Christian Living
The Conflict That Most People Are Unaware Of
●ARE ALL OF THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL ANGELS?
●WHAT DO ANGELS LOOK LIKE?
ARE ALL OF THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL ANGELS?
The devil is a cherub, who is the leader of a vast number of forces that have rank and subsequently have assigned to them different responsibilities.
Likewise, God has his forces, which are described albeit understandably using the same words.
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, Ephesians 3:10
Are all of the spiritual forces of evil, and we might as well add of godliness, angels?
Please go to the Book of Revelation.
These verses will unveil to us the name of a spiritual creature who is the leader of the angels of godliness. Do you know what his name is?
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, Revelation 12:7
So delineated here are the spiritual forces of godliness called angels under the leadership of someone named Michael along with the spiritual forces of evil called angels under the leadership of the dragon (the devil). It appears that the powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world are angels.
But what about the principalities, those who are of first rank like the devil and Michael, are they also angels?
Please go to the Book of Jude.
Michael The Archangel
Suggested Reading: Jude 1-21
Jude is writing a general letter to his fellow believers. As concerning their common salvation (the gift of new life that they have received), he urges them to defend, fight, and actively promote the faith (the main tenet of Christian teachings).
Apparently there were certain men (false teachers), who gained admission into the faith under false pretenses. They are called ungodly (in their thinking and living) men, who turn (change) the grace (forgiveness and power to overcome sin12) into lasciviousness (satisfying their own lusts; immoral perversion of spiritual privilege) thus promoting their sinful lifestyle and leading others to take an impure and profane liberty in sinning13. Thus they rejected being owned by Christ, having to submit to his rule.
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
After this declaration Jude gives different examples of: groups of people, individuals, angels, and even the devil, who chose to live in the same manner as these ungodly men, and who like them will receive recompense (divine retribution-punishment) for their transgressions.
One example that we will look at here concerns the story of Michael the archangel who was disputing with the devil concerning the body of Moses. The word “archangel” signifies that Michael was the chief of the Godly angels. This word “archangel” is found in the singular, which indicates that he was the sole chief of all of God’s angels. This word, however, doesn’t infer that he was the only archangel. This rendering of Michael being an archangel appears to signify that he is an angel.
9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
What about the devil, the cherub, is he an angel? He was not referred to as being an archangel as Michael was. There might be one more way to address this. But before we do, let’s take a look at why the devil contended with Michael for the body of Moses.
This story is not found in the Old Testament, but in writings known as “The Assumption of Moses”, which many believe were written in the first century. It alleges that Michael was given the task of burying the body of Moses by God, but the devil intervened claiming that he had power over this body and as such to do with it as he pleased. Why the devil would want his body is to say at the very least quite confusing? I don’t recollect there being contention for anyone else’s dead body in the scriptures.
Apparently, Michael refused to give him jurisdiction over Moses dead body. The devil apparently tried to use a reason as to why Moses body was his, which according to him was because in his younger days he had murdered an Egyptian. Michael did not respond to this charge by rebuking him, but left this matter in the hands of the Lord by saying, the Lord rebuke thee. The story ends with Michael being the one who buries Moses body.
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. Jude 9
Getting back to the devil as to whether he is angel. Believe it or not there is another heavenly creature that we haven’t mentioned. Do you know what the name of this creature is? This might help to shed some light as to whether the devil is indeed an angel or not.
Let’s go to Isaiah 6.
And One Cried Unto Another, And Said, Holy, Holy, Holy, Is The Lord Of Hosts
Suggested Reading: Isa 6:1-13
Isaiah, the prophet, receives a vision from God, who is sitting on a throne. Heavenly creatures, who are called seraphims, are seen worshipping Him. Isaiah was not only deeply impressed with the holiness of God, but also of his own unfitness to join in14.
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Isaiah 6:5
Then one of the seraphims took a hot stone and caused it to touch his mouth, and as a result all iniquity (implying conscious unworthiness of acting as God's messenger15) was removed, and his sin was purged (forgiven, in relation to the altar sacrifices).
After which he heard the Lord say, whom shall I send to go and speak to the Southern Kingdom of Judah, who because of their sin, rebellion, and worship of false gods are under my approaching judgment? Then Isaiah replied, send me.
These heavenly creatures appear to be located in the throne room of God, where they are found to be worshipping Him. Their name means fiery ones. One of the characteristics of their physical features is revealed to being that of having six wings.
1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
Even though their name is not mentioned it is believed that a further description of the seraphim as found in the Book of Revelation clearly reveals that there were indeed seraphim. The creatures mentioned here are found in the midst and round about the throne of God having six wings. Like cherubim, it appears that they had four faces and eyes all around.
And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, Revelation 4:6-9
So now we know that there are three heavenly creatures: the cherubim, the seraphim, and angels.
Can we deduce that all of these creatures are angels, and if this the case, then the devil would be an angel?
We’re getting closer in making a conclusion.
We have one more creature to look at as to their physical features, that being, of an angel. Hopefully this will provide for us the additional information that we need in order to answer these questions.
WHAT DO ANGELS LOOK LIKE?
Let’s begin by taking a look at a story in which a man named Lot was visited by two Godly angels. This is one of the best stories in which the physical characteristics, supernatural abilities, and the divine purpose of Godly angels are clearly delineated. Even though the purposes of the evil forces of Satan and the Godly forces of Michael are different we can deduce that their physical characteristics and supernatural abilities are similar.
And There Came Two Angels To Sodom At Even
Suggested Reading: Gen 19:1-29
The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are about to be destroyed by God, because of their wickedness.
Two angels came to the house of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. The word “angels” means messengers.
And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; Genesis 19:1
Lot invites them in, offering food, which they did eat, and shelter.
And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. Genesis 19:3
All of a sudden, Lot hears voices from the outside of his house. These voices are from the men of the city, who have surrounded his dwelling, asking him to deliver these men to them, so that they might know them (rape them, thus engaging in homosexual relations).
But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. Genesis 19:4-5
Lot steps outside and tries to appease them. He tells them that these men will not be delivered to them; however, they may have their way with his two daughters. The crowd is not satisfied with Lot’s response. They attempt to inflict harm on him, but he is brought back into his house by the two men.
Being enraged they decide to try to break down the door of the house in order to forcibly bring them out. The two men (angels) smote the ungodly men with blindness (confused or bewildered vision) so that they could not find the door.
And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door. Genesis 19:11
Lot was instructed by the angels to gather together any relatives and friends, because in the morning they were going to have to leave; as it was conveyed to him by these angels as to their mission, which was to destroy these cities. In a later verse it says that it was the Lord, who reigned down fire and brimstone on these cities. Maybe the way to reconcile these thoughts is to say that the angels were the ones who reigned down the fire and brimstone by means of God’s power.
On the following morning, the angels lead Lot and his family outside of the city encouraging them to find refuge in the mountains. Lot requests that they allow him to go to a little city called Zoar instead, to which the angels gave the ok.
And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it. Genesis 19:12-13
Once they had found safe refuge in Zoar, the Lord rained down brimstone and fire upon Sodom and Gomorrah, thus destroying these cities completely.
Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; Genesis 19:24
What can we surmise about these Godly angels in regards to their physical characteristics, supernatural abilities, and divine purpose?
●They looked like ordinary people, appearing in human form.
●They didn’t have any wings.
●They ate regular food.
●They were able to impede adversarial human beings with supernatural ability.
●They conveyed to Lot why they were there, another word what their divine mission was, which was to destroy the cities of the plain.
●They were able to destroy the cities of the plain with supernatural empowerment.
This heavenly creature doesn’t resemble the cherubim or seraphim in any physical way.
So there are two conclusions that can be made as to the spiritual forces of wickedness and the spiritual forces of Godliness.
All of the heavenly creatures are angels each with different physical characteristics and purposes due to rank.
All of the heavenly creatures are not angels. There are three distinct classifications of these creatures those being cherubim, seraphim, and angels each with different physical characteristics and purposes due to rank.
With this said, we are now going to look at the nefarious tactics that the devil and his angels use to try to keep those who are called born again Christians entrapped in human perception.
Let’s begin with the story that I’m sure we have heard or read before, that being of the fall of the first man Adam and his wife Eve in the Garden of Eden.
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