His Present Glory
Throughout the Gospels Jesus prophesies about his own future rule, especially using the language of Daniel 7:13. ““But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.” (Mark 13:24- 26).
There has been much speculation about these passages, but the timing of the events they describe seems clear. They will occur in “this generation” (13:30), the generation that asked about the time of the destruction of the temple (13:2 – 3). When Jesus declares to the High Priest, “you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”” (Mark 14:62) we should take him at his word[1].
Interpreting apocalyptic language as it is commonly used throughout scripture[2], what will be “seen” (Mark 13:26) is the manifest authority of Jesus in the gathering of the international people of God from “every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev 5:9). Whilst this may be commonplace to us, the New Testament continually refers to it as “the mystery of God”[3] . It marks a major transition in the history of salvation and the interrelationship in the angelic (holy and fallen) – human continuum.
Now Jesus is sending out his angels to gather in his elect (Mark 13:27)[4], they are a vital part of his placing all his enemies, including the demonic host, “under his feet”[5] today. This is the consistent military language of the New Testament, ““When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”” (Eph 4:8). These captives are the evil powers that once had an authority base in the guilt of man to block the ministry of the holy angels. Through the cross, their dominion over man is now ended and the Lordship of Jesus is progressively extended over all the nations once deceived by Satan[6].
Jesus is presently working through the church, which is “the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Eph1:23), to “fill all things” (Eph4:10) with his own powerful presence.
Lowliness releases the Angel Powers
In a way that was not possible before his earthly humiliation and heavenly enthronement, Jesus[7] is now Lord of both angels and saints[8]. Through Christ, a oneness of operation exists between the saints on earth and the angels in heaven that was previously impossible[9]. This is not some automatic event, but involves the active cooperation of the church. In the order of God revealed in Jesus, humiliation always precedes exaltation[10].
In speaking of the connection between heaven and earth, angels and humans, Jesus says, [11]““See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.””(Matt 18:10). Whilst in the immediate context the “little ones” are small children who follow Jesus, the language applies to all humble believers[12].
This points to the intimate connection between angelic activity and lowliness of life[13]. If the essence of the spirit of evil is, “‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high” (Isa 14:13)[14], humility before God is the foundation for exaltation[15]. The way of lowliness, the opposite spirit to “lofty opinion”[16], is the prerequisite for entering into that pleasure of God in Christ that moves him to release angelic powers.
Just as Jesus entered into authority over the angelic world via his sacrificial submission to God[17], when our angels in heaven behold the face of the Father[18] and see his pleasure at our suffering service for his kingdom, they are released to serve us. Having been through a long period of preparation and humbling in the church, I believe the time is near when angelic activity, visible or invisible, will increase.
Its primary manifestation in the church will not be in seeing or hearing angelic spirits[19], but freedom from legalism. The common legalism in the church[20] is caused not by “flesh and blood” (Eph 6:12) but the “the elemental spirits of the world” (Colossians 2:8, 20; Galatians 4: 3, 8-9)[21]. These spirits present the rules, regulations and the teachings of men as the way to please God. They keep the children of God in a form of spiritual infancy[22] by posing as guardians or tutors to immature Christian consciences[23] who cannot discern the difference between their suggestions and the voice of the Holy Spirit.
The time is coming when a resurgence in angelic activity will be manifest in an end to the sort of talk, “I am of Rick”, or, “I am of Bill”, or “I am of Brian”, or “I am of Phil”, or “I am of T.D.”[24]. Christians will only be interested in what Jesus is saying and doing. In other words, we should expect an explosion in “the testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophecy.” (Rev 19:10).
Mission is the Key
Elements of popular culture are intensely spiritual[25] and any consideration of angels must avoid superstition. The proper framework for an expectation of angelic visitation today is mission in the name of Jesus. Many of the key texts already discussed are overtly missional[26].
Because of the redemption of humanity in Christ, himself human, there is an angelic host available for the service of the children of God. In a summary of Christian devotion, Paul says, “Great we confess is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” (1 Tim 3:16)[27]. The angelic worship of Jesus Christ exists through and for the reconciliation of humanity in him; our rightful expectation of the manifestation of angelic power is in the context of mission. The angels the church and Jesus are of one heart when they are mutually committed to bringing “many sons to glory” (Heb 2:10)[28]. In the light of the preceding section, and the earthly ministry of Jesus himself[29], this will be especially concentrated in serving the weak and oppressed.
Interpreting the Images
The flat topped pyramid that was connected to Ephesians 3:10[30] concerns evidence to the evil powers of the power of the gospel, this evidence is the inclusion of the nations (people groups) in the people of God[31]. The multiplicity of nations gathered as one under Christ is “the manifold wisdom of God”. Each nation has a distinct glory[32], only when they are gathered together can the full glory of God in them be seen. According to the principle, “first …the natural, and then the spiritual.” (1 Cor 15:46), peoples from all over the world are gathering in the cities of Australia. Attending them, I believe, are angelic powers connected to the end time purposes of God[33]. Associated with each nation is an angel of destiny[34] so that angelic and human diversity most fully glorifies God.
Some years ago as I was praying for a local pastor well known for his commitment to mission, I had a picture of a meteor crossing the sky. At the time I believe it had to do with him being involved in a large scale release of young people to evangelise the nations in the name of Jesus. This morning I received an email from a prophetic intercessor in which she describes, “SHOOTING STARS ARE COMING FORTH FROM PERTH. to the surrounding nations..this is the vision I saw yesterday in church.” Against the background of this paper I believe these “shooting stars” symbolise angels whom Jesus is commissioning to go out with his people from WA to the ends of the earth.
I believe the constellations I described at the start of this paper have a two fold meaning. They represent both angels and saints who together they are dedicated to “turn many to righteousness” (Dan 12:3). The power in which they do this is the power of the death and resurrection of Jesus, who, in the prophetic testimony of Isaiah, “by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.” (53:11).
Touching the Star
Returning to the very first image with which this article began, Christ as “bright morning star”, I believe that Jesus through the Spirit is saying to the church, “reach out and touch the star”[35]. If this is true it signifies that a long period of preparation and discipline is coming to an end. A new era is dawning when Jesus is inviting his purified church to share more deeply in his glory. This will involve a range of supernatural phenomena beyond our usual experience and expectation. These however are not to be our focus, for if they are the work of God will be frustrated. The very end of the Bible teaches us a final lesson, it is unity.
““I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” (Revelation 22:16- 17)
This text brings together, in a way that is perhaps unique in scripture, the four main figures of God’s work on the earth – Jesus, angels, the church and the Spirit. As long as Jesus is “the only star”[36] we can expect both the powerful ministry of the Spirit and angelic assistance to the church. God, heavenly powers and earthly beings reach a level of functional unity beyond the imagination of demons, angels and men[37]. Yet the key word in this scripture is the seemingly insignificant “Come”. Everyone in the story must say “Come”, Jesus is saying “Come”[38], the Spirit is saying “Come”[39], the holy angels are saying “Come”[40], is the church saying, “Come”?
Are the people of God calling “Come” – in their homes, friendships, businesses, educational institutions, government structures, offices, factories, hospitals, shops, sports fields, cafes and wherever the fullness of the person of Christ seeks to manifest himself. This is the great missionary call from heaven to the church today, if we embrace it, as I believe we shall, we will enter the domain of the angelic assistants of Jesus in the court of heaven. If we do not embrace it, all will remain the same.
[1] Matthew “from now on you will see” (26:64), and Luke “from now on” (Luke 22:69), are even clearer.
[2] See for example Amos 8:9 where the darkening of the sun refers to the destruction ofIsrael, and Joel 2:10, where it is a locust plague. Even more compelling is Peter’s use in Acts2:20 of the language of cosmic dissolution from Joel2:31, “The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood”, to describe the events of Pentecost.
[3] See Rom11:25;16:25 -26; Eph 3:1- 10;Col 1:26- 27; 1 Tim 3:16; Rev 10:7. All these texts in some way connect the gospel, Christ and the nations = Gentiles.
[4] See the role of angels in Mark 8:38, which draws on the heavenly court scene of Daniel 7 where Jesus is enthroned now. The background may be the presence of “holy ones” in Zechariah 14 (especially vv. 5, 16ff).
[5] Acts2:35; 1 Cor15:27; Heb1:13;10:13
[6] Within the language of Revelation, the devil and the beast deceive “those who dwell on earth” (12:9;13:14; 20:3, 8, 10). These people however are never the followers of the heavenly Lamb.
[7] My point here is that a human being is Lord of all (Acts10:36), not just the eternal Son of God.
[8] They are “his angels” (Matt13:41;16:27; 24:31; 2 Thess 1:7) and “his saints” (2 Thess1:10; Acts9:13).
[9] Even before the Fall; in Eden Adam seems to have had no active relationship with angels.
[10] The classic text is Phil 2:5- 11.
[11] Note, for example, the angelic visitations in Luke 1- 2 to ordinary devout persons.
[12] See Matt10:42;11:25; 25:40, 45.
[13] Angels are, “sent out to serve” (Heb1:14) and are “fellow servants” with those who testify of Jesus (Rev 19:10; 22:9). In scripture e.g. Luke 1- 2, they characteristically appear to the pious and oppressed.
[14] Whilst I do not believe in context this is a reference to Satan, this attitude is the essence of his evil.
[15] See James 4:6; 1 Pet 5:5- 6, ““God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you”.
[16] 2 Cor 10:4; it goes without saying how much self- confidence has penetrated certain sections of the church. Since God opposes the proud, this must be the fundamental reason for the lack of manifest angelic activity.
[17] See the argument from Hebrews 1:3ff.
[18] To behold the face of God is to be in a pleasing relationship with him (Pss. 24:6; 27:9; 42:2; 80:7 etc.).
[19] Obsession with angelic manifestations does not mature the people of God. Conceivably, “worship of angels” in Colossians2:18 means supposed “worship with angels”.
[20] About positions, church attendance, submission, tithing, bible reading, evangelism,morality etc.
[21] Elemental spirits were the gods of stars, finance and physical elements etc thought in the ancient world to control the destinies of men and women.
[22] This is an enormous topic, but pertinent scriptures include 1 Cor 3:1ff; Eph4:14; 1 John2:20, 27.
[23] Paul says that “when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary spirits of the world.” (Gal 4:3), i.e. in a state of immaturity that deferred to tutors others than Christ.
[24] See 1 Cor1:12. The illustrations areWarren, Hybels,Houston, Pringle and Jakes; this is not a statement about the intent of these gentlemen, but how they are followed by others influenced by evil powers.
[25] As in the influence of Oprah Winfey and various TV programmes about mediumship.
[26] Used in the broad sense of the expandingkingdom ofGod, e.g. Gen1:26- 28; Isaiah 6; Dan 7.
[27] See also Hebrew 1:6, “And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.””; where “the world” is the heavenly arena.
[28] Sonship is the glory, and it is what angels, Christians and Jesus essentially have in common.
[29] E.g. Luke4:18 – 19 “good news to the poor…. liberty to the captives…sight to the blind… liberty those who are oppressed… the year of the Lord’s favor.”
[30] “through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” (Eph3:10)
[31] See Ephesians 3:6.
[32] See Revelation 21: 26 “They will bring into it (the heavenlyJerusalem) the glory and the honor of the nations.
[33] That evil powers accompany them is also true, but not my emphasis here.
[34] By which I mean an angel whose vocation it is to bring members of that nation to the final glory of God.
[35] This is the framework of the letters to the seven churches in Revelation. Jesus addresses the angel of the church, describes himself, addresses the virtues and vices of the church, makes a promise, then commands, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev 2:7,11, 17, 29, 3:6, 13 ).
[36] Never has there been a time in history when the church has been more focused on celebrity ministries.
[37] I do not think fallen angels have any concept of relational unity at all, believers experience in the gospel “things into which angels long to look” (1 1Pet1:12) and God is “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or imagine” (Eph3:20).
[38] “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt11:28)
[39]Although this is explicit only in Revelation22:17, the Spirit cries “Come” in every gospel appeal.
[40] Revelation 4:1; 17:1; 18:4; 21:9