Jesus Christ: The Sovereign Lord of the Angels

The Gospels and Acts speak of God sending an angel of the Lord to make his purpose known to specific individuals:

“Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord (angelos Kyriou) appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.’… But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord (angelos Kyriou) appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, ‘Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”” Matthew 2:13, 19-20

“An angel of the Lord (angelos Kyriou) appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense…  The angel answered him, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news’” Luke 1:11, 19

“But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy and laid hands on the apostles, then put them in public custody. But an angel of the Lord (angelos Kyriou) opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said, ‘Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.’” Acts 5:17-20

“Then an angel of the Lord (angelos Kyriou) spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert.’” Acts 8:26

“And behold, an angel of the Lord (angelos Kyriou) stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, ‘Stand up quickly!’ His chains fell off his hands. The angel said to him, ‘Get dressed and put on your cloak and follow me.’” Acts 12:7-8

In this post I will demonstrate that the Lord to whom these angels belong is not just the Father, but also the Lord Jesus Christ.

Take, for instance, the following passage where Christ is explicitly identified as the Lord in the same context where an angel of the Lord appears to shepherds in the field:

“There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. Behold, an angel of the Lord (angelos Kyriou) stood by them, and the glory of the Lord (Kyriou) shone around them, and they were terrified. The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Christos Kyrios). This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.’ Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.’” Luke 2:8-14

This fluidity, which is also found in the other Gospels and Acts, where the term Lord appears within the same context of Jesus being mentioned and/or identified as Lord, seems to be deliberate. It suggests that the inspired writers intended for such ambiguity in order to associate Jesus with the one divine Lord of the Old Testament.

To put it simply, this pattern where Lord is used in close proximity to references to Jesus as Lord is strong evidence that the NT authors wanted to include Jesus within the divine identity of God. These writers evidently wanted to proclaim that Jesus is both personally distinct from and yet identical with the sovereign God of Israel.

This brings me to my next example:

“But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord (angelos Kyriou) appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus (Yeshua – YHWH is salvation), for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.’ Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel,’ which is, being interpreted, ‘God (ho Theos) with us.’” Matthew 1:20-23

Joseph is essentially being told that Mary will conceive YHWH God in the flesh, which is the precise reason why he is to name him Jesus.

As the angel explains, the name signifies that the Child has come to do what the Hebrew Bible ascribes to YHWH, and to no other:

“If you, Yah, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, therefore you are feared… Israel, hope in Yahweh, for there is loving kindness with Yahweh. Abundant redemption is with him. He will redeem Israel from all their sins.” Psalm 130:3-4, 7-8

It is YHWH who redeems Israel from all their transgressions, and only he can forgive sinners, since there is no creature who is sinless and therefore undeserving of God’s wrath.

To reinforce this identification of Jesus with YHWH, Matthew bookends his Gospel by reiterating his point of Jesus being Immanuel, i.e., God himself coming to dwell with his people:

“But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them. When they saw him, they worshiped to him; but some doubted. Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” Matthew 28:16-20

Christ not only promises to remain with his followers, he also claims to possess absolute sovereignty over the entire creation, accepts the worship of his disciples, and even associates himself with the Father and the Holy Spirit as that one specific Divinity for whose sake the Christian rite of baptism is to be performed.

Interestingly, we find another mention of an angel of the Lord within this same chapter:

“Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord (angelos Kyriou) descended from the sky and came and rolled away the stone from the door and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men.

“The angel answered the women, ‘Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where he was lying. Go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.” Behold, I have told you.’

“They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word. As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, ‘Rejoice!’ They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.’” Matthew 28:1-10

Notice how the women grab Jesus’ feet to worship him without being rebuked for doing so.

This confirms that Matthew is describing Jesus as the God who came to live as a Man among men through his birth from his holy and blessed Virgin Mother.

In light of all this it is only reasonable to conclude that Jesus is the Lord to whom these angels belong.

Note the logic behind my interpretation:

A. Angels belong to YHWH God.

B. Jesus is YHWH who became man from the Virgin in order to save people from sins.

C. Jesus is also Immanuel, being the God who came to be with his people till the end of the age.

D. Angels, therefore, belong to Jesus who is their Lord and the Lord of all creation.  

In fact, this is exactly what we find Jesus stating in Matthew’s Gospel since, on more than one occasion, Christ refers to the angels as belonging to him.

Here’s one example:

“He set another parable before them, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in HIS field, but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away. But when the blade sprang up and produced grain, then the darnel weeds appeared also. The servants of the householder came and said to him, “Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did these darnel weeds come from?” He said to them, “An enemy has done this.” The servants asked him, “Do you want us to go and gather them up?” But he said, “No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, ‘First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.’”’” Matthew 13:24-30  

The Lord goes on to explain the parable:

“Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, ‘Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field.’ He answered them, ‘He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seeds are the children of the Kingdom, and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out HIS angels, and they will gather out of HIS Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and those who do iniquity, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.’” Matthew 13:36-43

The owner is Christ the Son of Man, and the field is the world, which means that Jesus is making himself out to be the One who owns the whole earth. Thus, Jesus not only owns the angels but also owns the whole human race and everything else in the world!

And yet the Old Testament tells us that the earth and everything in it belongs to YHWH:

“The earth is Yahweh’s, with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell in it.” Psalm 24:1

I will have more to say about Jesus’ referring to himself as the Son of Man shortly.

These next cases of Jesus referring to his angels are also quite illustrative:

“For the Son of Man will come in the glory of HIS Father with HIS angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds. Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste of death until they see the Son of Man coming in HIS Kingdom.” Matthew 16:27-28  

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and ALL the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

“'Then the King will tell those on his right hand, "Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.”

“‘Then the righteous will answer him, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?” The King will answer them, “Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

“‘Then he will say also to those on the left hand, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.”

“‘Then they will also answer, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?” Then he will answer them, saying, “Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.” These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’” Matthew 25:31-46

Note that Jesus is called Lord in the same context where he speaks of coming with all the angels to judge the nations.

Now seeing that he is Lord and seeing that the angels belong to him, Jesus must, therefore, be the very Lord of all the angels as well.

Moreover, Christ again claims to do what the Hebrew Bible ascribes to YHWH Almighty since it is YHWH who comes to judge the nations and repay every person according to his/her deeds:

“Behold, the Lord Yahweh will come as a mighty one, and his arm will rule for him. Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.” Isaiah 40:10

“As for you, O my flock, the Lord Yahweh says: ‘Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, the rams and the male goats. Does it seem a small thing to you to have fed on the good pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture? And to have drunk of the clear waters, but must you foul the residue with your feet? As for my sheep, they eat that which you have trodden with your feet, and they drink that which you have fouled with your feet.’

“Therefore the Lord Yahweh says to them: ‘Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you thrust with side and with shoulder, and push all the diseased with your horns, until you have scattered them abroad, therefore I will save my flock, and they will no more be a prey. I will judge between sheep and sheep. I will set up one shepherd over them, and he will feed them, even my servant David. He will feed them, and he will be their shepherd. I, Yahweh, will be their God, and my servant David prince among them. I, Yahweh, have spoken it.” Ezekiel 34:17-24

“‘For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will execute judgment on them there for my people, and for my heritage, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations. They have divided my land… Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves together. Cause your mighty ones to come down there, Yahweh. Let the nations arouse themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.” Joel 3:1-2, 11-12

Mark also records Jesus referring to his angels in a highly significant context:

“For in those days there will be oppression, such as there has not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be. Unless the Lord (Kyrios) had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom HE picked out, he shortened the days… Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. Then he will send out HIS angels, and will gather together HIS chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.” Mark 13:19-20, 26-27

Remarkably, Jesus speaks of his angels gathering his chosen ones in the same context where he identifies these chosen ones as those whom the Lord picked out for himself!

It seems reasonably certain that Jesus is actually describing himself as that very Lord of the elect, a point made stronger by Christ referring to himself as the Son of Man who rides the clouds of heaven.   

This is a direct reference to the vision which the prophet Daniel saw:

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14 New International Version (NIV)

The Son of Man whom the prophet sees ascending on the clouds to the Ancient of Days is an everlasting king whom all nations must worship in all of their various languages. Clearly, Jesus wasn’t claiming to be a mere human being!

No wonder the high priest along with the Sanhedrin condemned Jesus to death for blasphemy:

“And the high priest stood up in their midst and questioned Jesus, saying, ‘You answer nothing? What are these men testifying against You?’ But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him and said to Him, ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ And Jesus said, ‘I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.’ And tearing his tunics, the high priest said, ‘What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?’ And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.” Mark 14:60-64

“The Jews answered him, ‘We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.’” John 19:7

Jesus’ opponents knew that he was making himself equal to God the Father, which they thought was blasphemous since they didn’t think he was anything more than a mere human creature. That is where they were seriously mistaken.

Even the Apostle Paul speaks of the saints or holy ones belonging to Christ, which includes the angelic hosts:

“to the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all HIS saints.” 1 Thessalonians 3:13

“and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with HIS mighty angels in flaming fire, punishing those who don’t know God, and to those who don’t obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus, who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes in that day to be glorified in his saints and to be admired among all those who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10

Astonishingly, the blessed Apostle applies to Christ the language of the following OT texts, which speak of YHWH coming with his holy ones to destroy the wicked in flames fire and terrifying them with the glory of his majesty/might:

“Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, from before the terror of Yahweh, and from the glory of his majesty. The lofty looks of man will be brought low, the arrogance of men will be bowed down, and Yahweh alone will be exalted in that day. For there will be a day of Yahweh of Armies for all that is proud and arrogant, and for all that is lifted up, and it shall be brought low—for all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, for all the oaks of Bashan, for all the high mountains, for all the hills that are lifted up, for every lofty tower, for every fortified wall, for all the ships of Tarshish, and for all pleasant imagery. The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the arrogance of men shall be brought low; and Yahweh alone shall be exalted in that day.” Isaiah 2:10-17  

“For, behold, Yahweh will come with fire, and his chariots will be like the whirlwind; to render his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For Yahweh will execute judgment by fire and by his sword on all flesh; and those slain by Yahweh will be many.” Isaiah 66:15-16  

“Behold, a day of Yahweh comes, when your plunder will be divided within you. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city will be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go out into captivity, and the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. Then Yahweh will go out and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. His feet will stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, making a very great valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and half of it toward the south. You shall flee by the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azel. Yes, you shall flee, just like you fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Yahweh my God will come, and all the holy ones with you.” Zechariah 14:1-5

Last, but not least, here’s how the Apostle John describes the angel that was sent to reveal to him the things which were to soon take place:

“He said to me, ‘These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent HIS angel to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon. Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.’… ‘I, Jesus, have sent MY angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.’” Revelation 22:6-7, 16

The angel of the Lord God of the spirits of prophets, meaning the God who inspires the prophets, is none other than the angel of Jesus Christ!

To call what John wrote here astonishing would be a wild understatement!

The Apostle is either saying that the Lord God of the spirits of prophets is Jesus himself, or that the Lord God and Jesus are essentially coequal, even though they are personally distinct.

Whatever the case may be, we are still left with additional confirmation that Jesus is the Lord of the angels, which further explains why the angels are commanded to serve and worship him:

“Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness. He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals; and the angels were serving him.” Mark 1:12-13 – Cf. Matt. 4:11

“When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, ‘Let ALL the angels of God worship him.’” Hebrews 1:6

In fact, angels are not the only created beings that are required to worship the risen Lord Jesus.

The Apostle John is shown a vision where every created thing in the entire creation will eventually render to Christ the exact same worship that God receives, and for the exact same duration!

“Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. They sang a new song, saying, ‘You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals, for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood out of every tribe, language, people, and nation, and made us kings and priests to our God; and we will reign on the earth.’

“I looked, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders. The number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!’

“I heard EVERY CREATED THING which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and EVERYTHING IN THEM, saying, ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!’ The four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ Then the elders fell down and worshiped.” Revelation 5:8-14   

John has placed Christ on the same side of God in the Creator-creature divide.

Note how this works out:

A. Every created thing in all of creation worships the One seated on the throne forever and ever.

B. The One on the throne must, therefore, be uncreated by nature since he is distinct and separate from all creation.

C. Every created thing in all of creation also worships the Lamb in the exact same way that the One seated on the throne is worshiped, and for the exact same duration.

D. The Lamb, therefore, must also be uncreated by nature seeing that he is personally distinguished and separated from the entire creation.

Paul does the same thing that John does, since the former quoted a poem/hymn to Christ in his inspired epistle to the Philippians where the risen Lord is distinguished from every created being that exists:

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord (Kyrios), to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11 New International Version (NIV)

The following paraphrase masterfully captures the meaning of the poem/hymn recited/sung about Christ:

“Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

“Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.” The Message (MSG)

Amazingly, Paul states that every creature will worship Jesus in the same exact manner that the prophet Isaiah proclaimed that YHWH himself will be worshiped in recognition of his being the only just God that exists!

“Declare and present it. Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has shown this from ancient time? Who has declared it of old? Haven’t I, Yahweh? There is no other God besides me, a just God and a Savior. There is no one besides me. Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by myself. The word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and will not be revoked, that to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.” Isaiah 45:21-23

These two blessed and holy Apostles couldn’t have made it any clearer that Christ is not a creature, but rather is an uncreated divine Person who chose to take to himself the nature of a creature by becoming human.

In light of all these divinely revealed facts, is it any surprise that Jesus is portrayed as the Lord of the entire angelic realm, where the angels belong just as much to him as they do to God the Father?

Unless indicated otherwise, biblical citations taken from the World English Bible (WEB).

Further Reading

Proving that Jesus is not the Archangel Michael (https://www.samshmnthelogy.net/post/proving-that-jesus-is-not-the-archangel-michael)

JUDE TESTIFIES: JESUS IS NOT MICHAEL! (https://www.samshmnthelogy.net/post/jude-testifies-jesus-is-not-michael)

CREATED ANGELIC BEINGS AS JEHOVAH GOD? (https://www.samshmnthelogy.net/post/created-angelic-beings-as-jehovah-god)

PHILIPPIANS 2: AN ADAM CHRISTOLOGY? (https://www.samshmnthelogy.net/post/philippians-2-an-adam-christology)