Using the Law of Prominence in establishing the two angels’ identities

The identity of the two angels “who stand in the presence of God” was clearly established in scripture directly and indirectly. We learnt that one of these angels is Chief Prince Gabriel and that the other is Chief Prince Michael.  We know that  Chief Prince Gabriel is one of these based on His direct statement to Zacharias that “… I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God…” (Lk 1: 19).

I began to use the Law of Prominence to show from scripture that  Chief Princes Gabriel and Michael are these angels. To date, we learnt that this was established in the naming/identification  of these  two in scriptures as well as the revelation of these angels for very high level missions.

1. THE LAW OF PROMINENCE IN MARY’S EXPERIENCE

It is impossible to speak about  Chief Prince Michael’s  and Gabriel’s prominence in heaven/scripture without showing how this was revealed in Mary’s experience, which is found in Luke 1: 26-38. This is a continuation of the same text in which Chief Prince Gabriel announced the birth of John to his father Priest Zacharias.

a. The angel’s identity was immediately revealed to the reader

Having previously established the name of the angel in Zachariah’s account, Chief Prince Gabriel’s identity was immediately revealed without hesitation to the reader :

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth (Lk 1: 26).

b. Explore Chief Prince Gabriel’s reaction to Priest Zacharias’ questioning

Chief Prince Gabriel had stricken Priest Zacharias with dumbness because he had disbelieved the message about the birth of Jesus.  In fact, after rereading Zacharias’ account, I just discovered several startling truths in Lk 1:

• Zacharias knew that an angel had appeared to him based on the mysteriousness of the event.
• he had become fearful
• Chief Prince Gabriel responded to his fright by calming him and announcing the birth of John
• Chief Prince Gabriel only announced His name when Zacharias asked for proof of the message:

 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

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.

And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season (Lk 1: 18-20).

• It seems to me that the announcement of His name was given in the manner that one would respond to another who is overly disbelieving.  The proof of the message was in the angel’s identity. Zacharias already knew of this angel’s importance from Daniel’s prophecies.
• Did Zacharias become annoying in his unbelief? It seemed to me that Chief Prince Gabriel became annoyed based on the nature of His response – I am the same angel standing on the side of the ark in the holy of holies. I am Gabriel who was seen by Prophet Zecharias.
• Is it coincidental that both Prophet Zechariah and Priest Zechariah were priests?
• Is it coincidental that the names  Zechariah and  Zacharias   mean “Jehovah remembers”.
• What message is God sending to us by the linking of these two priests in scripture through this divine connection and revelation?
• Chief Prince Gabriel did not intend to strike Priest Zacharias with dumbness, but did so based on the response. This action appears to be situational.

c. Compare Chief Prince Gabriel’s  reaction to Mary

1. She was greeted as one who was greatly beloved by God, on the same scale as Prophet Daniel –  Hail, Mary, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women (Lk 1: 28).
2. The manner of Mary’s response about the possibility of a pregnancy was not irritating to Chief Prince Gabriel (Lk 1: 34). It seemed that she was wondering and amazed about the birth of a child to a virgin.   Zacharias should have known that this messenger was of a high level in the heavens based on His position at the altar as well as the nature of the prophecy. After all, he was a priest.    
3. The angel gave her the “technology” of the birth in order to give her understanding of the secret in much the same way that He had instructed Daniel. He told Mary that, ” the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Lk 1: 35).
4. Mary must have been a woman after the order of Prophet Daniel. I infer this based on the salutation and the fact that she and not another virgin was chosen to be the mother of Jesus. With this said, scriptures did not need to say much about her and Joseph.

d. Chief Prince Gabriel made a divine connection between three impossible births

I found great significance in the fact that Chief Prince Gabriel connected the humanly impossible births of John and Jesus with a phrase that connected me back to another miraculous birth in the Old Testament. He told Mary that “…with God nothing shall be impossible” (Lk 1: 37). 

This statement of God’s divine power had also been used to describe Isaac’s birth to Sarah who was told – Is any thing too hard for the LORD? (Gen 18: 14).

Next time I hope to use the Law of Equivalency to establish that Chief Prince Michael is the other angel standing in the Presence of God. Here is one of the clues:

• Daniel 10: 21.