The Ministration of Angels.
By Uriah Smith
"Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Heb. i, 7, 14. Angels are interested and concerned in the affairs of earth. Since man first rebelled against God, and it became necessary for him to live a life of repentance for transgression, and by patient continuance in well doing to seek for glory, honor and immortality, angels have ministered unto him. In almost every great work by which God in his providence has seen fit to accomplish his designs, we are informed of their agency. Let us here refer to a few instances as we find them recorded in sacred history: Angels hurried Lot out of Sodom before it was destroyed. Gen. xix, 16. Angels have often guided in the affairs of individuals. Gen. xxiv, 7, 40; xlviii, 16; Num. xxii, 22; Jud. xiii, 19, &c. When the children of Israel came out from the land of Egypt, an angel went before them. Ex. xiv, 19; xxiii, 20, 23; xxxii, 34; xxxiii, 2; Num. xx, 16; Isa. lxiii, 9. An angel stretched forth his hand to destroy Jerusalem. 2 Sam. xxiv, 16; 1 Chron. xxi, 15, 16. An angel appeared to Daniel after he had fasted three full weeks, and informed him that from the first day that he set his heart to understand, his words were heard, yet the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood him one and twenty days; and Michael, one of the chief princes came to his help. An angel appeared unto the shepherds who were feeding their flocks in Judea, and said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke ii. Unto this Saviour who was here born, angels ministered. Matt. iv, 11; Mark i, 13. In his great agony in the garden, there appeared an angel strengthening him. Luke xxii, 43. At his resurrection and ascension they were present. Often did they appear to, and work for, the apostles while promulgating the gospel. Acts v, 19; viii, 26; xii, 7, &c. From these facts we learn that angels have received special charges concerning the inhabitants of earth, and have been sent to them on special missions. In so then, why not now? Says the passage first quoted, Are they not ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? Says the Saviour, "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance." Luke xv, 7. When? Not more especially in those days than at the present time. Angels have not yet lost their interest in those who would seek salvation through Jesus Christ. On this point the Psalmist bears testimony: "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." Ps. xxxiv, 7. "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." Ps. xci, 11. But let us notice more particularly the interest they take, and the part they act, in the closing scenes of this world's career. To them is entrusted to warn men of the approaching consummation of all things. The angel has passed through the midst of heaven, "saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth, by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound." Rev. viii, 13. The fifth and sixth angels sounded, and the events to transpire under their sounding have been accomplished. The sixth had no sooner ceased, than there was seen another angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come. Rev. xiv, 6, 7. By this we understand that an angel had special charge of that work. This has been fulfilled in our day and we have witnessed it. The second angel followed him whose mission we have also seen fulfilled. Their work continued till the closing up of those periods which were to mark the ministration of Christ in the Holy of the heavenly Sanctuary; those periods at whose end there should be (prophetic) time no longer. It extended to the "days of the voice of the seventh angel," under whose sounding the mystery of God should be finished. And the seventh angel sounded, and the temple of God was opened in heaven. Our great High Priest entered the Most Holy Place to minister before the ark of God's testament, which was then seen in his temple. Then follows the third angel proclaiming those commandments and warning us against their violation. Angels are appointed to hold the four winds, that they blow not till the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads; [Rev. vii;] and if any are disposed to settle down into coldness, indifference and doubt, because things remain thus quiet, let them be assured that the winds will be held in check till the servants of God are sealed; and that full soon for the salvation of many souls they will let go their hold, and the time of trouble will be upon us. The mission of the third angel is followed by the Son of man on the white cloud; and when he shall appear, and the heaven shall depart as a scroll when it is rolled together, and all the great men of the earth shall hide themselves in the dens and rocks of the mountains, what part will the angels then perform? The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. 2 Thess. i. "And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet; and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matt. xxv, 31. The wheat and the tares, the righteous and the wicked, are to grow together till the harvest: the harvest is the end of the world. "As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world: the Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity. The angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just." Matt. xiii, 40, 41, 49. Angels were present when the law was given at Sinai; [Ps. lxviii, 17;] angels themselves keep the law; [Ps. ciii, 20;] they joy to see the children of men keep it; [Luke xv, 7;] and they will be present at the execution of those who transgress it. Rev. xiv, 10. Angels were present and shouted for joy when the foundations of the earth were laid; [Job xxxviii, 7;] and when it shall be redeemed from the blightings of the curse, and bloom in more than Eden beauty they will again sing together and shout anew for joy. Are not angels then interested in our welfare? Are not those who ministered unto, and strengthened, the Son of God when he bore upon him the sins of the whole world, interested in those who will avail themselves of the offered atonement, that they may have life? Verily they are. All heaven is interested for us. Should we not then be interested for ourselves? And when the full number of the redeemed shall finally be made up, when Christ shall see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied, [Isa. liii, 11,] not only will the ransomed, clothed with white robes, with palms in their hands cry with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, but all the angels round about the throne will fall down and worship God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Rev. vii, 9-12.