the `high ones on high' of Isaiah 24:21.

Moreover the `serpent' of Genesis 3, and the cherubim of that same chapter

seem related, while the words:

`For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come,

whereof we speak' (Heb. 2:5).

`Thou madest him (for) a little while inferior to the angels' (Heb. 2:7,

seem to indicate that a past world had been subjected to angels, and that Adam

at his creation was most definitely appointed in their room and stead.  Because

things may `seem' to be, however, does not justify the building of a doctrine.

We must have a much more definite basis as a foundation for so important a

teaching, and consequently we must turn to the Scriptures to discover what they

teach on the subject.

It is clearly established Scripture that there was a fall among the

angels.  Let us make this matter sure before proceeding.

Angels sinned.

`If God spared not the angels that sinned' (2 Pet. 2:4).

Angels revolted.

`The angels which kept not their first estate' (Jude 6).

Angels at war.

`There was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought

against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels'

(Rev. 12:7).

The Dragon.

`That old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan' (Rev. 12:9).

`Angels and authorities (principalities) and powers' (1 Pet.

3:22).  Some Principalities are foes.  `Neither death, nor

life, nor angels, nor principalities' (Rom. 8:38).

`Having spoiled principalities and powers' (Col. 2:15).

`We wrestle ... against principalities, against powers'

(Eph. 6:12).

`Fire, prepared for the devil and his angels' (Matt. 25:41).

`Lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation

of the devil ... lest he fall into reproach and the snare of

the devil' (1 Tim. 3:6,7).

The epistle to the Hebrews looks back to a world which had been under the

rule of the angels and, in keeping with the limitations of that epistle, this

would include the ministry of the law of Sinai, for we read more than once that

the law `was ordained by angels' (Gal. 3:19, Acts 7:53, Heb. 2:2).  The epistles

of Peter and of Jude take us back to the days of Noah, but Ephesians goes back

before the overthrow of the world, and while there are indications of a fall

among the angels, just before the Flood, and which indeed brought about that

dreadful catastrophe, there are indications that something similar, and perhaps

on a vaster scale, took place before the overthrow of Genesis 1:2, and was the

reason for that great catastrophe.

We must admit that explicit teaching on the subject is not to be found in

the Scriptures, and that anyone whose faith refuses the witness of type and

analogy, is at liberty to refuse such teaching.  We however are convinced that