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Amazing Facts

Joe Crews

Angels

The Angels, Part 1

The Angels, Part 2

This may startling upset you, but an eyewitness has been found who's planning to testify against you? This witness knows something about your life that no other person in the world knows. In a moment, you'll learn the amazing facts about a dramatic court scene in which you are involved. Hello, this is Joe Cruz and the amazing facts, broadcast facts which affect you. Now today we continue our study of the spirits from outer space who are constantly visiting this earth. Now on the basis of God's word, we discovered that the angels are those spirits. They're called that in Hebrews one 14, and we're told that they are sent forth from heaven itself to minister to human beings right here in this world. By way of review, we established the fact that angels are a special order of created beings. They're not the spirits of the dead and no human being can ever hope to become an angel. These beautiful creatures were already in existence when the world was created and before our first parents were even placed in the Garden of Eden. The angels have been here as the constant companions of the human family ever since creation. Now it's quite evident that angels also are the administrative assistance of heaven's government. We read in Revelation five 11 and I beheld and heard the voice of many angels roundabout the throne and the beast and the elders, and the number of them was 10,000 times 10,000 and thousands of thousands. Now, the Old Testament confirms this also in Daniel seven, nine and 10, I beheld till the thrones were cast down and the ancient of days did sit whose garment was white as snow and the hair of his head like the pure wool. His throne was like the fiery flame and his wheels as burning fire. A fire extreme issued and came forth from before him. Thousand thousands ministered under him and 10,000 times 10,000 stood before him. The judgment was set and the books were open. Now notice it says 10,000 times, 10,000 and thousands of thousands. Now that's over a hundred million right there besides, of course multiplied billions more so you can see that the number of the angels are absolutely unlimited. There's no way to actually number them. And of course the angelic coast is made up of various ranks. Paul Wrights and Colossians 1 16 4 by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created by him and for him. Now notice the angels also were made by Jesus, their created beings, and so they're a part of this great creation in the beginning. And then notice what Jesus said in Matthew 26 53. Think of thou that I cannot now pray to my father and he shall presently give me more than 12 legions of angels. Now, these words certainly suggest the organization of an army, don't they? We need to be aware of the fact that angels meet us many times on the highways of life for various reasons. It's related that just before the greatest struggle of his life, angels of God met Jacob. I'm referring to Genesis 32, 1 where it says, and Jacob went on his way and the angels of God met him. Now, it's not told us here that Jacob had any conversation with them, but they're coming at this particular time must have had just one purpose and that was to reassured Jacob of God's interest in him. Then sometimes I find that God's angels come as rescuers. It was rescuing angels who came to Sodom and led lot and his family out of that wicked city before it was destroyed. How clearly this incident shows the tenacity and persistence of God's mercy. Let's read there now in Genesis 1915 and 16, and when the morning arose, then the angels hasten lot saying, arise, take thy wife and I, two daughters, which are here, let's now be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand and upon the hand of his wife and upon the hand of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful under them and they brought him forth and set him without the city. Now there you find angels coming down and hurrying lot in his family out of that doom city. This is of course what they do many times in our own behalf, in these modern days. I notice also that God sends his angels to comfort and console those who love him and who are trying to do his will. After Christ had spent 40 days in the wilderness with those wild beasts and had endured the temptations of the devil, angels came and strengthened him and comforted him. As we read in Matthew four 11, then the devil leaveth him and behold angels came and ministered unto him. And then of course we remember again in the hour of Christ anguish in the garden of Gase, the angels came and strengthened him there also as we read in Luke 2243, and there appeared an angel unto him from heaven strengthening him. Well, friends, don't you believe that God sends his angels to minister to his people? Now listen, no one who walks the paths of duty and lives a life of prayer can live an entirely lonely life. God will always send his angels to comfort those in their soest time of need. The one who sent his angel to help Paul through that midnight storm and to hunt him out in his chains on that Mediterranean ship and the very same one who sent his angel to Peter in that dungeon to open all the prison doors and lead him out to his friends. That same one will not leave his true children if today without comfort and consolation either in trying hours. Now, at this point, let's consider the solemn thought that angels also make a record of our words and even our thoughts. They will take part in the great judgment scene as witnesses either for or against us. In Daniel seven, nine in 10, we read, I beheld till the thrones were cast down and the ancient of days did sit whose garment was white as snow and the hair of his head, like the pure world. His throne was like the fiery flame and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him. Thousand thousands ministered to him and 10,000 times 10,000 stood before him. The judgment was said in the books were open. Now, we read this a moment ago, but I want you to notice this Franz about the verse. Notice that books are used in the judgment and that innumerable angel witnesses are to have a part that guardian angel who kept the record of our lives will be called on to present those books out of which you and I will be judged. Now, what kind of testimony will they be able to give about our lives? By the way, you'll have a lawyer to represent you in that heavenly court scene. Also, verse 13 says, and behold one, like the son of man came to the ancient of days and they brought him near before him. So there you see your case coming up in that heavenly tribunal, angels are there to present the evidence out of the books, and then Jesus comes to stand before the Father to plead his blood in your behalf. Now in Daniel four we find the record of Nene's Dream about the great tree that filled the whole earth. This tree represented Nene in his kingdom of course, but he had to be brought to acknowledge the true God as supreme and so and the dream. He saw the tree cut down showing that his power would be taken away unless he turned to God. The king did not repent of course, and so the judgment of God suddenly came upon him and for seven years he was bereft of his reason. And at the end of those years, he turned to the God of heaven with all his heart in true conversion. Nu how this result though was brought about when the decree was issued by God concerning the punishment that should come upon the king, the statement was made. This matter is by the the decree of the watchers and the demand by the word of the holy ones to the intent that the living may know that the most high ruler and the kingdom of man and give it to whomsoever, he will and set it up over it the basis of men. Daniel 7, 4 17. Now those watchers and holy ones mentioned are the angels having had experience with the first center. Lucifer. The angels are vitally concerned in the process of getting men ready for the kingdom of God using man's reasoning. We can easily see that it must have caused some apprehension among the angels when they finally understood that God was planning to take those who had been sinners right into heaven knowing what had happened to Lucifer. They might well have questioned, is it safe to bring men and women here who have sinned? Can God be sure they'll never attempt it again? Now, no doubt God had for foreseen all this. So he gave the angels the work of keeping the record of the lives of men. And when the saved at last entered the heavenly courts, they'll be admitted on the testimony, the angels according to what's written in the books of record. And that's why of course God said that the decree was on the basis of the watchers and the holy ones. The people who enter heaven will be those that the angels can vouch for because they have record of their faithfulness. Now, the angels have been given jurisdiction over a man up to a certain point according to Hebrews one 14. Notice the words, are they not all ministering spirits sent forth the minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? All right, so when Ezer went wrong, angels were called into the council of God to see what should be done to save him. And this council of angels decided upon the course to be taken. The Bible says that when the punishment was meeted out to the king, it was quote by the decree of the watchers and the demand by the word of the holy ones Daniel four 17. So this decree was later taken to God for ratification and was then carried out according to Daniel 4 24. This is the interpretation of king and this is the decree of the most high which has come upon my Lord the king. So we must remember however that there are two kinds of angels, good and bad. We read in Hebrews one 14 that some are ministering spirits sent to minister to those who were heirs of salvation. But in the book of Ephesians, I read that there are also wicked spirits put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians six 11 and 12. Now we recognize of course, two great hosts of supernatural beings, the good angels who are ministering spirits and the wicked angels who are spirits of devils. One group seeks our salvation, the other seeks our destruction. So I wanna point out today that heaven has done all it possibly can to save you and me from eternal death. If we insist on losing our eternal salvation, it will be in spite of all that God could have done to save us from ourselves. Yes, friends, all heaven is interested in our salvation. Angels from the throne of God are far more eager to see you make a full surrender to Christ and prepare for the eternal home than you yourselves are. And right now, while I'm speaking to you, angels from the realms beyond our present, good angels are seeking our salvation and evil. Angels are seeking our destruction. In other words, we're right in the middle friends and there's an angel perhaps on each side urging us to either be good or bad. On which side are we going to cast our influence today? No doubt, Satan has commissioned an evil angel or an evil spirit to attend us through life with the purpose of destroying us. And there we are right in between and our decision will determine who shall have the upper hand in our lives. In other words, whoever we go with and whichever side we move toward, that's going to be in the majority. And if we go over on the side of the good angel, that'll put God in the majority in our lives. So let's choose friends to serve God and to know that he's in charge of our lives through his ministering spirits, the angels. Now in closing today, friends, let me remind you that one of the most important assignments of the angels is to constantly try to turn our minds toward Christ and his great plan of salvation. They create circumstances to soften our hearts and make us repentant. In other words, their highest concern is for our salvation. How important it is then for us to understand as much as we possibly can about their ministry and how it relates to us. Now they material that I've been sharing with you in these, this special series of broadcast on Angels is available for you in printed form if you would write for it. It's contained in my little book entitled Spirits from Other Worlds. There's no obligation, so write for it today. Your gifts will help keep the broadcast on the era also. So thanks so much for being a partner in this ministry. And now this is Joe Crew saying goodbye for today.

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Angels

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The Angels, Part 1

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The Angels, Part 2

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