Morningstar
Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation...
while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? Job
38:4, 7
Morning stars is a title given to angels, indicating their intelligence, holiness and brightness of glory; excellencies which have all been derived from their infinitely-glorious Creator. Satan was one of the morning stars Isaiah 14:12. We must never forget that Lucifer was once an unfallen beautiful angel and had fallen from grace. Satan is seen everywhere in the Bible from the beginnings of Genesis to near the end of Revelation. He is referred to by a myriad of other names based on his parasitic and evil character. In him and his acolytes we see even such a being of high standing can be brought low by their own sin and poor choices. A character lesson for the ages.
Watchers
It is Daniel who gives angels the title of watchers.
“I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed,
and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. Daniel 4:13
“The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the
decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know
that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he
will and sets over it the lowliest of men” Daniel 4:17
“And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one,
coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it,
but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and
bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of
heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven
periods of time pass over him” Daniel 4:23
As watchers the angels have ever-wakeful diligence in duty.
Having no need of sleep, they are untiringly active in administering their
appointed affairs under God's directions. What watchful care they exercise over
the saints of God, in all the toils and trials of their earthly pilgrimage!
They are like the watchmen posted on the walls of Jerusalem who never sleep and
are active day and night (Isaiah 62:6).
Thrones, Powers, Rulers, Authorities
For by him were all things created whether thrones or
powers or rulers or authorities... Colossians 1:16
Conclusion
In the Bible four angels are mentioned by name: Michael is
mentioned five times (Daniel 10:13; 10:21; 12:1; Jude 9, Revelation 12:7). He
is the only angel to be called an archangel (Jude 9). Gabriel is mentioned four
times (Daniel 8:15-27; 9:20-27; Luke 1:11-19, 26-27). Lucifer is mentioned once
by name (Isaiah 14:12 KJV [Morning Star NIV]); Satan's name is mentioned 54
times. The Angel of the Covenant (Lord) is mentioned many times in Scriptures
and is dealt with in the Chapter, "The Angel of the Covenant.
The apocryphal books mention by name the angels Metatron,
Raphael, and Uriel or Jeremiel. Reviewing the preceding examination of the
names and titles of angels, we see that they indicate their high importance as
the creatures of God and are designed for our practical improvement. Those
titles, the most significant that could be found in human language, may,
however, but improperly describe their high distinction among created
intelligences. Still, it is evident that angels possess preeminent dignity in
the universal kingdom of the Lord; especially their names are given to them by
the infinite wisdom of God. We cannot, therefore, worthily honor His holy Word,
justify our own profession of faith, or receive the full amount of the
consolation designed by the Scriptures unless we give attention to the divine
testimony concerning those holy, happy, and immortal beings, all of whom bear a
commission of grace in our favor and are sent to serve those who will inherit
salvation (Hebrews 1:14).
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