Angels

Angels and spiritual benefactors are a feature of all religions. They may be recognized as gods, devas, kami, the spirits of animals and mountains (Shamanism), or dignitaries like the Jade Emperor (China) and the Buddhist bodhisattvas.

In the latter group are the spirits of human beings who lived exemplary lives on earth and were then elevated to the status of deity and assigned the mission of angels.

Nevertheless, in the monotheistic faiths, these benefactors, no matter how exalted, are regarded as subordinate to and servants of the one Ultimate Reality. In many traditions, these benevolent spirits dispense blessings to the human world and protect people from harm.

Angelic visitors communicate God’s instructions, as the angel Gabriel spoke to Muhammad and the Virgin Mary. Thus, angels take the role of “ministering spirits,” serving God and assisting human beings—God’s children. Angels have power, and hence they are often the objects of worship.

Yet within Judaism, Isla,m and Christianity are teachings that human beings are superior to angels. Along this line, Father Moon teaches that the angels assisted God in every step of creation, up to His ultimate goal of creating human beings.

God placed angels in the Garden of Eden to educate and assist Adam and Eve as they grew from childhood to mature adulthood, when they were to become perfect and fulfill the ideal of creation.

Chief among them was the archangel Lucifer, who, however became corrupt and caused his charges to fall. (See Chapter 6: The Devil and His Activities)

It still remains for human beings to judge the angels and regain their lost dignity.

1. The Identity and Mission of Angels

Who makes His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire. Psalm 104.4

He created man of clay like the potters, and the Jinn did He create of smokeless fire.24 Qur’an 55.14-15

Are they [the angels] not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation? Hebrews 1.14

The angels celebrate the praises of their Lord, and pray for forgiveness for all beings on earth. Qur’an 42.5

Those who have said, “Our Lord is God,” then have gone straight, upon them the angels descend, saying, “Fear not, neither sorrow; rejoice in Paradise that you were promised. We are your friends in the present life and in the world to come; therein you shall have all that your souls desire.” Qur’an 41.30-31

For He will give His angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. Psalm 91.10-11

I [the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra] relieve the distress of the beings of all evil realms, and equally bestow happiness on them. I continue to do so through the lapse of boundless kalpas, and in the extent of the ten quarters of the universe. The benefits of all are eternal, and omnipresent.25 Gandavyuha Sutra 39 (Buddhism)

Anything evil refrain from doing; all good deeds do! So you will be released forever from the influence of evil stars, and always be encompassed by good guardian angels. Tract of the Quiet Way (Taoism)

When a man walks on the highway, a company of angels goes before him, proclaiming, “Make way for the image of the Holy One!” Midrash on Psalm 17.8 (Judaism)

It [the Qur’an] is naught but an inspiration that is inspired, which one of mighty powers [Gabriel] has taught him, one vigorous; and he grew clear to view when he was on the uppermost horizon. Then he drew near and came down till he was two bows’ length away or even nearer, and he revealed unto His slave that which He revealed.26 Qur’an 53.4-10

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed of a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. Luke 1.26-31

Lord Scripture Glory says, “For seventeen generations I have been incarnated as a high mandarin, and I have never oppressed my people nor maltreated my subordinates. I have helped them in misfortune; I have rescued them from poverty; I have taken compassion on their orphans; I have forgiven their transgressions; I have extensively practiced secret virtue which is attuned to Heaven above. If you are able to keep your hearts as I have kept mine, Heaven will surely bestow upon you blessings.”27 Tract of the Quiet Way (Taoism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
God created the angelic world prior to creating the physical universe. Then, with the help of the angels, God utilized the elements of creation to form human beings. (83:155, February 8, 1976)

Angels, like all beings, were created by God. God created them prior to any other creation. In the biblical account of the creation of heaven and earth, we find that God spoke in the plural: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Gen. 1.26)

This is not because God was referring to Himself as the Holy Trinity, as many theologians have interpreted the passage. Rather, He was speaking to the angels, whom He had created before human beings. God created angels to be His retainers, who would assist Him in creating and sustaining the universe.

In the Bible we find many instances of angels working for the Will of God. Angels conveyed to Abraham important words of God’s blessing (Gen. 18.10); an angel heralded the conception of Christ (Matt. 1.20); an angel unchained Peter and led him out of prison and into the city. (Acts 12.7-10)

The angel who escorts John in the Book of Revelation calls himself “a servant” (Rev. 22.9), and in Hebrews angels are referred to as “ministering spirits.” (Heb. 1.14)

The Bible often portrays angels honoring and praising God. (Rev. 5.11-12, 7.11-12)

Let us investigate the relationship between human beings and angels from the perspective of the Principle of Creation.

Because God created us as His children and gave us dominion over all creation (Gen. 1.28), we are meant to rule over the angels as well. It is written in the Bible that we have the authority to judge the angels. (1 Cor. 6.3)

Many who communicate with the spirit world have witnessed hosts of angels escorting the saints in Paradise. These observations illustrate the fact that angels have the mission to minister to human beings. (Exposition of the Divine Principle, Fall 2.2.1)

In front of God, the angels were supposed to fulfill the duties of servants and serve as a protective fence for Adam and Eve. They were supposed to create a glorious environment for them to live eternally in God’s Kingdom.

Then they would have lived happily with Adam and Eve in God’s love. In short, God created the angels and archangels for the sake of Adam and Eve. God, in His parental love for Adam and Eve, created the angels for their sake. (15:238, October 17, 1965)

Good spirits who passed away after living on Earth belong to the realm of angels in terms of their mission. Why? God created angels before creating Adam. Therefore, before the perfection of [the new] Adam on earth, good people are assigned the role of angels by a certain procedure. (76:324, March 15, 1975)

Men are in the position of an archangel—not the archangel who caused the Fall but a restored archangel.28 The angels in the Garden of Eden were given the mission to protect and nurture Adam and Eve to fulfill the ideal of God’s family, and assist them to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

However, they failed to fulfill their mission, and instead they became gangsters, following the king of hell. (281:313, March 9, 1997)

For this reason, the angels should come down to the earth and work hard, sacrificing themselves for the citizens of the Kingdom to be established by the coming Messiah.

Through shedding sweat in this way, they can be restored. The spirit world is the world of angels, and the physical world is Adam’s world.

Since both worlds have fallen under the power of the Devil, angels in the spirit world and “substantial” angels in the physical world should work for their liberation.

Liberation is not pos- sible only through the activities of angels in the spirit world. We need to create a substantial world of [people fulfilling the mission of] angels. (62:247, September 25, 1972)

2. War among the Angels

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. Revelation 12.7-8

Say: It has been revealed to me that a company of the jinn gave ear. Then they said, “We have indeed heard a Qur’an wonderful, guiding to rectitude. We believe in it, and we will not associate with anyone our Lord. He—exalted by our Lord’s majesty! —has not taken to Himself either consort or a son.

“The fools among us spoke against God outrage, and we had thought that men and jinn would never speak against God a lie. But there were certain men of mankind who would take refuge with certain men of the jinn, and they increased them in vileness, and they thought, even as you also thought, that God would never raise up anyone. “

And we stretched towards heaven, but we found it filled with terrible guards and meteors. We would sit there on seats to hear; but any listening now finds a meteor in wait for him.

And so we know not whether evil is intended for those in the earth, or whether their Lord intends for them rectitude. “Some of us are righteous, and some of us are otherwise; we are sects differing…

Some of us have surrendered, and some of us have deviated.” Those who have surrendered sought rectitude; but as for those who have deviated, they have become firewood for hell. Qur’an 72.1-15

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
Because the archangel’s Fall led Adam and Eve to their ruin and the ruin of the human world, [others of] the angelic world have been working on God’s behalf, fighting against Satan.

The good angels fight against the evil Satan [and his minions]. Whenever the side of the good angels wins a battle, there is a step forward. (109:18, October 26, 1980)

Good spirits are fighting their way to advance progress towards God’s original world… while evil spirits are struggling to block the way. The evil spirit world and evil physical world are in a constant communication.

Good spirits are the spirits of people who were opposed and persecuted in the sinful world. They are religious believers. (134:10, January 1, 1985)

God and Satan fight over human beings, vying to claim them for their side. The spirits of people who have passed away add their forces to the struggle.

Good spirits help good people, while evil spirits help evil people. In this way, evil people are pulled to the side of Satan, while the good people go to the side of God. The physical and the spiritual team up in this manner and cause all manner of conflict, although people are ignorant of it. (161:14, January 1, 1987)

3. Man’s Superiority to Angels

Do you not know that we are to judge angels? 1 Corinthians 6.3

Behold, your Lord said to the angels, “I will create a vicegerent on earth.” They said, “Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? —while we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy name?” He said, “I know what you know not.” And He taught Adam the names of all things; then He placed them before the angels, and said, “Tell me the nature of these, if you are right.” They said, “Glory to Thee! Of knowledge we have none, save what Thou hast taught us: in truth it is Thou who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom.” He said, “O Adam, tell them their natures.” When he had told them, God said, “Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth, and I know what you reveal, and what you conceal.” Qur’an 2.30-33

When Moses ascended on high, the ministering angels spoke before the Holy One, blessed be He, “Sovereign of the Universe! What business has one born of woman among us?” “He has come to receive the Torah,” He answered them. They replied, “That secret treasure, which You have hidden for nine hundred and seventy-four generations before the world was created, You desire to give to flesh and blood! ‘What is man, that Thou art mindful of him, And the son of man, that Thou visitest him?’ ‘O Lord our God, How excellent is Thy name in all the earth! Who hast set Thy glory [the Torah] upon the heavens!’” (Psalm 8.5, 2).

“Reply to them,” said the Holy One to Moses… Moses then spoke before Him, “Sovereign of the Universe! The Torah which You give me, what is written in it?” “I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the Land of Egypt” (Exodus 20.2).

He said to the angels, “Did you go down to Egypt; were you enslaved to Pharaoh; why then should the Torah be yours? Again, what is written in it? ‘You shall have no other gods’ (Exodus 20.3); do you dwell among peoples that engage in idol worship? Again, what is written in it?

‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy’ (Exodus 20.8); do you perform work, that you need to rest?… Again, what is written in it? ‘You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal’ (Exodus 20.13-15); is there any jealousy among you; is the evil Tempter among you?” Straightaway the angels conceded to the Holy One, blessed be He, for it is said, “O Lord our God, How excellent is Thy name in all the earth,” (Psalm 8.10) whereas “Who hast set Thy glory upon the heavens” is not written.29 Talmud, Shabbat 88b-89a (Judaism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
Angels are beings that serve God. Hence, should the sons and daughters of God appear, they should rule the angels. It is the dignity of human beings to rule the angels. (84:98, February 22, 1976)

It was not only to prevent their fall that God gave immature human beings the commandment.30 God also wanted them to enjoy dominion over the natural world—including the angels—by inheriting His creative nature.

In order to inherit this creatorship, human beings should perfect themselves through their faith in the Word as their own portion of responsibility. God gave the commandment not to the Archangel but only to the human beings.

God wished to exalt the dignity of human beings as bestowed by the Principle of Creation, which entitled them to stand as God’s children and govern even the angels. (Exposition of the Divine Principle, Fall 3.2)