Believers Judging Angels?
I Cor. 6:1-3
When Paul wrote this letter to the church at Corinth, it was having problems. That’s actually an understatement. One of the problems was Christians fighting and feuding and fussing w/ one another, and it got so bad they were actually taking one another to court! Now that’s disgraceful…and it always is disgraceful when Christians cannot get along w/ one another. No doubt the world looks upon that situation and laughs and says, “that’s why I don’t go to church!” And they go back to the Elks Lodge where everyone loves each other.
Paul is rebuking them, and challenging them to find some Godly people to help them settle their disputes in Christian love. In doing so, Paul makes an interesting statement in v. 3…judging angels.
The word judge does not mean “condemn” in this verse. Here it means “to distinguing or decide”. For example, a wife may ask her husband to look at some wallpaper for the bathroom and help her “judge” which is best for them.
This is not about the unholy demonic angels…they have already had their judgment pronounced and their future is already written out. But during the millennium we will rule and reign over the heavenly angels. We will be in our resurrected glorified bodies which the Bible says will be better than the angels.
Hebrews 1:4
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
In rank and position we will be higher than the angels. That’s amazing, isn’t it?! From being lost, sinful, alienated humans who rejected God to being higher than these angels which have remained loyal! It’s the precious blood of Jesus that makes the difference! We have been redeemed at a higher price than was ever paid for any angel. And God’s amazing grace will again be demonstrated to us in our elevation to another height we are most unworthy of attaining!
In your job you may feel like you answer to everyone else. But there’s coming a day when you will be over angels! Up until I was 14 I thought my name was “Fetch Firewood”! But someday I will judge angels!
I. God’s Government Established
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Ours is a God of order and organization. Whether you look thru a microscope or a telescope, it’s evident! And He created not only the heaven and the earth, but set up a government of beings.
Col. 1:16
For 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:
There’s the ranks and levels of the angelic host which make up God’s government.
II. Satan’s Rebellion Against God’s Government
Isaiah 14:13-14
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: [This was evidently an actual physical location in heaven where angels met and were called into accountability] [14] I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Lucifer attempted a hostile takeover of God’s government.
As a result, Satan began to advertise his plan among the angelic host.
Ezekiel 28:18
Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
Satan was the original salesman / recruiter. And it’s a proven fact that those who rebel are never satisfied w/ rebelling alone…they MUST take others with them to help validate their wicked cause.
That’s why the Bible says in…
Exodus 23:2
Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:
Proverbs 1:10
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
Proverbs 4:14
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
So, 1/3rd of the angels followed Satan in his rebellion.
Rev. 12:4
And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth…
God stopped the rebellion by creating the awful place of judgment we know as “hell”.
Matthew 25:41
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Hell wasn’t originally created for people. Humans in hell will be intruders…they were not meant to be there, but many insist. Most people now follow the devil to that place of judgment…but I say we should do all we can just as Jesus did all He could in order to keep it a private party for those wicked, rebellious creatures. Well, it’s too late for multitudes, but not for many more today!
Man is lost in sin and rebellion. This is why we Christians must discipline our children. For when our kids rebel they are acting just like Satan and starting on the highway to hell, following him there!
Proverbs 23:14
Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
Kids need to learn submission, and they learn to submit to God by learning to submit to their parents and others in authority.
Finally, God denies Satan access to heaven…
Luke 10:18
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Rev. 12 says there was found no more place for them in heaven.
Time out: some are wondering, “fine, but what does any of this have to do w/ me judging angels?” Well, we’re building line upon line, precept upon precept here, because we’re going somewhere now!
The great war going on in the air, in another realm, is all about who will sit on the throne of the universe and who will be in charge. Satan today is the god of this world. [that’s how he could offer it to Jesus in Mt. 4!] But God has chosen to offer us a way out, that we might not follow the god of this world to hell!
III. A New Government
Today there is heaven under the leadership of God and the holy angels, and then there is earth, under Satan and his angels. Someday there will be a new heaven and a new earth, and God’s government will be in charge then in the millennium.
Rev. 21:1
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
During the tribulation, the great war will culminate in a terrible battle.
Rev. 12:7-8
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, [8] And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Once and for all the air will be cleared…the invisible spirit world will be purged of every demonic spirit, only to be confined to the bottomless pit.
That will leave this world w/out a ruling structure, under the Lord Jesus in the millennium. Guess what! Believers [members of the body of Christ] will fill these heavenly positions of rank and authority!! Heavenly angels have always been on the earth, but Satan was the prince of the power of the air until this day, and now the holy angels will do their job in the kingdom, and God allows us, the church, to have place over them in His kingdom!
Ephes. 1:20-23
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, [21] Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: [22] And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, [23] Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Some Christians have a very warped view of what heaven will be. They think of it as some beach resort, some great vacation getaway being pampered and caudled forevermore. Listen, do you know what we’re really gonna do in heaven for eternity? We’re gonna serve God! Adam worked before sin entered the world. We will not loaf throughout eternity. We are going to serve God. So let’s get used to serving God now, for that’s how it’s gonna be forever! God didn’t save us just to keep us out of hell…He has an eternal destiny for each of us that will bring Him glory!
We may not know many details of how we will give angels orders, but we know that we will, and that our positions of authority in Christ’s kingdom will be based upon our faithfulness and service to Him now, so let’s be busy serving, praising, and glorifying Him as we will for all eternity!
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