Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Angels IV

Both, however, are the image of GOD; both had to decide freely for GOD or against GOD; for the majesty of GOD is not love alone, but also justice. This justice demanded the free decision of angels and men, in order to judge their worthiness of being GOD,s image. Each of these creatures, angel and man, was tested according to the knowledge and power of will; proper to his nature.

But already the host of the angels had divided itself. Holy Scripture says,"And there was a battle in heaven; Michael and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon fought with his angels. And they did not prevail, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And that great dragon was cast down, the ancient serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, who lead astray the whole world; and 1he was cast down."(Apoc. 12:7-9)

Here something new occurs: creature fights against creature. It is not the Lord GOD who single-handedly throws the rebellious angels into the depths. He let the faithful angels fight the unfaithful ones. The great oppositions begin: the adversary places himself against GOD.