ANGELS—THEIR POWER AND GLORY.
1. WHAT can you say of the power of the angels? "Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word." Ps. 103:20. 2. How is one spoken of in another place? "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all." Rev. 18:21. 3. How does Paul speak of them? "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels." 2 Thess. 1:7. 4. How does Peter compare them with men? "Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord." 2 Pet. 2:11. 5. How rapidly are they said to go? "And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning." Eze. 1:14. 6. What does Daniel say on this point? "Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation." "At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee." Daniel 9:21, 23. 7. Show that angels can control the spirits of ferocious beasts. "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt." Dan. 6:22. 8. Show that they have power over the fiercest elements. "Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated." "Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego." "He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." "Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God." Dan. 3:19, 22, 25, 28. 9. How was the power of an angel shown in the deliverance of Peter? Acts 12:6-10. 10. Relate another circumstance showing the power of angels. "And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred for-score and five thousand; and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses." 2 Kings 19:35. 11. To whom is the protection of these angels promised? "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." Ps. 34:7. 12. What must be our connection with Christ, the commander of the angels, to secure their protection? "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in Heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven." Matt. 18:6, 10. 13. What kind of words and conduct will repulse these pure and holy ones from our presence? 14. In what form have the angels always appeared when seen? "Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation." Dan. 9:21.
"And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted." Mark 16:5. 15. Do they have hands, feet, faces, etc., the same as men have? "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; and he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night." "But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door." Gen. 19:1, 2, 10.
"Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz; his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude." Dan. 10:5, 6. 16. Does the Bible anywhere intimate that this is not their real form and appearance?—It does not. "And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat." Gen. 18:6-8. 19. Will not the glorified saints eat food in the kingdom? "And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Luke 22:29, 30.