ARCHANGEL. The place that angels occupy in the outworking of dispensational truth, their presence in the epistle to

the Hebrews, the paucity of reference to angels in the epistles of the Mystery and their particular association with the

destiny of Israel, have been discussed under the headings ANGELS p. 69, HEBREWS2 and HOPE2. The present note is

in the form of a supplement and is concerned only with the term ARCH-angel.

`Arch' is the Anglicized form of the Greek arche, beginning, chief, first, and was once used independently as the

reference to Shakespeare will show:

`My worthy arch and patron comes tonight' (King Lear ii. 1).

There are but two references to `the archangel' in the Scriptures, namely:

1 Thess. 4:16.

`The voice of the archangel'.

Jude 9.

`Yet Michael the archangel'.

From Jude we learn that the archangel is `Michael' a Hebrew name meaning `who is like God?' and so keeping the

challenge of the ages to the forefront. Michael is spoken of in the two great Apocalyptic Prophecies, Daniel and

Dan. 10:13.

`But, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes'.

Dan. 10:21.

`And there is none ... but Michael your prince'.

Dan. 12:1.

`At that time shall Michael stand up'.

Rev. 12:7.

`Michael and his angels fought against the dragon'.

Michael is called `one of the chief princes', `Michael your prince', and `the great prince which standeth for the

children of thy (Daniel's) people' (Dan. 10:13,21; 12:1), and so the `Prince of the kingdom of Persia' and the

`Prince of Grecia' (Dan. 10:13,20) must be angelic powers too.

In Daniel, Revelation and Jude, Michael leads the attack upon Satan and his agents, which culminates at the

Second Coming of Christ (1 Thess. 4) and the deliverance of Israel (Dan. 12:1,2).

The fact that the apostle introduces the terms `the voice of the archangel and the trump of God' into the

Thessalonian hope, links the hope with Israel and severs it from the church of the Mystery. The hope of the Mystery

is entirely disassociated from the time of trouble and the deliverance of Israel, from the advent of the Man of Sin and

the accompaniments of flaming fire and the taking of vengeance, all of these are definitely linked with the hope of

the Thessalonians and the period prior to Acts 28.

For a fuller exposition of the hope, and its relation to the three spheres of blessing, see THREE SPHERES5 and

PAROUSIA3.

ARMOUR, see SATAN4, WARFARE10

ASCENSION. The Greek word anabaino is translated `ascend' ten times and `ascend up' eight times. It occurs

altogether 81 times and is translated arise, climb up, come, come up, come up again, enter, go up, grow up, rise up,

spring up and, with epi, go upon.

The eight occurrences translated `ascend up'

Luke 19:28.

`Ascending up to Jerusalem'.

John 3:13.

`No man hath ascended up to heaven'.

John 6:62.

`What and if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up'.

Eph. 4:8.

`When He ascended on high'.

Eph. 4:10.

`The same also that ascended up far above all

Rev. 8:4.

`The smoke ... ascended up before God'.