…angels do always behold the faces of the heavenly hosts…

6 posts · 5 participants · started Jan 16, 2018, 6:50 PM

1. C

   ColeParticipant
   Jan 16, 2018, 6:50 PM

   Reading recently, I came across this:

   158:8.1[Part IV]

   Entering Capernaum at twilight, they went by unfrequented thoroughfares directly to the home of Simon Peter for their evening meal. While David Zebedee made ready to take them across the lake, they lingered at Simon’s house, and Jesus, looking up at Peter and the other apostles, asked: “As you walked along together this afternoon, what was it that you talked about so earnestly among yourselves?” The apostles held their peace because many of them had continued the discussion begun at Mount Hermon as to what positions they were to have in the coming kingdom; who should be the greatest, and so on. Jesus, knowing what it was that occupied their thoughts that day, beckoned to one of Peter’s little ones and, setting the child down among them, said: “Verily, verily, I say to you, except you turn about and become more like this child, you will make little progress in the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever shall humblehimself and become as this little one, the same shall become greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso receives such a little one receives me. And they who receive me receive also Him who sent me. If you would be first in the kingdom, seek to minister these good truths to your brethren in the flesh. But whosoever causes one of these little ones to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck and he were cast into the sea. If the things you do with your hands, or the things you see with your eyes give offense in the progress of the kingdom, sacrifice these cherished idols, for it is better to enter the kingdom minus many of the beloved things of life rather than to cling to these idols and find yourself shut out of the kingdom. But most of all, see that you despise not one of these little ones, for their angels do always behold the faces of the heavenly hosts.”

   I would be interested in thoughts on the meaning of the last part of the last sentence, “…for their angels do always behold the faces of the heavenly hosts.”  The biblical version says that the angels always behold the face of the Father in Heaven.  Heavenly hosts, according to biblical commentary (for what that’s worth), refers to angelic armies.

2. M

   MaraParticipant
   Jan 16, 2018, 7:10 PM

   Cole wrote:

   . . .the meaning of the last part of the last sentence, “…for their angels do always behold the faces of the heavenly hosts.”

   Your question made me think of the heirarchy of the corps of angels and the division of labor, so to speak, among them.  They have assignments of one kind or another and they are under supervision.  For example:

   28:4.11   4. The Voice of the Angelic Hosts. The fourth primary seconaphim and every seventh serial prove to be angels peculiarly responsive to the sentiments of all orders of angels, including the supernaphim above and the seraphim below. Thus the attitude of any commanding or supervising angel is immediately available for consideration at any council of the Ancients of Days. Never a day passes on your world that the chief of seraphim on Urantia is not made conscious of the phenomenon of reflective transference, of being drawn upon from Uversa for some purpose; but unless forewarned by a Solitary Messenger, she remains wholly ignorant of what is sought and of how it is secured. These ministering spirits of time are constantly furnishing this sort of unconscious and certainly, therefore, unprejudiced testimony concerning the endless array of matters engaging the attention and counsel of the Ancients of Days and their associates.

3. RE

   Richard E WarrenParticipant
   Jan 16, 2018, 7:47 PM

   Interesting question, Cole…I assumed it referred to the innocence of childhood.

   Richard E Warren

4. B

   BradlyParticipant
   Jan 16, 2018, 9:42 PM

   Or is it that the guardian angels in their care and love ministry to children abide in and ‘see’ all of heaven in their duties?  And might this refer to the fact that even the little children are dearly beloved by God and all of creation…anticipating the birth of soul to come or the growth of souls recently born?  All are equally endowed…and cherished.

   The warning of the millstone is serious indeed….the faith of another is nothing to be trifled with by the coy and clever who might deceive or take advantage of another….any other.

    

   "Live loyally today—grow—and tomorrow will attend to itself. The quickest way for a tadpole to become a frog is to live loyally each moment as a tadpole."

5. C

   ColeParticipant
   Jan 16, 2018, 10:19 PM

   Mara noted in part:

   ….These ministering spirits of time are constantly furnishing this sort of unconscious and certainly, therefore, unprejudiced testimony concerning the endless array of matters engaging the attention and counsel of the Ancients of Days and their associates.

   Thank you…good quote.  That is kind of what I was thinking.  The wording of “…beholds the faces…” seems a bit obscure, at least to me.  I guess it might be sort of like:   (guardian angels) have unfettered face time/communication with the great powers of this superuniverse. (?).

   Rick noted:

   Interesting question, Cole…I assumed it referred to the innocence of childhood.

   Yes, I agree. At least I think the overall intent of the paragraph as a whole does.  I noticed that many biblical scholars think the whole reference refers to someone corrupting young believers of Christianity.  I don’t agree with that as it doesn’t seem to fit the context.  Seems like two things going on here:  1. you must become as a child to progress….and oh, BTW…..2.  Consider a millstone before you even think about harming children

    

6. B

   BonitaParticipant
   Jan 17, 2018, 12:27 PM

   Also recall that the angels are mind stimulators who work within the moral environment.  If you mess with kids, you’re messing with their angels who are executing the mandates of their superiors and have God’s will as their motive.  Those who mess with kids will get snarled in a moral trap set by their angels.

   p1245:1 113:4.1 The guardian seraphim are not mind, though they do spring from the same source that also gives origin to mortal mind, the Creative Spirit. Seraphim are mind stimulators; they continually seek to promote circle-making decisions in human mind. They do this, not as does the Adjuster, operating from within and through the soul, but rather from the outside inward, working through the social, ethical, and moral environment of human beings. Seraphim are not the divine Adjuster lure of the Universal Father, but they do function as the personal agency of the ministry of the Infinite Spirit.

   113:5.3 The seraphim act in your behalf quite independent of your direct appeals; they are executing the mandates of their superiors, and thus they function regardless of your passing whims or changing moods. This does not imply that you may not make their tasks either easier or more difficult, but rather that angels are not directly concerned with your appeals or with your prayers.

   p1245:3 113:4.3 Seraphim function as teachers of men by guiding the footsteps of the human personality into paths of new and progressive experiences. To accept the guidance of a seraphim rarely means attaining a life of ease. In following this leading you are sure to encounter, and if you have the courage, to traverse, the rugged hills of moral choosing and spiritual progress.

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