“What do angels look like?” is a question often asked.  We must go to the Holy Scriptures to answer it.  The Prophet Ezekiel provides a good description of the beings the Lord’s saints will judge and rule in His future kingdom.  In 1:13,14 Ezekkiel describes what he had seen in a vision which gives us an idea of the Lord’s unlimited creative powers: “As for the likeness of the living creatures (angels), their appearance was like burning coals of fire and like the appearance of lamps.  It (a great, fiery, self-enfolding whirlwind) went up and down in the midst of the living creatures.  The fire (within the whirlwind) was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightnings.  And the living creatures ran and returned (went back and forth) as flashes of lightning.”

In Revelation 10:1-3 the Apostle John wrote: “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud, having a rainbow upon his head.  His face was as the sun and his feet were as pillars of fire.  And he had in his hand a little open book.  He set his right foot upon the sea and his left foot upon the earth.  And he cried with a loud voice as when a lion roars.  And when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.”  We would faint at the sight of such a magnificent creature (creation of God).

Angels are described throughout the Bible as bright, fiery entities such as burning coals, lamps and lightning.  One was depicted as having a rainbow on his head.  His face was like the sun shining in its zenith.  His feet looked like pillars of fire.  Can the human mind comprehend such magnificent creatures?  Following his vision of the future of God’s holy saints the Apostle Paul wrote that the mind of man cannot comprehend what the Lord has in store for those who obey Him (1 Cor. 2:9).

Yet the Almighty tells us that His true saints will become GREATER THAN ANGELS.  In the future they will be made more righteous and more physically and mentally powerful than those incredible beings.  While writing about angels the Apostle Peter said this, “Unto whom (angels) it was revealed that they did not minister to themselves, but to us (they ministered) the things that you (saints) have heard from those (apostles) who have preached by the power of the Holy Spirit, things that were sent down from heaven, THINGS WHICH THE ANGELS DESIRE TO SEE” (1 Pet. 1:12).  Obedient men have been promised things that the angels aren’t allowed to see at this time.

Paul confirms Peter’s statement concerning the relationship between men and angels in Hebrews 2:5 where he asks, “Aren’t they all ministering angels sent forth (by God) to MINISTER FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE HEIRS OF SALVATION?  For He did not give to angels the subjection (control) of the world to come, whereof we (apostles) speak.”  Angels know that they will one day submit to God’s holy saints who will have qualified for entrance into His Kingdom by overcoming Satan as did Jesus (Rev. 3:21).  God has made the world to come subject to (placed under the power of) His Very Elect who will rule not only that world but the entire universe as well.  See God’s Very Elect: Future Caretakers of the Universe.  That subjection/rulership will include God’s angels.

In Hebrews 2:5-10 Paul wonders why God views His human servants so positively: “What is man (humans), that You (God) are mindful of him? or the son(s) of man that You visited him? (as Jesus of Nazareth).  You made him a little lower than the angels, You crowned him with glory and honor and set him over the works (creation) of Your hands.  You put all (created) things in subjection under his feet (control).”  Though He has put all things in subjection unto him (man), He left out nothing that was placed under (subjected to) him.  But at this time we do not yet see all things put under him.  But we see Jesus, Who was (also) made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor so that He, by the grace of God, would taste death for every man.  For it became Him, for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things for (the purpose of) BRINGING MANY SONS TO GLORY, to make the Captain of their salvation (Jesus) perfect through sufferings” (Heb. 2:5-10).”  The inheritance of God’s Very Elect is beyond the capacity of mortal man to envision.  Not even Paul could adequately describe what God showed him concerning the future of His holy remnant.

Until a man receives his inheritance at time of Christ’s advent he must follow the example He set has set before us.  Jesus, our “elder brother,” has gone before us to light the way to the kingdom of His Father where obedient man’s inheritance (salvation and all that goes with it) awaits him.  Those who endure (pay the cost of true discipleship) to the end will (then) receive his inheritance–eternal life (Mat. 10:22).  At the present time God’s saints are heirs, not having received the promised salvation, rulership over angels, control of the universe, etc. that constitutes their promised inheritance.

Before man can receive his promised inheritance he must qualify for it through obedience to the will/Word of the Father.  He must fight and overcome Satan and his instruments of spiritual destruction (ministers, family members, friends, fallen angels, etc.) whom he (Satan) uses to deceive him.  It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that the saint can win his war against the powers of darkness.  God’s Holy Spirit is given to those who have been truly converted, who have turned from their former Satan-serving ways and are determined to serve God in total obedience to His Law.  These are Christ’s “brethren” whom He describes as “… they who do the will of My Father in heaven” (Mat. 12:46-50).  These are those whom He identified as His “friends” in John 15:13,14 when He told His disciples: “Greater love has no man than this, that He lay down His life for His friends.  You (disciples) are My friends IF you do whatsoever I command you.”  Note it: JESUS DIED ONLY FOR THOSE WHO OBEY HIM AND HIS FATHER.  His death plays no part in the lives of those who are trapped in Satan’s Catholic/Protestant religious system.  It is for this reason that He commands those who seek Him to, “Come out from among them (God’s enemies) and be separate (from them).  Do not touch that unclean thing (church)” (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1).  See the series titled Touching.  Only those who obey this command will judge and rule angels while governing the universe.  L.J.