Role of Angels

New Testament November 5, 2012 Role of Angels Unlike most books in the Bible, where they are mostly historical, Revelation is a book on prophecy. It is believed that John the Apostle. The word ‘revelation’ means ‘unveiling’, it is the unveiling of an apocalypse. It is the only apocalyptic book in the Bible. In Revelation, Jesus will come again to show his servants what is going to happen. This is similar to the Gospel of John, where Jesus comes to show what his Father has shown him.Angles come from the Greek word from a , meaning angel, or â€Å"knowledge† (â€Å"Angels today: all about angels†) also the term angel† in Aramaic, MALAKHA, means â€Å"messenger†. Angels have the knowledge of God’s word and are messengers to spread his word. Angels are also found in many religions, including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. They are either guardians or messengers from God, â€Å"In some cultures, they are believed to be the mo st powerful type of fairy† (â€Å"Angels today: all about angels†).Is there a hierarchy in Angles? There are some that believe there is. â€Å"Scholars of the Middle Ages believed that angels and archangels were lowest in the order because they were the most involved in the world of men and thus more susceptible to sin. † (â€Å"Angels today: all about angels†). The hierarchy according to Angels today are; first hierarchy seraphim and cherubim. Seraph is mentioned in Isaiah 6:1-7 with six wings, two covered their faces, two covered with feet and two were for flying.Cherubim’s are mentioned in Ezekiel 1:5 as, appearance form that of a man, but each of them had four faces and four wings, their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf, under their wings they had hands of a man. Second hierarchy includes dominions and powers or authorities, mentioned in Ephesians 6:12 â€Å"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against th e rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms†. The third and final tier of the hierarchy is the angels’ archangels.Angels are known as the messages of God. Archangels come from Greek meaning chief angel. The word Archangel only comes up twice in the New Testament and only once with an angels name, Archangel Michael in Jude 1:9. It’s noted that the word archangel is never plural in the New Testament, but in other books there is other mentions of other archangels; Raphael in the Book of Tobit, Uriel in the second Book of Esdras and Gabriel is believed to be an archangel but has no direct mentions of it. It is the making of four archangels.Angels play an important role in the book of Revelation, being involved with many of God's judgments upon the earth. Revelation starts with the breaking of the seven seals. The first four summon the Four Horsemen, White Horseman to conquer and spread the gospel, Red Horseman represents war to make man slaughter each other, Black Horseman represents famine, and the Pale Horseman represents death (Rev 6:1-8). The fifth seal brought the souls of those who had been slain because of the words of God to the altar (Rev 6:9). The sixth seal caused a great earthquake (Rev 6:12).When the seventh seal was broken, seven angels came down from heaven with seven trumpets representing the seven plagues (Rev 8:2). First trumpet sounded and hail and fire mixed with blood is hurled to the earth. One third of earth is burned up; one third of trees and all green grass is burned up. Second trumpet sounded and a huge, blazing mountain thrown into sea; one third of the sea turned to blood; one third of sea creatures died; one third of ships destroyed. Third trumpet sounded and a blazing star fell on one third of rivers and springs of water, one third of waters turned bitter killing many people.Forth trumpet sounded and one third of sun, moon , and stars are struck, one third of the day was dark and one third of night. Fifth trumpet sounded and a star fallen from the sky is given the key to unlock the abyss. The sun, moon, and stars were darkened by smoke from the abyss as locusts came down upon the earth; these creatures had power to torment those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads for five months. Sixth a release the four angels bound at the river Euphrates; one third of mankind is killed; a two hundred million man army is organized and activated. Rev 8-9). Seventh angel blew his horn starting the battle of Armageddon, then came flashes of lightning, rumbling, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake (Rev 16:16-17). Some of these plagues are very similar to the plagues of Moses. The first trumpet is similar to the eighth plague in Moses, the Lord said ‘Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt and Festering boils will break out on men and animals throughout the land. (Exodus 9:8-9). The second trumpet is like the first plague in Moses, where every stream, canal, reservoir, and even the water in wooden buckets and stone jars were turned to blood (Exodus 7:19). The fourth trumpet is like the ninth plague, and the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out tine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days (Exodus 10:21-22).Finally the locusts coming from abyss and tormenting those without the seal of God, is both like the locusts of the eighth plague, bringing locusts to Egypt in Exodus 10:4 and that without the sign on them from Exodus 9:8. The start of Armageddon could have well before Revelation, but in Revelation 12:7-9, â€Å"And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.He was hurled to the earth and his angels with him†. This all-out war in heaven forced Satan down to earth and to be enslaved till the day of Armageddon. â€Å"Satan, being a very intelligent foe, well remembers how he was outgunned in that battle. His angels are no match for Christ (Michael) and heavens angel army, so if they ever meet again he will need serious reinforcements. † (Cross). After Satan was defeated and sent to hell, one could imagine how Satan must have felt and waiting, planning for the day he could come back for one last final battle.After being defeated in heaven he will be looking for a fairer playing field, here on earth. Satan is preparing his army during the blowing of trumpets and the seven plagues. â€Å"The n they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon† (Rev 16:16). The start of the battle of Armageddon starts in Revelation 19, â€Å"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one but he himself knows.He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords†. Who is this guy on the white horse? The White Horseman? He’s not the Ki ngs of kings or the Lord of lords.Is this Jesus himself setting off into a glorious battle, or just another angel or heavenly being. To sum up what the battle of Armageddon is, â€Å"It is simply the final battle between Satan and his armies fighting against Christ and his armies for mastery and ownership of the world, and the final defeat of Satan’s rebellion †¦ and human against human, the 200,000,000 man army created by the kings of the earth and Christ. The outcome is such that sinners are destroyed and all sin is contained, for 1000 years† (Cross). Revelation 21 â€Å"The New Jerusalem† is the only time a New Jerusalem is mentioned. Because the book was written after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in A. D. 70† (Price). During Jesus times, his disciples wanted him to bring them a New Jerusalem and bring power back from the Romans. There is a slight reference to the destruction of the temple by the Romans in Revelations. â€Å"I did no t see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb is its temple† (Rev 22:22). The best description of this New Jerusalem is, â€Å"made ready as a bride adorned for her husband†¦ the bride, the wife of the Lamb† (Rev 21:2-9).Randall Price pointed out the Jewish tradition that John would have knew well and the metaphor that is used in Revelation 21. â€Å"In John 14:2. The background of the marriage metaphor is the Jewish custom of the bridegroom husband leaving the bride at the betrothal to prepare a new house where they would dwell together once he returned to take away his bride. † (Price). This city is heaven on earth, â€Å"Nothing impure will ever enter, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life† (Rev 21:27).In Revelation 22, there is another angel that shows John the river of the water of life and the tree of life. The river flowed from th e throne of God down the middle of the great city â€Å"New Jerusalem† and the tree of life â€Å"bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of nations. No longer will there be any curse. † (Rev 22: 2-3). This is the city of God and is protected from all things evil. After John had witnessed this vision he fell down before the angel who showed him, and the angel told him, â€Å"Do not do it!I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and all who keep words of this book. Worship God! † Today we see many influences of angels in the modern world. There are shows like Touched by an Angel and Supernatural and show angels in them. These shows show the interaction of angels with people and the hierarchy of angels. The angels in Revelation are the beginning of Armageddon, come to fight the army of Satan and show the promised land of New Jerusalem. Work Cited â€Å"Angels today: al l about angels†.Web. November 4, 2012. Cross, Jack. The Apocalypse of Jesus; the Angels and the Earth, â€Å"Revelation† 2012. Web. November 4, 2012. Cross, Jack. The Apocalypse of Jesus; the Angels and the Earth, â€Å"Ehe End of the Conflict† 2012. Web. November 4, 2012. Price, Randall. â€Å"The New Jerusalem†. Jerusalem in Prophecy, Harvest House Publishers. 1998. Digital File. November 4, 2012. Zondervan NIV Study Bible. Fully rev. ed. Kenneth L. Barker, gen. ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002. Print. November 4, 2012.