What Happened on the Cross. Nick Peros

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СКАЧАТЬ ‘The Lord rebuke you!’ (Jude 9 NKJV)

      In both cases, the term “archangel” is used with the prefix “the,” denoting someone specific. In 1 Thessalonians we are told it is the voice of the archangel, and again in Jude Michael is described as the archangel. As a result, it seems the term “archangel” does not refer to a rank of angel, but rather is a title that is applied specifically to only one angel. Based on Jude 9, there is good reason to understand that only Michael has the title or position of archangel.

      Angels Named in the Bible

      There are only two specific holy angels named in the Bible, and a third fallen heavenly being.

      Gabriel

      One of the angels named in the Bible is Gabriel: “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God” (Luke 1:19 NASB, also Luke 1:26; also Dan 8:16; 9:20, 21) In Luke, it is the angel Gabriel who is sent to announce to Mary that she will become pregnant and give birth to the Son of God. Nothing else is told us of Gabriel. However, Gabriel himself specifically tells Mary he stands “in the presence of God.” As a result of that phrase, some are of the opinion Gabriel is a Cherub, since it is always the Cherubim rank that is associated with the throne of God, and by extension, with the presence of God. It would make sense that God would send an angel of the highest rank to announce the birth of his Son to the woman who will bear him, especially since there was an Enemy that could very well try and thwart that mission of announcement (in a similar thwarting action of the enemy as described in Dan 10:13).

      Michael

      The other holy angel named in the Bible is Michael, and he is mentioned a number of times:

      Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. (Dan 10:13 NIV)

      However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince. (Dan 10:21 NASB)

      At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. (Dan 12:1 NIV)

      Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation . . . (Jude 9 NKJV)

      Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. (Rev 12:7–8 NIV)

      The descriptions of Michael show him to be a powerful angel, with great responsibilities.

      In Daniel 10:2–13, we are told Daniel was visited by an angel who was sent to explain the vision of God given to Daniel. The angel also tells Daniel he, the angel, was sent to Daniel on the first day he, Daniel, set himself to understand the vision, which we are told in Daniel 10:2 was three weeks prior to that. This angel then tells Daniel that as he, the angel, was traveling to reach Daniel, he was “withstood” by a fallen angel, described as a “prince of the kingdom of Persia” (Dan 10:13), who withstood the holy angel for twenty-one days. At that time, Michael came to his aid and defeated the fallen angel who was withstanding Daniel’s messenger. In the description given by the holy messenger angel, he describes Michael as “one of the chief princes” (Dan 10:13). This signifies that Michael, as a “chief prince,” is an angel of high rank.

      We are also told Michael is “the great prince who protects your people” (Dan 12:1), with Michael again being described as “your prince” (Dan 10:21). In both cases, Michael is described as being the special protector of the nation of Judah, the Jews, Daniel’s people, and most likely, by extension, of all Israel, in which regard he is also referred to specifically in Daniel 12:1 as “the great prince.” Also, the term “the great prince,” rather than “a great prince” seems to signify Michael is perhaps of a unique rank and position in heaven. This is also further supported by the description of Michael as “the archangel” (Jude 9).

      We are told in Revelation 12:7–8 that “war broke out in heaven, and that Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.” This is a clear description that Michael was involved in the casting out of Lucifer and the rebel angels from heaven. Also, we are told here it was “Michael and his angels,” which seems to signify Michael has authority over other angels, and is certainly an authority over the heavenly host, or the angelic heavenly army, being in effect a General of the heavenly armies. Also, in Jude 9, we are told Michael personally disputed with Satan and defeated him.

      Taken together, these descriptions of Michael show him to be an angel of the highest rank, almost certainly of the Cherubim rank, described as “the great prince,” as “the archangel,” as Protector of Israel and Judah, as the leader of the heavenly armies, and as being personally involved in defeating Satan.

      Lucifer/Satan

      There is one other angelic name mentioned in the Bible—Lucifer. It is mentioned in Isaiah 14:12. “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!” (NKJV). A number of modern translations do not translate the name “Lucifer” here; rather, they translate it as follows: “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!” (NIV).

      In this rendering, Lucifer is translated as “morning star.” However, numerous traditional and standard translations, including the King James Version, the New King James Version, the Geneva Bible, the Living Bible, the Modern English Version, the Wycliffe Bible, specifically translate this as “Lucifer,” and this, in fact, has been the traditional translation of Isaiah 14:12.

      The name Lucifer means “light-bearer,” and in Christian tradition, and throughout church history, Lucifer is the heavenly being who incited and then led the angelic rebellion against God (Isa 14:12, Rev 12:3–4). This angelic rebellion is the same event described in Revelation 12:7–8, whose conclusion shows Michael and his angels defeating the angelic rebellion, with the rebel angels being cast out of heaven and thrown down to the earth. Upon being cast out of heaven, Lucifer’s name is changed to “Satan,” which means “the Accuser.” His name is changed to Satan not only because he is the accuser of man (Rev 12:10), but even more so because he accuses God of faithlessness and injustice. The name Satan appears often throughout the Bible, and he is described as the leader of the fallen angels and of the powers of darkness (Eph 2:2), and he is also called the devil (Rev 12:9), the serpent, and the dragon (Rev 20:2). Among the nine ranks of angels, among the entire created heavenly host, the Bible also makes clear Lucifer was God’s greatest created heavenly being.

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      Description of Lucifer/Satan

      In a number of passages, we are given information about Satan’s character and position, but most of that information is describing him after his fall. In only two passages does the Bible talk about Lucifer before his fall: Isaiah 14:12–15 and Ezekiel 28:11–19.

      The passage in Isaiah 14 describes what went on in Lucifer’s heart as he was choosing to rebel against God, so even though it is describing Lucifer before his fall, it is in fact a description of his heart at the moment of his fall, describing for us the moment he chose, in his heart, to rebel against God.

      The passage in Ezekiel 28, however, gives us some clear and detailed information about Lucifer СКАЧАТЬ