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First Corinthians 6:3

Paul has brought up another situation with the church in Corinth in which the believers there were not
judging as they should be, in their assembly. The believers were bringing lawsuits against one another to
be decided by the civil authorities.
Paul indicates that their disputes were over trivial matters, about which other believers in the church should
be rendering decisions - not the unrighteous, of the city of Corinth.
And Paul put this in perspective for the Corinthians - they will one day be judging over the whole world over the kingdom of God on earth, during the 1000 year reign of Christ. Surely they must be capable of
judging such trivial matters in the temporal realm, so that they are prepared for ruling and reigning with
Christ!
As Paul continues, we see that he has one more eternal perspective that he wishes the Corinthians to reflect
upon. Well read this with our verses from last week, to maintain the continuity of his thought.
[First Corinthians 6:1-3]
Not only will the believers in Corinth judge the world; Paul says that they will also judge angels. And Paul
includes himself with the believers; we can see that Paul is referring to all of the Body of Christ, down
through the ages; the true church - and therefore, to us as well.
Now, we know that this passage is not about the condemning kind of judgment, but about rendering
righteous decisions as needed; the discerning kind of judgment. Paul wrote about the churchs remarkable
role in judgment in the age to come to show why they have the ability to judge their matters in the present
age.
Of course, Paul must be talking about the same kind of judgment - or his argument wouldnt be relevant,
would it? And thats what we saw last week, with the church judging the world - it will require discerning
what is right, concerning the affairs of the world during the kingdom age - and on that basis, making
righteous decisions.
So of course this would be the kind of judgment that Paul is speaking of, concerning the angels. And in
that Paul says to the believers in Corinth, Do you not know?, we understand that there are things that they
could know about judging angels - and therefore, that we can know, too. Things the church should know.
Where do we find the things that we should know? In Gods Word. So were going to look for what God
has revealed in the Scriptures concerning the church judging angels. But before we do that, it would help
us to recall certain things about angels, themselves - about who they are; about Gods purpose for them; and
about how that purpose is being worked out, through time. So first, well have a refresher.
Angels are part of Gods creation. Theres the Creator, God; and theres everything else. That everything
else includes angels; they are created beings.
Psalm 104 says that the LORD made His angels spirits; He created them as spirit beings - souls of spirit-life.
This means that, as created, angels are immaterial; theyre not composed of anything physical, such as the
matter of the earth.

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As created, angels have no bodies; they are body-less, we could say. Without a body, angels cannot be
seen; theyre invisible. But we know from the Scriptures that angels can take on a body; and in that form,
they make appearances to men. We also know from the Scriptures that angels are eternal; as spirit beings,
their lives will never end (Lk 20:35-36).
Psalm 104 also tells us that the LORD made angels to be His ministers; His servants. They are described
there as a flame of fire (Ps 104:4). Fire has two key radiant properties; what are they? Heat and light.
Angels serve God by giving men Gods light; by enlightening them, as Gods messengers, as God directs
them. The word angel actually means messenger.
The account in Genesis about the ladder in Jacobs dream is designed to show angels in this role, ascending
to heaven, descending to earth, carrying out the will of God on behalf of men. (Gen 28:12-13).
In the gospel of John, Jesus indicates that He is the One represented in that ladder. All of the purposes of
God, carried out by the servants of God, are realized in Christ, as the one Mediator between God and man
(Jn 1:51, 1 Tim 2:5). So angels serve God by delivering His messages concerning His Christ, to enlighten
men to Him.
But at other times, the radiance of an angel may take the form of heat: a communication of Gods fiery
wrath; for angels are also ministers of Gods judgment, executing Gods sentence of condemnation on those
who oppose Him. We have recently been looking at Exodus chapter 12, where we saw an example of this,
as the destroying angel struck the firstborn in the land of Egypt with death (Ex 12:12-13, 23).
Angels are also seen in many instances in Scripture around the throne of God, both as worshippers of God
(Rev 5:11) as well as guardians of Gods holiness (Is 6:1-3, Ez 1:26). In this last respect, we could say that
the angels form a line of separation between God and all that is not holy; they denote Gods complete
otherness, from all that is not of Him.
When were the angels created, by God? They were created at some time before the foundation of the earth
was laid; before God created the physical heavens and the earth. We learn this in the book of Job, where
the LORD discloses to Job that when the cornerstone of the earth was laid, the morning stars sang together;
all the sons of God shouted for joy (Job 38:7).
Sons of God sometimes refers elsewhere in Scripture to angels (Gen 6:2; Job 1:6, 2:1); here they are also
called morning stars, or sons of the morning (Is 14:12), as those who were present and witnessed the dawn
of creation.
Why were they so joyful, when God created the heavens and the earth? This was the beginning of God
implementing His great purpose, for His creation of mankind; to have men in His image, according to His
likeness (Gen 1:26-27) - sons of God.
The angels were created sons of God of a different order - angelic spirit beings. No doubt they eagerly
anticipated the completion of these other born sons of God - spirit beings of humanity, in glorified bodies.
Peter indicates that the angels desire to look into these things (1 Pet 1:12).
But their joy goes beyond that. In completing His great purpose, the angels could see that their God would
receive much glory - and glory to God always makes His angels rejoice.

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But we know that there was one particular angel who was not filled with joy, over the creation of the
heavens and the earth. Instead, he was filled with pride; he coveted what God had created for himself; in
fact, he coveted the very throne of God.
This angel, named Lucifer, aspired to be like the Most High God - El Elyon, a title for God which means
Possessor of heaven and earth (Is 14:12-15).
When this sin was found in his heart, God cast Lucifer out of His holy sanctuary (Eze 28:16), as the
profane being that he was - for in his pride, Lucifer had taken himself outside of the sacred. He would
forever be excluded from the place of Gods holiness.
But Lucifer didnt go alone. In Revelation chapter 12, we learn that a third of the angels followed Lucifer
in his rebellion. Thereafter, Lucifer became identified in Scripture by the titles Devil, meaning accuser,
and Satan, meaning adversary.
The devil and his angels operate together to thwart the purpose of God: to have a kingdom of sons, in
heaven and on earth. In order to thwart God, they must deceive men, so that men dont make the choice to
enter Gods kingdom - through faith in Christ.
John tells us that the devil sinned from the beginning (1 Jn 3:8), in his attempts to deceive mankind (1 Tim
2:14). He met with his first permanent success in Cain, through whom he began to build his world system designed to keep men in the dark to God.
Men are born into that system, dead in trespasses and sins, and they walk according to the course of it unwittingly doing so, for the system itself is invisible.
Satan operates from the atmospheric heavens, unseen - the prince of the power of the air (Eph 2:12). The
power of the air is the communication of ideas - of thinking - its the power of influence, persuading men to
remain occupied with themselves, and not God; fulfilling their lusts and desires - their will for themselves and not the will of God, for them.
And it is the devils angels who operate behind this world system, unseen, battling for mens thinking, in
the war for the souls of men - with the goal that they might possess Gods creation.
Nonetheless, Scripture gives us a few glimpses of this unseen world. First turn to Daniel chapter 10.
Daniel was a descendant of the royal tribe of Judah (Dan 1:6) who had been taken captive during the siege
of Jerusalem (Dan 1:1); a judgment of the LORD on Judah, for her idolatry.
Daniel was taken back to Babylon, and groomed for service in the kings palace. And Daniel served the
king - as long as there was no conflict with his service to the LORD.
The LORD gave many visions to Daniel concerning future events related to Daniels people, the Jews. One
such revelation was made after Persia had conquered Babylon. We are not looking at the vision, but at
what resulted in its timing.
[Daniel 10:10-11:1]
v. 10-11 This is an angel of God, who appeared in bodily form, sent to Daniel to give him the vision.
v. 12 In verse 2-3, we learn that Daniel had been inquiring of the LORD for three weeks.

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v. 13 All of the time that Daniel was inquiring of the LORD, the angel who was to give him the LORDs
message was otherwise occupied. What was he doing? He was withstanding the prince of the kingdom of
Persia; he was opposing him.
This is not an earthly prince; we know that because the angel mentioned Michael, to be one of the chief
princes. What is Michael? Hes a chief angel; an archangel.
Notice that this conflict - between Gods angels and one of the devils angels - concerned the kingdom of
Persia. This denotes an attempt to influence the ruler of the kingdom of Persia, by this angel of the devil,
while the angels of God were trying to stop him. And this contest was being conducted behind the scenes
of earthly life.
v. 14-20 After this angel gives Daniel the vision, he will return to contest with the devils angel, who is
attempting to influence the ruler of Persia; and another of the devils angels is mentioned, a deceiver of the
ruler of Greece.
v. 21-11:1 The angel calls Michael your prince because Michael is the angel who stands watch over the
Jews (Dan 12:1). Notice that the angel currently talking with Daniel also helped Darius of the Medes, who
was made king over the realm of Babylon (Dan 9:1).
Remember that one-third of the angels followed Satan, in his rebellion. So how many remained loyal to
God? Two-thirds. This means that God has twice the number of angels opposing Satan and his angels; not
to mention that God is far superior to Satan.
Therefore, Satan must be cunning, shrewd, and discriminating in the use of his influence - as we see here,
in his attempt to influence powerful political rulers in his world system, to further his ambition for
possessing Gods creation.
We see another glimpse of this unseen spiritual world in a letter of Paul to the churches in Asia Minor.
Turn to Ephesians chapter 6.
This letter was an encyclical, meant to be copied and forwarded to all the assemblies in Asia Minor. In it,
Paul emphasizes all of the spiritual blessings that the believer has by virtue of being in Christ.
He reminds his readers of the world system they have been delivered from - both Jew and Gentile - to
become one body in Christ, a holy temple in the Lord, a dwelling place of God, in the Spirit. He
encourages them in the truth, exhorts them to live righteously - and having taught them all these things, he
then has one final key exhortation.
[Ephesians 6:10-13]
v. 10-11 We see that Paul is using terms of warfare here. Now, Paul is addressing the believers not as
individuals, but as a collective - the you in the passage is plural. This pertains to each local church, who
received the letter.
In one word, what is Paul exhorting them to do? Stand. He will use the word in various forms four times,
in the next few verses. Each of them must put on the whole armor of God, individually; but then they are
to stand together. Thats what Roman soldiers along a battle line used to do.

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Would that be an offensive, or a defensive position? Defensive; they are standing; they are holding their
position. What are they standing against, in verse 11? The wiles of the devil. Wiles means deceptions;
lies. What is the only thing that can stand against a lie? The truth.
The truth is the whole armor of God - complete - which enables believers to collectively stand against the
devils lies.
Paul goes on to explain a little bit about this war they were involved in - as was Paul - as are we.
v. 12 Wrestling refers to hand-to-hand combat. Although the believers are to hold the line collectively,
Paul clarifies this requires individual responsibility; each must hold their position, so that there is no breach
in the line.
But is Paul speaking of physical combat? No; he specifically says it is not against flesh and blood; that is,
its not physical. This is a spiritual conflict, as Paul makes clear by the catalog of beings, which he names.
Each is a term used for angelic beings, giving the sense of them as organized ranks - as in an army.
Now in hand to hand combat, there are weapons. But this is not physical combat, so what are the weapons
here? The weapons are words; concepts; doctrine.
The devil makes his thinking available through his angels to men in the flesh, who readily assimilate it,
through the world system. It is some of these men - who have bought this thinking for themselves - who
then attempt to introduce false doctrine - lies - into the assemblies.
Now, Paul has just enlightened his listeners to the truth in this letter. So then he exhorts them to stand
together in the truth - to keep false doctrine from permeating their assemblies - which would divide the
brethren, and diminish or eliminate their witness for Christ.
The angels of God are also involved in this conflict, for the souls of men. In the letter to the Hebrews, the
writer indicates that Gods angels are ministering spirits sent forth to minister, not to, but for those who
will inherit salvation - they minister in the spiritual realm against the spiritual hosts of wickedness, for the
sake of those who will be saved (Heb 1:14).
v. 13 This is the role of the church in the war for the souls of men - to simply stand together in the truth, so
that the pure gospel can be availed to men whose souls are still in danger.
Paul then goes on to name different kinds of defensive armor, all of which represent various aspects of the
truth (v. 14-17). By together holding their position in that truth, they present an impervious defense to the
enemy - and they ensure that the light will continue to shine forth from their assemblies.
How long is the church to hold that position? Until they are caught up to be with their Lord (1 Th 4:17).
Thats when their witness to Christ on earth is complete.
But the Lord never leaves Himself without a witness. Who will be a witness to the Lord on earth,
throughout the Tribulation? The 144,000 Jewish evangelists, who will put their faith in Jesus as their
Messiah, after the departure of the church (Rev 7:4, 14:1-6).

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It is during this time that the judgment of God will be poured out on the earth, to test those who dwell on
the earth. The 144,000 will be preaching in all the world the gospel of the kingdom (Mt 24:14) - that the
King is coming, to set up His kingdom - and that one must put their trust in Him, in order to be saved (Ps
2:12).
Also during this time, judgment will be executed on the devil and his angels, who opposed God. That
judgment had already been pronounced by Jesus, just before He went to the cross: Now is the judgment of
this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out (Jn 12:31). These opposing angels were stripped of
their power at the cross.
Turn to Colossians chapter 2. Paul was describing the power that flowed from the cross - resulting in the
overpowering of Gods enemies. Paul was addressing assemblies that were predominantly Gentile.
[Colossians 2:13-15]
v. 13-14 the handwriting of requirements refers to the charges of sin that were against us. The Romans
used to nail the crimes of an individual to the cross upon which he was executed. Here the charges against
us were nailed to the cross of Jesus. Through His death in our stead, Jesus completely took our sins away,
opening up the way for the Father to forgive us.
v. 15 Paul is using the illustration of a conqueror, returning from a battle, having resoundingly defeated his
enemies. Those enemies, who had opposed him, are now his humiliated captives - powerless. The
conqueror parades them behind his chariot, displayed for all to see; stripped of their possessions, and
subdued by his superior strength.
The conqueror of course is Christ, after His victory on the cross. The enemies are the principalities and
powers, terms used for angels, here meaning Satans angels. Through the cross, they were stripped of their
weapons that they wield over men - what were those weapons? Sin and death. And the public spectacle of
that defeat is displayed for all to see in the church, the Body of Christ, for whom the power of sin and death
has been broken.
This loss of power is just a precursor to the judgment that will begin to be carried out during the
Tribulation. Turn to Revelation chapter 12. In the middle of the Tribulation, war breaks out in heaven.
[Revelation 12:7-9] In case there is any question, the Revelation makes it clear for the reader who this
dragon is. He is the serpent of old - the serpent who deceived Eve by his craftiness (2 Cor 11:3) - called
the Devil and Satan. Note that in verses 13-17, dragon and serpent are used interchangeably.
So Satan and his minions will be defeated, and they will be cast out of heaven. Satan will therefore lose his
base of operations, in the atmospheric heavens, half-way through the Tribulation; he will have to operate
solely on the earth. But he will vent his wrath concerning this on the earth dwellers - particularly on the
nation of Israel. Two-thirds of the nation will perish, during the Tribulation.
By the end of the Tribulation, the judgment of God will result in the total destruction of Satans world
system, known in the Revelation as Babylon the great.
Turn to Revelation chapter 18. John records the proclamation of an angel concerning Babylon the great Satans world system.

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[Revelation 18:1-2] The angel is announcing that the world system has completely fallen to pieces; there is
no more system. All of the political, economic and religious elements by which it was perpetuated have
been destroyed. All is utter desolation.
But there are beings still in it; in fact, they are trapped in it. Who are they? We read three descriptions, of
the same beings - demons; foul spirits; unclean and hated birds - a metaphor for the emissaries of the devil
(Mk 4:4, 15).
The very spirit beings who helped to build the world system now find it to be their prison. They will be
incarcerated there for the thousand year reign of Christ, then presumably released when Satan is released
from the pit of the abyss, in which he had been bound alone for the thousand years (Rev 20:7).
Then, after a failed attempt at taking over the earthly realm through an uprising of men whom they
deceived, these angels will follow Satan one final time - into the Lake of fire, which God had long ago
prepared for the devil and his angels (Mt 25:41).
You can see that there is no sense of involvement of the church, with any aspect of this judgment of
condemnation; it is executed by the Lord and the angels who remained His faithful servants.
Now we can return to our question of how the church will judge angels, in the kingdom age. During that
time, we have seen that Satan and his angels will be bound; they will not be permitted to exercise any
influence, during the kingdom age. That means there will be no lies; no deceit. Only the truth will be
taught.
Gods angels will clearly still have a role. Occasions to execute judgment will be rare - only for those on
earth who choose to rebel outwardly, during Christs reign.
But as Gods ministering spirits, angels will still be sent forth to minister for the sake of those who will
inherit salvation - for men will still be born, in the kingdom age, needing to know the truth, in order to be
saved. Angels will continue to serve Gods purpose of enlightening men to that truth.
Since these will be the only angels operative in the kingdom age, it is these angels that the church will
judge. But how is that possible? After all, man was made a little lower than the angels; the sense is that
angels are superior beings to men. Peter tells us that angels are greater in power and might (2 Pet 2:11).
And just consider some of the things we have seen. Angels can move between the two realms, of heaven
and earth. Angels dwell around the throne of God. And think of some of the judgments they have
executed!
The writer to the Hebrews gives us an understanding of this truth - that we will judge angels. Turn to
Hebrews chapter 2.
The writer has been establishing the preeminence of Jesus to the angelic creation: Hes the King; theyre
His servants. Now he brings this to bear on the heirs of salvation; specifically, the Body of Christ; the
church.
[Hebrews 2:5-12]
v. 5 The writer is begging the question, Then who will the world to come be put in subjection to, if not the
angels? The writer cites Psalm 8 for the answer.

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v. 6-8a man and son of man are being treated as synonyms here; mankind. God created mankind a
little lower than the angels. Angels are celestial beings; man is a terrestrial being.
But if a man chooses to become a son of God through faith in Christ, he receives eternal life for the body a glorified body, the crowning achievement for a man; the fulfillment of Gods purpose for him.
As born sons of God, we are joint heirs with Christ, and share in His inheritance of the kingdom. We will
rule and reign with Him, over the earthly realm - and in that sense, we are set over the works of Gods
hands; all that He has created. The world will be put in subjection to us, as the bride-wife of the Lamb.
8b All means all; that would include the angelic creation. But the writer points out that we do not yet see
this; for that awaits the time when we are crowned with our glorified bodies.
v. 9-10 We see Jesus. He is the captain of our salvation; the forerunner. He has been crowned with glory
and honor - raised in His body of glory, and lifted up to the right hand of God. And having been planted
together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be of His resurrection (Rm 6:5). Jesus is our
assurance of deliverance from both sin - and death.
v. 11-12 We are all of one - one Seed - the Incorruptible Seed, Christ - and so, are a new creation in Him.
And the psalm that the writer quotes shows this oneness. We are the brethren of Jesus; weve been born
again, into the family of God.
Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, God now has His glorified sons. Messiah declares, in the
midst of the assembly, I will sing praise to You - to the Father, God.
In the imagery of the Revelation, the twenty-four elders representing the church surround the throne of the
Lamb - like an inner circle, within the myriad of angels, encompassing the throne of God and of the Lamb
(Rev 5:11, 22:3). What we see is that, in glory, the born sons of God occupy a place of greater intimacy and of greater authority - than the angels. Here are the riches of the glory of Gods inheritance, in the
saints (Eph 1:18).
As the angels continue to carry out their service to God on earth, the church will participate with Christ in
administering over them. This certainly puts in proper perspective the church administering over their
assembly concerning everyday affairs! Yet doing just that is part of what will prepare the church for her
future responsibility with her heavenly Husband.

Reading: Gal 5:19-21, Rev 21:1-8, Jn 8:12-59, 1 Jn 3:1-10.