In our Creation Of The Angelic Spiritual Realm study, we looked at the fact that God created spirit beings called angels. Normally, humans cannot see angels, because our eyes and our brains are suited for the physical realm and angels exist in the spiritual realm. However, God does allow us to see angels in the following ways:

1. God lifts back the veil of the spiritual dimension, and we see angels as they are. This is not a good way because humans are always scared to death (frightened) when they see angels as they are.
2. God has angels change their form from spiritual bodies to physical bodies. This way is used most often, because it is easier for humans to take.

We also looked at the fact that God created a lot of angels — at least 100 million — because John said he saw angels numbering thousands upon thousands, and then thousands times ten thousand (see Revelation 5:11); there is a minimum of 100 million plus thousands more!

In The Hierarchy Of Angels study, we saw that God created this vast army of angels in rank; He created them in a hierarchy something like what is presented in our Hierarchical Chart Of Angels. And apparently, Lucifer was created the highest of all angels; he was at least equal with the Archangel Michael, though I believe he was higher than Michael because Michael deferred to him.

When Lucifer fell, he took one third of the innumerable angels with him; he took a cross section of all of the different ranks of angels with him, and they became totally different creatures — they became demons. Though their total nature changed, they retained their different powers, their different ranks, and their different authority. The fall of those spirit beings began a huge conflict that will last until the end of the age, because the fallen angels are always fighting against the godly angels, who by their own free will remain with God, worship God and serve as God's agents.

In The Ministry Of Angels study, we saw that God's angels have a ministry to God the Father, to God the Son, and to believers. Additionally, the angels have a ministry to unbelievers; however, it is not a good one, because they serve as executioners.

In this study, we will consider a time in Daniel's life when the following two specific ministries of angels are apparent:

1. The angels ministry to God the Father as agents of His rule on earth.
2. The angels ministry to believers of delivering God's messages.

As we take a closer look at those angelic ministries in Daniel's situation, I believe we can make application to our lives.

From age to age, God deals with people differently and God does some things differently. On the other hand, from age to age, God deals with people the same and God does some things the same. How do we know what God does differently and what He does the same? We go to the Word of God.

Consider the following [which we will also see in Daniel 9-10]:

It seems that in the past there were more visions and miracles; however, I think that we can group together when those visions and miracles happened. It is important for us to understand that miracles, visions, and seeing angels were never the norm even though it seems to have occurred more often at certain times. In another words, there was never a time when believers expected, as a matter of course, the following:

• To have angels come and speak to them, or
• To have an audible (capable of being heard) from God.

So why do many evangelical, conservative believers shy away from talking about this subject? I think it is because there have been excesses, errors, and unscriptural practices by individuals.

Question: Where do people go off?

• When individuals say that God or an angel gave them new information that is not in the Bible. Those are excesses, because it does not happen.
• When individuals say that it is the norm for angels to come down and talk to people, or that is the norm for God to audibly speak to individuals. I am not going to say that angels have not come down and talked to people, because I do not know; I am also not going to say that God never uses an audible voice, because He might. However, that was never the norm!

There are some things that have never changed. For example, I believe that God has always desired to personally communicate with individuals who love Him. I do not believe that God wants to communicate just general truths to everybody; I believe it is the case that God wants to communicate with each believer personally. Consider the following verses:

God is talking about the person who loves Him, and He says:

In the Psalms of David, we read:

God is speaking again:

A Classic One: God is speaking to individuals who long for Him:

God is speaking to individuals who come to Him with a contrite heart:

Does God the Father desire to communicate with each one of us personally? I believe we would have to say Absolutely! However, it concerns me that many of us are failing to experience personal communication from God our Father; therefore, we are missing power in our lives and we are living life on a very low level.

Just A Question: Can you remember the last time God showed you Great and mighty things which you do not know?

Father, thank You that we no longer need to shy away from talking about miracles, visions, and seeing angels because of unscriptural practices that have been conducted by others. Instead, we know [assuredly] that You do not give out new information that is not in Your word, and it never has been the norm for angels to talk to people or for You to speak audibly to individuals. However, something that has never changed is that You desire to personally communicate with us — with me. O, how I delight in You!

Thank You for promising that You will guide me with Your counsel, with Your all-seeing eye is upon me. Help me to clearly hear what You say to me so I will not go my own way [according to my flesh], but will go Your way.

Father, as I continue this study about the angels who are agents of Your rule on earth and who deliver Your messages to believers, would you show me something new about Yourself. And would You help me to live my life on a higher level so I will see the great and mighty things, which You are showing me. I praise You for being so full of lovingkindness!

In Messiah Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Would it not be great if we knew, without a doubt, that the God of the universe is actually communicating with each one of us personally? Well, Daniel desired that kind of communication from God, and he got a personal word from God. Let us see how.

CONTEXT OF DANIEL 9

Israel had been in captivity in Babylon for 70 years. Daniel was praying and asking God:

• How long are we going to be in captivity?
• When is Israel going to be restored?

Daniel did what he should have done — he had a question for God and he went straight to the Scriptures, specifically, to the Book of Jeremiah.

Daniel reads the Book of Jeremiah and he learns that the captivity is to last 70 years (see Jeremiah 25:11). So Daniel started counting right then. Do you know with what number he came up? Daniel counted 67 years.

Daniel is seeking the Word of God because he does not understand something, and he wants a word from the living God — and he got it! I believe the reason Daniel got a word from God was because he had the following:

1. A clear understanding of sin.
2. A clear understanding of man.
3. A clear understanding of God.

We know from the Book of Romans that all men are born sinners (see our Romans 1:18-3:20 study). I believe that many of us have a wrong conception of the difference between what is sin and what is not-sin. Generally speaking, it seems that there is a fine line with a razor sharp edge separating sin and not-sin, and everything you do on one side of the line is sin and everything you do on the other side of the line is not-sin. For example:

• If you kill somebody (which is on one side of that fine line) = sin
• If you do not kill somebody (which is on the other side of that fine line) = not-sin

That seems logical, right? Maybe so, but Messiah Jesus fuzzied up that fine line (no longer sharply delineated) when He said that if you hate somebody then you have killed him:

I want somebody to tell me exactly where is that line when hatred becomes murder? Can someone tell me? I doubt it.

What about adultery? Is it not the case where if you commit adultery then you have sinned, and if you do not commit adultery then you have not sinned? Sounds fairly easy, right? Do not cross over that fine line between sin and no-sin. However, Messiah Jesus sort of messed that up for us too when He said:

How far in your thoughts do you have to go before it would be the equivalent of adultery? Can someone tell me exactly where that line is? I doubt it.

The difference between sin and not-sin is a difficult concept, is it not? There is obviously a clear distinction, but where do we draw the line? That is a paradox — there is a definite difference, but it is hard to know where the line is.

Maybe the distinction between sin and not-sin is like the difference between east and west.

Yes! They are diametrically opposed to each other; however, where is the dividing line between east and west?

Between east and west there is an obvious difference — they could not be more opposed to each other — but where is the line between east and west? [We cannot say the international dateline, because that is totally arbitrary.] The difference between east and west is not a dividing line, but it is the direction you are facing.

There is danger in believing the difference between sin and not-sin is a solid line. Why? If we conceive of it as a dividing line (over here we are sinning and over there we are not sinning) then we are going to be stirred to sin by the Law. If that is our thinking then we are going to be constantly pushing against that line: I can read this magazine – watch this video – flirt with my boss – and it is not sin because I have not committed adultery. I am okay, because I am not over that line.

Whenever we are pushing that line (nudging against that line), which way are we facing?

I do not believe that Messiah Jesus walked around worrying about a dividing line between sin and not-sin, nor do I think He said:

• There is a woman there; I cannot lust after her.
• There is some bad literature there; I cannot read that.
• There is some money over there; I had better not steal it.

I think the reason Messiah Jesus did not sin was that He kept His attention (focus) on His Father. That also explains His constant fellowship with His heavenly Father. Obviously, the way for us to also avoid sin [in whichever direction we are pointing] is for us to:

Next:

Hierarchical Chart Of Angels

Back To: Creation Series Page

We express our deepest appreciation to Mitchell and Dawn Kolodin for their excellent work in transcribing and editing this Creation study.

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