REVELATION 12:7-12
ANGELS: GOD’S SERVANTS FOR GOD’S PEOPLE.
In
the name + of Jesus.
When we start to delve into the spiritual
realm of angels and demons, things can get confusing. Scripture speaks about things that are
unseen, but it does not provide all the information we might want. Since we cannot see what is unseen, we are
often perplexed by it. For example, it
appears that in Old Testament times, Satan had access to the presence of God. The most familiar account is when Satan challenged
Job. “There was a day when the sons
of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came
among them” (Job 1:6). We hear how,
in the days of King Ahab, a lying spirit came before the Lord and promised to
entice King Ahab to his death through false prophets. St. Jude writes how Satan contended with St.
Michael over the body of Moses. So, it
appears that Satan had access to God’s presence for a while.
But then St. John wrote, “Now war arose
in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but
he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven” (Revelation
12:7-8). We will consider the war later. But the point is that the devil no longer has
any access to the glory of God; for the angels have driven out the devil and
his demons.
While the angels are spiritual beings,
they are still creatures whom God has made.
We do not know on which day of creation God created the angels, but
since everything that was created was created during those first six days, the
angels were created during that time. God’s
assessment of his creation at the end of day six is this: “God saw everything
that he had made and, behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). At that point in time, everything was perfect. But it was probably very soon after the sixth
day that the devil and his demons rebelled.
So now, there are good angels, and there are evil angels whom we call
demons.
The angels are much more powerful than we are;
therefore, we are impressed by them. We would
be frightened at the sight of them because they are holy. Just ask the shepherds in the Bethlehem
fields or the women at the Easter tomb.
St. John certainly was humbled before one. He wrote in Revelation, “I fell down to
worship at the feet of the angel who showed (this revelation) to me, but he
said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am
a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with
those who keep the words of this book. Worship God’” (Revelation 22:8-9). We do not worship the angels or call upon them
in prayer. They are God’s servants, not God. Our worship and our prayers are reserved for
the Lord.
The angels are God’s servants for God’s
people. The writer to the Hebrews asks
this rhetorical question: “Are they not all ministering spirits sent
out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation” (Hebrews
1:14)? Not everyone on earth has an
angel. Those who are outside the kingdom
of God are captives of the devil, and he fights to keep them. But the angels serve you because you are God’s
redeemed. They act to guard and keep you
so that the devil would not overcome you.
They are God’s servants for God’s people.
Now to address some misunderstandings. People do not become angels when we die. No matter how popular or endearing this idea
is, it is wrong. God created people to
be people. You remain you in heavenly
glory, although with a spiritual and glorified body. The angels remain angels. Nor is there anything in Scripture to tell us
that departed relatives watch over us. We
must stick to what God does tell us. And
the Lord tells us that the angels watch over us. They are God’s servants for God’s people.
The Bible is also unclear if one guardian
angel has been assigned to you. Perhaps,
but perhaps there are more than one. The
Bible says that the number of angels is myriads upon myriads, often translated
10,000 times 10,000. The number of
angels is great, but it does not increase.
Jesus told us, “In the resurrection (the saints) neither marry
nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven” (Matthew 22:30). The angels do not need to procreate in order
to produce the next generation of angels.
On earth, we have to. But it is
not so in the heavenly kingdom. Whether
saints or angels in heaven, all are eternal.
There are no maternity wards or mortuaries. The number is fixed.
The angels also served a key function in
the Bible: They were messengers. That is
what the word angel means, “messenger.”
They proclaimed peace on earth and good will toward men when God the Father
sent his Son into the world to serve as our Savior. They were at the tomb on Easter morning to
declare to the women that Jesus is risen from the dead. Sin, death, and the devil have been conquered
by Jesus. This message is now repeated
through mortal messengers because that is how God delivers his salvation to
you. God’s grace is revealed and delivered
through words.
The war in heaven came to an end when St.
Michael and his angels drove the devil and his demons out, but the devil has come
down to earth. The war rages here. It is a battle for the hearts, minds, and
souls of people. When we hear it is a war,
we may think of blades, bullets, and bombs.
But this is a spiritual battle, and the weapons are words. That is how the devil attacks and ensnares you. The devil is described by St. John as “the
great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the
devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). The serpent makes us mindful of the temptation
in the Garden of Eden. Now, where is a
serpent dangerous—or for that matter, a dragon?
In his mouth. That is where the fangs
and the venom are. That is where a viper
inflicts his victim with pain and death.
The devil attacks you from his mouth, too.
St. John calls him Satan, which means “accuser.” The devil accuses you of your sins, even the ones
that are distant history. He makes your
shame wound fresh all over again, causing you to relive your sin. The guilt he lays on you is real, and it
torments you. St. John tells you that
this is to be expected. “The accuser
of our brothers … accuses them day and night before our God” (Revelation
12:10). Satan would have you
question whether sins that still haunt you are really forgiven. He would try to convince you that your sins
still stick to you. But the devil is a liar. The devil does not lie about your sins; the
lie is that your sins still stand against you.
If the devil’s words ever torment you over your sins, then shove this
word in the devil’s face: “The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us of all sin”
(1 John 1:7). Jesus has cleansed you
and renders you pure and innocent before the Father. Therefore, the devil’s accusations cannot
stand. It is just as St. John recorded, “They
have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 12:11).
The war continues to be waged on earth,
and Satan fights fiercely. St. John
warns, “Woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in
great wrath, because he knows that his time is short” (Revelation 12:12). He cannot overcome Jesus. He cannot snatch you and rip you out of the kingdom
of God. But he will entice you to leave
the kingdom through deception. The devil
uses his words to twist and distort God’s word, and he deceives people. He tries to mimic God’s word so that his
words sound right. He appeals to your
feelings and emotions. He wants you to
trust your own reason and follow your own heart. But if your reason and your heart have been
corrupted by sin, what you follow will be corrupt, too. That is why St. John wrote, “(The saints)
have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their
testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death”
(Revelation 12:11, emphasis added). God’s
word preserves us from the devil’s deceptions.
We forsake a life that is guided by sinful impulses, and we take every
thought and make it captive to Christ. By
his word and sacraments, Jesus preserves us in the faith, works in us a godly
life, and gives eternal life. If our
thoughts will be captive to Christ, then we must read his words, mark, learn,
and inwardly digest them. This is how
Satan is overcome. This is how the
battle is won.
Our victory is found in Jesus Christ
alone. Deliverance comes through the blood
of the Lamb. And to keep us secure, the
Lord Jesus gives us his holy blood in the holy supper. From this altar, the body which rose from
death and lives is fed to us for our eternal life. From this altar, the blood which was shed to
atone for our sins is given to us for our forgiveness. Here, the devil is cast down and chased
away. For, he cannot stand against the
Savior who lives and reigns over all things.
When we gather for the heavenly feast, the
whole Church in heaven and on earth join in praise of God. We join the angels in the song from heaven: “Holy,
holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.”
They join with us in the song from earth: “Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the
highest!” Voices blend together
to marvel at God’s goodness. We sing God’s
praise because he joined himself to us to bestow his salvation. The angels sing because they marvel that God would
make himself a man in order to redeem mankind.
In worship, the angels serve God just as we do. The angels are God’s servants with us to
declare the wonders of our Lord.
When our last hour comes, the angels will still
be God’s servants for God’s people. Just
as the angels carried Lazarus to Abraham’s side, so they will come to escort your
soul to heavenly glory. If Satan would
dare to contest your admission into heaven, St. Michael and all his angels will
rebuke him in the Lord’s name. For, you
are the Lord’s redeemed, and Satan cannot have you. When the resurrection of all flesh shall
come, God will send his angels to gather his people from all the ends of the
earth. They will divide the redeemed
from the condemned, and our Lord will usher us into the heavenly home from
which the devil, his demons, and all evils have been banished.
“Therefore, rejoice,
O heavens and you who dwell in them” (Revelation 12:12)! Rejoice together, angels and archangels and
all the company of heaven! For the devil
has been cast down. The ancient serpent
has been crushed under food. The Accuser
has been silenced. The Lord Jesus lives
and reigns. And he will bring us to live
and reign with him.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
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