God's Marines

by Wayne Blank

There are numerous recorded incidents in The Bible when God's servants found themselves in serious trouble with the governing authorities, not because they did something bad, but because they refused to do something bad in a world that often doesn't know the difference between genuine right and wrong (for the reason why, see Who Still Rules The World Today?). Armed only with the Truth, many actually lost their lives, not because God failed to protect them, but because His protection was no longer needed (this withdrawl of security applied even to the Son of God - see Stand Back Now, Let It Happen); they had fulfilled their purpose and were ready for "harvest" and their future resurrection (see When Will You Be Judged?). For those whose given responsibilities were not yet finished however, and would not be completed if they were not helped, God, in effect, "sent in the Marines," His fearless and powerful angels, to rescue them from the enemies of God and the Truth.

Angels To The Rescue

The Coming Storm When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship an idol made by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (see Ancient Empires - Babylon), they were thrown alive into a super-heated furnace, but God sent in an angel after them to protect them from the raging flames:

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up." Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was wont to be heated. And he ordered certain mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace ... Nebuchadnezzar said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants, who trusted in Him, and set at nought the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God." (Daniel 3:16-20,28 RSV)

When the prophet Daniel (see also Prophets) was thrown to the lions for refusing to pray to a Babylonian idol, God sent an angel in to protect him from any harm:

"Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you! ... My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me, because I was found blameless before Him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong." (Daniel 6:16,22 RSV)"

When Herod (see The Herods) had Peter thrown into a heavily-guarded Roman prison (see Ancient Empires - Rome) for preaching the Truth, God sent an angel in to free him:

"So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison; and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your mantle around you and follow me." And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them of its own accord, and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel left him. And Peter came to himself, and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod" (Acts 12:5-11 RSV)

Fact Finder: Will a great force of angels accompany Jesus Christ at His Return?
2 Thessalonians 1:7
See also The Return Of Jesus Christ

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