THE GREAT SALVATION by Geo. W. Reaser

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jan 2, 1907

THE GREAT SALVATION

By Geo. W. Reaser

GUARDIAN ANGELS.

Man's Helplessness and Need.

"The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them." Ps. 34:7.

WHAT is the necessity of angelic ministration? We are told that man, in the beginning, was created "a little lower than the angels," or "a little while inferior to the angels." Man's fall precipitated him to a plane physically, mentally, and morally much lower than that upon which he was placed by his Creator. This condition emphasizes the necessity for angelic ministration and protection. The utter helplessness of mortal man is only the strongest appeal to the Source of all strength for the companionship and guardianship of angels of might; for, if left to himself, he would sink to rise no more under the fierce assaults of the powers of darkness.

While angels are not on an equality with Christ, yet there is no occasion for discouragement to us in this fact, for they are ambassadors of the Government of Heaven, and as an ambassador of an earthly government has all of the strength of the nation which he represents vested in him, so, when God commissions an ambassador to come in behalf of His children from the courts of glory, He clothes him with all the strength sufficient for his mission. Therefore they are called "angels that excel in strength."

Examples of Power.

For our encouragement let us consider some examples of the work and strength of these ambassadors of the Great King. In the darkest hour of this world's history, when the lifeless form of the Son of God lay in Joseph's new tomb, with a strong guard of Roman soldiers keeping vigil, and doubtless a larger detachment of Satan's legions to hold Christ fast in the embrace of death, the moment having come for loosing the "pains of death," we are assured that A MAJESTIC ANGEL WAS SENT on lightning wing from heaven to the tomb, with the result that the soldiers "became as dead men," and the minions of Satan were scattered like chaff before the blast. The angel addressed the words of God to the lifeless form within the sepulcher, the life-current from God permeated every fiber of His being, and He came forth, victor over death and the grave, to live forevermore, and to impart eternal life to all who accept salvation through Him. Can we conceive of the power exercised by this ambassador?

During the earthly life of the Saviour, He had the constant companionship of angels, and when He was apprehended in the garden He assured His persecutors that even in that critical moment He could summon to His assistance more than twelve legions of angels. Does the Father grant to every trusting child the same protection that was vouchsafed to His Son?—We are assured that "the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them."

Take an example of the fulfilment of this promise. When Hezekiah was king of Judah, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, sent an army, whose numerical strength was above one hundred and eighty-five thousand valiant warriors, to besiege Hezekiah's capital city—Jerusalem. The commanding generals of the Assyrian army defied the armies of Israel and Jehovah the God of Israel, and exalted the strength of false gods, in whom they trusted; but Hezekiah inspired with courage the hearts of his fearful soldiers with these words: "Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him; for there be more with us than with him; with him is an arm of flesh but with Us Is the Lord Our God to Help Us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah."

When this godless and bloodthirsty army was preparing for the onslaught, Isaiah likened God's people to an innocent and gleeful maiden, standing safely and confidentially in the presence of a raging foe, and laughingly shaking her head in defiance of his fierce threats and violent demonstrations. The battle which followed was short but decisive. Against the Assyrian legions one angel only was sent from the army of Heaven. The history of the conflict is told in few words. Inspiration graphically describes the battle-scene. "The angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand." Byron portrays the scene thus:

"Like the leaves of the forest when summer is green, That host with their banners at sunset were seen; Like the leaves of the forest when autumn hath blown, That host on the morrow lay withered and strown. "For the angel of death spread his wings on the blast, And breathed in the face of the foe as he pass'd; And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill, And their hearts but once heaved, and forever grew still!"

Truly, "the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them."

Deliverance of Daniel.

Daniel, the beloved of the Lord, was once in special need of angelic deliverance. A royal decree secured by his jealous fellow statesmen and signed by Darius, the king over the mighty realm of Medo-Persia, had unalterably consigned any one who would direct any petition to any god or man save the king, for a period of thirty days, to a den of hungry lions. Daniel knew that the decree was signed, but he prayed as "aforetime" to the God of Israel. Satan's agents, on the alert, saw the man of God engaged in becoming devotions. With inward joy inspired by their master, they hasten to the king, who sees too late his folly, and tries to deliver the most faithful man in all his realm. The demands of an unjust and unalterable law are pressed. The king yields; Daniel is precipitated into the den of ravenous beasts of prey.

The king, returning to his palace royal, spends the night fasting, without instruments of music. At this juncture we can imagine an unusual stir in heaven. Angels that excel in strength were eager to hasten to the assistance of faithful Daniel. Finally the word came from the throne, "Go." Away sped the messenger on wings of light. God's train always arrives on time. The angel's presence locks the mouths of the fierce lions, and makes the den more pleasant than the king's palace without such companionship.

At early dawn the king hastens to the mouth of the den and in lamentable voice calls to Daniel. A familiar voice calmly but joyfully greets his ears from the lair of the lions: "My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lion's mouths, that they have not hurt me." Again the promise is verified, "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them." Satan is out-generated. His agents fall into their own snare. They are, by order of the king, cast into the den where Daniel had passed the night safely, "and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den."