How Shall The Saints Judge Angels?

Frequently Asked Questions About Christianity, Answered Honestly!

How Will The Saints Judge Angels?
-by Tony Warren

1st Corinthians 6:1-5
"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

nevitably in any discussion of 1st Corinthians chapter 6, the question comes up, "What does scripture mean when it says that we shall judge angels?" How will Christians judge Angels? And does "Know ye not that we shall judge angels,' refer to the judgment of their sins? In other words, people want to know just how shall Christians judge Angels.

It's a difficult question to be sure, but I believe the answer will be found in the study of the word in a sound and honest comparison of scripture with scripture. In looking at other attempts to answer this question, I have heard teachers and theologians theorize that this "paradox" of humans who are lower than angels, judging angels, cannot be understood by us until the consummation of all things. But that would seem to go against the very context of God's comments through Paul, as illuminated in 1st Corinthians 6:1-5. Other theologians have made the supposition that on the last day we will sit alongside Christ to give approval of His judgment of bad angels that have fallen from heaven. Still others have postulated that we will only judge good angels, and that to determine their rewards of gifts. I believe this is insupportable and indeed unbiblical. The angels in question I believe are the "Messengers" of the congregation, not angelic beings. They are the pastors and ministers of the Gospel, whose doctrines are tried and judged by the word of God the saints bring.

The fact is, Angels are Messengers by definition. The fact is, the very word translated angel (both in the Old and the New Testament scriptures) very literally means a messenger. In the New Testament this is the Greek word [aggelos] (άγγελος), meaning one who brings news or a message. Angels are in fact literally messengers of God. The point here is that there are many kinds of messengers. Yes, they can be spirit beings, but they also can be kings, false prophets, priests of ancient Israel or even you and I today. The old Christian saying that, "angels are messengers of God, but men are children of God," is not entirely accurate. For it is abundantly clear to any serious student of the Bible that [aggelos] or Messengers in scripture, are human beings. Here are a few obvious examples:

Luke 7:24

"And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?"

James 2:25

"Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?"

Those words translated messengers is [aggelos], the very same word rendered Angels by the translators in other passages of the Bible. So clearly this word is not a generic term relating only to celestial beings, but is "descriptive," expressing this service. Thus when we read the word angel in the Bible, we must look at it in this light and be aware of its meaning. Those passages I've submitted aren't speaking of celestial beings, but of human beings who were sent with a message. Indeed the [aggelos] of God are all of us who are sent with the Spirit, messengers of good news that God has given us to preach. As ambassadors of the kingdom of heaven upon earth, we are these messengers of God. In Old Testament times, it was the congregation of Israel who were the appointed messengers of God, and in New Testament times it is the congregation of the Church that are His messengers. According to the latitude with which that word [aggelos] is used within scripture, understanding how the saints shall judge angels should be properly rendered, "judge messengers."

So understanding this passage in a practical fashion, what does it actually mean that the saints will judge the world and angels? I believe that it illustrates that the testimony of the word of god we bring, is not only unto condemnation of the unsaved who reject it, but also of some of the very messengers of the Church. This judgment we have refers to our testimony of the word of God that comes from our mouths. As God's unadulterated word, it is the sword of the spirit and as the very fire of God. And the Angels/Messengers that it judges are the unfaithful messengers of the Church. For example, God gives us some enlightenment and insights into messengers being judged in passages like Revelation chapter 2. When we consider this wisely, we can see clearly that it speaks of men who rule in the Church, and not literally celestial beings of heaven.

Revelation 1:20

"The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches."

The stars represent the messengers of the kingdom of heaven, sent to be a light to shine in the Churches. That word translated Angels is again [aggelos], the very same word rendered Angels in other places by the translators. And here it refers to the pastors or ministers of seven Churches. In other words, they are the appointed "Messengers" of the Kingdom of Heaven, and they are those to whom these messages to the Churches are addressed to. For they are God's ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation? These are people who minister in the Churches. And indeed, scripture is replete with the idea that we shall judge the Messengers of the Churches who fall from their faithfulness. And we do it by the word of God, not on the last day standing over celestial beings, but by the testimony of Christ. Testimony which is as fire from our mouths unto them, and a two-edged sword that cuts both coming and going. Look carefully at what God tells this Angel/Messenger of the Church at Ephesus:

Revelation 2:4-5

"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent."

God says this Angel or literally Messenger, has fallen. And God warns him that if he doesn't remember his former estate, and repent of his decline, his Candlestick (his Church) would be removed out of its place. That very unambiguously is a promise of a judgment of God of the Church being removed if this fallen messenger does not repent and do the first works of his former estate. In other words, his estate before he was fallen. This is the judgment of Angels. And the saints give assent to this as they preach the law of God in truth. For the law condemns fallen messengers. What did Christ say about His word? Is it a judge?

John 12:48

"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."

Indeed, the word of God that the Messengers of God speak, is the judgment of these angels. When God warns this angel of the Church at Ephesus, clearly, the ecclesiastical powers of the Church have not only been warned about their unfaithfulness, but of its consequences to the Church as well. For the responsibility of those who rule in the Church is very great. They stand very prominently before the people as ministering spirits representing Christ. Thus they shall be judged more harshly. And except they repent, when these ministers fall, their Church will be removed from being a Church of God by the sword of the saints who preach against it. Just as the congregation was removed out of its place from the Old Testament Messengers that fell (Romans 11:22) from their first estate or heavenly position. Now note that these are God's words of judgment against the Angel of the Church of Ephesus that had fallen, not mine. Its not something I made up to justify angels being men, it is written. Here in plain language, God speaks of a fallen Angel (Messenger) of the Church at Ephesus, and of God's resultant judgment upon his Church, if that Messenger didn't repent. This messenger is the Pastor, the appointed messenger of the Church at Ephesus whom God warns, and indeed it is no small revelation to the Church. We won't delve deeply into the coming judgment of the Angels/Messengers of the Churches because that is detailed in other eschatological studies we've done, and it is not the object of this FAQ paper. But suffice to say, this judgment, and the subsequent removal of their Churches is not subject to private interpretations. If the Angel of the Church does not repent, his church shall be removed out of its place. That is clear.

The saints deal with these fallen messengers, and they recognize them as such because we try the spirits. They test the messengers of God by the word of the living God. And they do this by comparing their words with the words of scripture. i.e., by sound judgment of them. If they have fallen from the faith, then by the word of God illuminating this, it is revealed and the power of truth of God's word shall condemn them.

1st John 4:1

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

We try the spirits as the doctrines of these angels (messengers) are examined, and they are judged by us with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God we wield. Should these spirits in the Church preach a gospel that is all together contrary to what the scriptures themselves declare, these doctrines are repudiated and condemned, and the Messengers of them revealed by the sharp sword of the Spirit. Brethren, there are many counterfeit spirits, many false messengers of God gone forth. And they are people, not angels. Jesus told us in Matthew that God has prepared a place of punishment for Satan and his Angels/Messengers, and clearly the Messengers Christ had in view were wicked people in this life who have served Satan. He divides them into two groups of sheep and goats, and only one goes to the place prepared for the devil's Angels/Messengers.

Matthew 25:38-41

"When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:"

Christ is talking about dividing the sheep from the goats (the saved from the unsaved). And when He speaks of the unsaved people who didn't minister the gospel and do the work of the Lord in this life, as those to be sent into this place specifically prepared for Satan and his Messengers. These people are classified as the Messengers of Satan, because, like the Pharisees who believed they served God (John 8:39-44), they did the will of their father the Devil. In other words, though they thought they served God, they were Satan's messengers, not God's. Likewise, God speaks of those false prophets who "appear" as messengers of Christ, as Satan's ministers.

2nd Corinthians 11:12-15

"But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
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.

The Spirit Satan is the great deceiver and comes to man professing himself as the Messenger of God, and so it should be no great surprise that his ministers also come working as ministers of righteousness. But they are truly men who are led of Satan’s spirit, false apostles who work deceit. That's why Satan is called the Antichrist, and why there are many antichrists in the world. It is because he works as the spirit of disobedience in man, false apostles, workers who deceitfully appear as ministers of Christ. While truly they are opposed to Christ, or substitute antichrists. We shall judge these Messengers by being faithful witnesses to the word of God. Because the word preached faithfully "is God's Word," and thus it is with the power of God. We can see this principle illustrated very vividly in passages such as Revelation chapter 11. There, the symbolism of "The Two Witnesses" (which represents the faithful messengers of God), are given judgment of God. And this judgment is the power of the word of God from their mouths over those who would hurt them. In particular, these false messengers whom this chapter declares persecutes them in this holy city Jerusalem. The Two Witnesses represent the faithful Church among the unfaithful Church. Note, they are also called the "Two Candlesticks," interpreted in Revelation 1-2 as the Church. The number two signifies the witness of truth (Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 18:16; 2nd Corinthians 13:1). The Two witnesses represent the truthful or faithful witness in the Church.

Revelation 11:3-6

"And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

Fire proceedeth out of their mouth as judgment, and that is the fire of the witness of the word ( Jeremiah 5:14) from the faithful of the Church. Who gave the two witnesses this power of judgment over those who would hurt them? God gave this judgment, which is the power of the word of God from the mouths of the faithful is judgment to these Messengers of the Churches who have fallen from the faith and are out to hurt them. To the extent that whatsoever we bind on earth, shall have been bound in heaven (Matthew 18:18-20), then what we are witnessing to them is a message unto their condemnation, appointed of God. Where two witnesses are gathered together in Christ's name, there is He in the midst of them.

I have seen no evidence that our judging messengers should not be understood as any future final judgment at the last day of celestial beings, because those judgments belong to God alone. He alone will judge them RIGHTEOUSLY. And it will be from out of the things that are written in the book, not by Christian decisions or recommendations to Him. Judging the sins of angels or man at the last day, is God's business, not ours. Judging Angels/Messengers in this life is our business, and is appointed for the faithful Church. So our judging Angels is to be understood as the heavenly position God has given his people to be judges by His law, as Ambassadors or angels (Messengers) of the Kingdom that we have been translated to reign in and judge from. That judgment is already ours, and we use it by testifying to God's law. And shall use it to great authority in time of great tribulation.

Revelation 20:4

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."

We are seated on these thrones now, we reign now and we have this judgment of the kingdom now. If we hold to Biblical or an Ammillennial eschatology, this much is certain. This judgment that was given to the saints is in this millennial reign now, and it is how we judge Messengers in this present age. It is through the word of God, that we carry as the sword of the Spirit, or if you will, the spiritual sword. It is how we judge the world, and also in particular, it is how we shall judge the angels of the Churches in the fall or Great Apostasy.

John 12:30-32

"Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."

By this declaration, Christ is signifying that a certain judgment of the world has come unto man, and that by it, the whole world will be drawn unto him. Thus Satan is cast out on their behalf, and salvation will go unto the nations or gentiles that they are not deceived. He is illustrating the same thing we saw in Revelation chapter 20, of the saints being given a certain judgment. It is by this judgment given to them, that they shall cast out Satan from the people of the world. It is by the power of spirit, through the message they bring.

Mark 16:17

"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;"

Those who are baptized in the Spirit to believe have been given judgment that they shall cast out demons. No, not miraculously commanding evil supernatural spirits that they obey them, but by the ministry of the gospel they bring. By bringing the gospel of salvation, it casts out evil from sinners that they have new life in Christ. They do this by their ministry, as messengers of God. By the death of Christ they have received the power of judgment, and as ambassadors of the Kingdom of heaven, they live and reign on earth till He come.

The idea that Christians, who were redeemed by the blood of the lamb from their own terrible sins, will somehow be qualified to judge celestial angels of heaven, is antithetical to all God states in His word. We will only be there by the Grace of God, and the fact is, there is only one that judges at the great throne. There is only one who opens the books. There is only one who is worthy. There is only one who has power to judge sin, and that is God. It will be by "His word" alone, and never by His word, plus ours. And if it is not by His word, plus ours, then we are not judges of them.

John 12:48

"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."

It is God's word alone that shall judge Man, Angels and Satan, and He will do so from what is written in His book and by His righteousness, not by Christians assenting or consenting to judgments. The whole idea of man judging celestial Angels is twisted, because God's word alone judges. We testify/witness to God's word that judges. And in that sense only we shall judge Messengers, never in the sense of us deciding their fates based upon their sins.

The overview of 1st Corinthians 6:1-5 is that we (ministers of the Gospel) judge the world, and we shall judge messengers. And we shall do so by the law, in our preaching of the Gospel of the word. For He upholdeth all things by the word of his power. The sword of the Spirit, in our hands, shall condemn messengers and bring their habitation to ultimate ruin and desolation. 1st Corinthians 6:1-5 is bringing us to a realization that God has appointed the saints judges of the world, and of messengers of God. Thus we should understand how surely we should be able to resolve ordinary disagreements of this life that don't even involve heavenly things.

1st Corinthians 6:2-3

"Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?"

In other words, God is making a distinction between things that pertain to this life, and things that do not. Christian things of life everlasting, and the worldly things of this life. We will righteously judge messengers of life eternal, how much more can we make sound judgments about things that relate to this life? For if we cannot even handle an earthly matter, how will we judge the messengers of things that pertain to life eternal. Selah!

Friends, this is a spiritual warfare "on this earth" where Satan and his messengers fight against Christ and His. We are those messengers of heaven going forth in the power of the Spirit. And the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual. This mighty battle between good and evil is between the Spirit of God and the spirit of Satan, and it is a battle for the souls of mankind. It is not a battle that is literally fought among the stars of heaven by celestial angels, but a warfare that is fought in the kingdom of heaven, by its ammbassadors on earth.

1st Timothy 1:18-20

"This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme."

The judgment of messengers and our fighting in this spiritual war, is part and parcel of belonging to the kingdom of heaven. being part of one, automatically makes you at enmity with the other. Thus we must with good conscience hold to the faith once delivered unto the fathers, and as Messengers of God's word, uphold the ensign of His army upon earth. Whosoever it looses truly has been loosed of God, not us. And whosoever it judges, has truly been judged of God, not us. As faithful obedient soldiers we do what is our duty to do.

Ephesians 6:12-17

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

This is no "pretend" battle that is truly of no consequence, it is a real substantive spiritual warfare of the Kingdom of God. And to be sure, many Messengers shall fall by the sword, and many houses shall be brought to ruin, and many armies shall fall under the horses. And yet in all this, we are more than conquerors, overcomers in Christ Jesus.

Yes, you should know that we shall judge [aggelos] for they are Messengers who profess to be of the kingdom and of life everlasting. How much more are we qualified to judge things that pertain only to the life in this world? So, if we have judgments to be made of things pertaining to this life, such as disagreements, law suits, controversies, property, we should set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church, rather than go to law in the courts of the unsaved.

In this, God is not forbidding secular law or judgments, but rather He is reproving the Church for brother going to law against brother to the secular magistrates for trivial matters. For this not only casts a bad light upon the Church, it implies we cannot even handle the small matters. Are we unworthy to judge these least matters? Indeed, our judgments are superior than secular judgments, as we are appointed of God to judge Messengers (Church matters of rulings). How much more things that pertain to this life?

The Church at Corinth had its share of problems regarding the ecclessial members, and it is evident that there were some who worshipped idols and had fallen from the faith. Thus God makes sure we know that these messengers shall be judged by us. They aren't angels judged by us at Christ's coming, but false teachers and messengers of the devil who claim to be serving God, while their works betray them. 1st Corinthians 6:3 rhetorically asking, "Know ye not that we shall judge angels," has nothing whatsoever to do with believers sitting in judgment of heavenly beings who have fallen. It is not a declaration that god will include us in judging celestial beings or angels at the last day. Nor has it to saints being permitted to judge righteous elect Angels and determine what gifts or rewards they get. The Church judging Messengers is a task that we do by the sending forth of the infallible law of judgment. It is a judgment that is as sure and righteous as the infallible word of God. That is the only sword of judgment Christians wield against messengers.

Amen!

Peace,

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Created 10/16/08 / Last Modified 10/20/08
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