"ANGELIC ENCOUNTERS -- AND THE SUPERNATURAL ASSIGNMENTS ANGELS ARE CREATED FOR!"

August 16, 2005
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"ANGELIC ENCOUNTERS -- AND THE SUPERNATURAL ASSIGNMENTS ANGELS ARE CREATED FOR!"
by James W. Goll
Encounters Network
www.JamesGoll.com ?


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Angels: Ready for Supernatural Assignments

And suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared [standing beside him], and a light shone in the place where he was. And the angel gently smote Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, Get up quickly! And the chains fell off his hands. Acts 12:7 AMP

It should be no surprise that God would bring change to our lives and ministries through supernatural encounters. One of the most prominent means by which we experience the supernatural is through encounters with angels. Contrary to popular belief, angels are not merely the stuff of old wives' tales, cute Bible stories for children, or even prime time television shows. Angels are very real and are constantly active carrying out the will and work of God.

According to the Bible, there are specific orders and characteristics of angels. Evangelical statesman Billy Graham says that "angels belong to a uniquely different dimension of creation which we, limited to the natural order, can scarcely comprehend." Theologian C. Fred Dickason remarks that there "is enough evidence to say that there are distinct and graded ranks, but not enough evidence to make a complete comparison or organizational chart."

In my own life, I have encountered messenger angels and angels of the Lord's presence, large and small angels, those dressed in clothing and also those with wings and trumpets. I have been startled and yet expectant. I have seen angels in dreams and in visions. On much rarer occasions, I have seen their true appearance.


THE ROLE OF ARCHANGELS IN SCRIPTURE

Archangels: The Covering Cherubs

From the evidence of Scripture, there are three or more different ranks or types of angels. Depending upon their particular assignment at any given time, angels exercise many different types of authority. At the top of the angelic hierarchy is the "archangel." This English term appears in both the Old and New Testaments and refers to "covering" or "chief angel." Archangels have other angels of lesser rank and authority under their command. The apostle Paul linked an archangel with the second coming of Christ, writing, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God . . . " (I Thessalonians 4:16).

The Book of Jude tells us that the archangel Michael disputed with the devil over Moses' body (Jude 9). Revelation 12:7 also mentions Michael. A synonymous term for archangel, "covering cherub," appears in Ezekiel 28. Scripture mentions three archangels by name, and each of these created beings seem to possess unique qualities and realms of authority.


Lucifer: The Archangel Who Fell through Pride

Lucifer is the archangel who was ejected from Heaven for rebelling against God. The name Lucifer (meaning "son of the morning") appears only once in the Scriptures (see Isaiah 14:12 KJV). After his ejection from Heaven, Lucifer was called Satan (a Hebrew term meaning "the adversary"). Three key passages in the Bible describe Lucifer's fall from Heaven through pride and rebellion (Isaiah 14:12; Ezekiel 28:13, 14; Revelation 12:3, 4, 7-9).

Jesus Himself provided a fourth witness to Satan's fall when He said, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning" (Luke 10:18).

Satan originally was an anointed and beautiful covering cherub with a professional understanding of music and worship. According to Jesus, when Lucifer fell from Heaven, he was dispatched "like lightning." This fallen covering cherub is also the "red dragon" of Revelation 12 who swept away a third of the stars, or angels of Heaven, in his rebellious scheme before he was quickly ejected.


Gabriel: The Messenger Archangel

The archangel Gabriel is mentioned five times in the Bible: three times in the Book of Daniel and twice in the Gospel of Luke. Every time Gabriel appears, he brings a specific message from the Presence of the Lord, which is why he has often been called the "messenger angel." However, Daniel's record also reveals that Gabriel, too, is involved in cosmic warfare alongside the archangel Michael. Daniel also mentions, more than once, Gabriel's manlike appearance. Read Daniel 8:15-19, 9:21-23, 10:10-13; and Luke 1:19, 1:26-27.


Michael the Warring Archangel

Almost as prominent as Gabriel is the archangel Michael, the chief prince which the Bible mentions specifically by name four times. One passage in the Book of Daniel describes the interaction and cooperation between the two archangels, Gabriel and Michael, along with the latter's special assignment from God. Read Daniel 10:13, 21; Jude 9; and Revelation 12:7.

Michael has been given a certain jurisdiction or a place of rule that deals with the destiny of Israel and the Jewish people. He is the guardian and prince over Israel, and he seems to play the most prominent role in matters of warfare and the forceful execution of God's commands. The fact that Michael was involved in a dispute with Satan over Moses' body tells us that angels also have something to do with the resurrection of the dead.


ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES OF ANGELS

Cherubim and Seraphim

Two types of angels are specifically mentioned and described in the Scriptures. The first of these, the "cherub" (the "im" added to the end of the word makes it plural), is nearly always referred to as a "covering cherub." Scripture passages referring to Lucifer (now called Satan) during his days of obedience plainly called him a "covering cherub." Gabriel and Michael also appear to be covering cherubim. The first mention of a cherub is in Genesis 3:24:

So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim, and the flaming sword which turned every direction, to guard the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3:24 NASB

Genesis 3:24 tells us that when God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, He stationed cherubim at the gate to guard the way to the tree of life. When God told Moses to build the ark of the covenant, He also gave detailed instructions about the two covering cherubim made of gold positioned on each side of the mercy seat. The specific language is very significant:

And you shall make two cherubim of gold, make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends. The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing one another; the faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the mercy seat . . . There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel. Exodus 25:18-20, 22 NASB

God always speaks to us in the place of His mercy, because our performance will always fall short. This place of mercy is between the wings of the covering cherubim. It is a place of reverence, awe, and the fear of the Lord.

The Seraphim

Seraphim (again, the "-im" suffix makes it plural -- "seraph" is the singular) are mentioned only twice in the Bible, both times in Isaiah 6. Here the prophet is describing his vision of the Lord on the throne, which he received after King Uzziah's death as recorded in Isaiah 6:2-7.

The seraphim in Isaiah's vision had six wings, a distinct contrast from the two wings attributed to cherubim. With two wings the seraphim covered their faces, showing the attribute of worship and humility. Two other wings covered their feet, perhaps revealing their place of servanthood. They used the final pair of wings to fly. These angels may be similar to the "four living beasts" with six wings described in Revelation 4:6-10, who never rest but day and night cry out, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty."

I believe that the seraphim are a very distinct category of angels, although the Scriptures do not give us any specifics other than those provided by the prophet Isaiah. They release a particular cry of worship, and their voices are so powerful that they can shake the earth or compel great leaders to bow before the Lord in humility. It was a seraph who carried the coal of fire that released the power of sanctification into the life and ministry of Isaiah.


Other Biblical Categories of Angels and Heavenly Beings

The Bible gives us a number of additional insights into angels through descriptions of their duties, appearance, or deeds. Matthew 18:10 refers to guardian angels of little children, although the actual term never appears in Scripture. These angels "continually behold the face of God," and there is no evidence that they are reassigned as children grow into adults.

Ezekiel chapter one describes four living beasts dispatched from Heaven in a great cloud filled with flashing fire. They seemed to move at the speed of light to accomplish their assignments. Each one had four wings and glowed with a hot heat like "burnished bronze." Like their counterparts in the Book of Revelation, these beasts each had four faces: that of a man in the front, a lion on the right, a bull on the left, and an eagle to the rear. One verse is especially revealing: "And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went" (Ezekiel 1:12). These four living beasts described by Ezekiel bear an obvious resemblance to the seraphim described by John in the Book of Revelation, differing only in the number of wings they possessed. In any case, these "living beasts," or seraphim, seem to go only wherever the Spirit goes.

John also refers to a "strong angel" in Revelation 5:2: "And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, 'Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?'" Something about this angel must have stood out for John to describe it by inspiration of the Spirit as a "strong angel." He implies the same thing in Revelation 18:1: "After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory." Whether this was an archangel or one of the four living creatures, I don't know. But it is clear that there are different ranks and categories of angels.

The Book of Revelation also speaks of messenger angels assigned to specific church bodies in cities such as Philadelphia, Laodicea, Pergamum, or Sardis (see Revelation 1). In my opinion, I think that the Lord may have assigned angels to carry or help release the Word of God into different cities and regions. Possibly this portrays a "territorialism" of certain angels.

Isaiah spoke of "the angel of His presence" in Isaiah 63:9, saying, "In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His mercy He redeemed them; and He lifted them and carried them all the days of old." Basilea Schlink remarks, "The angels of God are bright and shining beings, emanating light and mirroring the glory of God." I am convinced that angels are used to release the manifested Presence of God. When they show up, the atmosphere changes! What I don't know, however, is whether the term "angel of His presence" refers to a particular category of angel or to "the angel of the Lord," which we will examine now.

"The Angel of the Lord"

The term "the angel of the Lord" appears 56 times in 52 verses in the Old Testament. In many of these cases, something or Someone is at work with greater authority and magnitude than that exercised by any of the other angels we have studied so far. Biblical scholars generally agree that these angelic appearances are "theophanies," or visible appearances of Christ before His incarnation.

Prior to His birth in Bethlehem as a human being, the second Person of the Godhead apparently appeared to men at times in the form of an angel. It was only after His birth into the human race that Christ became known and identified as the man named Jesus. Many scholars also believe that the "fourth man" who appeared with the three Hebrew children in the midst of the flames in the fiery furnace of the King of Babylon was actually a theophany (see Daniel 3:25). Abram probably experienced a theophany in Genesis 18 when three angelic visitors came to him. One of the three may well have been the Son of God appearing in angelic form.


Various Characteristics of Angels

I believe angels are as unique as people! Biblically, they possess quite an assortment of characteristics. From encounters I have had with these celestial beings, their unique appearance and other qualities have to do with the specific design and function God has given them.

Let's consider a few of these distinctions.

1. The language forms of angels include a heavenly language unknown to natural man (see I Corinthians 13:1) as well as earthly dialects known to man. They can speak softly or shout loudly enough to shake the earth; and all angels, great and small, sing praises to God and before man.

2. Certain angels have wings. Some have two wings, some have four wings, and some have six wings.

3. Some angels appear to be dressed in white garments. The angel or angels who rolled away the stone from the Lord's tomb had an appearance "like lightning" (see Matthew 28:2-4), and "two men in white clothing" appeared to the disciples who were staring into the sky after Christ ascended (see Acts 1:9-11).

4. Angels play musical instruments. Revelation chapter 8 speaks of seven angels with trumpets (see also I Thessalonians 4:16). Angels use trumpets to announce God's will or to warn people of eternal judgment.

5. Angels often have the appearance of men. Two angels of judgment met Lot in Sodom in Genesis 19. Their appearance was so pleasing that the homosexuals in the city wanted to rape them -- until they were struck blind by the angels. Hebrews 13:2 warns us to be hospitable, for we might entertain angels unaware. Why? Because angels can take on the appearance of men in their look, walk, talk, and culture.

6. Angels can come as wind or fire (see Hebrews 1:7; Psalm 104:4). One powerful passage in Second Kings 6 reveals some additional truths we need to remember about angels:

Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then Elisha prayed and said, "O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." And the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. II Kings 6:15-17

Yes, Lord, open our eyes to see into the supernatural realm to encourage our faith. May angelic encounters be ours for Your holy name's sake!


From the Desk of James W. Goll

The much awaited God Encounters (below) -- coauthored by Michal Ann and I -- has just arrived! Bill Johnson of Bethel Church has composed a great foreword. Be one of the first to get copies of this new book. Pray with us for a high level of impartation, favor, and destiny to rest on each of these books for His glory's sake!

We are glad to announce that I will begin to teach classes again soon in the Greater Nashville, TN, area. These will act as the first phase of our God Encounters Training School. My first class will be on Dream Language! If in the area, watch our web site for more details!

We are also launching the Franklin Healing Rooms at our ministry center in Franklin, TN, this August. Doris Clark is the Director, and the Healing Room Teams will be available on Monday evenings.

Michal Ann and I continue to make progress in our health issues. There is no more cancer in the growth behind my stomach, but there still is some activity in the growth on my collarbone. But I have Good News: the growth on my collarbone area has shrunk to 17% of the original size! I will have scans done again the first week of September and we are trusting for a full clean bill of health report at that time. Thanks for standing with us through prayer and finances during these days.


In Christ Jesus!

James W. Goll
Encounters Network
www.JamesGoll.com?

© Copyright 2004 Encounters Network. All Rights Reserved.

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August 23-September 27, 2005 (Tuesdays @ 7pm)
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Living Word Community Church
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August 25, 2005 @ 7pm
Prophetic Encounters
Chris Poole and EN Team
Encounters Ministry Center
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September 8-10, 2005
Thunder on the Mountain
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Word Alive International Outreach
122 Allendale Rd., Oxford , AL 36203-9734
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