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had but to ask and the Father would send Him `more than twelve legions of angels'
(Matt. 26: 53). When Jacob was met by the angels while on his way to meet Esau, he
said "This is God's host" (Gen. 32: 2) and although a different word is used, much the
same meaning is intended when the Scriptures speak of God as "The Lord of Hosts", and
it will be observed that angels are placed in correspondence with hosts in Psa. 148: 2:
"Praise ye Him, all His angels
Praise ye Him, all His hosts."
Angels are said to be `mighty', to `excel in strength', and `holy', even to so great a
saint as Daniel (II Thess. 1: 7; Psa. 103: 20; Acts 10: 22 and Dan. 10: 5-8), and are of
superhuman intelligence (Mark 13: 32). Some angels are called `the elect', and some
angels `fell' (I Tim. 5: 21; Jude 6). There are indications in Scripture that there is some
kind of order among the ranks of angels, Michael is called `The archangel' and Gabriel is
deputed on several specific and important occasions to bear a message (Dan. 12: 1;
Jude 9; Rev. 12: 7; and Dan. 8: 16; 9: 21; Luke 1: 19, 26).
Not only are there differences of rank among the angels, but the angels appear to be
one section of a vast spiritual world consisting of `angels, principalities and powers'
(I Pet. 3: 22). Neither the Hebrew ruach nor the Greek pneuma go so far as the modern
use of the word `spirit', which is immaterial, as one philosopher wrote:
"If we seclude space there will remain in the world but matter and mind, or body and spirit."
The Hebrews when they called angels `spirits', did not deny that they were endued
with `bodies', even as the Apostle, speaking of the resurrection, when believers will be
like unto the angels of heaven, says `there is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body',
and we may, with sufficient safety, assume that angels are spiritual bodies, rather than
pure spirits in the modern acceptation of the word' (Kitto).
The oldest book in the Canon, together with the last book in the N.T. uses the figure of
the stars to represent angels.
"The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God (LXX `angels') shouted for
joy" (Job 38: 7).
"The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches" (Rev. 1: 20).
A star is used prophetically to symbolize the coming Saviour and Ruler, Christ:
"There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall arise out of Israel"
(Numb. 24: 17).
This too finds its echo in the Revelation:
"I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright and morning Star"
(Rev. 22: 16).
In Rev. 9: 1 a star is seen to fall from heaven, to whom was given the keys of the
abyss. It is obvious that an angel is here intended. So also in Rev. 8: 10, 11 "A great
star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp" is named `Wormwood'. Once again a star