1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Seen of Angels
Just as the earth has a governmental structure associated with it, with certain men holding positions of rank and authority, so when we read Daniel 10 we see that the angelic realm also has a similar structure of rank and authority. When reading Daniel 10 we notice that just as the earth has believers and unbelievers, so too the angelic realm has angels that are loyal to God, and angels that have fallen and follow the devil. We see in Daniel 10 a struggle between the angel that talks with Daniel and the “prince of Persia”. We see that Michael comes to help battle against the prince of Persia. Towards the end of the chapter we also read that there will be another struggle with a “prince of Grecia”, which correlates with the rise of the Grecian empire that would follow after the Persian empire. So we are actually getting a glimpse into spiritual warfare in the heavenlies and how it corresponds with happenings in the earth.
As we contemplate this third aspect of the mystery of godliness, namely “seen of angels”, we must realize that what the Holy Spirit inspires Paul to call “the preaching of the cross” and “the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery” was “hid in God” until revealed to Paul. This means that it was also hid from angels as well, both the elect and the fallen. In the Scriptures prior to Paul’s epistles we see how God is going to reconcile the earth back to himself by setting up a kingdom on earth that will be eternal with the Lord Jesus Christ ruling the earth. What we don’t see until Paul’s epistles is how God is going to reconcile the heavens back to himself. We often think of how the earth was corrupted with sin when Adam and Eve sinned, but we also have to realize when Lucifer fell and took a third of the angelic realm with him, the first and second heavens were corrupted as well. Of course we must note that the third heavens where the throne of God and paradise are, were not corrupted.
When we learn of the mystery, we are learning of what the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished by the cross. The death, burial and resurrection of Christ is the centerpiece of time. By the Lord Jesus Christ’s finished work He made possible the reconciliation of the whole universe back to God. Both the heavenly and earthly. That this would be accomplished by the cross, was not known to the angels, yes they knew of earthly reconciliation, but they had no clue about the heavenly reconciliation. For the fallen angels, this heavenly reconciliation spelled their defeat. Just as saved Israel and the Jewish members of the body of Christ will be a nation of priests when the Lord Jesus Christ sits on the throne of David and rules the earth, so too the Gentile members of the body of Christ have a heavenly calling and purpose. When the Lord Jesus Christ rules the earth, Israel will be a vessel for His governance, so too as He also rules the heavens, the Gentile members of the body of Christ will be vessels for His governance. Where does this leave the devil and his fallen angels? Well, they will be kicked out of heaven and cast into the earth for a short time and then ultimately thrown into the Lake of Fire.
Let’s look at some Scripture which talks about what the angels saw when the mystery was made known. As Paul and his fellow laborers were made a spectacle unto the world, angels, and men (1 Corinthians 4:9) so we as members of the body of Christ (also called the church) are being viewed by the angelic realm so the manifold wisdom of God might be known to them. We see this in Ephesians 3:9-10
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.
As pertaining to the wisdom of God that is being made known by the church, the fallen angels would never have had our Lord crucified if they would have known how it spelled their defeat as we read in 1 Corinthians 6:3
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
We see that by the Lord Jesus Christ dying for our sins and rising from the dead He spoiled the fallen angels. We read this Colossians 2:13-15
And you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
And we see that we shall judge angels in 1 Corinthians 6:3
Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
As we contemplate our heavenly calling and purpose what is amazing is that spiritually we are already seated at the right hand of God in Christ Jesus as we read in Ephesians 2:5-6
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved) And has raised us up together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Is it any wonder then, why the adversary and his fallen angels fight so vigorously to keep the mystery of godliness unknown among the members of the body of Christ? We are engaged in spiritual warfare as we read in Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Before can we can engage in this battle we have to be equipped by the Lord. We see our armor listed in Ephesians 6:13-18. Note that our only offensive weapon is the Word of God. How important then that we read God’s Word and ask Him to give us understanding. Preachers and teachers are great gifts from the Lord but they are not to have dominion over our faith, we must read the Word of God for ourselves. While our fight is not against flesh and blood, we do see that the adversary uses flesh and blood to suppress and corrupt the Word of God and the gospel of His grace. We see this in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel: for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness: whose end shall be according to their works.
Now this verse doesn’t mean that we deem ourselves false apostle detectors and start tracking and attacking every person we think is a false apostle. Quite the opposite, this verse should spur us that much more to study God’s Word, so we might have eyes to see and ears to hear and discern. The best thing we can do for a pastor or teacher of God’s Word is to study the Word of God ourselves and ask questions. Iron sharpens Iron. If you have never heard the mystery of godliness preached on, go and ask your pastor about it, it may spur both of you to search the Scriptures that much more, and praise the Lord that is always a great thing!
In closing, throughout the ages, God and His work has been witnessed and seen by the angels. At Pentecost we see Peter declare that the Holy Spirit inspired words of the prophet Joel were being fulfilled and the last days had begun. But the prophetic time clock abruptly stopped and we see Saul of Tarsus saved on the road to Damascus. Saul who would be called Paul was given a mystery not made known to man or angel before being revealed to him. This mystery period has lasted for two thousand years while God continues to graciously offer salvation to any and all who will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. After Paul was given the mystery and Peter learned of the gospel of God’s grace, Peter wrote this in 2 Peter 3:15-16
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you. As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction.
If the apostle Peter by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, states that there are some things that are hard to be understood, then obviously that should prompt to us to pray that much more and ask God our Father through our Lord Jesus Christ for understanding from Him and a hunger for His Word.
So as we contemplate God being seen of angels, we realize that the angels have always seen God, but they did not know about the mystery. As we yield to God through prayer and study of His Word, what will naturally result is the life and love of Christ working in us. Just as we read that the apostles were being viewed by the angels in 1st Corinthians, so they are viewing us, witnessing the grace of God at work in the lives of believers. When we are walking in the Spirit and we are empowered by the Lord Jesus Christ, they are actually witnessing the mystery of godliness. How could man every live godly? Only by the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work and His sanctifying work in the life of the believer. May we pray that we might walk more circumspectly in this life, prayerfully reading God’s Word and seeking understanding from Him, so that His grace may be magnified as the Holy Spirit empowers us and the Lord Jesus Christ manifests His life in us. May we by His power be reflectors of His grace!
