This painting listed by Tyranov, is a good one. The weeping mother and a on with some malady, he or she, although I think it is a man, since the angel is larger, is there to comfort her and protect them. What is interesting too, is the wicked angel at the right.

When angels come in on our behalf the devils flee. The will flee from Jesus, from angels who are with His Spirit, and from believers who call on Him. plead His blood and use His name. The demons trembled before Christ, though they also mocked and taunted Him. They had to go.

Remember what Jesus said about them they roam and find no rest and go back with seven worse than before. That is why He wants us to rest in Him, the enemy and his minions have no peace, but we have His peace as believers. John 14:27

And the ” house ” or person, either body or mind, they have left, if it is not born again and staying the Word,  walking in love, renewing in the Spirit, they will return. Now, there are illnesses and mental afflictions that may not necessarily be demonic, but many are. Especially, drug and alcohol abuse.

This is not meant to cause fear, but as we submit to God , the devil will flee. It is much better to be filled with the Spirit and renewed tat to fall back into old ways, but angels are there to help. Believers fo have the authority to put them out in His name, but you may recall the men who tried casting out devils and could not and were beaten up. And even the disciples could not.

While Jesus attributes to their unbelief in that instance and also mentions prayer and fasting, which makes a person stronger spiritually along with prayer in the Spirit, He also expects us to use wisdom and discernment and the Holy Spirit gives gifts as He wills.

So it is the Lord who heals and casts out the devil even through believers, you cannot defeat him in your own strength, just know Jesus is there for you and He sends us angels, and in His name we ask for healing and deliverance and walk in His love and peace, keep us from evil.

 

Let’s talk about angels. Angels, just common ones or guardians are at the bottom of the list. Archangels are at the top. Michael is the archangel we are most familiar with, he is over Israel, and we read about him in Daniel. He is the angel accompanying the Lord at His return.

Gabriel is the only other named one in the Bible, the other named ones are fallen. There are many traditional names including Raphael which means healer. I believe it is possible there are angels who bring healing and strength just as they did to Jesus. But I am also wary of just anyone’s account of angels, the Holy Spirit has to lead.

Principalities or “princes” comes from the Greek arche (plural is archai) which comes from archomai, meaning “beginning” or “commencement.” The Latin is princeps and principates. The Hebrew sar has the same meaning. Principalities are over territories, they would rank under the archangel.

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers…” will separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:38 

“so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens.” Ephesians 3:10

“For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.” Ephesians 6:12 

That’s something we are familiar with as believers, spiritual warfare. And it is easy  t forget that our struggle is not with people, but with the spirits that oppress them or cause them to oppress us.

While God created all angels and spirits, He did not created them to use against us they fell because of pride and rebellion and followed Lucifer. Hell was made for them and not people.

“despoiling the principalities and the powers, He made a public spectacle of them, leading them away in triumph by it.” Colossians. 2:15  Jesus destroyed the devil on the cross and will ultimately by His coming agin.

“Power” comes from the Greek exousia, which literally means power that is “out of” (ex) the “substantial being” . The Latin is potestatem. Powers are the next in the ranks of angels.

“far above every principality, power, virtue, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come.” Ephesians 1:21 Jesus name is above it all. Period! Never hesitate to use His name if you are under attack in the spiritual or for real. I have read of many women who have avoided trouble by using that name above all.

“who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, powers and virtues subject to Him.” 1 Peter 3:22

The word “virtue” comes from the Greek dunamis  which connotes strength and the ability to do something powerful. The Latin is virtus . We read this word in the account of the woman who and the issue of blood. Virtue went out of Him, strength and power from the Spirit, perhaps angelic assistance for her.

The word dominion comes from the Greek kyriotes  and connotes lordship, authority and sovereignty. The source word Kyrios is used to refer to God in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint).  In the New Testament, such as Luke 1:43, where Elizabeth asks Mary, “How is it that the mother of my Kyrios (Lord) should come to me?” This is why Catholics call Mary the “Mother of God” because God inspired Elizabeth to say the same thing. Don’t get hung up on this one, Mother By God may have been a little more accurate, but it is just respect not disrespect for God.

So dominions have authority over certain things, like the phrase drug lord. A dominion has control over people like that, they see that sin abounds in cities or neighborhoods.

The word “thrones” comes from the Greek thronos and refers to the seat of majesty, which God shares with His angels (see Ex. 3; 13:21; 14:19; 33:14; Judges 6; 13; Acts 7:31-33).

“For in Him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through Him and for Him.” Colossians 1:16

The word “cherubim” probably comes from the Hebrew word qareb which means “near,” which is usually used in the context of coming near to God to offer worship or sacrifice. So angels are near to sacrifices in the Old Testament, and of course Jesus and to us, as living sacrifices.

“When He expelled the man, He settled Him east of the garden of Eden; and He stationed the cherubim and the fiery revolving sword, to guard the way to the tree of life.” Genesis 3:24 They are not just cute little figurines.

“Shepherd of Israel, listen, guide of the flock of Joseph! From your throne upon the cherubim reveal yourself.” Psalm 80:1

“The LORD is king, the peoples tremble; God is enthroned on the cherubim, the earth quakes.” Psalm 99:1

“O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned upon the cherubim! You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made the heavens and the earth.” Isaiah 37:16

“Then I looked, and behold, on the firmament that was over the heads of the cherubim there appeared above them something like a sapphire, in form resembling a throne. And he said to the man clothed in linen, Go in among the whirling wheels underneath the cherubim; fill your hands with burning coals from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city. And he went in before my eyes. Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the house, when the man went in; and a cloud filled the inner court.” 4-22.Ezekiel 10:1-4:

“Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.” Daniel 3:55

The word “seraphim” is from the Hebrew sarap which means “to burn.” Thus, seraphim are known as the “burning ones” which reflect their burning love for God.

“Seraphim were stationed above; each of them had six wings: with two they veiled their faces, with two they veiled their feet, and with two they hovered aloft.” Isaiah 6:2

“Then one of the seraphim flew to me, holding an ember which he had taken with tongs from the altar.” Isaiah 6:6

“In among the living creatures something like burning coals of fire could be seen; they seemed like torches, moving to and fro among the living creatures. The fire gleamed, and from it came forth flashes of lightning.”

They are around the throne and above it , crying holy, holy holy, in Revelation

This is the story of the brass serpent as it represents Christ’s sacrifice. While the word serpent here is seraph, the fiery or burning one, it is different to the glory or the other seraph, the fallen enemy is a striking serpent Numbers. 21:4-9

Jesus took so much for us, didn’t He. Let’s not murmur and complain and be snake bitten, when He already too our place on a cross. I hope this helps a little to know about angels and how they work. And remember, God is over them, Jesus’ name above them and they follow the Holy Spirit, who helps you discern.

St. Cecilia and the Angels

 

This is another painting by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Liberation of St. Peter, the story is told in Acts 12, an imprisoned Peter is visited in the night by an angel before he is to go to trial. A startled and half asleep Peter thinks it is a dream or vision but is hit on the side by a staff and told to put on a cloak after his chains fall off.

The iron gate outside opens of its on accord and the angel walks a block with him and is gone. Peter goes to Mary’s house, ( not Jesus’ mother ) and the maid Rhoda, doesn’t let him in at first. The people who have gathered there to pray for him think she is crazy, and tell her it is his angel.

Rhoda keeps insisting that he is there and as he knocks they go outside and see him at the gate, he gives them a message for the other disciples and disappears into the night, avoiding a massive search for him the next morning.

This definitely a protective angel, and the gospel was still preached, and I’m sure there were also ministering spirits to help him. especially, after being sifted.

 

 

I have been used to reading King James growing up but have read other translations and often use English Standard or New Living on my blog. I think it is fine to read and study as the Spirit leads, late I have found some beautiful verses her i n the Message Bible, I thought we would look at Psalm 91

William Kotarbinski (1849-1921), Seraph, circa late 19th century, St. Vladimir Cathedral, Kiev, Ukraine. What a wonderful painting and I love the wings. I really can’t say if this all  of the painting or there is more but seraphim have six wings.

Two to cover their faces, two to fly, to for their feet. They are even referred to as the burning ones. Let’s look at the Word. We’ll start with isaiah’s vision, 6:2.

” In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.And they called out to one another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; His glory fills all the earth.…” The angel will touch his lips with a hot coal. He will no longer be unclean, in speech or even stammering.

“Such were their faces. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching the wings of the creature on either side, and two wings covering its body. ” Ezekiel 1:11 Ezekiel also saw a wheel within a wheel.I have often thought that that may be an angel carrying the very throne or chariot of God.

And the there is, ” And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” Revelation 4:8

Interestingly enough, the Hebrew word saraph means serpent, so fiery or copper colored flying serpents around God’s throne or angels? Yes, because the serpent was not always cursed and did crawl. And only a third fell, there are a lot more for us. And I’ want the holy ones around.

The phrase ” burning ones ” alludes to their burning love, but in Number is indicative of the fiery serpents, before the brazen serpent was made by Moses, it represented the crucifixion. The plural seraphim is mentioned only once in Isaiah.

Seraphim are in Jewish theology connected with cherubim and ophanim as the three highest orders of attendants on Yahweh, and are superior to the angels who are messengers sent on various errands.  Cherubim were represented by the storm-clouds, the seraphim by the serpentine flashes of the lightning; but none of this appears in Isaiah’s vision.

Archaeological digs have discovered the word seref in Egyptian tombs, comparing them to griffins, a lione winged creature, but we will see for ourselves one day as we stand before Him ourselves. His peace, Rebecca Jones

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Kotarbi%C5%84ski

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. Psalm 29:2

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! Psalm 95:6

Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth! Psalm 96:9

proskynéō ( Greek prós, “towards” and kyneo, “to kiss”) To prostrate before a superior and even to kiss the ground.

But a time is coming and has now come when the TRUE worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.John 23,24

And from John, a favorite of mine.

Rebecca Jones

Painting /Frans Schwartz

Remember the Lord through Holy Communion. We must proclaim His death until He comes. many people are taking it at home, just remember not to be worried about being unworth. He makes us worthy and all you need to do is be a believer who keeps a repentant heart.

Some people, sleep or are dead, Jesus hated to use that word. They did not rightly discern the blood for sin and the body for healing.

“This is my body, which is for^[b] you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. I corinthians 11:24-26

Though this could well be thought of a Christmas Angel, she is just a sweet Victorian angel with roses and a star. You will find many of these angels in old ephemera, postcards, even advertisements.

In the book of Job, angel are called stars. Yo will see many old photographs of people who had their children ore were themselves dressed as angels, in many of those old black and white still, there may be a moon or stars.

And stars and artists appear to go together as perhaps do angels and artists. Stars are evident in the colorful and contemporary work of many artists,, even today. I hope you will enjoy some of them on my Pinterest board and perhaps catch a star for yourself.

Angels are not necessarily literal stars, though they are out there shining and protection the most precious of God’s creations.

 

I found this German postcard that is from the turn of the 19th century. If you read German, you may want to enlarge the image to see the bottom. All I could make out is what appears to be child or baby and protector.

There are many German postcards from the Victorian Era, when people were very sentimental and kept baby books, teeth, hair, etc.  Many of these are still widely used in scrapbooking.

Germany’s attitudes toward Christianity would later change and further descend through World War I , before the Nazi party came to power in the late 1920’s and 30’s giving way to the destructive regime and eventually World War II.

Song of the Angels, Mary seated with Jesus and being serenaded by angels i one of my favorites. It was painted in 1855 bu the academic artist William Adolphe Bouguereau. he has many beautiful works of art including angels, lovely girls, some in a sort of pastoral life. They sing and play His peace to the little Prince of Peace.

As we continue to study angels and my previous FB post relates to angelic revelation of God’s love, this is a good way to look at it in that light, angels are ministering spirits, and gabriel announced the birth of Jesus who later told Peter that flesh and blood had not revealed to him that he was the Messiah.

Whether it was an angel or the very Spirit of God, angel were probably present and they do deliver messages and alway accompany the Spirit or they are not from God.

Rebecca Jones