Agents We Have Heard on High
By Jonathan Mitchell
The Gospel of Luke offers a narrative about agent-messengers (Greek: 'angelos') in the atmosphere where some shepherds were attending their sheep, by night. This encounter is associated with the recent birth of Jesus, and the agent-messengers indicated to the shepherds where they could find the baby. We find the account recorded in Lu. 2:
8. There were also in that same district (or: region) shepherds [that] were seasonally living out of doors with temporary enclosures in the fields, and they were by turn guarding and keeping watch upon their flock during [the] watches which divide the night.
9. And then - look and think of this! - all at once [the] LORD's (= Yahweh's) agent (or: a messenger from [Yahweh]) took a stand upon [their encampment], in the midst of them (or: stood at their [side]), and then [the] LORD's (= Yahweh's) glory (an assumed appearance, from [Yahweh]; a manifestation of Presence, which was [Yahweh]) shone (gleamed and radiated) around about them, and so they became afraid [with] a great fear (= were struck with extreme reverence, or terror).
10. And so the agent (messenger; person with a message) says to them, "Stop being afraid (or: Do not continue fearing)! Look, and consider this - for you see, I, myself, am now bringing and announcing Good News (a message of goodness, ease and well-being) to, for, and among, you folks: great Joy which will progressively be for, in, and with, all the people (or: will continue existing in the entire general public),
11. "because today, within the town of David, a Savior (Deliverer; Rescuer; Preserver; Safe-keeper; Restorer to health, wholeness, or original state, condition and position) was birthed and brought forth to, for, and among, you folks, Who is (exists being) Christ [the] Lord (or: [the] Lord Christ; or: an Anointed Lord, Master and Owner; = Messiah, [the] Lord)!
12. "And now this [will be] a sign and a signal to, and distinguishing token as a proof for [cf vs. 34; 11:30, below; Josh. 4:6; Isa. 7:14; 66:19; Jn. 2:18; 1 Cor. 1:22], you folks: you will proceed finding a Baby (an infant) having been wrapped in long bands of swathing cloth, and continuing lying within a manger (feeding trough; [note: the average home kept domestic animals in the house at night])."
13. Then unexpectedly and suddenly there came to be with this agent a fullness of a throng (or: multitude) of a heavenly host (or: a full number of an army which inhabits, and can be compared to, the atmosphere; [cf Heb. 12:1a, 22-23]) of folks continuously praising God, and then continuing in saying, [cf 2 Ki. 6:16-17]
14. "[This is] a reputation for God, in the highest places! (or: Glory to God, in the midst of the highest [realms];
or: [It is] a manifestation which calls forth praise with God, among the highest [peoples];
or: An assumed appearance and a manifestation by God, within the midst of a most elevated location;
or: A notion and an imagination within [the] highest places in God); and upon earth - among humanity (or: within mankind; in union with people) - a Peace and a Joining having the qualities and characteristics of well-thinking and goodwill
(or: harmony [= shalom] whose source is good opinions and imaginations of well-being; or: a peaceful joining which is a manifestation and a reputation of good and ease; or: a peace which belongs to good pleasure; joining from a disposition of goodness)!"
15. And so it happened, as the agents (messengers; folks with the message; [A, D,Psi, f, TR & others add: - even (or: that is,) the humans]) went away from them into the atmosphere (or: the heaven), [that] the shepherds began speaking to one another, saying, "We should by all means pass through now, clear to Bethlehem, and we can see this gush-effect (the result of this flow; or: this 'rhema' declaration and saying) that has happened (been birthed; come to be), which the LORD (= Yahweh) makes known to (or: for; among; by) us."
Have you ever wondered why this message was delivered to shepherds, of whom we hear no more? Was it because they represented the lower social class of that day, or because they and their flocks were a type of Israel? And why did it happen at night... was it to make the event more spectacular? Or, was it because the setting represented the darkness of Israel (Jn. 1:5)? Well, while the text does not directly tell us, was this event designed to be a lived-out parable for Luke's readers? Israel's Shepherd had been incarnated, and He would gather to Himself apprentices who would tend His sheep (cf. Jn. 21:15-17). But this is not the topic of this essay. Observe the alternate MS readings in the first clause of vs. 15, and note the added words in these other MSS: "even (or, that is) the humans" who went away from the shepherds, and "into the atmosphere (or: the heaven)."
We are reminded of Ps. 34:7,
"An agent of [the] LORD (or: from [Yahweh]) will habitually encamp (pitch [tents] in a circle) round about the folks habitually reverencing Him, and will be repeatedly dragging them out of danger (or: constantly rescuing them)." (LXX, JM)
Do we believe this? Is this part of our world view, or have we rejected this view and adopted the post-modern world view? How about Ps. 91:11,
"Because (or: Seeing that) He, Himself, will habitually impart instructions (internally set the end in view) to, and for, His agents - concerning you - to closely watch, carefully guard, fully maintain and completely keep you in all your paths (ways; roads)"? (LXX, JM)
Let us now consider some verses in Heb. 12:
1. Consequently, and for this very reason, then (or: It follows that - well, let me tell you! - THEREFORE), we, ourselves, also - with continuously having such a big cloud-mass (figure for a dense throng) of witnesses environing us [cf Mk. 9:4-7; Lu. 9:32] (or: of spectators, folks bearing testimony, and people with evidence, lying around for us, and [they] themselves surrounding and encompassing us)....
This seems to echo Ps. 34:7, above. These two verses set forth not only a close proximity between our natural realm and the realm of spirit constantly environing us (our atmosphere... the first "heaven"), but also suggest a constant interaction between us and those inhabiting our atmosphere.
John Gavazzoni shares seminal insights on this picture:
"On the subject of, 'so great a cloud of witnesses' particularly who makes up that cloud: since Jesus as the incarnate Son of God/Son of Man is the summation in His person of all humanity, i.e., He is our Truth, our Reality, our genuine Being, i.e., the very Seed/DNA of all humanity, who said of Himself, that no man has ascended up into the heaven except the Son of Man who IS IN HEAVEN (He was in His descended state while speaking those words, yet He claimed He was in heaven at the same time, if I understand His meaning), therefore, can or should we extrapolate that the "so great cloud of witnesses" is composed of the collective of all of us looking on from our spirit being (Spirit-begotten being) at ourselves having been sent into this world, into creaturely existence, while at the same time retaining our spirit-base of being?"
This calls to mind the agent who spoke with John, in Rev. 19:10,
"And so I fell before his (or: its) feet to worship him, and he (or: it) is saying to me, "See and perceive! No! (= Don't do that!) I am your fellow-slave and [am] from among your brothers (siblings; or: = even belonging to [a group of] your fellow believers) - the ones constantly holding (having) the witness of (or: the testimony pertaining to, and the evidence about) Jesus - Kiss face-to-face with (or: do [your] obeisance to) God! You see, the evidence of (or: testimony pertaining to; witness about) Jesus is the spirit of The Prophecy (or: For the Breath-effect which is prophecy is the evidence for, and from, Jesus)." [cf 22:8, below; Acts 10:16; 14:14-15; 1 Jn. 5:10]
.... (Heb. 12, continued):
(or: in a Jerusalem pertaining to and having the character and qualities of a superior,
or added, heaven and atmosphere;
or: in Jerusalem [situated] upon, and comparable to, the atmosphere; centered in a superimposed-heavenly Jerusalem) - also among ten-thousands (or: myriads) of agents and messengers (people with a/the message):
23. [that is] in (or: to) an assembly of an entire people (or: a festal gathering of all, in a universal convocation) and in (or: to) a summoning forth (or: a called-out and gathered community) of firstborn folks having been copied (from-written, as from a pattern; or: enrolled; registered in a list) within [the; or: various] atmospheres (or: in the sphere of heavens), and in (or: to; with) God, a Judge (an Evaluator and Decider) of all people, even (or: that is; also) among (or: to; with) spirits of right and just folks (or: centered in the sphere of breath-effects from people who are rightwised, fair and in right relationship within the Way pointed out) having been made complete and brought to the destined goal (perfected; finished; matured), [cf Rev. 3:12; Eph. 2:6; Phil. 3:20; Rev. 14:1-5; Ex. 4:22]
24. and in (or: to) Jesus, a Medium (or: an agency; an intervening substance; a middle state; one in a middle position; a go-between; an Umpire; a Mediator) of a new and fresh (young; recently-born) arrangement (covenant; settlement; a deposit throughout, in every direction; a placing through the midst; or: a will and testament), and to and in blood of sprinkling, and to One continuously speaking something superior to (or: stronger and better than) Abel. [cf Heb. 10:22; Mat. 17:1-5; Rev. 21:9b-22:5; Jn. 4:21; Ps. 46:4; 132:13; Isa. 28:16; 33:5]
In vs. 22, the phrase, "you folks have approached so that you are NOW at," translates the perfect tense of the verb: a completed past action having results that extend into the present time. This is apocalyptic imagery, but it sets forth a spiritual reality in the same way that Eph. 2:6 expresses it:
"He jointly roused and raised (or: suddenly awakens and raises) [us] up together, and caused [us] to sit (or: seats [us]; = enthroned [us]) together in union with, and among, the ruling heavenly people, and within the things situated upon the imposed heavens (or: centered in the full, perfected heavenlies; or: among those comprising the complete and completed heavenlies; in union with the celestial people; among the folks [residing] upon the atmospheres) within, in union with, and in the sphere of, Christ Jesus."
John Gavazzoi shares, again:
"Further extrapolating: in Adam, we all came into this world, were all formed of the wet soil of the ground to begin a journey of creaturely existence and experience that, in our restoration to our spirit-essence/being, we shall return adding a quality to that being by the process of estrangement/alienation back to Him, in whom we have our being, i.e., a veritable enhancement of glory shall occur by that process. That process of restoration involves a reconstitution: we were, in our spirit-being reconstituted into creaturehood, and then reconstituted back again into our Primal Origin (Barth). There clearly is a divine profit agenda at work in this, otherwise, why would God undertake such a Godyssey (Eddie Brown's word-coinage). Though we were all in the loins of Adam when he was created, each of us comes into the world by physical birth at our due time, but all, whether not yet born or having been born, are, in our spirit/essence being, witnessing what's going on, on earth... with great interest, I think, since, 'they, without us, cannot be made perfect' (Heb. 11:40b)."
In Mat. 17:1-8, we have the account of Jesus' Transfiguration. During this event, Moses and Elijah appeared to Peter, James and John. Moses and Elijah were speaking with Jesus. Verse 5 informs us that while Peter was speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them. In Lu. 9:30, the text specifies that Moses and Elijah were "two adult men (male humans)," the same term used in our next citation (Lu. 24:4). It seems that it was important to record inter-dimensional events as part of the Good News. In Lu. 9:32, it is again specified that, "they see His glory (praise-inducing manifestation; assumed appearance) and the two adult men standing together with Him."
Following Jesus' Resurrection, in Lu. 24 we read of agent-messengers who spoke to the women who came to the empty tomb:
4. And then - it happened in the midst of a perplexity for them to be without a way [to explain or understand] about this - look! two adult men (human males), in clothing that was constantly flashing and radiating beams of light, stepped up suddenly and stood by them.
Then, in Acts 1, after a "cloud" received and took Jesus into the atmosphere, we find two men, again, giving the disciples information:
10. Next, as they were continuing in staring intently, straining and stretching with a fixed gaze into the sky (or: the atmosphere; heaven) during His progressively going on His way - and now look and consider! - two adult men (males of the human race; or: husbands) had taken a position and now stand beside them in bright white garments,
11. who also said, "Men! Galileans! Why do you stand continuously looking into the sky (or: the atmosphere; heaven)? This Jesus - the One being taken back up (or: taken in hand and received again), away from you folks, into the atmosphere (or: the sky; heaven) - will thus, in this manner and way, be periodically coming and going, [in the] manner [in] which you gaze at Him progressively going His way into the atmosphere (or: will in this way be continuing to go, [by] which [in] turning, you watched Him continue journeying into the sky, or this heaven)."
Take note that the disciples were "gazing up, into heaven" (KJV). This defines the meaning of where they were looking: it was into the sky and immediate atmosphere; they were not having a spiritual vision. Verse 9 explains to us that,
"Then, after saying these things - during their continued looking and uninterrupted seeing - He was suddenly exalted (or: raised upon [them]; lifted up to a higher status), and then a cloud from underneath [Him] took and received Him (or: He was at once hoisted on and fully lifted up, and even a cloud took Him in hand, from below)... away from their eyes." Although their eyes would have seen a literal, physical cloud, we suggest that this event points to Heb. 12:1 (cf, above): the cloud of witnesses "took Him in hand, and received Him."
The Scriptures have many instances of agent-messengers appearing and speaking to people, here, in this life. Paul speaks of a person (many think that he was using 3rd person to refer to himself, and yet not bring the focus on himself) who was caught up into the third atmosphere (heaven). He relates this incident in 2 Cor. 12:
2. I have known, and am acquainted with, a person (or: a man; a human being) in Christ (or: centered in [the] Anointed One; in the sphere of [the] Anointing) more than fourteen years ago - whether in body (or: in a body), I am not aware; whether outside of the body, I am not aware; God has seen and knows (is aware) - being snatched away (dragged off; seized and taken) as such, as far as [the; or: a] third heaven (or: atmosphere). [cf 5:17, above; 1 Thes. 4:17]
3. Further, I have seen and know such a person (man; human) - whether in body or apart from the body, I know not; God knows -
4. that was snatched away (seized and taken) into the Paradise and heard inexpressible gush-effects and utterances (unutterable sayings and results of a flow; unspeakable results of movement and flux; inexpressible matters and declarations) which are not being from out of existence (or: which are not continuing from within the midst of being; or: which it continues being not right; or: for which there is no privilege or authority; which are not being possible; which are not being permissible or allowed) in a person (to or with mankind; for a human) to at any point speak. [cf Lu. 23:43]
Why did Paul include this information in his letter to the Corinthian community? What was this information saying to them? Should they not be surprised at having a similar experience? Yet, why do such experiences seem to be exceptional? Are they, perhaps, given to us so that we can be aware that we live in a multi-dimensional universe? We occasionally hear people who report that they have had experiences similar to what Paul relates, or have had visitations from a higher realm. It seems prudent to remember the advice given in 1 Jn. 4:
1. Beloved ones, stop believing (or: you must not continually believe or put trust in, be loyal or pledge allegiance to) every spirit (or: expression of some influence; breath-effect; attitude), but rather, you folks must constantly examine, test and prove the spirits (influences; attitudes) to assay (or: prove) if they are existing from out of God, because many false prophets have gone (or: come) out into the ordered System (world of societal culture, government, economy and religion) and continue in the midst of the aggregate of humanity. [cf 1 Tim. 4:1; Zech. 13:2b-4; [comment: Apparently the false prophets are a source of untrustworthy spirits that lie.]
2. Within THIS you continue knowing by intimate experience (or, as an imperative: be progressively becoming acquainted intimately with; [cf Jn. 10:5]) the Spirit of, and from, God (God's Breath-effect, influence and attitude): every spirit (breath-effect; attitude; influence) which constantly agrees and speaks in accord with (says the same as; speaks like; or: confesses and avows) Jesus [the] Christ as having come in flesh, and then continuing on in flesh (= in a physical body; = in human form), is (exists being) from out of God, as a source [other MSS: every spirit normally confessing and agreeing Christ Jesus to have come in flesh (= in an earthly life) is forth from (= originates in) God],
3. and every spirit (influence; attitude; breath) which is not habitually agreeing and speaking in accord with (speaking like; or: avowing; confessing; saying the same as) Jesus [some MSS add: {the; as} Lord, having come in flesh] is not out of (does not originate in) God. And this [spirit, expression, or speech which is not in accord with Jesus] is (or: continuously exists being) of the anti-anointing (or: that which pertains to the antichrist; from something in the place of Christ) - which you folks have heard that it is constantly (repeatedly; habitually) coming and going, and now (or: presently) exists within the controlling ordered System (or: is in the world of religion, economy, government and culture; or: has being in the realms of the secular and the religious, and is centered in the aggregate of humanity) already (before now).
Now, although this admonition from 1 John most likely applies foremost to people in the everyday life of this realm (i.e., to folks we meet or hear), we suggest that discernment is needed should a person have a multi-dimensional (or: "spiritual") experience.
In Jn. 1 we have an enigmatic statement, by Jesus:
51. And He is further saying to him, "Believe it, it is established (or: Amen, amen; Most truly; Count on it). I am presently laying it out, saying to you folks, you will proceed seeing the heaven (or: sky; atmosphere) being one that is opened back up again, and 'God's agents (the folks with a message from God) repeatedly ascending (continuously and progressively stepping back up again) and then habitually descending (repeatedly and progressively stepping down)' [cf Gen. 28:12] upon the Son of the Man (or: Mankind's Son; = the Son of Adam; = the Human Being; = the eschatological Messianic figure)." [cf Dan. 7:13; note: ascending comes first, followed by descending; cf Rev. 21:10]
Was Paul seeing "such a person" figuratively ascending upon the Son of Man? Was the "third heaven" a symbolic representation of the spiritual "holy of holies" - the third section, the innermost chamber, of the Tabernacle?
Why should we not expect Paul's experience, in Acts 27:23, to be a part of the normal Christian life? He tells us,
"Because there stood by me, in this night, an agent of (or: a messenger from) the God from Whom as a source I continue existing (or: of Whom I am and to Whom I belong) and to Whom, for Whom, in Whom, and by Whom, I perform as a servant."
During His agony in Gethsemane, we are informed that:
"Now an agent from the atmosphere (or: But a messenger - someone with a message from heaven), continuously strengthening Him, was seen by Him (or: for Him; with Him; in Him)" (Lu. 22:43). [cf Lu. 9:30f; Mat. 17:3]
Shortly after this, Jesus said to His disciples:
"Or, are you continually imagining or supposing that I am not constantly able (or: that I do not habitually have power) to at once call My Father to My side for assistance, and He will right now place by Me (or: furnish for Me; put at My disposal) more than twelve legions [= regiments; a legion was 6000 foot soldiers plus 120 on horse, plus auxiliaries] of agents?" (Mat. 26:53).
Recall the incident recorded in 2 Ki. 6:16-23, where Elisha told his servant not to fear the Syrian army surrounding them, since there were more with himself and his servant than the host of chariots of the army that was surrounding them. So Elisha prayed, asking Yahweh to open the young man's eyes. Then they saw that "the mountain was full of horses and chariots of Fire round about Elisha." Then Elisha asked Yahweh to strike the enemy host with a temporary blindness, and he led them to Samaria.
Paul gives us a present-day encouragement, in Rom. 8:26,
"Now similarly (or: likewise; in like manner), the Spirit also (or: even the Breath-effect) habitually takes hold together with us, on the opposite side of a situation, so as to lend a helping hand, and thus to assist in our weakness (or: joins with a helping hand in the sphere of our lack of strength and infirmity; [note: = old covenant weakness of the Law, or of Adam; cf 1 Cor. 8:7, 10-12; 9:20-22; 15:43; 2 Cor. 12:9; 13:4; Gal. 4:9; Heb. 7:18]), for we have not seen, and thus do not know, nor are we aware of, the thing which we should think, speak, or do, toward having things go well unto goodness, to accord with just what must be (or: what we can pray commensurately concerning the degree of that which is necessary, and down from the sphere of what is binding), but rather the Spirit Himself (the Breath-effect Itself; this very same Attitude), from above, constantly and repeatedly comes to the rescue and hits the target within us (or: falls in on our behalf; instead of us hits within; falls in for and over us; or: makes hyper-intercession, in union with us, and in our sphere) accompanied by unexpressed, unutterable or inexpressible groanings (or: in baffling sighs too deep for words; or: together with wordless and inarticulate battle cries of deep emotion; or: by, and with, shouts of victory from the core of His Being)!" (Jonathan Mitchell New Testament)What should we conclude from these few illustrations of interactions between our natural earth realm and the atmosphere that rests upon the earth (cloud language is frequently used in both the OT and the NT)? Is it possible that extraordinary, seemingly unexplainable, events that happen in our lives are the results of agents helping us? We suggest that being aware of what inhabits our atmosphere adds a significant depth to our lives and experiences. In Mat. 13:11, we read,
"So giving a decided response, He said to them, "
To (or: For; With) you folks it has been given to intimately experience and insightfully know the secrets (mysteries) of the Empire, Reign and Dominion of the Heavens (or: the Kingdom which is the heavens; the royal rule, influences and activities which pertain to and have their origins in the heavens, and which emanate from the atmospheres; [cf 1 Cor. 2:10; 1 Jn. 2:17])."
Jonathan
Gloria in excelsis Deo
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