Angels: Ministering Spirits

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I can see why you might feel that way.

And the prayer cloths were NOT anointed with oil by the Apostles are ANYONE in the NT. That is just taking that way too far. The handkerchiefs were simply "sweat cloths" to wipe their brow and to place over the face of a dead person.

What is this anointing them with oil now? Sorry to hijack.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Aquila,
I just want scripture. I don't care about drawings.

Here are a few verses to consider...

Isaiah 6:2
Seraphim were stationed above; each of them had six wings: with two they veiled their faces, with two they veiled their feet, and with two they hovered aloft.

Ezekiel 1:13
In among the living creatures something like burning coals of fire could be seen; they seemed like torches, moving to and fro among the living creatures. The fire gleamed, and from it came forth flashes of lightning.

Hebrews 1:7
And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Here are a few verses to consider...

Isaiah 6:2
Seraphim were stationed above; each of them had six wings: with two they veiled their faces, with two they veiled their feet, and with two they hovered aloft.

Ezekiel 1:13
In among the living creatures something like burning coals of fire could be seen; they seemed like torches, moving to and fro among the living creatures. The fire gleamed, and from it came forth flashes of lightning.

Hebrews 1:7
And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

In Hebrew 1:7, I would take the imagery as devotion and zeal.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

And the prayer cloths were NOT anointed with oil by the Apostles are ANYONE in the NT. That is just taking that way too far. The handkerchiefs were simply "sweat cloths" to wipe their brow and to place over the face of a dead person.

What is this anointing them with oil now? Sorry to hijack.

No, you're right. The cloths weren't anointed with oil. What I believe is that the spiritual "anointing" of Paul, through the abiding Holy Spirit, left residual power on the cloths. We see what I believe to be a hint of this principle when the woman with an issue of blood touches the hem of Christ's garment. In both cases "virtue", or power, transfered from the cloth (worn by the wearer) to the individual in need:

Acts 19:12
So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

... and...

Mark 5:28-30
28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

Even the very bones of Elijah still had the power to raise the dead...

2 Kings 13:21
21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

The truth of the matter is that something... be it called "virtue", "power", "anointing", "residual energy"... was transfered from the body of God's anointed servants to material objects (bones, garment, cloths, aprons) and then said material affected those in desperate need of healing or deliverance.

When faced with these kinds of realities we have to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our practice. For example... if said power can be transfered to cloth... what about water? Wood? Or some other object? But now we're in the realm of the speculative that can only be proven through experience.

I digress.

With regards to prayer cloths... it's far more biblical for a preacher to simply pray over a cloth... no oil is necessary. Perhaps they only use the oil as a "symbol" of the Spirit's anointing being transfered to the cloth.

All of this is in actuality... VERY deep, mysterious, and profound stuff.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

In Hebrew 1:7, I would take the imagery as devotion and zeal.

I believe it can be taken that way. But with a "spirit"... I can see that zeal actually blazing throughout it's being. There go my notion that angels look more "fiery" in their basic spiritual form.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I believe it can be taken that way. But with a "spirit"... I can see that zeal actually blazing throughout it's being. There go my notion that angels look more "fiery" in their basic spiritual form.

Yea, I used to like to smoke pot too. Just messin' with ya.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Yea, I used to like to smoke pot too. Just messin' with ya.

LOL!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Aquila

LOL!

[Aquila]

I've thought I saw angels on various occasions. They were never in "humanoid" form. I saw them as what looked like "pillars of light" or bright "flashes of light". And it was nearly always out of the corner of my eye. The moment I looked, they'd be gone. So, when I saw them I'd not move my head and keep my eyes fixed. Several times I watched them move through the room through my peripheral... occasionally rising towards the ceiling. I was left breathless.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I've thought I saw angels on various occasions. They were never in "humanoid" form. I saw them as what looked like "pillars of light" or bright "flashes of light". And it was nearly always out of the corner of my eye. The moment I looked, they'd be gone. So, when I saw them I'd not move my head and keep my eyes fixed. Several times I watched them move through the room through my peripheral... occasionally rising towards the ceiling. I was left breathless.

I have heard God's voice as if he were there in the room with me. He said, "I will be with you."