Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Angels are not married

When Christ is addressing the Jewish Pharisee about the Jewish Woman who was married to 7 husbands, He tells the Pharisee " Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God." Then he said, "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."The key here is that the woman was a Jew, and Jews denied Jesus Christ, and therefore while they would be saved they would not receive as high of reward in heaven because they were not built on the firm foundation. Paul differentiates between different rewards in heaven and salvation.

1 Cor 3:11-15 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Paul differentiated between the reward of the Jews versus the reward to the Christians using the analogy of Abraham wives Hagar and her son Ishmael (children of the bondwoman) and Sarah and Isaac (children of the promise). Here Paul differentiates between the reward of becoming an angel or servant and being considered an heir and a son of God.

Gal 4: 1; 3-7; 22-23 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; . . .Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. . . For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

So, you can't use this verse which refers to the Jewish woman with 7 husbands to apply to Christians because the Woman did not accept Christ and "denied the power." The Jews denied Christ and therefore Jews were said by Christ to become servants and angels to God. But Christ was made higher than the angels.

Heb 1: 4-7; 13-14 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. . . . But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

As Christ is made higher than the angels and sons of God are the ones who are promised to be the sheep at Gods right hand, the Bible promises those who have faith in Christ that we can be glorifed together with Christ and sit in Chirst's thone with Him.

Rom. 8: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rev. 3: 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

So, it seems clear that God differentiates the reward to the Jews verses the reward to the Christians. While Jews are Gods choosen people and will be saved, they need to accept Christ to become heirs of God and be considered children of God and of the promise. And the Bible is full of scripture that makes a distinction between rewards in heaven. The Bible talks about the wise and unwise virgins, the profitable and unprofitable servants, the sheep and the goats, as well as being hot vs. lukewarm. So, while the Jewish woman would be made an angel and not married or given in marriage. Christians who are adopted sons of God can be given a higher reward of eternal families through Christ and the sealing power.

1 Cor. 11: 11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
Matt. 16: 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

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