The Best Angelology

Take your Bibles with me this morning. Turning them to the book of Hebrews near the back of your Bible. Some ways the Bible just keeps getting better as you go through it, doesn't it until you get to Revelation and then you hit the best.

So we're almost there. But in Hebrews, it's mighty fine. And this morning, I want to read the entire first chapter of Hebrews.

We've had four or so five, perhaps sermons on verses one through three. And now today, I'm going to treat verses four through 14. And some of you have just said, in your mind, inconceivable! Impossible. I've said that in my mind throughout this week, as well. But it's necessary to hold this thought together.

It's necessary for us to put it together to see it all in one go, that we might be able to springboard off of it for chapter two, for the thought needs to be singular. So please follow along, as I read this morning, chapter one, verse one, Hebrews:

"1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,

2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son"?

6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him."

7 And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire."

8 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.

9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions."

10 And: "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.

11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment;

12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail."

13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?"

(Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.)

Pray with me this morning. Father God. Help. Help us with Your word. Lord, open the pathways of our mind to our heart, and not just our heart, but to our very spirit. Let us see your son Oh God and Father, as you present him to us here and let us embrace Him and glorify Him and share together with him as you have determined us to share. For it is beyond us that you would share what your son has. Let us see this this morning we pray in Jesus name. Amen.

I have said and we'll say it again that Hebrews is the advanced course in theology. If you're going to be a student of God and who he is, and what his plan and purpose is, the advanced courses here, you're in graduate school in Hebrews. It demands of us a certain attention, and maturity of mind of focus, to not lose our way.

There's been times over the last number of weeks, as God has started to reveal his pattern and speaking here and shown me more and more in his word that I've almost become fearful, fearful of losing what I'm seeing, or not being able to take what God has shown me and deliver it to you, that it might be of help to you, and I pray is helped even today.

Even how God has helped us understand that the writer of the Hebrews is in the background on purpose. No one knows who wrote it.

There's been much speculation about it. But we don't know. And so helpful is that for us, that we then center not so much on the man who wrote, but on the God who wrote through the man, and use this man's education, use this man supreme ability, with Greek language, with rhetorical skills that are that are superlative, and can be even matched to a book and I have been reading books on rhetoric.

And I see how he's brought it to us. And we need to remind ourselves constantly that the process of inspiration of God speaking through men, who wrote his word is also a process of God preparing that instrument that he uses, particularly for the purpose he has in him writing.

And so I say, Paul sounds like Paul, when he writes, because Paul was prepared to sound like Paul, from the very beginning of his life, he was educated in the School of Gamaliel, and writes as such, he always sounds a little Hebrew.

But this one sounds Greek. Though he is writing to Hebrews, that may seem odd to you until you realize that every single one of the Old Testament citations that are in the book of Hebrews are all in Greek.

And so we know that this was written to Christians who are in the Greek world who are among the lingua franca of the age and the time in which this was written, and he speaks to them according to their education. And they would have been educated Greek as well. They would have understood the culture of their day in the way of speaking and bringing about an argument, and they would have been moved to follow this speaker.

And this speaker desires those of us to be able to follow and listen to him about whom he speaks. The Christ, "God at various times, spoke in different ways, in time passed to the fathers by the prophets and has" this should be startling to us "in these days spoken to us by his Son" by his Son, and his heir, and this heir has a plan to share.

You notice my subtitle, Hebrews must have the best Angelology and we'll study angels this morning. But while we do, we're mainly studying Christology, the study of Christ, the "heir who shares" let me show you something in your text that must stand out to you in the beginning. It's by design of the writer design of God and I want to show it to you. chapter one, verse two. "Has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir.

Chapter one, verse four, having become so much better than the angels, as he has by inheritance, obtained a more excellent name than they are.

Chapter one verse 14. "Are they not all ministers ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?"

That's not accidental. That's purposeful that God laying this out the heir, the inheritor of a name, ministering spirits angels to those who will inherit salvation. There is an heir, who will share an inheritance. This speech is laid out in such a way to garner our attention and make us listen to the son and be absolutely afraid not to. He has something to say.

I want to bring us through the logic of this for it is God who has said to man, in his word come let us reason together. It is God who said to Job out of the whirlwind "gird yourself like a man". And I will talk with you and we will reason.

So, God has made man to reason with him. And the Greeks only picked up on what is natural in men, that we are reasonable beings. And this portion, what we're getting into now is called the Logos of a speech Logos means, word or narrative. And here proofs are given, that are used to convince people of the premise that has been made.

In this particular case, the the writer is using what is called rhetorical reason, reasoning wherein the premise that he is presenting and the logic that he is putting before them are all commonly well known truths. Hence, Old Testament quotations, the Hebrews know them. He's using their body of knowledge to convince them of the Christ and why he should be heard. And why we can be blessed in the hearing, come with me this morning.

The heir who shares is presented to us, the heir that is better than the angels. We need to listen to him, a decision is going to be required. In all good rhetoric, all good preaching which by the way is rhetoric, demands a change of the will. Demands we make a decision. And the decision must be made.

Listen to the Son, and share in his inheritance or be destroyed as an enemy of the Son. That's here. And it's also in the beginning of chapter two. And it will run throughout this book. So help me Jesus. As I preach verses four through 14.

First, the premise the heir is better than the angels. You could add to that, Listen to him.

Roman numeral one in your notes. If you got a bulletin this morning the notes inside Roman numeral one. The heir is better. The heir with a better name than the angels the heir with a better name than the angels look at verse four.

After presenting Jesus Christ from the very beginning of creation, the heir who made all things, the express image of the person of God first for now continues that run on sentence and brings the sentence of verses one two and three to a conclusion.

Having become so much better than the angels, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. A better name and this is the first occurrence of an oft cited word that will be used throughout the entire Book of Hebrews kreitton in the Greek but it means something and it cannot be taken at a slight fashion it cannot be even said in an under handed way or in a quiet way it has strong kreitton!

He is better. He is superior in rank is of a more important person. The emphasis is on someone being of a vastly distant, higher caliber or quality particularly over the angels having become so much better than the Angels he has by an inheritance obtained a more excellent name, than they.

And there is a perplexing couple of words here this, having become. And it demands that we go back and remember that Jesus Christ, though he was Creator God as presented to us in verse two, he was also the human, Jesus Christ, and in the Incarnation took on humanity. And so his humility is being presented here for God cannot become anything more than he already is! He is already fully God fully perfect, fully endowed with all of the characteristics of the Godhead.

So as soon as it says, having become you need to stop and say, it's talking about the humanity of Christ, where deity took on humanity, through the virgin birth, when the Spirit came upon the mother of Jesus, and Mary gave birth to a son. And he walked as every human would walk, he became a child, who became a young man who became a leader of his people. Who was the sacrifice for men. He came to know that, he came to be that, he grew into that position.

The Bible tells us in Philippians, of the Kenosis, the Kenosis means the emptying. That Jesus Christ Himself, emptied himself of the voluntary use of His divine attributes and live as a man. And through that, he humbled himself to complete His work of service to God, and the salvation of men. And that proved him.

Who Jesus was, and is, was proved, in his becoming. Having become so much better than the angels.

Angels are marvelous. Angels, are fantastic. Angels are something we're fascinated with, are we not? That there is a realm in which something dwells creatures of God, who are functioning day by day, yet we do not see them. And we in our foolish manhood, oftentimes try to make characters of them.

Before television. They drew pictures of angels. And then they've made sculptures of angels. And then they made even Christmas movies were poor, Jimmy Stewart had to have the help of, well, I guess he was an angel, but a pretty sad one. And I say that to say, that every time we try to make an angel, we take something away from them.

It's worse when we do that with Christ. That's why we should never have an image of Christ because you don't get it. Try and try and draw the Jesus of chapter one of Hebrews. Go ahead. I can't. Pastor you can't draw! We all know this. No, that's not the reason it's impossible.

He is, having become one with a better name.  He's obtained, by inheritance, at first you stumble over this you say by inheritance? Wasn't he already God? Yes. But walking as a man he then became one who could inherit. As God he can inherit nothing, he had all things. As man he became nothing and gained from God, things gained from the Father an inheritance and part of the inheritance is the being represented by the name Jesus. Which here is absent. Did you notice?

He's never called Jesus in the first chapter. What's he called? The Son. So therefore, we need to point out to ourselves, the focus is on the relationship of a father to the son and the inheritance that a father is giving to his son throughout that ends with a shared inheritance at the end of this chapter.

I've got to keep going.

And a name obtained by inheritance and a sonship with the Father. It is always that a father wants to pass on a legacy. But even more so when it's royalty.

We've lost that somehow in our culture when we become the killers of children in our culture and our society. And we've denigrated the need, and the even the glory of what it is to be putting the image of God on earth.

But God values that very highly. And I know you in this room value children at the highest level because God values them. But this one, this Son is the heir of God the Father. And just as every, every kingdom. Even in England, there's a right of succession for the throne. How long will the queen mother live? Will Charles take over that hapless Prince of England?

One of them taking themselves out of the way of becoming royalty, married himself a nice American girl and actress, probably two mistakes and separated themselves from their royal inheritance. They didn't value it. So hope for William and his sons.

But this is God, the security of the succession? Of God using the words inheritance? Why has he made us like that? Why is there even an inheritance? Why do we still write wills?

Because it's in us to do these things. And God is using that as he convinces us of His Son who walked as a man who is obtained by inheritance from God, a name above every name, a name that every knee will bow, a much better name than the angels. Which is what it said. 

Letter B in your notes: A name more excellent than that of the angels. These angels that we are so enamored with, and they can get our attention so much. We need to remember that this son in verse two has been stated to be the creator not only of the worlds but of all time.

The heir, why did he start saying this in verse two, has in the last day spoken to us by his Son whom he has appointed heir. He wanted us to keep that in our minds. And in our hearts. As we continued reading the book of Hebrews, he named him son and heir. And the angels have a lesser name than what this son has done because of his work as a human and his elevation back to the position that he deserves.

He has a more excellent name. Now some of you will say, "Well, I've read my Bible and and angels are called sons of God, even in the book of Job." You're right. Some of you might even say, Well, I've read about Israel, and God even calls Israel, his son. And you're right in Exodus chapter four.

But you know what? God never calls an individual Angel, or an individual Israelite son. He calls a group of angels, sons. He calls Israel as a group, sons, their sons via the relationship of Creator God with the created ones, the created angels, are they as sons in the sense of you'd be the creator? Yes, they are.

But they are not this kind of son. They are not heirs. Christ in his personal union, of divine nature, with his human nature, combined with a glorious atoning work exalts the Son to a much higher status than even the mighty angels.

It is in Romans that Paul declares these words in Romans one, verse three. Paul says concerning His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Listen, "who was born of the seed of David, according to the flesh", there's his humanity "and declared to be the Son of God, with power". There's deity. According to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, that is the complete atoning work of Christ, when that comes to a high status of having obtained, more excellent name than they, by inheritance, God's approval of his work on Earth.

Number two. The heir who is called son over the angels, the heir, who is called son over the angels. For to which of the angels did he ever say is the question in verse five. And this is the beginning of three rhetorical questions that we find in chapter one.

We talked about rhetoric earlier, right? And this is called a rhetorical question, get it? You speak this question and it demands a certain response from the listeners, the listeners are not required to respond, but they are required to understand that this question has what kind of an answer? A "No" answer, a negative answer.

To which of the angels did he God ever say? The important point is God. It is the sovereign father that begins to reason via this rhetorical questioning. So all of us as men who read this book, all of us were confronted by the word of God have to give the answers that are required of us here by God.

He's going to bring us to the correct conclusion that the ultimate both superiority of the Son is being proclaimed God is the point for to which of the angels did he God ever say?

It is God's authority brothers and sisters, it is God's standing. And it is God that authenticates the son by the use of his own words and his own position. The writer of Hebrews is going to do this with with us again, more than once, but let me just highlight one to remind you that God sometimes proves things by himself.

He will authenticate the point that he is making as being absolutely true by a direct appeal to the authority of himself. And this was often done in Greek rhetoric, when they were going to appeal to some sort of truth, they would appeal to the gods. Because all of them held this truth in common.

That the highest authority is God, or for them, the gods. Man is born with a knowledge that God is higher than them, and there is a God. Man in his sin may adulterate that and make idols and worship them wrongly, and create different things to go with them. But they all understand there's a God. And so God reasons. In Hebrews chapter six, verse 13, listen to this. It's in regard to a promise. You can even call it an inheritance.

That God promised to a man named Abraham. And the words go like this verse 13 "For when God made a promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no one greater" listen, "He swore by Himself." You ever have somebody trying to convince you have something that is true. And sometimes they'll even say, I swear, on my mother's grave, it's true.

And we're supposed to say, whoa, he swore on his mother's grave its gotta be true! Or if they're even trying to be more, they'll even take God's name in vain and say swear to God, it's true. But it's a whole nother thing. What we see here, because when men do it, it's the lower appealing to a higher authority.

Who is God supposed to compare to himself to make his point as a higher authority, when he's the highest? That's what Hebrews is proclaiming. For when God made a promise to Abraham. He said, I'm promising you this and I'm going to guarantee it.

How will I guarantee my promise to you? Because he could swear by no one greater he swore by Himself saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you and multiplying, I will multiply you" and by the way, can I just put this in for free? God guaranteed Abraham a blessing forever and ever. Don't you dare take it away. Don't let anybody convince you God's done with Israel, because God swore by Himself. I gotta quit or I'll get into that.

The writer is God, the interpreter of God's own Word is God. And it is God who is demanding that we come to the right understanding we get the right meaning out of His Word, and he is proclaiming it himself for the which of the angels did he ever say? And we get his meaning.

Letter A Roman numeral two letter A: The first rhetorical question now laid out to which of the angels did he ever say, "You are my son, today I have begotten you?" I have already said, there's only one way we can answer that and that is with a negative, to none of them.

When did God ever say to any of his angels, you are my son today I have begotten you. He is claiming origination and generation of the son. He's mine I own him, he is my from me. And he's my only begotten, generated from the Father.

This is a quotation from Psalm two, which was what we call an enthronement Psalm. An enthronement Psalm that deals with the kingship of Israel. David's in view, but more so now we realize that the Son of God is in fuller view.

In Acts chapter 13, verse 33, we read, "God has fulfilled this for us, their children, in that he has raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm", see the proof from God's Word, you are my son, today I have begotten you. It wasn't Hebrews that used this first he was in Acts. But not only that, we have the resonance we have the picture, we have Christmas, if you will.

Isaiah chapter nine, verse six, we read, The Prophet of old who says, "For unto us a child is born. unto us a Son", capital S is given. "And the government will be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace", he has by inheritance of name obtained a more excellent name than they because he is the declared Son of God.

It makes us it forces us to go back to chapter one, verse three, where we have the last instance of where Jesus resides being proclaimed, when he had by himself purged sins and in verse three, sat down at the right hand of majesty on high, there's the Son.

The second rhetorical question: For the which of the angels, did he ever say, You're my son today I've gotten you? To none. And then again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to Me a son.

From there we go. And we take from the Davidic Covenant, of second Samuel chapter seven, when God promised David, an everlasting kingdom, God worded it like this. Verse 14, speaking of a son of David, he said, I will be his father, and he shall be my son.

To which are the angels did he ever say will be to him a father, and he shall be to Me a son?

In Samuel, God is talking to David, but he's talking to Jesus, the son of David, through David into the future onto us, and the promises stand. If he commits iniquity, that quotation goes on. "I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men, but my mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you", listen to the promise "and your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you".

Your throne shall be established, how long? Forever! The Davidic line of succession is indelible. It is internal. It is forever because of the God man, Jesus Christ, the son and heir of God. So the line of succession is secure. The father in a sense when he talks to David is adopting all of David's sons and realizing in them the coming of the ultimate only begotten Son, the king and heir, Jesus Christ.

Number three: The heir upon whom the angels are called to worship. The heir upon whom the angels are called to worship. Notice verse six, verse six says, "but when he again brings the firstborn into the world", he says. When he, again brings the first born into the world, he says, "Let all the angels of God worship Him". Angels are less than the Son of God.

Soon we shall celebrate Christmas. And we sing songs. Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing or the plain. What's that about? What are they doing? In the first Advent of Christ, by the way, did you catch there's a second advent in view.

Did you see that? When he again, brings the first born into the world was another name for the son, the firstborn, the heir, the inheritor. We're not talking about the First Coming now we're talking about the second coming of Christ being proclaimed. Let all the angels worship him.

When he came in the first place, the angels were there. Now there were in the same country, shepherds living out in the fields keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shown round about them, and they were greatly afraid. And the angel said to them, Do not be afraid for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people for their is born to you. This day, in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Unto you a son, is given. And this will be the sign to you You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace and goodwill to men.

When he came the first time the angels worshipped Him. And when he comes a second time, he again brings the firstborn into the world. He says, Let all the angels of God worship Him. This is from Psalm 97. Let me read you an excerpt.

"The Lord reigns. Let the earth rejoice. Let the multitude of aisles Be glad clouds and darkness surround him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and burns up his enemies round about his lightning light the world the Earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare his righteousness and all the people see His glory, let all be put to shame, who served carved images, who boast of idols, worship Him, all you Elohim"

All you God's little g. Bible begins with Elohim. But it can also mean those who are high and of majesty, and it can be used of angels and it is here. You recall from your Bibles, angels will never accept the worship of man, angels are designed to worship God. May I say, as where we?

The logic is irrefutable. It is reasonable to join the angels and worship the Son. For worship, brothers and sisters is in the content is in the responsive adoration of God with the truth we have learned by listening to God let all the angels of God worship Him.

Number four:  The heir who is declared the anointed forever King. Verses seven through nine. The heir who is declared the anointed forever King and of the angels he says, who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire. Here we have Angelology the study of angels, wherein God is telling us how he made angels and angels are not material like we are. They are spirits.

So what do angels look like? They look like spirits. But sometimes they manifest in the world for us to see, He makes His angels, His ministers a flame of fire. It is in Genesis that we find when man failed and when man fell. When man ate of the fruit of the knowledge of the tree of good and evil, that God protected man, he protected man from being in the garden, and go into the tree of life and eating from it and ever more be stuck in the position of sinful condemnation.

And so God drove man out of the Garden of Eden, and God placed at the east end of Eden, an angel, a cherubim, and the cherubim held in his hand, a flaming sword of fire, to keep man out of the Garden of Eden and protect him from more sinful foolishness, an angel.

The prophet Ezekiel had a vision of angels and God helped him see what the spirits who minister before the throne are like, and Ezekiel chapter one, what a great preparation for the ministry of Ezekiel that will be exceedingly difficult to a hard headed people.

God gives him a vision of himself and of angels. And then Ezekiel, chapter one, verse 13, we read as for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire. What do we read in Hebrews and his ministers, a flaming fire.

For the likeness, the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures, the fire was bright, and out of the fire went, lightning and the living creatures ran back and forth in appearance like a flash of lightning.

Why is this here? What is he doing? He is determining that we must see angels as they are as mighty beings who serve God who ministered around his throne, who even give messages to man, and are the delivers of both judgment and of promise and hope, the words of God, but we are to take that high position, this glorious thing that we've been allowed to see in the Bible, and to contrast it with Christ.

And to see that though they are so glorious and majestic. They are servants the servanthood of angels, is to be compared with the eternal dominion of the Son. Angels are ever servants in their high capacity as angels. But listen to this, the eternal dominion of the Son.

Verse eight, but to the Son, he says, "Your throne, oh, God is forever and ever". I don't have time to do a lot with that. I'm coming back to it later. Another day. So relax.

Your throne, oh, God, is forever and ever. If you ever doubted that God, the Father thinks God the Son is God. There's Theos in the Greek. One way you can interpret that. He's God. I'm moving on.

Your throne, oh, God is forever and ever a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. Therefore, God your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions.

That comparison with angels is of lesser to greater of such a great distancing. It is unbelievable. There is a throne in view, the symbol of kingship, the status of being in the highest position.

The scepter is here, which is the rod if you will, is what is held by the hands of kings that determined to all who approached them their authority. He has it because of his righteous rule his righteous walk even while He was on earth.

When he was in his human walking on earth. He hated lawlessness and he loved righteousness. And the scepter is a symbol of the authoritative rule and dominion over all his kingdom. He walked in righteousness and he will rule in righteousness, He hated lawlessness, and he will yet hate lawlessness, what is lawlessness? Lawlessness is breaking the law of God, doing the opposite of what God has said to do. It is rebellion. And so the rod would then strike.

But also you notice there's an anointing that goes along there, therefore He has anointed you with the oil of gladness.

Whenever a king was brought into the position of King, even David himself was brought before Samuel and Samuel said, that's the one that God chose. And then he took the anointing oil, and he anointed David, and it was symbolic of the help of the Holy Spirit, who would come alongside and help him.

And by the way, the translation of the meaning of the Hebrew word Mashiach, which we would call Messiah, is the Anointed One. The Anointed One anointed to rule and to reign. He has been appointed to this position by God, very God, but He is joined by companions.

Did you see that? He's joined by companions. Remember, we started heir, inheritance. Verse 14, those who inherit.

There's something going on in Hebrews. Let me show you. Companions. That word is used elsewhere in Hebrews translated differently in English. Look at chapter three, verse one.

In chapter three, verse one, therefore holy brethren, who is he talking about? Believers? Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling?

Now go to verse 14, chapter three, verse 14, "for we have become" who, we believers. We have become "partakers of Christ". If we hold the beginning of our confession steadfast to the end.

And then again, if you'll allow me just to Flip over to chapter 12 And verse eight, and in chapter 12, verse eight Look at this. But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partaker sharers, those who are companions in it, hold on to that. This is so amazing.

These are angels whom God is comparing his son to. These are the mighty ones. These are the glorious ones and yet there is something in this glorious Jesus, this one with a throne and a scepter and an anointing that then has others sharing in the joy that he brings through his reign.

On all those who participate, all of those who are with him. You know, the Ezekiel vision wasn't singular to angels. God didn't just say, okay, Ezekiel see the angels. Ain't that cool? Now go serve me. He showed him the angels and then he showed him something above the angels.

In Ezekiel, chapter one, verse 26, listen, and above the third firmament, and over their heads, whose heads these cherubim and these angels was the likeness of a throne. A throne you say? You mean a throne, like this throne we just read about? Yes.

The likeness of a throne in appearance, like a sapphire stone, on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. Whenever we see an appearance of a man in the Old Testament, we know it's not God, not God the Father. We know it's the pre incarnate Son of God being given as a vision to prep man.

There is a sense in which Ezekiel was given a vision of God of the angels and sent into ministry. There's a sense in which Hebrews has given us a vision of the Son of God and of angels, and we're being sent on a mission we're getting a view of him. High above it.

Verse 27. Also from the appearance of his waist and upward I saw as it were the color of Amber and the appearance of fire all around within it. And from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire with a brightness all around like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. So was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord, Jehovah.

Catch the last line Ezekiel says "so when I saw it, I fell on my face", he saw the angels, wow.

He saw this, he saw this man and he fell on his face. Then listen to this. I, and I heard a voice of one speaking. How does Hebrews start? God who at various times and in different ways spoken in time passed to the fathers by the prophets. Has in these last days spoken to us by his Son?

Hebrews, are you listening? Will you give him a hearing? Angels do not have thrones. They surround the throne. God has said this of His angels, even though they minister his will even though they're flames of fire, they are not like the Son.

He's never said this to the angels.

I'm in a bad spot. I have to end and I'm going to charge on. Hang on!

Five: The heir who is proclaimed immutable Lord. Immutable Lord, incapable of change.

Verse 10. You Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the work of your hands, they will perish but you remain, they will all grow old like a garment like a cloak, you will fold them up and they will be changed, but you are the same. For your years will not fail".

This is the father saying to the Son, this is what the Son is like he is incapable of change. He is both Creator and He will outlive his creation. This creation that God has made is growing old like a garment. It groans understand even now it has a use date.

If you looked on the bottom of creation, you'd find God's date. No good after this date. It'll be burned up. Yet Jesus will remain unchanged. I couldn't say it better than this man. So I'm going to read this man. So you understand what is going on here. Charles Haddon Spurgeon said so many years ago about the everlasting God, about Jesus Christ, the Everlasting Son. He said this and I quote,

"Christ is everlasting. Of him we may sing with David, Thy throne, oh god is forever and ever rejoice believer in Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever. Jesus always was. The Babe born in Bethlehem was united to the word which was in the beginning, by whom all things were made. The title by which Christ revealed himself to John in Patmos was him which is and which was and which is to come". Spurgeon goes on to preach, "when only your last battle remains to be fought. You shall find that the hand of your conquering captain has not grown feeble. The living Savior shall cheer the dying saint. When you enter heaven, you shall find him there bearing the dew of your youth and through eternity, the Lord Jesus shall still remain the perennial spring of joy and life and glory to His people, living waters may you draw from this sacred Well, Jesus always was always is, he always shall be He is eternal in all His attributes and in His office and in His might, and willingness to bless comfort guard and crown His chosen people". Thou, changest not thy compassions they fail not, as thou have been, thou forever will be.

Hang with me just a while longer.

The heir who is granted final conquering victory. Verse 13: But to which of the angels Has he ever said, Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool?

This third and final rhetorical question is a NO:

Never has he said to the angels you shall rule and you shall reign never has he said to the angels "Sit at my right hand, the highest position of power, till I make your enemies your footstool," and though God is spirit and has neither right nor left, this is symbolic of God's right hand that position of highest honor and authority given to the heir given to his Prince, given to his Son, come, sit by me, is the most common statement of a father to make to His only begotten Son, and Son by inheritance.

I will make your enemies your footstool. This quote Psalm 110, where I read, "the Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion, rule in the midst of your enemies".

And here's where the decision must be made. This is future. The enemies of Jesus aren't underneath him, or not given the position of subservience to him, which is the symbol of the footstool, not yet.

What reigns in our world but sin and evil?

For the kingdoms of the world do, they do what the Bible tells us in Psalms, all the nations rage, and the kings plot a vain thing against the anointed? But he's coming back. And there's a decision you must make?

Will you capitulate to the king, to the conqueror? To him who speaks today and serve the Son? Or will you be forever severed from his presence and be considered his enemy?

The Psalm that we had quoted here was Psalm 110, verse one, but that Pslam goes on. Verse five of Psalm one can I read? "The Lord has at your right hand, he shall execute kings in the day of his wrath, He shall judge among the nations, he shall fill the places with dead bodies, he shall execute the heads of many countries, he shall drink of the brook of the wayside. Therefore he shall lift up the head".

There's your choice, will he lift up your head, as a companion, as a fellow, or as an enemy.

And finally, the heir who shares his inheritance. All of this inheritance talk is coming to this point. How could this be? The heir who shares his inheritance? Verse 14. "Are they" Who? Are not all angels? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister?

All the angels, and all their grandeur, and all their power, and all their might that we can't even hardly imagine, have a ministry? God sends them. They don't command God, God commands them and they go and minister to a certain select, group of inheritors.

How do they get any inheritance? How do these people get an inheritance? From whence does it come? They are the ones who are anointed with the oil of gladness. More than your companions. The companions are those whom Jesus has saved through his work on the cross through the gospel message going forth.

The inheritors of all that Christ is inheriting. He has a final deliverance and this salvation that is here, this isn't your original salvation when you believed on Jesus Christ and were saved. No, no, no. You know what this is? Final salvation. Glorification.

Why was the end of the world talked of just getting old? He's gonna roll it up. And he's gonna make a new one. And then he's going to share it with those who believe, inheritors.

You're going to get a piece of the new heavens and the new earth somehow by the word of God. Who do you want to listen to anyway? Who commands your mind, your attention? Your purpose? Who more than he?

To which of the angels? Has he ever said, may I say, to which man on earth has he ever said?

Why are we so distracted?

Let's focus. If there ever was a time where we need to focus. It's this time. And you have focused well, you've, I've gone over I see the clock. You've hung with me. I needed to preach this as a package.

For your inheritance, brothers and sisters, is forever linked to the inheritance of Christ.

Not because you deserve it, it should make you understand you don't?

And can it be that I should gain an entrance in the Savior's blood? Died he for me who caused his shame?

Yes. And God said to him, Your throne Oh, God is forever and ever. Therefore God, Your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions.

The book of Hebrews is about the companions of Christ. I finally get it. And I pray I get more. Let's pray.

Father, thank You for the Son. Oh, Lord Jesus, thank you for your ministry of salvation. What could we inherit in this earth that compares to what we can inherit through you Lord Jesus? Nothing. Refocus us, Lord. That we might be truly focused on what matters and what is of highest value. For you are supreme, even above the angels, yet you've condescended to share with all who believe a portion of your inheritance. Lord, I pray today for everyone who has had to make that decision. The decision of whether they will be one who will capitulate, who will bow before your authority Your Highness Your Greatness and request of you your forgiving salvation. I pray they would do that. Rather than choose you as an enemy by refusing to believe on you and follow you. Lord, let them fear today. The eventual making of all your enemies into your footstool and let them embrace today, the Son Jesus Christ and be saved and inherit salvation. We pray in Jesus name.

Amen.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai