 |  |
therefore is as old as the Bible, nay, as redemption itself . . . . . this `Day of Atonement'
itself was called `Yom Kippur' i.e. the `Day of Covering' . . . . . ours is at bottom an
evangelical universe, no other form was ever conceived for it in the mind of God" (Under
the Redeeming Ęgis by H. 100: Mabie, D.D., LL.D.). The next pair of corresponding
passages will be as follows:
B | Gen. 3: The ages begin. Paradise Lost. |
Earth.
Remade and blessed (Gen. 1: 2 - 2: 4)
Subjected to curse, Thorns and thistles (Gen. 3:).
Man.
For a little lower than angels (Psa. 8:).
The first Adam, living soul, the image of God.
Dominion over the earth.
Usurper. The serpent. The shining one Nachash (Gen. 3:).
Ye shall not surely die. Ye shall be as God.
Hope.
The seed of the woman.
B | Rev. The consummation of the ages. Paradise Restored. |
Earth.
Restored and blessed (Hosea 2: 18-23)
Curse removed (Rev. 22: 3; Isa. 55: 13).
Man.
Christ, made much better than angels (Heb. 1: 4).
Last Adam, Quickening Spirit, Image.
Heir.
Lamb is the light, brightness of glory.
Immortality conferred (I Cor. 15:). Every knee shall bow.
Hope.
Creation's groan hushed (Rom. 8: 21; 16: 20).
No.7.
The Nature of Angels.
pp. 44 - 50
Man, we learn from the Scriptures, was made a little lower than the angels, but is
destined by grace eventually to be made higher than these celestial spirits. In Heb. 2:,
this twofold relationship is spoken of Christ Himself. The section of the epistle that deals
with this phase of the redemptive purpose is introduced by the words.
"For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we
speak" (Heb. 2: 5).
If "the sons of God" and "the morning stars" sang together and shouted for joy at
creation were angels (Job 38: 7), then it would appear that they had some
administrative power in the world that has passed away. If, as we learn, some of the
angels fell, that again would suggest a gap which the creation and redemption of man was
designed to fill.
In order to follow the implications of Heb. 2: 5, and of the several references to
angels that are found in Heb. 1: and 2:, a careful examination of the Scriptures on the
nature, sphere and relationship of angels with the purpose of the ages seem called for.