created "host" in distinction from "a race". Each angel being a direct creation of God, not brought into being by propagation as in the human family. As immortal, infinite, spirit beings not subject to death or procreation, the angelic hosts, created a perfect and complete company, will remain numerically unchanged throughout their eternal existence.  While it is true that certain Angels violated the will of God and the purpose of their created existence, each one must, in the end, give account to his Creator for his own conduct (II Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Matthew 25:41; Ezekiel 28: 14-16).  How long after the creation of the celestial hosts God created the material universe, we do not know, But this we do know that Angels were present as heavenly choristers (Job 38:4-7) rejoicing at the marvel of the divine works. We do not read of these celestial spectators rejoicing over the creation of any other planet--Mars, Jupiter, Saturn--but the Earth. Perhaps the great Creator revealed to "the heavenly hosts" (who were to be so closely associated with this world) that this tiny planet was to be the center of the whole story of amazing Grace, the scene of their future and faithful concern as they were " sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation" (Hebrews 1:14).  THE FORM AND NATURE OF ANGELS The most learned scholars are greatly divided on the subject of the embodiment or unembodiment of Angels. In other words, are Angels purely spirit, absolutely immaterial (not consisting of matter) and incorporeal (having no substance or parts) , as God is purely spirit? Or are they clothed in an indescribably refined fabric of material nature unknowable to us but suited to their being and purpose? The Apostle Paul speaks of celestial "bodies" and terrestrial "bodies. The glorified saints upon their arrival in heaven, we understand, will have "a spiritual body"; thus, it would appear that "spirits" have a determinate form which is adapted to the law of their being. When Jesus said "... a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have," He did not imply that spirits have no form at all, but rather that in whatever form they are enshrined it is different from the form His disciples were then looking upon--His own glorified humanity (Luke 24 : 37-39).  Though Angels were often sent as "messengers of God" to approach the sphere of human life, these "appearances" in no way proved the material substance of their form, since they were occasioned by God's sovereign will and purpose--to make Angels visible and understandable to the senses of men.  DO ANGELS HAVE WINGS? In the account of Daniel's supplication (Daniel 9: 21) it is recorded that an angel was "caused to fly swiftly," while other passages suggest the same idea of the flight of angels. The supposition that all angels have wings, as we think of wings, has been generally accepted largely because angels have been "pictured" with wings in the Art and Literature of centuries.  It is true that Cherubim and Seraphim are described as having wings, and the swiftness of angels' movements in executing the commands of "The Lord God of Hosts" is represented as "flying" on their missions. Because angels are unseen spirit-beings their means of flight must remain a mystery. We cannot know by what means of movement a "spirit" is dispatched upon its errand. Legions of angels would have descended from heaven to Gethsemane in an instant had Jesus prayed the Father. Thus we see the possibility of angelic activity far beyond our finite understanding.  THE NUMBER OF ANGELS Such figures as "ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands" (Revelation 5:11), "an innumerable company [Greek, knyriads']" (Hebrews 12:22), "thousand thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand" (Daniel 7:10), "a multitude" (Luke 2:13), "legions" (Matthew 26:53), were not intended to give a definite or limited number of the heavenly hosts, but to convey a sense of immensity beyond all finite computation. THE ABODE OF ANGELS It is generally understood that the throne of God and the abode of angels is "in the heavens" (Psalm 103:19-21). In the Scriptures, however, the word "heaven" is used in so many ways that it is often difficult to visualize which Part of the heavenly sphere is designated. In Genesis 1:1 we read, " God created the heaven and the earth." In the Hebrew, "heaven" is in the plural form, "heavens," which somewhat clarifies the fact that at least three "heavens" are identified in the Scriptures. Paul tells us that he was caught up into "the third heaven" (11 Corinthians 12:2), which naturally presupposes a first and a second.  The location of the heaven of which Paul speaks is not revealed, but is generally accepted as the "heaven of heavens", where "He whom all heavens can not contain" reveals His Glory. It is also the abode of angels who behold the unveiled Glory of the Lord God Of Hosts--the heaven of the Redeemed, who will ever be with the Lord (Revelation 4:1-4).  Next, in descent, would be the starry, or stellar heavens, identified by such references as "the stars of heaven" (Genesis 26:4). "··· he made the stars also"--"... the firmament sheweth his handiwork" (Genesis 1:16; Psalm 19:1).  Next, the atmospheric heavens of which such references are made as "birds of the heaven" (Matthew 18:20), "the clouds of heaven" (Matthew 24: 30), "the windows of heaven" (Genesis 7:11).  These distinctions are important to our study of Angelology. It is clear, from the Scriptures, that all angels were created good, clothed in form suited to their spirit-nature, and assigned to an habitation, or first-state, particularly their own in God's sovereign purpose. It is also clear that a great multitude of the angelic order left their first estate, and "the heavenly places," or lower heavens, stand for the unseen spiritual realm in which these fallen spirits now have temporary habitation.  THE CLASSlFlCATlON OF ANGELS The Scriptures reveal various ranks or orders representing governmental authority or supremacy among the angelic hosts, as mentioned in Colossians 1:1-16, namely: Thrones (thronoi), Dominions (kuriotetes), Principalities (archai), Authorities (exousiai) and Powers (dunameis).  The Bible revelation regarding angels and the heavenly sphere of governmental rule and authority is greatly veiled, but even by the yardstick of earthly realities we may rightfully assume these denominations to be representative of great dignity and varying degrees of rank and station.  CHERUBIM AND SERAPHIM Another order of exalted celestial beings is mentioned, apart from those of rank and authority listed above, namely: Cherubim and Seraphim. Some learned scholars believe that these name-words are merely symbols of God's attributes. The majority of expositors, however, maintain that they refer to exalted spirit-beings of the angelic order closely related to the throne and zealous of the majesty, the holiness and the unceasing worship of the Lord of Hosts.  Cherubim: We find the first appearance of cherubim in the Garden of Eden, where God had dispatched them to guard the way of "the Tree of Life" from fallen Adam (Genesis 3:24). Alexander Cruden defines "cherub" as one of an order of angels. Plural, properly "cherubim" ("cherubims" in the Authorized Version, Exodus 25:18-22). Upon the ark of the covenant golden replicas of cherubim were cast in one piece with the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies, where God dwelt in the midst of His people. Thus it is said, " . . thou that dwellest between the cherubims . . . (Psalm 80:1). The curtains of the Tabernacle and the veil of the Temple were embroidered with a pattern of cherubim (Exodus 26:1; II Chronicles 3:14). The walls, doors and the sanctuary were decorated with Carved cherubim overlaid with gold (I Kings 6:23-35).  The symbolical significance of the cherubim "ever before the people" may justify the thinking of many Bible scholars; namely, that the proper signification of the word "cherub" is "to cover, guard, protect." The cherubims "guarded" the way in Eden. Lucifer was appointed the "covering" cherub (evidently belonging to the order of cherubim). Their high and holy position, closely related to the Throne of Jehovah--even as the carved symbols of their presence, with out- stretched wings, in the Holy of Holies--suggested attendance and readiness to be dispatched from the throne of God as "guardians," "coverers," "defenders" of His absolute Holiness.  The "Living Creatures" mentioned in Ezekiel's visions of the Shekinah Glory of the Lord (chapters 1 and 10), are identical with the cherubim.  Seraphim: A plural word occurring only in Isaiah 6:1-7: Isaiah's vision of Jehovah. Like the cherubim, seraphim are seen attending on the Lord of Hosts as He is seated ". . . upon a throne, high and lifted up. . . ." The Hebrew word translated "burners" is of uncertain origin. Fire was often connected with the attendants of deity among many peoples, and it is probable that "burning" may lie at the base of the idea. One of the seraphim is seen in the vision as an agent of burning, or purifying the lips of the penitent Prophet, possibly bespeaking a ministry of purification and unceasing worship. Thus, these glorious beings are expressive of that holiness which demands "cleansing" before "serving." With what reverence we Should approach the Throne of Divine Majesty, when seraphim hide their faces and cover their feet in conscious humility and unceasing praise.  LUCIFER-MICHAEL-GABRIEL Three celestial princes are named in the Scriptures: Lucifer ("son of the morning")--Michael (Hebrew, "who is like God")--Gabriel ("mighty one").  Lucifer: The most exalted of the angels, by creation and appointment, occupies the place of prominence in the Scriptures, second only to the Godhead. By his sin, the first created being to cross the will, the word and the purpose of the Creator, he became a devil--The Devil (ho diabolos). He appears about forty times throughout the Scriptures under different titles. (From the second panel of Chart No. 1 we shall begin our study of "Satanology.")  Michael: This distinguished angel is named five times (Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9; Revelation 12:7). He is referred to as "standing" for Daniel's people, therefore he is regarded as the heavenly patron of Israel and the watchful guardian of God's people against both earthly and satanic foes.  In Daniel 10:13, Michael is called "one of the chief princes," a term which presupposes other princes in the angelic hierarchy. In Daniel 10 we find reference to "the prince of Persia" and "the prince of Grecia." These mighty angels, now fallen and corrupted, ap- pear to be subservient to Satan, who is called "the prince of demons," "the prince of the power of the air " "prince of this world [cosmos]. it is Michael who opposes Satan in a dispute concerning the body of Moses (Jude 9). It is Michael who leads the angelic army in heaven against "that old serpent, called the Devil," and his angels (Revelation 12:7).  In Jude 9, Michael is called "the archangel" (the Scriptures do not speak of the plural, "archangels"). It is generally believed that the unnamed archangel whose voice will be heard when Christ descends from heaven to meet His raptured Saints--is Michael (I Thessalonians 4:16). Thus, the rank of archangel is mentioned only twice, and is applied to the mighty prince of angels, Michael.  Gabriel: Gabriel is named four times (Daniel 8:16; 9:21; Luke 1:19; 1:26). He is not identified as an archangel, although the meaning of his name is "the mighty one. While Michael appears to be the messenger of Law and Judgment, Gabriel is the messenger of Mercy and Promise .  It was Gabriel who brought the message to Zachariah; announcing the birth of John the forerunner of the Messiah (Luke 1:19). It was Gabriel who brought the annunciation of the Saviour's Birth to Mary. It was Gabriel who was dispatched by God with the answer to the fervent prayers of Daniel, the bewildered, burdened Prophet. After being delayed by a contest with Satan's emissary, Gabriel brought a revelation of the most momentous import to the praying Prophet, disclosing to him a summary of all that was to come to his people, in the great prophecy of "The Seventy Weeks of Years" (Daniel 9:20-27).  The Seven Archangels: "These seven angels (Revelation 8) are probably archangels, and they are given an extremely important task in the sounding of these trumpets. They doubtless include Michael the archangel, who appears also in the book of Daniel. In fact, the apocryphal book of Enoch, an ancient book which is not part of our Bible, gives the names of all seven angels. They are Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Sarakiel, Gabriel, and Phanuel. Notice, their names all end in "el," which is short for the name of God. These are "angels of God," powerful angels, who are given these trumpets to sound. Before they blow the trumpets another dramatic scene is recorded. (Ray Stedman) Psalm 82 A Psalm of Asaph. God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods.  2 How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked?  Selah  3 Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy.  4 Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked. 5 They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable. 6 I said, “You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High.  7 But you shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes.” 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; For You shall inherit all nations.   Music for today  O Come, O Come Immanuel A Glorious Church I Sing the Mighty Power of God  Jesus, The Light of the World Email is Welcome: Lambert Lambert Dolphin's Place (Home Page) Original Web Site (1995) Recent Articles Index (Annex) Personal Testimony November 12, 2022.