Sun, Jun 08, 25.

Angels Ruling with God (The Divine Council)

God doesn’t rule alone. He rules with angels in heaven.

God has a government. He’s the supreme ruler, but He has a council – a government who partake of the governing process as God wills. The following are passages in the scriptures that show this.

  1. The death of Ahab was orchestrated by the council -- it wasn’t just God’s sole decision [1kgs 22:19-23].
    1. God didn’t just decree Ahab’s death but stated what He wanted and asked for suggestions on how it should happen. The council was involved in God’s decision to kill Ahab
    2. Ahab disguised himself to try to escape the word of God that came from Micaiah the prophet [1Kgs 22:30]
    3. The Arameans turned from pursuing because king Jehoshaphat when they discovered he wasn’t Ahab, because their king had given them a command to go after no one – small or great – except king Ahab [1Kgs 22:31-33].
  2. The trials of Job [Job 1:1-12; 2:]
    1. God claimed that Job feared Him and shunned evil, and Satan claimed that Job really didn’t love God, but that Job was only loyal because God had blessed him. Job was tested by the divine council to see if he was truly loyal – to see if Job really loved God [Job 1:8-11].
    2. The Angels (sons of God) and Satan presented themselves before God, and Job was tested.
  3. The Assembly of gods [Psa 82:1-7]
    1. This is a Psalm is Asaph [Psa 82:1]
      1. Asaph was a prophet – a seer.
    2. God presides in the Assembly/Council/Congregation of the gods.
      1. There is a ruling council in heaven.
      2. God presides over the council.
  4. In this Psalm, God judged the members of the council who failed to do what they were tasked to do.
  5. Those over who God presides are not mortals – this is seen from God saying they would die like men. It is vain to threaten men that they will die like men [Psa 82:7].
  6. It is God who made them gods [Psa 82:6].
  7. Since God is judging them, clearly, He was the one who appointed them to govern the earth
  1. Isaiah’s Commission [Isa 6:1-]
    1. Yahweh acknowledges others as ruling with Him – when He says “who will go for “US” [Isa 6:8]
    2. Prophets – though servants of God – are appointed not just by God, but by His council/government
  2. Creation [Gen 1:26; 2:18; 3:22]
    1. Let “US” make man in “OUR” image [Gen 1:26]
    2. The Septuagint says “Let US” make a helper for Him:
      1. And said the lord God, It is not good to be for the man alone, let us make for him a helper according to him![ABP-en+ Gen 2:18]
    3. God said man has become one of “US” [Gen 3:22]
  3. The Division of Nations [Gen 11:7]
    1. This account contrasts man’s “let US” with God’s “let US”.
  4. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream [Dan 4:1-37].
    1. God does not rule alone, but with his holy ones – the angels
    2. God with His angels make decrees concerning who rules the nations
    3. The decree against Nebuchadnezzar was described as being both from God and from the angels
      1. It is called both the decree of the Most High and of the watchers – to the intent that all will know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of men [Dan 4:17].
      2. God is still the one in charge.
  5. The one ruling is identified as the Most High, and also all of heaven [Dan 4:26]
  6. Heaven is made up of not just the Most High, but of others as well, so saying heaven rules is saying that God rules with the Angels.
  1. Given what we have seen thus far, it can be concluded that this present world is ruled by angels – a thing hinted at in Hebrews 2:5.
    1. This being the case, we can describe every previous word spoken as the word of angels [Heb 2:2].

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