Revelation 8:2; The Seven Angels
Revelation 8:2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
Lockyer observed well, “The article “the” is emphasized in the original text, implying their high and honoured position before God’s throne… While it is true that a numberless host of angels wait upon the throne of God (Daniel 7:10), it would seem as if these seven trumpet angels are presence angels, similar to Isaiah’s “angel of his presence” (Isaiah 63:9), and are therefore of an exalted. Gabriel describes his position as standing in the presence of God (Luke 1:19). Can it be that all seven angels of these angels are archangels? The number seven implies that these angels represent the complete power of God in judicial affairs and that they are the executors of His will in respect to judgment. Behind their pronouncements and actions is the authority of the throne before whose divine Occupant they stand. But while various orders and ranks are distributed among the angels of God, they never usurp their position, but unitedly offer God unquestioning obedience and activity in service.”
Daniel 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
Isaiah 63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
Luke 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
Psalm 2:1-6 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
We see the unbelieving kings seeking to overthrow God’s rule in history. Nebuchadnezzar, the greatest Babylonian king, was reduced to an animal by God eating grass for 7 years until he acknowledged God’s rule (Daniel 4).
God judged Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson Belshazzar. He desecrated the vessels taken from God’s Temple in Jerusalem by drinking wine with them. God judged him by the Median King Darius that very night – Daniel 5:30-31 “In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.”Kings that love God are blessed of God. We can see this in the history of Britain and America. But when they turn against God, God judged them by their downfall as Proverbs 14:34 teaches us, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
Daniel Webster, one of the early American’s great statesman-orators, long before warned the nation against turning from God. He said, “If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper, but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity.[1]
When God sent His Son, Jesus meaning Savior, He was resisted bitterly by the Jewish leaders plotting, scheming, finally, crucifying Him on the cross! Did they succeed? Jesus indeed died. He did not remain dead but rose from the dead the third day. Seen of many for 40 days and ascended to heaven to rule at the right hand of the Father. Jesus has completed in His earthly ministry to win the redemption plan for all mankind.
[1]Daniel J. Ebert III, Will Our Sons Defend the Faith?, Far Eastern Bible College Press, 1976, 22.