JESUS' BIRTH
AUDIENCEWho was the
Angel Host attending
the Birth of Jesus Christ?
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude The traditional view of this "multitude of the
of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
good will toward men." Luke 2:13-14
heavenly host" (V:13) is one that projects a men-
tal picture of a civilian choir director might de-
scribe in picturing a large church choir. Or, a
group of nym.s as pictured here.
There is nothing here to cause one to imagine
this as some great church choir, grandly decked
out in matching choir robe finery, positioned in
choir order singing a choir special for a the world
on this majestic occasion. Or, for that matter, a
group of "spirit nym.s" either.
Let's look at a wholly differing view, a view of
a much more grand military pass and review pa-
rade occasion. This is an audience much easier to
envision from the context than the "church choir"
or nym. scenario we've traditionally had envi-
sioned for our imaginating.
FIRST who is the "central" focus? 1 Tim. 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." 2 Cor. 5:19 "To
wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world
unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto
them; and hath committed unto us the word of rec-
onciliation." Heb. 10:5 "Wherefore when he cometh
into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou
wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:"
John 14:9 "Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long
time with you, and yet hast thou not known me,
Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father;
and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?"
It was about God "birthing" Himself into
flesh. Phil. 2:5-8 "Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of
God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon
him the form of a servant, and was made in the like-
ness of men: And being found in fashion as a man,
he humbled himself, and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross."
SECOND, would God, the King of kings and sole
God be on a mission with only a choir? Not a
chance!
This is God! 1 Tim. 6:15-16 "Which in his times
he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate,
the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath
immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can
approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can
see: to whom be honour and power everlasting.
Amen." 1 Tim. 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, im-
mortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and
glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 John 5:20 ...his Son
Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Would God be here without staff and honour
guard? Not a chance! Gen. 32:1-2 And Jacob went
on his way, and the angels of God met him. And
when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host... 1
Kings 22:19 ...I saw the LORD sitting on his
throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on
his right hand and on his left. God's staff and at-
tendants. Psa. 68:17 The chariots of God are twenty
thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is
among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
And not for fear, but for honour of rank and
order. Psa. 103:21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts;
ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Dan. 7:10 A
fiery stream issued and came forth from before him:
thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten
thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the
judgment was set, and the books were opened. Rev.
5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many
angels round about the throne and the beasts and the
elders: and the number of them was ten thousand
times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
Luke 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him,
I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and
am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these
glad tidings. Rev. 19:14 And the armies which were
in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed
in fine linen, white and clean.
There's not a chance that the Son of God would be
attended merely by a "church choir."
THIRD, God's character is honour in might and
majesty. It is not the character of God to have or-
derlies, and for His people to know that their new
position inherits such also? Gal. 4:6 And because ye
are sons... Psa. 34:7 The angel of the LORD encam-
peth round about them that fear him, and delivereth
them. Rom. 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs
of God, and joint-heirs with Christ...
FOURTH, do God's hosts act alone, or, as ac-
companiment? Do they come alone? They surely
could, but do they? The "comings" of Jesus Christ.
(1) 1 Thess. 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead
in Christ shall rise first: Wholly Alone? Not a
chance! V:14 even so them also which sleep in Jesus
will God bring with him. (2) Rev. 19:11-14 And I
saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he
that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and
in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His
eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were
many crowns; and he had a name written, that no
man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with
a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The
Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven
followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen,
white and clean. 2 Thess. 1:7 And to you who are
troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be
revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, Jude
14 Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of
his saints,
FIFTH, is the birth of Jesus Christ not a "High"
heaven occasion? Is this not the sole grand fulfill-
ment of order, eternal purpose for man? 2 Thess.
1:7 when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from
heaven with his mighty angels, Psa. 91:11-12 For
he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee
in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their
hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. All His
earthly life, including at His birth. Rev. 5:11 And
I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round
about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and
the number of them was ten thousand times ten
thousand, and thousands of thousands;
SIXTH, these hosts are praising God! (1) Must
they be a "church-like" choir? Psa. 148:2 Praise ye
him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. (ie
Army for war service) (2) Who are they? A mul-
titude. Heavenly. Host. (ie troop of soldiers thus
noted for their numbers and their ranks of order.)
(3) What are they doing? Praising God with lau-
dation, acclaim, honour, glory and much, much
more. Rev. 5:11-14 And I beheld, and I heard the
voice of many angels round about the throne and the
beasts and the elders: and the number of them was
ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of
thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the
Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches,
and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory,
and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven,
and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as
are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I say-
ing, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be
unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the
Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said,
Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and
worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. Rev.
7:9-12 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multi-
tude, which no man could number, of all nations,
and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before
the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white
robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a
loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth
upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the
angels stood round about the throne, and about the
elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne
on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen:
Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving,
and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God
for ever and ever. Amen. Num. 23:21 ...the LORD
his God is with him, and the shout of a king is
among them.
Some see "array" as a casual group spread out
over acres and acres, standing together in smaller
groups among the large grouping, praising...OR,
as a one massive organized choir singing praise
songs. BUT what does the expository Biblical ev-
idence show? That in God's order throughout, it is
easily seen as the massive military host, their corps
and divisions, all in their proper formations, on a
massive parade display. 1 Chron. 12:38 All these
men of war, that could keep rank, came with a per-
fect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all
Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart
to make David king.
SEVENTH, what then is this that is told to us? Is
it a mere song? A command? What? Luke 2:13-
14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multi-
tude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying
[ie to affirm, exhort], Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward men. This does
not seem to be a mere song, not a special church
choir special arrangement presentation, but rather
an announcement. "Glory to God in the high-
est" is a fact! On earth peace is a future, through
Christ Jesus. Goodwill toward men is God's
choice toward mankind proven by Christ giving
His life for man.
This is the grandest array of God's escorts es-
corting God the Son to the mightiest of Divine
events, the birth of Jesus Christ, predicted since
the beginning to come to pass. The birth of Jesus
Christ, Jehovah, Lord of heaven and earth, the
Saviour of the world! YES!MERRY CHRISTMAS
[ Christian Helps Ministry (USA) ] [ Christian Home Bible Course ]