Revelation 1:16 And He had in His right hand seven stars:
This specific detail the Apostle John saw as He turned to see who was speaking to Him. Doubtless he saw Jesus Christ in His full eternal glory. And in His right hand, John saw seven stars. Jesus Christ revealed the mystery, concerning these seven stars in,
Revelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in My right hand, and the seven golden candle sticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candles sticks which thou sawest are the seven churches
These holy angels are ministering angels of God Most High. They are not there to protect the church, because the Book of Revelation does not tell us or show us, they are cherubs.
They strictly write down all that the Lord Jesus Christ tells them for each church they are assigned to, as is written to each church in Revelation 2-3.
“Unto the angel of the church of___________ write;”
You see, they await the Lord Jesus Christ’s commands, since Jesus Christ is the head of all the church body (Ephesians 5:23 and Colossians 1:18).
Angels are commonly mistaken by all “ufologist” and “ancient astronaut theorists” as extraterrestrials (i.e. Space Aliens). I’m just going to put this out there right here and right now… there is no such thing as “Space Aliens” from other planets.
I know that’s hard to believe, since we live on a tiny little planet in a vast universe consisting of millions of solar systems.
Isaiah 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I Am the LORD; and there is none else.
So, we read here, Jesus Christ is testifying that He Himself and God His Father, created Heaven (Gen. 1:1/John 1:1-3) and the universe (Gen. 1:14-19/Colossians 1:13-19)
God also created the earth and inhabited the earth. It is not mentioned that they inhabited the universe and all other planets.
Now here’s what the Holy Bible does say about what’s in the heavens, meaning both Heaven (the dwelling place of God and Jesus Christ His Son) and the universe.
Isaiah 45:12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even My hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
Hosts are in the heavens, not “space aliens!” What is a host? The short answer is: ‘an army or company of angels.” it comes from the Hebrew word: צבאות – sabaoth or tzva’ot, which translates “armies.”
Here’s what the Holy Bible teaches, God created the heavens and the earth. Inhabited the earth. Angels, in which He also created, whom He commands are in the heavens.
And that’s who Ezekiel and the Apostle John saw…angels; not space aliens (i.e. “extraterrestrials”)
And these Scriptures are coming from God directly, who is the truth and knows all things better than any of us! So we can put this extraterrestrial mythology and theories to rest.
Angels Are Celestial Beings
In our first line of business in this study, a question may be going through your minds all throughout the years, what are angels? The simple answer is, they are celestial beings.
Celestial is defined in a couple of ways, depending how the word is used. In one way, it can be ‘related to or suggesting Heaven or divinity’ in some way.
Take for example, the Christian fiction novel ‘The Pilgrim’s Progress;’ written by John Bunyan. He uses the word “celestial,” describing a spiritually divine city in Heaven.
Another way the word “celestial” is used, to describe inhabitants of Heaven, commonly known as “angelic” beings. And lastly it is used in ‘relation to the visible heavens (such as the universe, describing what we commonly know as stars, the sun and the moon).’
In this study, we will be using this word to describe Biblical “angelic” beings. These celestial beings have their own appearance in the spiritual realm. They can be invisible in the physical realm. They are known in the Holy Bible as spirits in,
Hebrews 1:13-14 But to which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
And they can also take on the appearance of an ordinary human being, as is shown us in,
Zechariah 2:1-3 I LIFTED up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then said I, Whither goest thou?
And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof. And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him.
Also, according to the Holy Bible angels are stars. We’re not talking about the balls of light and gas astronomers call stars, that God Most High, the Father of Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ Himself created and affixed in their places in the universe, for the soul purpose of lights, signs, seasons, days and years (Genesis 1:14-19).
But the stars that I’m referring to here, according to certain Holy Scriptures, are celestial beings. Take for example Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Notice, these stars are singing. How can a ball of light and gas sing? They don’t. So these are none other than angelic celestial beings.
That’s why angels are described in Revelation 1:16 as “stars” in the right hand of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul ministered about celestial beings having one type of flesh, which is NOT terrestrial or extraterrestrial,
1 Corinthians 15:39-41 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
There are also celestial bodies and bodies of terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one differeth from another star in glory.
There Are Different Kinds of Holy Angels
There are different kinds of holy angels, depending on their function of operation according to God’s design, plan and purpose.
Nehemiah 9:6 Thou, even Thou art LORD alone; Thou hast made Heaven, the heaven of heavens, and with all their host,
Remember, the word “host” is defined as: “An army; company; service’. Which is revealing to us, when God created all His Heavenly host, He gave each of them names
Psalm 147:4 He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by name
Not only are angels numbered and named, but they also have rank and service. God designed each of them with their specific task and purpose according to God’s perfect will.
In this study, we will only cover:
Worship Angels
Protection Angels
Ministering Angels
Messenger Angels
Battle Angels
Worship Angels
There are different worship angels. One of them is known as the Morning Stars. You also have the Seraphim and the Four Living Creatures mentioned in the Holy Bible as well.
Seraphim: Are worship angels around God’s throne. The word Seraphim is a Hebraic word which translates: ‘Fiery, Burning Ones.” They are only mentioned one time throughout the Holy Bible.
They are our examples to be burning with passion and zeal when magnifying God in our praise and worship to Him with all our hearts. For this is how God desires us to praise and worship Him at home in our prayer closet and publicly in church.
Isaiah 6:1-4 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.
Above it stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
And one cried unto another and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
The Four Living Creatures:
Revelation 4:8 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.
But, apparently these living creatures are actually cherubim, because these same living creatures that John saw, most likely are the same as what the Prophet Ezekiel saw in Ezekiel 1. Later in chapter 10 he describes these same angels as cherubim. Which brings us to this next point:
Protection Angels
There’s a type of angels that are assigned with the specific task to protect. And they are known in the Holy Bible as Cherubim.
These four living creatures that are at the throne of God, not only are there to worship God without ceasing, they are also assigned and equipped to protect God’s Throne.
As is shown us, when God commanded Moses to build the Ark of the Covenant, which is the type and shadow of things in Heaven (Hebrews 8:5 & 9:1-5).
He commanded him to fashion two cherubim and place them on top of the lid of the Ark of the Covenant; also known as the “Mercy Seat” (Exodus 25:18-22).
In the Book of Genesis, God assigned cherubim to protect the fruits of the Tree of Life from being eaten, after the fall of mankind (Genesis 3). Lest man live forever in their sins
Genesis 3:24 So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Ministering Angels
There are holy ministering angels, who specifically minister God’s word from not only God Himself or the Lord Jesus Christ, but also ministering from God’s Holy Bible, when He sends them. Testifying that the Holy Bible is the truth. One great example of this is found in,
Revelation 14:6-7 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of Heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour has come: and worship Him that made Heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water.
Another great example of ministering angels is found in Revelation 2-3, where each church that Jesus Christ built and walks among, is an angel to write down all that Jesus Christ spoke, and minister to the churches.
Messenger Angels
There are certain angels assigned with a specific task in carrying a message from God directly to God‘s people, if God chooses to do so that way. And these angels are messengers from God.
The Holy Bible only mentions one in particular by the name of Gabriel, who is one of God’s direct messengers.
Luke 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
But Gabriel is not the only messenger. There are other holy angels, whom God sends to speak His message, as an example,
Revelation 14:8-9 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Battle Angels
As Jesus Christ was being betrayed by Judas, one of His disciples unsheathed his sword, cutting off the ear of a servant of the High Priest named Malchus (John 18:10). That disciple was actually aiming to lop off the man’s head and missed.
While this sudden burst of chaos erupted for a brief moment, Jesus Christ alludes to the fact that He can ask His Father to dispatch more than 12 “legions” of holy angels to battle against His enemies in the garden of Gethsemane,
Matthew 26:51-54 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
The word legion is a specific word Jesus Christ uses. it’s a military terminology of a specific number of a company of angels. The Roman definition of a legion is 3000-6000 “soldiers” in each legion.
Angelic Hierarchy
Another interesting fact about angels, there is a hierarchical system in the angelic realm. Much like our military. Most likely where mankind modeled the military from.
Take for example, Michael “the archangel.” The word “Archangel” is only found twice in the entire Holy Spirit inspired; Holy Bible. In fact it is only found in the New Testament. It’s a Greek word “Archaggelos” [Ar-Khang-el-os]. And it is defined as ‘chief angel.’
So, with this information we now know that Michael (which translated from the Hebrew and in the Greek: Who (is) like God?) is a high ranking angel, who leads God’s holy army to battle in the spiritual realm. He is specifically assigned the task of protecting Jews and the nation of Israel in battle.
This is why he is mentioned a few times in the Holy Bible, in battle with the devil, always around God’s treasured possessions, the Jews and the nation Israel: Daniel 12: 1-3; Jude :9 and in Revelation 12:7.
This reveals to us, of what we know through the Holy Spirit inspired Scriptures, there is a military army of angels, who fights battles in the heavenly realm.
So, ranks amongst angels are named in the Holy Bible as we saw with Archangel Michael. Captain is also another rank among angels that is revealed to us in,
Joshua 5:13-15 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
And the captain of the LORD’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
The Angel of The Lord
God also speaks through His angel; the angel of the Lord. There’s a lot of misconceptions about this specific angel. He is, in essence, a mystery.
All because in some Scriptures he speaks in a 1st person manner, causing the reader to believe this is God Most High, disguising Himself as an angel.
And in other Scriptures, he seems to be relaying a direct message from God. Others confuse “The angel of the Lord” to “an angel of the Lord.” or “an angel of God.” to be one in the same. Or simply confuse the angel of the Lord to be Jesus Christ.
Many have tried to figure this mysterious holy angel out, and in the process have come up with some weird doctrines that really don’t hold any water.
I don’t pretend to know a whole lot about him, and we are not going to get deeply into this either. We are only going to highlight the basics of who the angel of the Lord is not, and what he is according to the Scriptures.
You may have heard sermons at your local church, or studies on TV through several ministries. Or various commentaries speculating over the years, the angel of the Lord being Jesus Christ.
And may even bring forth plausible artifacts to support this interpretation. And we can even quote what has been taught throughout the years. But there are a couple of problems with this doctrine.
First off, the angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream after Jesus Christ’s birth, instructing him to flee to Egypt, for king Herod is seeking to kill Jesus Christ (Matthew 2:13).
So, the question is, how can Jesus Christ be physically present on earth as a young child sleeping, while being the angel of the Lord in Joseph’s dream spiritually? The answer is simply, He didn’t, because He’s not the angel of the Lord.
Next, Jesus Christ is the Almighty just like God His Father! As He stated to the Apostle John in
Revelation 1:8 I Am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Almighty: ‘All powerful with unlimited power; Omnipotent’
Not one angel is almighty, only God and Jesus Christ are! All angels are limited in power in themselves comparing to God. Even though compared to mankind, they possess what we call, “superhuman strength.”
But they do not possess the Almighty strength and power of God, until God lends His angels His strength and power to carry out His commands. It is written of them, that they excel in strength, but notice, they are not almighty in power
Psalm 103:20 Bless the LORD, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, harkening unto the voice of His words.
And Most importantly, Jesus Christ can never be an angel.! You see, He and the Father created all holy angels. So He has always been greater than the angels, since He is eternal. We dealt with this issue in a few studies ago in: Revelation 1:4-6 (Jesus Christ Who Was, Is And Is To Come)
Hebrews chapter 1 shows us that Jesus Christ is not an angel and never was an angel and never will be an angel.
Hebrews 1
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;
Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee? And again, I will be unto Him a Father, and He shall be to Me My Son?
And again, when He bringeth in the first begotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him. And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.
But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom.
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands:
This is what God Most High, the Father of Jesus Christ is testifying about His only begotten Son; Jesus Christ
They shall perish; but Thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.
But to which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool?
You see, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, hath God given His kingdom to, not holy angels. It is Jesus Christ who sits down at the right hand of God, not a holy angels.
It is Jesus Christ whom God His Father appointed heir of all things, and is the brightness of His (God’s) glory; not holy angels.
It is Jesus Christ who created the heavens, the earth and the sea; and all things that are in them; who also created the angels with God His Father.
This is why angels worship Jesus Christ, because He is their Creator. This is why it is written of Him in,
John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.
Which concurs in verse 2 and in verse 10 of Hebrews 1, “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;” “And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands:”
This is the very reason why Jesus Christ is not the angel of the Lord, because He is not an angel, but Creator. And no angel ever created. No matter how high ranking an angel may be.
Since Jesus Christ and God His Father created all holy angels, He is above all angels. It is when, He denied Himself, and came down from Heaven (Ephesians 4:7-10), and was “made flesh” (John 1:14) by the virgin birth, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18-23);
It is only then He “became a little lower than the angels (Hebrews 2). Because Gods hierarchy is simply this:
God Most High (Supreme Ruler of all creation)
Jesus Christ; God’s only begotten Son; Savior, Messiah; Lord
Holy Spirit
angels
man
animals; creature of the deep; fowls of the air; insect
And lastly, If Jesus Christ is the angel of the Lord, how can He stand beside Himself?
Since in the Book of Revelation 1:1 states as fact, [paraphrasing] ‘that God gave Jesus Christ the revelations contained in the Book of Revelation, and showed it unto His servants (Christians). After Jesus Christ sent and signified it (the details contained in the Book of Revelation) by His angel (the angel of the Lord) unto John.’
So, what is the angel of the Lord? He is a messenger angel. Whom in times past, God sent to be His direct messenger to God ‘s righteous people. Gabriel is not God’s only messenger angel.
He has several others, One being the angel of the Lord, and in various places in the Book of Revelation we find holy angels heralding God’s message to mankind.
One preaching the everlasting Gospel (Revelation 14:6-7). Others ministering warnings and so forth (Revelation 14:8-9).
This demonstrates God’s love, mercy and omniscience throughout all generations of mankind. It is also written that God commands His angels to do His will, as it is written:
Isaiah 45:12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even My hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
The angel of the Lord has also been given orders by God to smite and bring forth judgment.
A perfect example of this is found in, 2 Kings 19, where the king of Assyria at the time was troubling the hearts; threatening war and slavery to God people of Israel, blaspheming the name of God in the process.
God promised His people that He will protect them and Jerusalem. Then the angel of the LORD went out and slaughtered the camp of the Assyrians, in,
2 Kings 19:35-36 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand:
and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. So Sennacherib King of Assyria departed, and went and returned and dwelt at Nineveh.
Hope For A Hopeless Generation 