Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 149

"And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: _and behold the angels of G.o.d ascending and descending on it_." Gen. 28:12.

16. To whose authority are the angels subject?

"Jesus Christ: who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of G.o.d; _angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him_." 1 Peter 3:21, 22.

NOTE.-In Joshua 5:13-15, Christ is called "captain of the Lord's host."

17. In what work are angels engaged?

"Are they not all _ministering spirits_, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Heb. 1:14.

18. What scripture indicates that each child of G.o.d has an accompanying angel?

"Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven _their angels_ do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven." Matt. 18:10.

NOTE.-Another has said: "Christians who live in the light of G.o.d's countenance are always accompanied by unseen angels, and these holy beings leave behind them a blessing in our homes."

19. How is their watch-care over G.o.d's people expressed?

"The angel of the Lord _encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them_." Ps. 34:7.

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Daniel In The Lions' Den. "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them." Ps. 34:7.

20. By what means were the three Hebrews protected while in the fiery furnace?

"I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is _like the Son of G.o.d_.... Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the G.o.d of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath _sent His angel, and delivered His servants_ that trusted in Him." Dan. 3:25-28.

21. When cast into the lions' den, how did Daniel say he had been saved from death?

"_My G.o.d hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths_, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me." Dan.

6:22.

22. When surrounded by the Syrian host, what did Elisha say, and for what did he pray, to encourage his frightened servant?

"And he answered, _Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them_. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, _open his eyes, that he may see_. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; _and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha_." 2 Kings 6:16, 17.

23. What does the psalmist say of the chariots of G.o.d?

"The chariots of G.o.d are twenty thousand, even _thousands of angels_." Ps.

68:17.

24. By what means were the apostles delivered from prison?

"_The angel of the Lord_ by night _opened the prison doors_, and brought them forth." Acts 5:19.

25. How was Peter delivered later?

"_The angel of the Lord came upon him_, and a light s.h.i.+ned in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.... And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.... They came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and pa.s.sed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him." Acts 12:7-10.

NOTE.-"What we call physical law is no obstruction to angelic ministrations. Bolts and bars and prison gates disappear at their volition, and dungeons like palaces s.h.i.+ne in their presence. No place can be so dismal, no cavern so deep and dark, no Inquisition cell so hidden and fetid, no fortress so strongly guarded, that they cannot find quick and easy access, if a child of G.o.d is there."-_"__Footprints of Angels in Fields of Revelation,__"__ by E. A. Stockman, pages 74, 75._

26. When Elijah was about to take a forty days' journey, how was he strengthened for it?

"_And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat_; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto h.o.r.eb the mount of G.o.d." 1 Kings 19:7, 8.

27. After His forty days' fast and temptation in the wilderness, how was Christ strengthened?

"Then the devil leaveth Him, and, behold, _angels came and ministered unto Him_." Matt. 4:11.

28. How was Christ strengthened while suffering in the garden of Gethsemane?

"And _there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him_."

Luke 22:43.

29. Are the angels interested in the plan of salvation?

"Which things _the angels desire to look into_." 1 Peter 1:12.

30. Are they interested in the conversion of men?

"Likewise, I say unto you, _there is joy in the presence of the angels of G.o.d over one sinner that repenteth_." Luke 15:10.

31. Before whom are we said to speak?

"Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; _neither say thou before the angel_, that it was an error: wherefore should G.o.d be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?" Eccl. 5:5, 6.

32. For what must men give account in the judgment?

"But I say unto you, That _every idle word_ that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." Matt. 12:36. See also Eccl. 12:13, 14.

33. Out of what will they be judged?

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before G.o.d; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged _out of those things which were written in the books_, according to their works." Rev. 20:12.

34. What shows that the actions of men are recorded?

"And the Lord harkened, and heard it, and _a book of remembrance was written before Him_ for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name." Mal. 3:16. See also Isa. 65:6; Jer. 2:22.

35. In the judgment how many angels minister before G.o.d?