+JMJ
A Meditation on the Fall of the Rebel Angels
Most people forget that the first sin wasn’t the fall of Adam and Eve, but was actually the rebellion of the Angels. Their sin of pride, which had them cast from heaven forever, is a powerful reminder of how carefully we need to guard against it.
My Meditation
Created as the most noble creatures, angels were assigned the task of always loving, praising, and serving the Divine King of the Universe. They are mighty in power and grace, obedient to the Father, and created with complete virtue in paradise. They are spirits of wisdom and truth in union with the Lord.
The seed of rebellion is planted at the revelation of God the Son. How could a human be perfect? How could the power of God live on earth? How could the Almighty Lord lower Himself to such a state? The flesh of man being weak in every way. A tainted creation when placed next to the perfection of the angels. These are the thoughts that lead to the first sin of the rebel angels. In seeing their own created perfections, they could not fathom, in their pride, the idea of God made Man. How could the hand of the Son be involved in the creation of the pure angels. Surely, His human nature makes this impossible.
The Lord is born of a mere woman, the weakest of human kind. This was their greatest sin, a blindness to the perfection of the work of God. In only seeing their own perfections, placed themselves on a pedestal, which would be torn down by a humble handmaid of the Lord when she bore the Word made Flesh.
Putting themselves at the highest heights, they looked down upon the humble maiden and the meek Lamb of God with disdain. She complete with trust, while they looked on in scorn and disbelief. How could the Lord assign such a great task to a woman? Then the greatest task to a man, who would die for His beloved creation? Why not use the powerful angels to save the world?
The sin of pride is then solidified in them, when they questioned the will of God, and believed they knew the better path. They believed they knew more than God and place themselves above Him, who reigns above the whole Universe.
The revolt is a fierce battle. There is mighty roar in heaven. A raging storm with battering winds, powerful rolling thunder, and blinding rain meeting fire. At their convergence a thunderous clap and flash of light throw down the revolt of the rebel angels. Affirming their destruction and hate for God, man, and all His creation. The separation from God, the breaking of that loving bond, is a violent one. Rocking the power of heaven as they are cast from on high.
Thrown from paradise into perdition this battle is a sorrowful one for the Lord. An immense sorrow at the betrayal of His noble creatures. But His judgement, though sorrowful, is swift and just.
Guard against Pride
Lucifer scandalized 1/3rd of the angels in his fall from heaven. Dragging them with him to hell. Now, he works constantly to scandalize the beloved creation of the Lord. This crime committed in and instant, now merits an eternity of suffering eternal fire.
Their sin committed in the glories of heaven shows the power pride has over the heart, mind, and soul. To commit such a crime in the midst of perfect happiness, seems impossible. They were perfectly provided for, needing nothing, but desired power anyway. Even though they were provided with the power of God, in trust and generous care. They were so wound in the wisdom of God, able to see the workings of His grace and they still rejected Him. They were able to see and understand like no other creatures. Having so intimate a relationship and still reject Him. This is the powder of pride, and if such powerful and noble creatures could fall victim to this sin, how carefully we must be to guard against it.
Thrive in Jesus, my Friends
New to my blog? Start here!