The Christ in Prophecy Journal

The Ministry of Angels: End Times

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The Bible reveals that there will be a flurry of angelic activity in the end times.

Tribulation

The Four Living Creatures before the throne of God are the ones who will execute the first series of judgments that will mark the beginning of the Tribulation. It is in response to their commands that the Four Horsemen go forth with the Seal Judgments that result in the death of one-fourth of humanity (Revelation 6:1-8). Simultaneously, it is angels who will seal 144,000 Jews so that they will be supernaturally protected from all the judgments (Revelation 7:2-3).

When the second series of judgments begin — the Trumpet Judgments — it will be angels once again who serve as the instruments of God’s wrath, resulting in the deaths of one-third of those still left alive (Revelation 8 and 9).

In the middle of the Tribulation, Satan will try one last time to take the throne of God, resulting in a war in the heavens between Satan and his demonic angels and Michael and his holy angels. Satan will be defeated, and he and his angels will be cast down to earth. His access to Heaven will be cut off permanently (Revelation 12:7-12).

In the second half of the Tribulation we are told that God will give Mankind one last opportunity to repent before He pours out His final wrath. He does this in a most unusual way. He sends forth three angels with very specific tasks.

The first angel, the one I like to refer to as “the Gospel Angel,” is given the responsibility to proclaim the “eternal gospel” to “every nation and tribe and tongue and people” (Revelation 14:6). This will be the only time in history that God has allowed an angel to preach the Gospel. It will constitute the fulfillment of a prophecy made by Jesus when He said: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come” (Matthew 24:14).

The second angel will follow the first as he circumnavigates the earth. His task will be to proclaim the impending destruction of the kingdom of the Antichrist (Revelation 14:8). The third angel will follow along behind the first two. His role will be to issue a warning that anyone who worships the Antichrist and receives his mark will suffer God’s wrath and torment in Hell (Revelation 14:9-11).

These three proclamations will be followed by the final outpouring of God’s wrath, called the Bowl Judgments (Revelation 16). Once again, seven angels will execute these judgments (Revelation 16:1). Angels are also the ones who will destroy the capital city of the Antichrist in one hour on one day (Revelation 18).

The destruction of the Antichrist and his kingdom will bring to a close the terrible period of the Tribulation and will result in all the heavenly host breaking forth in celebration shouting, “Hallelujah!” (Revelation 19:1-7). Shortly thereafter, this same host of angels will return to earth with Jesus at His Second Coming (Matthew 24:30-31). They will gather the elect (those saved during the Tribulation who are still alive) from the four corners of the earth (Matthew 24:31).

Eternal State

The only information we are given about angels in the Eternal State is that the fallen angels, together with Satan, will be tormented in Hell forever (Matthew 25:41 and Revelation 20:10). No information is supplied regarding the godly angels.

I would assume that the holy angels would continue to serve God eternally and that they would also continue to minister to the Redeemed. I yearn to hear their stories about their interventions in my life. I look forward to their fellowship, and most of all, I look forward to hearing them sing!

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Dr. David Reagan

Dr. David Reagan is the Founder and Evangelist Emeritus of Lamb & Lion Ministries. He is a life-long Bible student, teacher, and preacher and he led over 45 pilgrimages to Israel. Dr. Reagan was the host of the radio then television program Christ in Prophecy for nearly 40 years.

16 CommentsLeave a Comment

  • Nathan and all,

    In addition to Dr. Regans article, I have come across the following.

    Have any of you heard of the stoicheia? Greek name of the principalities and powers, demons, fallen angels, elemental things etc as worshiped by e.g. the Colossians.

    The author and researcher is professor Clinton E. Arnold.

    I thought I would listen to a teaching on Colossians on Bob DeWaay’s site – I listened to the Introduction to Colossians and ended up with my hair on end.

    Absolutely fascinating by realising precisely what it is we are up against – Praise The Lord for His free gift of Salvation

    http://www.twincityfellowship.com/downloads.php

    Colossians Pastor Eric Douma adult Sunday School.

    (It helps make sense of what is happening presently re Purpose Driven, Emergent apostasy).

    For a quick reference, Bob DeWaay has written three papers on ‘The Colossian Heresy’ in ‘Critical Issues Commentaries’.
    http://cicministry.org/articles.php

    Scroll down to about half way for part 3, underneath is part 2, then part 1.

    Although I have been finding this helpful; I HAVE to say there are certain of their views I most definitely disagree with.

    Where a rebuttal is given to their critics, the replies are weak and not based upon the main oppositions view imo.

    That aside, I found it an interesting read and informative.

  • i dont know if this holds any credibility but before the church, jesus had a role as an angel, in revelation it appears jesus has a role as an angel. note the phrase "MY two witnesses" spoken by the angel. no mention of jesus as an angel during the church age. perhaps its further proof the church is gone in revelation??

  • Hartdawg
    Have I misunderstood you?
    Jesus has always and forever been the second member of the Trinity. He was and is The Son, The Word of God. He put on human flesh to become our sacrifice for sin but He has never been an angel, he made the angels. 😉

  • Now, now EI, calm down!

    Dawg is just referin' to Jesus' pre-incarnate appearances as "the Angel of YHVH" in the OT and His "appearance" and description in Revelation 10:1 and 11:1-3, although his suggested contusion might be a stretch…
    ;-D

  • nofog
    1st i use the nkjv which i believe to be more accurate than the niv (for the most part) 2nd tho i concede the discription may be a stretch, the fact that in vs 3 of ch 11 he says i will give power to MY two witnesses… who`s witnesses? the angels? does the angel give power? are the 2 witnesses the angels`? thats why i believe it to be christ. if i`m wrong show me my error and i`ll concede (i may be)

  • Hartdawg, I think you bring up an excellent point. The Church now primarily looks at Jesus' humanity side – the man dying on the cross – yet still being aware of His divinity. After the Rapture, we'll be more aware of His divinity, as His likeness is less human and more "like a man" in Revelation 1:13-18's description. The view of Jesus would have changed, and more in line with the "Angel of the Lord." I agree that this makes yet another good point for a Pre-Trib Rapture.

  • DrNofog
    'a square needle'? 🙂

    Okidoki! I'll splain what I thinks!

    The ‘Angel’ of The Lord is certainly identified as Jehovah, and as God; yet obviously a separate character, which is what, gives the JW’s problems!

    If I was allowed my own interpretation I would call Him – “The Messenger Yahweh” – I have considered “God The Sent One” but I reckon that sounded like an irreverent hippie.

    As ‘angel’ means a messenger, I think it would have caused less confusion if another word was used to interpret angel. Yes, I agree this does speak of the pre-incarnate Christ.

    However I do not think? the strong angel in Revelation 10:1 is Christ as he is called ANOTHER angel, which suggests to me one of the SAME kind whereas Jesus is unique

    He is God’s spokes person, with His authority, virtually saying “Thus saith The Lord – ‘I will give my two witnesses…” Rev.11:1-3; no doubt he has come from the throne room in heaven and reflects the Glory of God (even Moses’ face shone after speaking with The Lord).

    It is certainly an angel in Rev.18:1; and he too was all bright and light.

    Nowhere else in the Bible is Jesus said to have a rainbow on His head.

    Jesus ‘comes on the clouds’, he doesn’t wear one.

    Why does he swear by Him that lives forever? Wouldn’t Jesus swear by Himself as He is God (who lives forever)?

    His feet touch the land and the sea, so would that mean Jesus came to earth BEFORE His 2nd coming – to earth?

    Plus, as I was once a Bride, I can tell you I would’ve been narked if my bridegroom had gone out without me – especially as He had promised never to be apart from His Bride again – so if the strong angel is Jesus, where is the Bride?

    I won’t go on about the other differences, but to my mind they seem to outweigh the likelihood of the strong angel being Jesus – I expect I’m wrong – I don't mind! 🙂

  • nofog and ei: since i`m likely the right one everyone should listen to me and i`ll give you all the "square needle" and correct everyone:) seriousley tho, e.i it still would seem to me that if the angel was not christ he would speak in the third person. we can ask when we get to heaven and jesus says i`m right as always:)

  • I sometimes beleive that in the angelic order, certain angels are in charge of specific areas of the globe. Notice when Abraham was visited by the Lord in the Plain of Mamre prior to the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gommorah, there were two angels that accompanied him. These same angels compelled Lot and his family to leave, before they could fulfill the task of destroying these cities.

  • I believe the Bible totally supports you on angelic ruling authorities, Rodney. We're told of the princes of Tyre, Persia and surely Gog – all demonic rulers.

    A pastor friend who's life is devoted to inner city ministry once told me that he noticed each city had its pet sin issue. For instance, in Philadelphia it was (ironically) anger, in Louisville where I once lived it was clearly gluttony. We all know San Francisco's pet sin. He theorized that each city's main sin issue most likely reflected the personal sinful trait of its spiritual ruler. Makes complete sense.

  • Nathan, the questions I have then, were these angels that accompanied the Lord in visiting Abraham, not the angels of God, having authority over these cities instead of those of the fallen angels? Is it possible as in the case of Daniel, that the angels of the Lord must battle their demonic counterpart to fulfill the task that the Lord provides them?

  • Ephesians 6:12, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

    If this applies to the faithful, then it certainly must apply to the angelic realm. Daniel 10's account of the sent angel visiting Daniel being held up by the Prince of Persia for 21 days supports that. Poor Daniel, if he didn't get held up, it would have saved Daniel three weeks of mourning and fasting! 🙂

  • That is exactly the scenario I was pointing too! We as believers must battle daily against the forces of darkness as not only prayer warriors but also as evangelists. Though the battle may be long and hard at times, in the end the road to victory has already been paved by the blood of Christ our Lord.

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