Angels Overshadowing Jerusalem

As we approach the end of this age, the spirit world is becoming more and more apparent. World events are not accidents, but are part of the overarching actions. The Sovereign God Jehovah is the world architect and His armies are far superior to all the armies of the world together. While our God will use human hands, He is not limited to their action in world affairs.

There are wonderful expressions in the Bible of our God’s appointment of His angels to watch over Jerusalem and the affairs of that city. Hundreds of times in the First and Second Testament, the Lord is named “The Lord of Hosts.” Twice in the Second Testament, He is called “The Lord of Sabaoth,” which has the exact same meaning, but in a stronger term. The terms mean that He is the “Lord of an Army” or “Lord of a Multitude.” This speaks of His Heavenly Host or His great armies of Heavenly angels. These terms have a military connotation and make it plain that the Lord will fight for right and that He will defend His will on this earth.

The prophet, Isaiah, writing by the revelation of God, stated that angels (watchmen) had been assigned over the walls of Jerusalem and that they would never depart until all their enemies and warmongers were destroyed. This promise is over 2,500 hundred years old and many great events have transpired under these angelic watchmen. Their duty has not been to stop all the transgressors, but to assure their ultimate defeat. The armies of many nations have come to their destruction in God’s time because of Jerusalem. This great revelation is clearly tied to the entire history from the time of Isaiah to the fulfillment of Israel’s glorious future. Read this passage carefully. “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth” (Isaiah 62:6).

A multitude of devils and devil-possessed men have tried to assure this prophecy’s failure. The fulfillment is on perfect schedule. Our patience is still needed, but not for long. If angels can weep, these spirit creatures of God have no doubt shed a multitude of tears. Can you imagine these appointed angels looking down upon Jerusalem after Titus had decimated the city in A.D. 70? Think of what they must have experienced when the Romans renamed Jerusalem Capitolina after they had rebuilt the city. These great creatures wasted no time continuing the Father’s plan and the day hasted when the name Capitolina was relegated to the ash pile. Over and over the fortunes of Jerusalem have fallen but risen again from defeat. God’s appointed watchmen have been faithful and the glory of their task is soon to triumph.

Daniel had special revelations about the very end of the “Times of the Gentiles” and the activity of Michael. Michael is called the one angel that stands for the people of Israel. It appears that Gabriel is the angel of the church, while Michael is the angel of the Jewish people. I believe those angels appointed by the Lord and revealed to Isaiah are still doing their job above the walls of Jerusalem. Now, in this great revelation of Daniel, Michael stands up and joins those angels to bring an end to all matters that relate to the people of the Lord’s chosen. It would appear that Michael has either stood forth or is preparing to do so. All I know to say to those that oppose Israel is, “Watch out for this mighty warrior.” Let’s deal with portions of Daniel 12. “And at that time s hall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 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” (Daniel 12:1-3).

This does not occur until the “end of the age.” The words of this revelation make plain the time of its fulfillment. The Lord told Daniel, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4). Angels are already fighting for the Jewish nation, Jerusalem is part of their assignment, but soon the reinforcements will arrive to join the battle. Michael’s involvement is one of the last great acts before the Lord Himself descends from the Father’s presence to defeat the Antichrist and gather all the remnant of Israel.

This prophecy is absolutely to be fulfilled at the close of Jacob’s trouble and the seven years of the Great Tribulation. Jesus affirmed this great fact. He said, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). The Son of God was probably quoting Daniel or at least referring to the same great truth. The truth is that Jesus is the totality of the Word, so Daniel was quoting the Son of God in advance of His coming. We call those great truths given in advance “prophecy.” The Bible is full of such beautiful revelations.

This time is called the Day of the Lord and begins with the resurrection of the dead saints and the rapture of the living saints. Daniel said, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake . . .” Isaiah also spoke of this using similar words, “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain” (Isaiah 26:19-21).

Isaiah separates this resurrection time, showing the Rapture and then the tribulation of the earth, while the saints are secured in a prepared chamber (the wedding chamber). And, then, He shows our coming back to be His army as we, with Him, defeat the Antichrist kingdom. This kind of uniting and harmonizing the Scripture is what the Bible calls “rightly dividing the Word of God” (II Timothy 2:15).

It is of grave importance to understand that this dark period, called “Jacob’s Trouble,” is under the supervision of a mighty prince acting for God to guarantee the survival of Israel. Daniel made it plain in the first verse of this twelfth chapter that all the proceedings cannot begin until Michael takes charge of the spiritual side of this all-out war. No spiritual victory can be won on this earth until it is first won in heaven. This period of time is set and the days are numbered right down to the final day. Michael, God’s anointed prince, is set to guarantee perfect fulfillment. “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89). Michael is keeping the clock.

As the triumph of the seven years of judgment and redemption is finished, an angel descends to lay hold on the devil and to place him in the bottomless pit and lock him up for a thousand years. “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season” (Revelation 20:1-3).

God’s angels, mighty in power, are going to be deeply involved in the coming end times. Jerusalem will not be forgotten as all the proceedings of the Book of Revelation transpire. Once the earth is redeemed, then Israel will be gathered for the last time. Jesus, Himself, set forth this assurance. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four wind s, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:29-31).

It is time to be sensitive to the Heavenly Host of angels, which will act for the Lord Himself in defense of all that must occur to finish His work and establish His kingdom on this earth.