As I said in the previous episode, the Apostle Paul told us about an Angelic Hierarchy in Ephesians 6:12. I’ve broken the Angelic Hierarchy down into four groups of 4 angel types in each group. There are a couple of other angels roaming around creation, but for the most part, all divine beings come within the roles I’ve outlined here as the Angelic Hierarchy:
Assistants: these are the divine beings that assist Yahweh and humanity. [Ministers, Messengers, Watchers, and Witnesses.]
Sanctifiers are the angels that display and protect the glory of Yahweh.
Authorities: these are the divine council members, the movers, and the shakers.
Principalities & Powers: The Great Powers of all existence.
In this episode, we will discuss the second group of angels called the Sanctifiers: What is Sanctification? Today, sanctification means something slightly different than it meant to the ancient Hebrews. The basic definition of sanctification is to be “set apart.” Something that is consecrated as unique and uniquely different from everything else. Once that thing is identified as unique and set apart, it is honored, praised, and glorified (proclaimed) for its’ exceptional exclusiveness. There is nothing like it anywhere else.
To the second temple, Jews’s sanctification meant purity, holiness, and keeping the Torah. It was the setting apart of a practicing Jew, unlike the Gentiles. To first-century Christians, since they were believers who were Jews, sanctification was the “already and not yet” spiritual and moral transformation as followers of the Messiah. Today, sanctification means moral and ethical living, progressive spiritual growth, and an ever-evolving relational growth in Christ. Do you see the metamorphosis of sanctification? From recognizing something beyond this world that is glorified and praised to sanctifying human ethics, morality, spirituality, and theology.
These Angelic Sanctifiers we’re going to talk about here reflect the ancient Hebrew definition of recognizing the “out-of-this-world” uniqueness of Yahweh. With that recognition, they’re driven to devotion, unceasing adoration, and worship of Yahweh. So, let’s take a closer look at this Sanctifier class of divine beings and understand their function in the Angelic Hierarchy.
First, we have angels called Worshippers – Revelation 5:11-12. What is worship? We read here that these angels say, “Worthy is the lamb.” Worthy means to be deserving. It comes from a root word meaning “to drive toward something or lead to something.” What does the worthiness of the lamb drive these angels to do? To praise, honor, glorify, and bless him. Worship is the unbridled expression of the recognition of the superiority of God over everything else. Nothing deserves worship except God and his Savior. They are uniquely set apart from all living things because they are life. We worship presidents, kings, actors, and sports celebrities.
Cherubim – You’ve probably heard the term “Cherub.” A cute, cuddly baby angel. Not a Cherubim. The term Cherub comes from Cherubim, but not a Cherubim. A Cherubim is a fearsome guardian or protector. They never interact directly with humans on Earth. Their role is in association with service to the King and the throne. There are 2 Cherubim over the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies. This is where God would appear to the High Priest on the Day of Atonement Genesis 3:24.
Seraphim – throne guardians who proclaim God’s holiness and glory. They are separate from other angels because they represent purity. Seraphim live in the presence of God exclusively (Isaiah 6:1-3).
The next angelic sanctifier group is called Morning Stars (Job 38:4-7). We’re familiar with the story of Jobs’s significant losses and his questioning why he suffered. Here, God is responding to Job’s and his friends’ misconceptions about why these things have happened. God tells Job to look around him. Everything is as God created it—no one else. There is purpose, order, and a reason for everything. Because Job doesn’t understand these things, it doesn’t mean he can question God’s motives. Neither Job nor any human was there when God founded the cosmos, but the angels were there. The Morning Stars sang because of God’s order, and the Sons of God shouted with joy at the beauty of God’s plan for the universe. We will talk about the Sons of God in the next episode, but since the Morning Stars are mentioned in the same sentence as being present with the Sons of God at creation, the Morning Stars aren’t physical stars but angelic beings like the Sons of God. So what is the purpose of these angels called morning stars? From this, they sing. This is where we have to let the spirit speak to us and guide us for meaning. God is using the organization of creation to show Job there is a perfect plan laid out from the beginning. The angels were there to see God’s plan put into action, and it caused these angels called morning stars to sing. What causes you to sing? What would be if you saw something that caused you to break out in song? It would be something that made you very happy. Overwhelmingly happy. True happiness and joy are only acquired when we realize the particular uniqueness of God and Christ in our lives. The function of the angels called morning stars is to constantly express joy throughout creation. The creation needs joy. The world needs joy. We need joy in our lives, and these angels show and guide us to that joy, which is found in complete faith in God’s plan. What do you feel when you look up into the night sky and see a universe filled with stars? Doesn’t it give you awe, humility, wonder, and joy? The function of the angels is called morning stars.
What do these Angelic Sanctifiers teach us? God is awesome. There is nothing in the entirety of existence that is even close to who and what God is. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, Holy, Righteous, and Just. He is to be respected and honored above everything he is or ever will be. But rather than these things making us afraid of him, he wants the knowledge of who he is to bring us joy and great trust in him. Because he is also knowable, approachable, understanding, and relational, we’re reminded of what Paul said in Romans 12:1. To learn from these Angelic Sanctifiers and serve God with devotion and joy.
