Angels: Their Nature and Ministry

§7. THE DIFFERENT ORDERS OF ANGELS

Wherever the handiwork of God is seen, we behold the most perfect order and harmony. From the smallest blade of grass to the largest planet in the starry heavens, the most complete order is manifest. God is emphatically a God of order. It is an old and true proverb that order is Heaven’s first law. It is only where sin has left its footprints, where the trail of the old serpent is seen, and where the wicked bear rule, that we find insubordination, disorder, and confusion. That “in union there is strength” is a self-evident truth, as well as an established maxim. This can be secured only by law and order. Then do not nature and reason teach us that the angels must be subject to law and order in all their doings, and that there must be different grades among them, as there are in every society of men, in the army, etc. That this is the case the Bible seems to teach. Speaking of the coming of Christ, it says, “And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses.” Revelation 19:14. Here we see that Jesus (the Archangel, 1 Thessalonians 4:16; John 5:26-29), the Son of God, who stands at the head, is the Commander-in-chief of the angelic armies. The same is again expressed in Revelation 12:7: “And there was war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.” God has given to Christ the command of all his armies. Thus Paul says: “Wherefore God hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11. ATNM 22.1

Now if the angels are marshaled in armies, and are subject to a chief Commander, it is necessarily implied that there are also subordinate commanders, and captains of smaller divisions. We often read in the Bible of seraphim (Isaiah 6:1-6), of cherubim (Ezekiel 10:1), etc., of dominions, of principalities, of powers, etc. (Colossians 1:16). All these, we conclude, are different orders of angels. We may further conclude that each company is subject to its commander, and he to one higher, till we reach the Commander-in-chief, the Son of God. Thus all things go on in union and order, and the entire universe of God, except within the influence of Satan’s rebellion, is preserved in the most perfect harmony. In all God’s works we see harmony in diversity, and higher and lower grades. Why should it not be so among the angels? That it is so is both reasonable and scriptural. ATNM 23.1