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"ON EAGLES’ WINGS MINISTRIES"
“Until the restitution of all things” November 2016, part 7
Since those of you who are receiving these writings, and do access them online, have many years of Christian experience under your belt, you will no doubt agree with me that your understanding of scriptures continue to evolve. Peter exhorted the saints this way. “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.” 2nd Peter 1:12.
It is on this principle that we walk with Christ, and learn of him as we grow from glory to glory: and in the process we learn to trust the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In the last chapter of this series, we embarked upon the area of study that involves the angels: not whether they exist or what body they live in. Rather, we are going to continue to study our relationship with the angels—to be like they are. And the reason why I find that to be absolutely essential is the fact that: “we shall judge angels also.” 1st Corinthians 6: 3. Presently, we are not angels! We are human beings, and no matter how filled we are with the Holy Ghost, and no matter how Spirit-filled our ministry has been, the fact remains that we are still mortals with no likeness or similitude of angels. But now we are entering that part of this series in which we enter the realm of angels, and immediately we are faced with the fact that all those who will join the angelic ranks as sons of God are partakers of the resurrection and they cannot die anymore.
Not only so, but they are conscious and alive, but not as humans but exactly like the angels. For good measure and added understanding, let us listen to Jesus once more reading from St. Luke. 20: 27-38. I will paraphrase the first part of this long passage. Certain Sadducees, which did not believe that there is any resurrection, asked Jesus what was meant to be a trick question. They began with the Law of Moses (intending to put Jesus on the spot at the very beginning) in a hypothetical scenario.
They began by saying that there were seven brothers who were all married to the same woman because the first brother, marry to the woman died leaving no children. Under the law the next brother in line should marry the woman to bring up children to his brother. It so happened that all seven brothers were married to the woman and died. The woman also died! In the resurrection (which they did not believe in) whose wife shall she be in that all seven had her? “And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die anymore: for they are equal unto the angels; and are children of the resurrection. Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.”
This opens up a great and exhaustive area of study, if we should take each point of interest as it is written. I can remember as far back as in the mid-960s in London, questions were being asked in our bible class if we shall be married in the resurrection, or shall we recognize ourselves as men and wives. In this portion of his teachings, Jesus did not even allude or infer that the brothers and the woman had any remembrance of being married, or any desire to be married. The angels do not marry, and these children of the resurrection, having become like the angels will have no need to be married. Jesus was emphatic that “they do not marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels. I think this is clear enough to settle any doubts that we possibly have had over the years. The crux of this part of our study is of vital importance to us, because it focusses on us coming into the domain of angels with the ability to judge angels also.
To simplify what Jesus said and possibly what he meant concerning marriage not being a part of life for those who enter into the resurrection from the dead, is that he did not refer to marriage in our time and in our current lifestyle. He did not say that one who has been married here and now, will be automatically exempted from being among those counted worthy to participate in life in that world. He simply meant in that dimension and becoming like the angels there will be no marriage. Angels do not marry because marriage was meant to produce offspring and angels don’t reproduce. God simply created the exact amount of angels he needed and since they don’t die, there is no need to reproduce through marriage.
It is worth our while to note that down through centuries of church history, highlighting the great Welsh revivals, and revivals that swept across America and Europe, it has never been practiced for the ministry to engage with angels on the level of setting their functions in order, or to judge them so to speak. Without much argument, it seems to suggest that we as humans, in spite of our Spirit-filled ministries have never entered a realm that we can call “angelic.” This does not mean simply casting out devils in whatever form. The connotation implied by Paul to the Corinthians, is that if we are to judge angels which are not of this world, it should be much easier for us to judge and settle matters among ourselves, rather than going before an unjust judge.
One fact that we should agree to without hesitation, is that in order to judge angels or to become active participants in their realm of activity, we must be changed by way of the resurrection so as to “be equal unto the angels.” Luke 20:36. This means being loosed from our mortal bodies—but not existing as disembodied spirits—our bodies shall be like unto His glorious body. It was not a big deal for Paul to say that “we shall judge angels also.” But from where we are now standing and considering the threshold of time as it pertains to us, it is incumbent upon us to acquire much clearer understanding of what the task entrusted to us really means.
Let us look once more upon Paul’s version of this dynamic truth that is meant for us. The apostle wrote: “And to make ALL MEN SEE what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ. To the intent (the greater purpose) that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places (into the realm of spirits) might be made known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.” Ephesians 3: 9,10. First of all, the mandate given to the church is to make all men see and understand the mystery that was hid in God before time began.
But the fellowship of the mystery (as a specific ministry) must also be shared with principalities and powers (the entire realm of spirit) BY THE CHURCH the manifold wisdom of God. But we cannot pass out hand bills and put cars on the streets with loud speakers atop inviting principalities and powers to come to the convention center downtown. We must enter into their habitat and function very much as they are.The closest the church has gone into how they interpreted this task, is to cast out devils—bind and cast into outer darkness every foul spirit that shows under their big top tents. But expending all of that energy to cast out a few demons here and there, has little bearing or impact in ministering the manifold wisdom of God to the nether world.
Here are one or two facts that stare us in the face: first we must add to the equation when we consider the task of judging angels. As we just read, God intends for the church to minister to principalities and powers; so as to share with them, or minister to them the manifold wisdom of God. The second task as already laid out in God’s blueprint for the creation, is that we (the sons of God and children of the resurrection) will judge angels along with judging the world. 1st Corinthians 6: 2, 3. Christ already entered that realm and ministered to some spirits in prison. As if we are in a large classroom, let us put some facts on the blackboard! First of all, we were created a little lower than the angels (lower than eloheem—or God.) Secondly, angels are spirit beings sent to minister for us who are the heirs of salvation. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Hebrews 1: 14.
Can you think of any ministry catalogued in the archives of church history that labored extensively with angels? How many ministries do you know (or read about) that had a personal working relationship with angels? A few books have been written by a few people that had close interactions with angels. Many of these were in dreams and visions: but there has never been a major publicized ministry that worked effectively with angelic beings. Like we said earlier, a ministry to angels will most certainly be frowned upon and even branded as error, superstition, and black magic.
Nevertheless, the Apostle Paul made it quite clear that as a part of the church, we shall judge angels also.
I will quickly suggest that to accomplish this task, we MUST go beyond the “human realm” in which we now minister. We must also go far beyond the “realm and ministry of the gifts of the Spirit.” If that is all that’s required, we would have been ministering to angels a long time ago. Of course, if we read the words of Christ, and take into account the events prior to us judging angels, we will notice that such a ministry will be relegated to those who are counted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead. Luke 20: 35. WORD simply means AGE—a period of time. In scripture, even the word EVERLASTING does not mean never ending as we believe and have been taught.
Before all things are restored according to God’s original plan for his creation, his knowledge and wisdom must be espoused to every aspect of creation. It stands to reason that if angels minister strictly in the realm of spirit in so much that the best of us are not even aware of their presence, for us to judge them (in their space and in their realm of existence) we must of necessity enter into their world. As Jesus alluded: To be like the angels.” We did not suggest it, or asked God to do it for us. Christ spoke that truth.
As we proceed, I must suggest that you do need to possess an open mind, holding your empty vessels up toward heaven and pray” “Fill my cup Lord: I lift it up Lord: Come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of heaven feed me till I want no more; fill my cup Lord, fill it up and make me whole.” The dimension that we are about to enter for the most part has been left unexplored in a mystical place where the best of us dared not enter.
But if we believe that indeed, the saints shall judge the world and judge angels also, we are compelled to lay aside the vain traditions of men; and wade past superstition and folk lore. Let us continue from where we left off in the previous chapter: especially where Jesus said: “For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.” Luke 20:38. As I said before, because of the lack of teaching on the reality of life after death, one is left to assume that the bible is silent on the subject but not one bit so.
The New English Bible renders the passage this way: “The men and women of this world marry; but those who have been judged worthy of a place in the other world and of the resurrection from the dead, do not marry, for they are not subject to death any longer. They are like angels; they are sons of God because they share in the resurrection. God is not God of the dead but of the living; For in him all are alive.” Luke 20: 38. Let us read the same account from our regular King James Version of the bible. “The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: neither can they die anymore: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children (sons of God) of God, being the children of the resurrection.” Luke 20: 34-36. So far, when I look closely at the language of this passage of scripture, the fact that the sons of God are from the dead means that the resurrection mentioned here is not the general resurrection where the dead small and great stand before God.
Take note of the language used—they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, (age) and the resurrection from the dead. So a specific group is addressed, and a certain resurrection is also addressed by our Lord, which in its description does not sound like a universal resurrection. This is a resurrection that one must be counted worthy to obtain. This brings to mind the verse that says: “To those who look for him (not to the whole world) he will appear a second time, not this time to deal with sin (he already took care of sin on the tree) but to bring to full salvation those who eagerly await him.” Hebrews 9: 28. It seems to me that a brand new phase has now been opened up to us for a more concentrated and deliberate form of study.
The scripture that Jesus expounded on, points specifically to a class of people who have been judged worthy of a place in that other world and of the resurrection from the dead. By including this group on par with angels, they are exclusively classified as “Sons of God” because they share in the resurrection. Wouldn’t it be nice to turn on our television sets on a Sunday morning and watch sermons on this vital subject? Think of the energy and optimism, and even total buoyancy that would envelop many hearts. If indeed, many who are counted worthy to partake in the resurrection are counted as equal to the angels, we can see and understand how it is that we shall judge angels also. By looking at this truth from the broadest of angles, it seems that only those (sons of God) who have acquired the same status as the angels, will share in the ministry to angels: We can hardly or honestly say that where we are now, we are able and qualified to minister to the angels. (But that does not change the fact that we shall judge angels also.) That is a fact and a truth in scripture that we cannot circumvent. We are now obligated to chart a course ahead and to understand the entire process that will qualify us as sons of God to participate in the resurrection mentioned by Christ.
In His Service—Royce
Please remember to express your wish to remain on my mailing list if you have not contacted me over the past 12 to 18 months. Thank you.