Angelic Conflict part 74: Angelology 101 – Heb 2:5-18; Luk 18:10-13; Dan 10:10-21.

Title: Angelic Conflict part 74: Angelology 101 – Heb 2:5-18; Luk 18:10-13; Dan 10:10-21.

 

 

Man was made a little lower than the angels and so was Christ after the fall of man. He did so, so that He could taste death for everyone and by doing so He conquered death and removed the fear of death for anyone who believes in Him and comes to know His finished work.

 

Satan deceived the woman. Adam willingly took the fruit from her and ate. So in this decision of rebellion we gave to satan the dominion which God has lovingly granted us. In exchange for handing over the dominion of the earth we received death and the deep fear of death. Not a good deal at all. But this was not the final chapter in human history. Christ became flesh and blood and drank the cup of all man’s sins and in so doing He, a man, regained the dominion over the earth, it became His footstool, and after His resurrection and ascension He was invited to sit down at the right hand of God until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.

 

Heb 2:5 For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.

 

Heb 2:6 But one has testified somewhere [Psa 8:4-6], saying,

"What is man, that Thou rememberest him?

Or the son of man, that Thou art concerned about him?

 

Heb 2:7 "Thou hast made him for a little while lower than the angels;

Thou hast crowned him with glory and honor,

And hast appointed him over the works of Thy hands;

 

Heb 2:8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. "

[pause]For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

 

Heb 2:9 But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels [last Adam], namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor [right hand of God], that by the grace of God He might taste death [cup of the sins of the world] for everyone.

 

Phi 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

 

Phi 2:9-11

Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Heb 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

 

Heb 2:11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,

 

Heb 2:12 saying,

"I will proclaim Thy name to My brethren,

In the midst of the congregation I will sing Thy praise."

 

Heb 2:13 And again,

"I will put My trust in Him."

And again,

"Behold, I and the children [now children in reference to ownership] whom God has given Me."

 

Heb 2:14 Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same [voluntarily], that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil;

 

Heb 2:15 and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

 

Heb 2:16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.

 

Heb 2:16

For, as is well known, He does not take hold of angels for the purpose of helping them, but of the offspring of Abraham He takes hold, with a view to succoring [to give assistance in time of need or distress] them. [An Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest]

 

Heb 2:17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

 

Justice demanded judgment of sin, and love and judgment combined at the cross so that the believer is justified.

 

Luk 18:10

"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer.

 

Luk 18:11-12

"The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, 'God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. 'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.'

 

Luk 18:13

"But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful [be propitiated – hilaskomai (aor pass imp)] to me, the sinner!'

 

Christ, the high priest, offered the sacrifice while the word “King” was written above His head. He is our merciful and faithful high priest as well as our King at the right hand of God.

 

Joh 19:19

And Pilate wrote an inscription also, and put it on the cross. And it was written, "JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS."

 

Joh 19:19

Iesus Nazarenus rex Iudaeorum [Vulgate]

 

We have become priests and kings through Him.

 

Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

 

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.

 

 “mercy” – e;leoj[eleos] = an outward manifest pity (compassion) for one who is in need – [Vines Expository Dictionary]

 

This is the word used of Christ in Heb 2:17 as our merciful high priest.

 

God’s compassion perfectly responds to truth and the truth of the matter is that Christ took upon flesh and blood and as a faithful and merciful high priest He offered Himself without blemish as a propitiation for the sins of the world. The believer is therefore now the recipient of God’s compassion upon his needs.

 

He is our faithful high priest, for His faithfulness cannot be matched.

 

Heb 3:5 Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later;

 

Heb 3:6 but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.

 

If we don’t hold fast, Christ is still faithful, but we will forget that and return to the slavery of fear all over again, from which we have been completely delivered.

 

2Ti 2:13

If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.

 

The great difference is that one is a servant (Moses) and one is a Son (Christ). The very Son of God became a faithful, human high priest.

 

As a faithful and merciful high priest and reigning King He fulfills the prophecy concerning Melchizadek, who was a priest and king of Salem, Psa 110.

 

Zec 6:13

"Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the Lord, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices."'

 

Heb 2:18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

 

Named angels: Michael.

 

Meaning – “who is like God.”

 

One of the chief princes:

 

Dan 10:10 Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.

 

Dan 10:11 And he said to me, "O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.

 

Dan 10:12 Then he said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.

 

Dan 10:13 "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.

 

Daniel has remained in Persia in order to fulfill his ministry although Cyrus decreed for the Jews to return about 2 years earlier.

 

As this angel messenger comes to Persia in answer to Daniel’s prayer he is held up for 21 days by high ranking demons in rulership of Persia.

 

These kings of Persia were high ranking demon angels that rule the Persian Empire behind the scenes or rule beside the human rulers, influencing them and supporting demonism in them, and they were strong enough to stop this messenger.

 

It cannot be the human king of Persia or the kings surrounding Persian, for no man could have done this.

 

1Co 10:20

No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons.

 

This occurs in the third year of Cyrus who had decreed in his first year of rule that Israel return to Jerusalem.

 

And so God set in motion His work to depose of these demon kings that they would not hinder Israel’s return or influence Cyrus, God’s chosen, earthly deliverer. And in response to Daniel’s prayer (vs. 12) God sent a messenger angel to reveal to Daniel that it was to be done.

 

Prayer delayed is not prayer denied. We can’t always know the reason for the delay, but we can know the faithfulness of the One we have asked.

 

David was anointed king by Samuel and he did not become the actual king for ten years. He didn’t complain and continued to honor Saul, the deposed king.

 

If prayer were always answered in our time and in our way we would become selfish children with no concern for the ways of our Father.

 

"the prince (Heb. Sar) of the kingdom of Persian stood beside the kings of the Persians to influence them against Israel, and to direct against Israel the power lying in Persian heathendom; that the angel, v. 5, came on account of Daniel's prayer to dislodge this 'prince' from his position and deprive him of his influence, but he kept his place for twenty-one days, till Michael came to his help; then he so gained the mastery over him, that he now stood in his place beside the kings of Persia, so as henceforth to influence them in favour of Israel." [Kliefoth]

 

Michael, being God’s angel for the protection of Israel was able to assist the other angel in overcoming the kings of Persia. Again, Michael’s name means “who is like God.”

 

Jud 9

But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you."

 

Something Michael did before human history gained him this status, when the conflict began between satan and the fallen third and the other two thirds who stood with God.

 

Yet Michael, the archangel, has rulership over certain others.

 

Rev 12:7-8 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. And the dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.

 

And yet this messenger angel at a prior time gave encouragement and support of Michael.

 

Dan 11:1

"And in the first year of Darius the Mede [predecessor of Cyrus], I [messenger angel] arose to be an encouragement and a protection for him [Michael].

 

Dan 10:14 "Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future."

 

Dan 10:15 And when he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless.

 

Dan 10:16 And behold, one who resembled a human being was touching my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, and said to him who was standing before me, "O my lord, as a result of the vision anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength.

 

In his vision he saw the Lord (vs. 5-6). Though we approach the throne of grace with boldness we should never lose sight of His awesomeness and our nothingness.

 

Hence it is a throne of grace. Confidence is not to be associated with arrogance.

 

Dan 10:17 "For how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there remains just now no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me."

 

Dan 10:18 Then this one with human appearance touched me again and strengthened me.

 

Every time Daniel got weak the angel touched him to restore and strengthen him. All positive believers should expect this continual supply of fresh spiritual strength.

 

Dan 10:19 And he said, "O man of high esteem, do not be afraid. Peace be with you; take courage and be courageous!" Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said, "May my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."

 

Dan 10:20 Then he said, "Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come.

 

When the difficulty of one enemy of satanic influence passes we can be sure that another one will come.

 

Once the demon king of Persia has been defeated, Greece will rise up next [about 190 years later] and this angel and Michael will fight the demon prince of Greece, and quite successfully it turns out, for Alexander the Great will conquer Persian and be favorable to the Jews.

 

 

If you want to avoid these continual conflicts then quit your positive volition towards doctrine and conform to the world, for the world loves its own, and the ruler of the world will take no notice of you.

 

But remember, if you don’t want to quit and find yourself at times needing the courage to soldier on…

 

Joh 16:29

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

 

Dan 10:21 "However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince.

 

There is a spiritual world unseen, which is closely connected with the world of sense that meets our eyes. This chapter draws aside the veil, and gives us a glimpse into the spirit-world, where we see the hidden springs which govern the movements adverse to the people of God in our world, and also the counteracting agency of the loving angels, who, by God's commission, defend His Church on earth. How solemn is the thought that we are not only a "spectacle to angels" (1 Cor 4:9), but are a subject of the liveliest and most personal interest to them!

 

1Co 4:9

For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

 

If angels of darkness, far more powerful than we, are against us, blessed be God, angels of light, more than able to thwart their sinister designs, are our spiritual champions arrayed on our side, and shall foil all the adversary's designs against us. If indeed we are believers that are not currently under divine discipline.

 

This reveals three other important things.

 

First, that satan’s demon generals rule apostatedemonic nations from behind the scenes. Eph 4:26

Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger

 

Secondly, though these demonized nations may hinder the work of God, as He so allows it to, they will never stop the work of God although His work may be delayed in our eyes.

 

Thirdly, there are always a few, in every generation that has the power to defeat the schemes of the devil, and so Michael and this messenger angel as well as Gabriel and I’m sure many others represent the CA invisible hero.

 

Jesus Christ controls human history, as most revealed when He ends it all by folding it up like a garment. Heb 1:12.

 

Believer’s can bow out of the conflict and not garner any demon attention. There will be less pressure, less horrific circumstances, and no suffering as Christ. Michael and angels like him long ago stood up to God adversaries, not as though God needed their help in any way, but that in revealing their love for God and His truth.

 

Phi 3:10-11

that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.