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How do angels speak? The Biblical answer may be a bit of a surprise to some of us here.
I would like to begin by discussing the power of communication. This is the primary and most essential skill of a saint. Communication is how the Spirit of Yahweh and His righteousness are made manifest in the world. Righteousness and salvation are by faith, but we know that the genuine faith is not private, nor can it be kept hidden. As it is written, “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” (Mat 12:35)
This is the nature of the creation; what a thing truly is reveals itself. Deception, hypocrisy and bearing a false witness come forth due to sin, and may hide the true nature for a time, but ultimately it is always revealed, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Mat 12:37)
While these Bible verses are well-known in all Churches that claim to be the Bride of Christ, there is no Church but this one where the principles of righteousness are properly and consistently applied. This is not a boast; it is an observation of my own experience, and the things that I have learned over the course of many years in the company of Creation Seventh Day Adventists. Paul writes, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” (1Cor 13:1) It is here, though, among those being sanctified, that we see the combination of charity (agape), with the divine education that produces a good witness to the world. We have received agape from our Father – it is a free gift; it is time now, as we prepare to enter the visible Kingdom of Yahweh, that we learn to speak with the tongue of angels. Good communication is the true mark of a saint, as James tells us: “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. […] For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” (James 1:26, 3:2) Those who speak by faith, and in righteousness, are those who have grasped the divine character of Yahshua.
Some years ago, it became apparent that we as a people needed more education on the subject of speech, and communication in general, and therefore Yahweh gave us a set of principles that we called S.T.A.R.S. In Daniel we read, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” (Dan 12:3) Words, after all, are a sign of both our own inner sanctification, and a testimony, a way to “turn many to righteousness.”
Words are how we reinforce the covenant between ourselves and our Father in Heaven, for it is through a healthy prayer life that we draw near to Him. We read, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of Yahweh, looking for the mercy of our Lord Yahshua the Messiah unto eternal life.” (Jude 1:20, 21) Likewise, words are how we reinforce the covenant among ourselves, as it is written in this verse we have used many times: “Then they that feared Yahweh spake often one to another, and Yahweh hearkened, and heard it, and a Book of Remembrance was written before Him for them that feared Yahweh, and that thought upon His name.” (Mal 3:16)
Clear, useful, frequent communication between the saints provides opportunities to share burdens, repel temptations, learn lessons, confess errors, seek advice, and to strengthen relationships, all the good things, all the good reasons why we have been blessed with the divine family on earth. It is from Christ Himself, and through His Holy Spirit, that we most directly learn these lessons, but the Church has been given wisdom to help guide the sheep on this matter.
For those who were not with us when this set of principles was first given, or for those who would benefit from a review, S.T.A.R.S. stands for Significance, Timeliness, Accuracy, Relevance, and Sanctification.
The speech of the saints must be no idle chatter. It must be significant, in that it declares words that will bless those who hear them, or ask a question that is sincerely posed. It must be timely, breaking no rules of courtesy under ordinary circumstances, and providing “meat in due season,” (Psalm 104:27) or input at the appropriate time, to those who hear. It must be accurate, avoiding exaggeration, bias, and self-pity, in order to properly represent the truth. It must be relevant, each contribution providing something that needs to be said within the context of a discussion, free from attempts to dominate or distract unnecessarily. Finally, it must be sanctifying; it must build up one’s neighbor, and edify the Church. We are vessels of a holy God, earthen vessels into which He has entrusted His priceless treasure, so that He may share Himself with the world. The degree to which we understand and appreciate that is the degree to which we will speak according to these principles.
When we say “according to these principles,” however, this is where people may get the wrong idea, even the wrong idea of what “perfection” means in the context of perfect speech. I will illustrate what I mean by pointing out something that occurs in perhaps the most significant event of communication between an angel and a human being.
We read, “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from Yahweh unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, ‘Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.’ And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.” (Luke 1:26-29)
I want to express how extraordinary this is, not only that an angel should be sent to a human being with a message, although of course that is very rare; but what strikes me about this passage is Mary’s reaction. She had no idea what Gabriel was talking about, or what his greeting meant.
Why is this a big deal? I want you to have a firm grasp of the context of this passage, and the events that must have preceded it. Gabriel, a mighty angel, whose very job description means “messenger,” so he must be good at it, makes the extraordinary journey from Heaven to stand before this young woman in one of those exceedingly rare moments in human history, manifesting in a perceptible way, and he speaks the very message given to Him from Yahweh the Most High… and she misunderstands him.
We need to re-evaluate what we mean by “divine,” and what we mean by “perfection.” Gabriel is a perfect being, entirely without sin. His entire purpose is to represent the Creator. He gave a perfect message. He spoke to a faithful human with clarity and sureness of purpose, and yet, there was a misunderstanding. Why didn’t Yahweh give Gabriel a message that would have been immediately and perfectly understood? Why were Gabriel’s words not those that would instantly inspire trust, and a readiness to hear the rest of the information he had been sent to convey? Surely, Yahweh is infinitely wise, and knows just what words to send that would be received without error, right?
Mary’s reaction was to be troubled, and to be very cautious at his greeting. When Gabriel explains, of course, Mary receives it graciously, but it wasn’t the smoothest beginning.
Actually, misunderstandings in communication between angels and human beings appears to be the rule, rather than the exception. Earlier in the same chapter, when an angel appeared to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, to give him some very good news, we read, “And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.” (Luke 1:12)
Often, as I have pointed out in previous studies, angels must begin their conversation by saying “Fear not,” because their appearance often inspires terror in those who behold them.
The surprise often goes both ways. In Daniel 10:13 we read of a conflict, a stalemate, between two angels that lasted twenty-one days. I have written that this was the result of a misunderstanding of the instructions given. If that seems hard to believe, consider how often Ellen White spoke of the holy angels looking on “with amazement” at the things that befell Yahshua, especially as His crucifixion drew near, even though they knew what was coming. Consider the reason why there was a war in Heaven. When Lucifer fell into sin, he went about deceiving the angels. These were intelligent, loyal beings who had seen the glory of Yahweh for years and years… and yet they were deceivable. It was possible for them to misunderstand the things they had witnessed for themselves, and to have their circumstances cast in a new light.
And we might ask questions. Why didn’t Yahweh give Gabriel the “perfect” words to speak to Mary, to immediately gain her trust and cooperation? Why weren’t the instructions given to the angels more clearly, so that they would be better prepared to see Yahshua tortured and killed? Why didn’t Michael appear to the angels whom Satan was attempting to deceive, and shut down his attempts to misleading them?
We might take this further: Why doesn’t the Bible just tell us, “The Seventh Day will one day fall on a day called ‘Saturday’ in English, a language that hasn’t been invented yet, and the Church will one day bear the name ‘Creation Seventh Day Adventist?’” That would certainly make our evangelism a bit easier, and the Bible is full of prophecies. Why not these very convenient ones?
Angels can misunderstand, and can be deceived. Even in Heaven itself, Yahweh did not step in and prevent the deception. He did not remove the potential for misunderstanding. He revealed His glory to the angels, and that was enough; for a fair test, that was enough. In fact, that was all He could do without entering into direct controversy with the fallen ones, and thus injure the process by which they must come to truly trust Him and bear that testimony of faith. When He sends angels to human beings, He does not give them words that immediately gain respect and cooperation. Even when the angels are well-received, the interaction is not what we would consider to be “perfect.”
When the angel appeared to John during his Revelation, we read, “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, ‘See thou do it not; I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Yahshua. Worship God: for the testimony of Yahshua is the spirit of prophecy.’” (Rev 19:10) This actually happens twice, for we may read of a similar exchange in Revelation 22:8, 9.
Since we have looked at the Gospel of Luke already, here is one more example from its second chapter. After the feast that Yahshua and His family attended in Jerusalem, He stayed behind while they began the journey home. Realizing He was missing, they returned to Jerusalem, and found Him in the temple with the rabbis. They asked Him why He had let them leave without Him, “And He said unto them, ‘How is it that ye sought Me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?’ And they understood not the saying which He spake unto them.” (Luke 2:49, 50)
I think the point should be clear, and if you’re like me, some of these examples may make you feel uncomfortable. I have often said, and believe it to be true, that Yahweh will speak to us in a way that we can understand. Why, then, are there so many examples of misunderstandings, even among righteous beings? As I have considered these matters over time, however, my perspective has adjusted a bit. I do believe that our Father speaks to us according to His divine wisdom, in ways that we are permitted to understand; however, this does not mean that we will always do so immediately. In all the cases that I have provided to you, and in all the cases I could provide in addition, the message is always properly understood… eventually. One might say, the message is understood at the right time. For example, after that last quote from Luke 2, we read further, “And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them, but His mother kept all these sayings in her heart.” (Luke 2:51)
That is the point. That was the purpose of that entire incident. Mary was being prepared. She was being prepared to believe two things that would very much appear to contradict – one, that her Yahshua was the Son of Yahweh, and the One who would eventually rule the universe for ceaseless ages, and two, that He would be arrested by selfish and corrupt men, abused cruelly, and left to die on two pieces of wood. How do we explain that to someone in a single sentence, or paragraph, or conversation?
There were going to be things that would be difficult to understand in Mary’s life. There were things that were difficult to understand in the life of Job, in the lives of the apostles, and certainly in our lives also. Even divine wisdom cannot give us a message that will produce perfect preparation for what lies ahead. If this was so, we would not need to be sanctified. The Gospel message would, upon acceptance, immediately produce fully mature saints, ready for translation. But we have to go through the experiences and trials of this world, and that, with partial information. As Paul explains, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1Cor 13:12) There is a reason why He is doing it this way.
Our Father is healing us, slowly, from the effects of living in a world of sin. He cannot immediately strip away our false thoughts without damaging the true, if He will preserve our personalities intact. Remember the parable of the wheat and the tares, how the landowner’s servants wanted to immediately remove the offending plants from his precious fields. “But he said, ‘Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” (Mat 13:29, 30) We have applied this to souls, to people, but it is true also of the thoughts in our minds. This is why sanctification is the work of a lifetime, and not one, miraculous moment. This is why it is left to us to cleanse the soul temple and perfect character.
We are proving Satan’s accusations against our Father and His Law wrong. We are testifying with our words, and with our choices, that it is possible to live in harmony with the divine principles, for with Yahshua’s help we are doing just that. It must truly be “us” making the decisions, though, otherwise our testimony in the Great Controversy is worthless – should He possess us fully, it would just be Yahweh following His own Law, without any actual obedience from His creatures.
The potential for miscommunication is, itself, perfect. It is a part of the delicate operation Yahweh is performing on us, to keep us ourselves while providing us a new Spirit, and a new, everlasting life. He is walking the narrowest of lines, by transforming us while keeping us the very ones He created in the first place to love and worship Him. This is a work only infinite wisdom could devise and accomplish, and even though we cannot fully understand it, we can rejoice that He has chosen to call us to the place of this healing.
Even though we are born again, and made as pure as the angels, it takes time and consideration to understand even the best efforts at communication. We are to do our very best, according to the S.T.A.R.S. principles that I have shared, but then we are also to be patient with those who hear us, knowing that all language, even – apparently – the language of Heaven, allows for misunderstandings and even deception… knowing that Yahweh is healing all those who are willing at the pace appropriate for their particular needs.
We are to speak often with our Father in Heaven, and often with one another, bearing one another’s burdens, and encouraging one-another Heavenward. We need these lessons, and we need to hear them repeated. Yes, for some people, the hardness of their hearts, and the consequences of their sins, often make it impossible for them to hear and understand the words of righteousness. But even those who are born again are still learning, and will continue to learn in eternity, the very best way to communicate the light our Father has placed within us.
We are all called to be bearers of that light, vessels – as I said – of Yahweh’s priceless glory. This does not mean that we will all become expert speakers, or the most charismatic presenters of the Gospel. I once heard a professional musician analyzing a song, going into all the details of how the voice works, with the vocal chords vibrating at a certain speed because of the pressure from the air coming out of the lungs, and that everything from the body’s posture to the shape of the mouth gives a distinct sound to the words being sung. It was all presented very scientifically, and then she said something along the lines of, “Sometimes this person doesn’t get the pitch perfectly right. Sometimes it is off key, but you barely notice, because the voice is so powerful, and the singer is putting so much sentiment, and passion, into what he is singing, that the message comes through very clearly, and that, more than any technical skill, is what makes it touch your heart. That is what makes it appealing.”
I think that principle is very applicable to the human angels of this last generation, and the message that they bear. We speak as the angels indeed speak, with the message of salvation that our Father has given us to say. Sometimes, though, we will have to say, “Fear not.” Sometimes we will have to say, “Let me explain.” Sometimes we will have to say, “I realize this Gospel of Victory over Sin is not what you expected, but let me tell you why it is very good news.” The wording will not always be optimal. Even as we speak among ourselves, there will be the potential for misunderstanding – but with that potential comes the opportunity for something even greater. With this open-ness, with this wide variety of thoughts and expressions all coming into play at once, we have the opportunity to bond.
We have the opportunity to clarify, and speak further, and expand, and give examples and parables. We have the opportunity to learn, and to forgive. We have the opportunity to put our personalities into our attempts to explain sacred things with stumbling mortal words, and so we share far more than just a straightforward testimony. We are sharing our thoughts and feelings, and conclusions. We are sharing ourselves.
Furthermore, like Mary, Yahshua’s mother, we are being prepared for experiences that words cannot express. We are being prepared to experience things that no eye has seen, and for knowledge that has never yet entered into the heart of man. This will require humility, and patience, and time. This will require clarifications, and explanations, and a gentleness that would not break a bruised reed. This will require practice, and what better place to practice than in the House of Yahweh, surrounded by brothers and sisters who are committed to agape-love that gives power to the tongue of angels?
We are a people greatly blessed. Let us rejoice with one another, and be kind to one another, as the apostles have counselled us, so that no matter what the words are that we hear, we will always understand that we are beloved by all of Heaven, and no matter what the words are we speak, because we speak them in faith, we are giving the world a testimony that is exactly what it needs to hear.
David.
An Enduring Witness
“Satan is a deceiver. When he sinned in heaven, even the loyal angels did not fully discern his character. This was why God did not at once destroy Satan. Had He done so, the holy angels would not have perceived the justice and love of God. A doubt of God’s goodness would have been as evil seed that would yield the bitter fruit of sin and woe. Therefore the author of evil was spared, fully to develop his character.” [Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 72]
“An angel guided Philip to the one who was seeking for light and who was ready to receive the gospel, and today angels will guide the footsteps of those workers who will allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify their tongues and refine and ennoble their hearts. The angel sent to Philip could himself have done the work for the Ethiopian, but this is not God’s way of working. It is His plan that men are to work for their fellow men.” [Acts of The Apostles, p. 109]
“Let every wrong that has been committed be made right. If, during the day, one has wronged another, or spoken unkindly, let the transgressor seek pardon of the one he has injured. Often grievances are cherished in the mind, and misunderstandings and heartaches are created that need not be. If the one who is suspected of wrong be given an opportunity, he might be able to make explanations that would bring relief to other members of the family.” [The Review and Herald, November 8, 1906]