“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion…” (Gen. 1:26). The angels were involved in this work of creation as the “us” reveals Deity was working with and through the angelic host. In fact, the phrasing of the passage confirms that the immortal Elohim were party to a very generous decision. Although it was their ingenuity and labor which contributed in making the marvelous animal kingdom, God and the angels decided to grant dominion of their work to man.
The plan realized in Christ
Alluding to Gen. 1:26,28, the psalmist sang with wonder at heaven’s plan, “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and has crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: all sheep and oxen…” (Psa. 8:4-7). Of course, this is not now true: Interpreting Psalm 8, Paul writes, “Now we see not yet all things put under him” (Heb. 2:8).
Does this mean man’s iniquity has ruined the objective? No, for, “We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor [cp. Psa. 8:5]; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Heb. 2:9). “For every man” offers a marvelous hope to any person who will believe and follow Christ. Through the grace of God, the promise is that “When he shall appear, we shall be like him,” sharing glory and honor with Jesus (I John 3:2).
Generosity a family trait
There is a remarkable spirit of generosity that pervades the family of God. The Deity shared with the angels; the angels chose to share with man. The Father shares with the Son and the Son will be generous with the redeemed: “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” (Rev. 3:21).
The glory and honor Christ has at present includes authority over the angels. The Lord Jesus “is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him” (I Peter 3:22). This is real, not nominal, authority for when the Lord Jesus comes again, “he shall send his angels…and they shall gather together his elect…” (Matt. 24:31; 13:41). Angels are now under the Lord and subject to his direction. Christ has been designated “the firstborn of every creature” over even the angels, for it pleased the Father that “in all things he might have the pre-eminence” (Col. 1:15,18-19).
The cheerful generosity of the angels
Because of the exaltation of Christ, the angels have had their status changed. Have they resented this? Never!
When the Lord was born, an angel joyously came to the shepherds in a field proclaiming “I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” He was shortly joined by “a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Lk. 2:10-14).
When the Lord agonized over his coming suffering, “There appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him” (Lk. 22:43). The angels wanted Jesus to succeed. When the Lord rose from the dead angels were there pronouncing the glad news. And 40 days later they rejoiced as the Lord ascended to be exalted over them.
There was no resentment, no grudging help, there was only joyous generosity on the part of the angels with respect to our Lord.
Same attitude toward us
They exhibit exactly the same spirit toward us. Our exaltation will be at the expense of the angels, “For unto the angels hath he not put into subjection the world to come” (Heb. 2:5). When the redeemed take their places sharing Christ’s throne of ruler-ship, at the very least, the angels will lose an area of responsibility.
Does that bother them? Not at all! Every time a potential replacement is born from the waters of baptism, “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Lk. 15:10). And all during our struggle to overcome, the angels are with us as “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Hb. 1:14).
As incredible as it may seem, these mighty heavenly beings are cheerfully acting like servants, in that they are giving priority to our welfare, our eternal welfare. If they are successful in their objective, we will replace them. And they will rejoice that it is so!
Expressing to them our love
Is there any way that we can show them now our wonder, appreciation and love? Yes, in a most unremarkable aspect of our communal worship.
Consider the point in I Corinthians 11. “For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man” (I Cor. 11:8-9). This is an allusion to Genesis 1:26-28 and the work in which the angels were involved (in Gen. 2:21-23 the details are filled in).
This whole first part of I Corinthians 11 refers to the present era and is summed up in Paul’s allusion to Genesis 1 and 2. Then he says “[And] for this cause ought the woman to have a covering on her head because of the angels” (v. 10).
We may look at the linkage of ideas and be perplexed. What does a covering on a woman’s head have to do with the angels? And why should this ordinance be part of the ecclesial worship service when it was not in Israel of old?
The answer is this: The ecclesia is an initial stage toward the immortal condition when the angels will transfer to the redeemed their present responsibility (Heb. 2:5). Among the saints in that new order, there will be no Jew or Gentile (no nationalities), no bond or free (no social disparity) and no distinction in the status of male and female (Gal. 3:28).
To some extent, these conditions have already begun, especially in our relationship to each other in the ecclesia. But they are not fully here. Physically, we are still male and female with different roles to play. We are still living in the dispensation subject to the angels, dependent on their guardian care. Recognizing our future hope yet our present position, we have no desire at all to minimize the authority of angels or to appear anxious to take over their role. We love and appreciate them and recognize fully our present dependence.
In ecclesial worship, when the man uncovers his head and the woman covers hers, we are reminded of this present dispensation when, by angelic design, the woman was created to be a help meet (suitable) for the man. Further, we are reminded of the angels’ present relationship to ourselves; we acknowledge that we are still struggling with our mortality when we need and want their ministrations. When we gather together as an ecclesia, we know there are members of the heavenly host present. By the simple token of a distinction in head covering, we express our thanks to them for their care and our wonderment at their generous spirit.
And as we stand thus united, we look forward to becoming physically, as we are now spiritually, one with the heavenly host and of entering into rulership in the new age with our Lord Jesus Christ — a joyous blessing we may have “because of the angels.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One