"Equal To Angels"

"Equal To Angels {Lk 20:36}"

"Does our "hidden, Christlike Life" have anything to do with "equal-to-angels"?"

Jesus uses the Phrase, "Equal to Angels" in Lk 20:36... [The Greek word "isaggelos" is only used here, and only by Jesus - it means "Angel-like", "Angelic", "equal unto Angels"!

There is an organization by the Name of "THE VOICE OF THE MARTYRS" which is a world-wide ministry to those whose lives [and the lives their loved ones and followers] are literally in jeopardy only because of their "witness" for Jesus Christ. [Interesting word, "witness"... it comes from the Greek word "marturia" which means "record", "report", "testimony", "witness"; and from which we get our English word "Martyr"!] For THESE Christians, "to Live **IS** Christ; to die ["lay down their life for Christ's Sake!"] is ALL Gain!" [Phil 1:(21)] And this is TODAY; right NOW! In YOUR lifetime!

The Founder & President of The Voice Of The Martyrs is Richard Wurmbrand, [Author of "Tortured For Christ", and MANY other books], was as held captive in Communist prisons [and survived] for many years, while enduring unimaginable horrors at the hands of his tormentors... yet Learning to Forgive, Love and [in some cases] even lead his captors to Christ's Salvation!

On February 6, 1995 I received the following letter from him:

Dear Dennis, ..."Ruth clung to Naomi" [Ruth 1:14]

A person does not develop properly if he has no good role model before him. We need to follow the teachings and examples of the best and cling to them with admiring love. Some have taken their inspiration from mass murderers. Hitler, Lenin and Stalin have disciples even today! We take our inspiration from the saints.

Ruth, a Moabite, belonged to a nation so backward in beliefs and morals that Israel, the chosen nation, had to shun them. But she was an exception among her people. She clung to Naomi, whom she had come to know as a real believer. We should all choose such models.

In all our newsletters and books, we tell stories of exemplary Christians who gave themselves totally to the God of Love. In turn, you responded by helping the persecuted, and we thank you for this. But you should do one more thing: Follow their example!

Bishop Haik Hovsepian Mehr was killed by Muslims. His wife, speaking in a church, said, "At first, I could not forgive. I would look at the picture of the murderer, ready to throw mud at him. But now I have forgiven, and my hand is clean. I no longer have mud on it. My forgiveness has cleansed me." Cling to such souls and forgive, too. By so doing, you will do good to yourself.

In the eighties, Russian Communists killed the young Christian, Ivan Moiseyev. Before his death, he wrote to his mother, "They torture me, and soon I will die. But an angel showed me the heavenly Jerusalem. Angels are transparent. If you have an angel before you and a man behind him, you can see the man, but not as he really is. Seen through an angel, everyone becomes beautiful. I don't see sin in my torturers. I absolved them."

Pia Guzzi, then a fifteen-year-old Italian girl, took Ivan, whose story we publicized in her country, as her role model. She learned Russian so well that she is now a university professor in that language. She traveled to the USSR to meet Ivan's family and, for years, has taken care of his very old parents. Now she has written a book about him, which will also appear in English. She identified with her model and then became a model herself. She, too, looks at men through angels, seeing what is beautiful in them and loving them.

Because Ruth clung to Naomi, God rewarded her. A whole book in the Bible bears her name, and she became an ancestress of Jesus. Let us cling to the saints, to those who cling to God to the very end. Thank you for your gifts. They will go to the families of such saints and martyrs. Take them as your models.

Yours in Christ, Richard Wurmbrand Voice Of The Martyrs

I have copied this letter here as Testimonial to the Witness ["marturia"] of a man who, before he performed what Christ Said is the greatest act of [selfless] Love any man has to Give... "laying down his life for Christ"... he was, like Jesus Christ Himself [in Gethsemene], "strengthened by angels"... and tells us about it!

Most people believe that our English word "martyr" means someone who DIES for a "great cause". WRONG! Webster adds, "or makes a great sacrifice". Hmmmmm..... Are there "Living Martyrs To Christ"?

For years I have seen & said that the "Preface" [foundation] of Christ-ianity [REAL Christ-Likeness] is Col 3:3... "For [because!] you have died! [you are DEAD!], and your life is....... ..........**hid with Christ in God**!"

Is there a connection here?; does our "hidden, Christlike Life" have anything to do with "equal-to-angels"? And do these "cryptic" passages have anything to do with others like Ro 6:6 {curious #!}, "Knowing this, that our 'old man' is crucified with him..."; or Gal 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ Liveth in me:..."; or Gal 5:24, "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh..."; or 1Cor 15:31, "...I die daily!"; or the many many reference Jesus Made to our "losing our life if we refused to 'give it up', or 'lay it down', etc"; or his reference to the *absolute necessity* of our "taking up OUR 'cross' of self-denial [in order] to Follow Him"... and on & on & on & on!

Tell me, has the Cross suddenly "lost it's Appeal", It's "Call"? Jesus Said, "If I be 'lifted up' [Crucified!], I Will DRAW all men..." Is Jesus Christ no more Crucified? Is there really "another Gospel"? Speaking of angels; John tried to "worship" one & was rebuked [Rv 19:10]; Peter reminds us God has not "spared" them [that "fell"] [2Pet 2:4,5]; Jude [Jesus' brother?] reminds us [9] that evil men "revile ["castigate"] the glorious ones"{R.V.} which even the archangel Michael would not "presume to do" to Satan!; but Paul!... Paul actually has [takes; is given?] the Authority to Pronounce Judgment and Condemnation on such, as in Gal 1:8, "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a Gospel *contrary* to that which was preached to you, LET HIM BE ACCURSED!" Hmmm....

Paul made it clear he would ONLY know 1 Thing "among" [have "conversation with/about"] us [if we include ourselves!]; "Jesus Christ and Him *crucified*!"... or to be more correct; "For I have decided *to know* ["to be among you"] NOTHING among you EXCEPT..." The "Gospel-Of-Crucifixion" WAS Paul's Message, which he Defends [even against angels!], at the risk of his very soul, by Pronouncing a Curse Of God on any.... "other"!

Jesus Said to Martha, "Believest thou this???" ...WHAT? "I-AM The Resurrection and The Life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,... and whoever lives and believes in me SHALL NEVER DIE! Do you believe THIS?" [Jn 11:25RSV] Well, ....DO we?

If we are truly "Hid-With-Christ-In God", are we not BEYOND death, In-Life? "For whatsoever is Born of God OVERCOMETH the world [by "mortification {crucifixion} or *murdering* our flesh!"]:..." [1Jn 5:(4)] "And they OVERCAME him [Satan, AntiChrist, the Beast!] by 1- the BLOOD of the Lamb, and 2- the word of THEIR TESTIMONY [Greek="marturia"]; and [everyone always forgets to add the 3rd factor of the equation!] 3- they LOVED NOT THEIR LIVES UNTO DEATH!" [Rv 12:11] Here, then is Jesus's, "Saved **IF!** ye ENDURE to the END" [by "loving not your life unto death!, or "laying down your life for Me"]. But do we really "believe" Jesus Christ *IS* The Resurrection AND The Life-Eternal? If we did, would THAT make any difference?

Jesus Talks about "hidden manna", and "secret things"; Intimate things to be Shared ONLY With God-In-Christ! What does He Mean by "equal to angels"; "hid with Christ in God"?

The Cross of God's Wrath-Repentance [Christ's Reconciliation!], is His "GateWay" to Paradise [Return to Eden] for man. As this Russian Martyr for Christ saw "transparent" angels through which all men "appeared" "transfigured-by-God', so [if we are to LIVE a "crucified Life" which is "hid-with-Christ-in-God", and "feed' on "hidden {ALIVE!} manna"], we must "see" the Cross of Christ ALSO as "transparent"! That is, THIS [mortal] side is rough timber [the "side posts & cross-beam" {"lintel"} of the "DoorWay to *God's* Heart [House!]! [Ex 12:7] - upon Which The Blood Of Christ Has Been Applied! {"When I *see* the Blood!} [Ex 12:13]- through Which those Inside Endure {as in an Ark} the Tribulation of the Passover of the angel of Death! Oh!... but the OTHER Side! There is the Portal to Heaven on earth NOW! Right NOW!

Since when don't we [like our forefathers] need to "cling to the 'Old Rugged Cross'"? Since when do we no longer need to "die daily", "Take up our cross", "lay down our life", and "BELIEVE THIS???" Christ Calls us to "Perfection!"; ["Impossible for man; ONLY Possible for God-In-Us!"] There is, after all, only "hiding" and "Abiding". We all KNOW where to "hide" [in our flesh; in the world; in our pride; in the darkness; in the lie!] - but there's only ONE Place to "Abide"; At The Cross of Christ's Gospel of Life, & "death-of-death"; ["foolishness to the lost, but Salvation to us who Abide-In-Christ!"], "Hidden-In-God", and "Equal To Angels!" THIS is the "stuff" of "angel envy"! "...The things which have now been Announced to you [Gospel of Christ, Crucified!] by those who preached the good news to you through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, *things into Which angels LONG to Look!*" [1Pt 1:(12)] Glory to God in the Highest!