Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 148

"Blessed are the meek: for _they shall inherit the earth_." Matt. 5:5. See also Ps. 37:11, 29; Isa. 65:17-25; Dan. 7:18.

26. What universal song of praise will then be sung?

"And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, _Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever_." Rev. 5:13.

The Ministration Of Good Angels

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Moses On The Nile. "He shall give His angels charge over thee." Ps. 91:11.

1. Of what family does Paul speak in Ephesians?

"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom _the whole family in heaven and earth_ is named." Eph. 3:14, 15.

2. By what name are the members of this family called?

"Now there was a day when _the sons of G.o.d_ came to present themselves before the Lord." Job 1:6. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called _the sons of G.o.d_." 1 John 3:1.

3. By what name are those composing the family in heaven commonly known to us?

"And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many _angels_ round about the throne." Rev. 5:11.

4. Did angels exist before the death of any of the human family?

"So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden _cherubim_." Gen. 3:24.

_Cherub_: "A creature of a sacred and celestial nature."-_Gesenius._

5. Who witnessed the laying of the foundations of the earth?

"Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner-stone thereof; when _the morning stars_ sang together, and all _the sons of G.o.d_ shouted for joy?" Job 38:6, 7.

6. How many of these beings did John see around the throne?

"And I beheld, and I heard the voice of _many angels_ round about the throne; ... and the number of them was _ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands_." Rev. 5:11.

7. What does Paul say of their number?

"But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living G.o.d, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to _an innumerable company of angels_." Heb.

12:22. See also Dan. 7:10.

8. Are angels of a higher order of beings than man?

"Thou hast made him _a little lower than the angels_." Ps. 8:5.

NOTES.-There are different orders of angels: "Cherubim" (Gen.

3:24); "Seraphim" (Isa. 6:2, 6); "Archangel" (1 Thess. 4:16; Jude 9).

Some of their names are: "Michael" (Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9); "Gabriel" (Dan. 8:16; 9:21; Luke 1:19); "Uriel" (2 Esdras [Apocrypha] 4:1, 36; 5:20. See 1 Chron. 15:5); "Ariel" (doubtless of angelic origin. See Ezra 8:16).

_Michael_ means, "Who is _like_ G.o.d," and hence is a fit t.i.tle for Christ. _Gabriel_ signifies, "The _strength_ of G.o.d," an appropriate name for the angel or being who stands next to Christ (Dan. 10:21). _Uriel_ means, "The _light_ of G.o.d;" _Ariel_, "The _lion_ of G.o.d."

9. Is Christ ever called an angel?

"Behold, I send _an Angel_ before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared." Ex. 23:20. See verse 23; Acts 7:38; and margin of 1 Cor. 10:4. "_The Angel of His presence_ saved them." Isa. 63:9. "Michael _the Archangel_." Jude 9. See also Dan. 12:1; 1 Thess. 4:16.

NOTE.-Angel means _messenger_. In Mal. 3:1, Christ is called "the _messenger_ of the covenant."

10. What is said of the strength and character of the angels?

"Bless the Lord, ye His angels, _that excel in strength, that do His commandments_, harkening unto the voice of His word." Ps. 103:20.

11. What description is given of Gabriel in Daniel?

"His body also was like the _beryl_, and his face as the appearance of _lightning_, and his eyes as _lamps of fire_, and his arms and his feet like in color to _polished bra.s.s_, and the voice of his words _like the voice of a mult.i.tude_." Dan. 10:6.

NOTE.-Similar descriptions are given of G.o.d, the "Ancient of days," in Dan 7:9; and of Christ, "the Son of man," in Rev.

1:13-15

12. What was the appearance of the angel that rolled away the stone from the sepulcher at the resurrection of Christ?

"His countenance was _like lightning_, and his raiment _white as snow_."

Matt. 28:3.

13. What shows that the angels sent to Abraham and Lot were real beings?

"And he [Abraham] took b.u.t.ter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and _they did eat_." "And he [Lot] made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and _they did eat_." Gen. 18:8; 19:3.

14. What reason does Paul give to encourage us to entertain strangers?

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: _for thereby some have entertained angels unawares_." Heb. 13:2.

15. In his dream at Bethel, what did Jacob see?