Topical Bible: Power of God: The Heavenly Host Magnified

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The concept of the "Power of God" is a central theme throughout the Bible, manifesting in various forms and through different agents. One of the most awe-inspiring manifestations of God's power is through the heavenly host, a term that refers to the multitude of angels and celestial beings that serve and glorify God. The heavenly host is often depicted as a mighty army, reflecting the grandeur and authority of the Almighty.

Biblical Descriptions of the Heavenly Host

The heavenly host is first introduced in the creation narrative, where God is described as the Creator of the heavens and the earth, including all their hosts. Genesis 2:1 states, "Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array." This "vast array" is understood to include the celestial beings who inhabit the spiritual realm.

In the Psalms, the heavenly host is frequently called upon to praise God, highlighting their role in magnifying His power and glory. Psalm 103:20-21 declares, "Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command. Bless the LORD, all His hosts, you servants who do His will." Here, the angels are depicted as powerful beings who execute God's commands, underscoring their role as instruments of His divine will.

The Heavenly Host as God's Army

The imagery of the heavenly host as an army is vividly portrayed in several biblical accounts. In 2 Kings 6:17 , the prophet Elisha prays for his servant's eyes to be opened, revealing the spiritual reality surrounding them: "And Elisha prayed, 'O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.' And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." This vision of the heavenly host as a formidable army serves as a powerful reminder of God's protection and sovereignty.

The book of Revelation also presents the heavenly host as a mighty force, particularly in the context of the end times. Revelation 19:14 describes the armies of heaven following Christ: "The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, follow Him on white horses." This depiction emphasizes the purity and righteousness of the heavenly host as they participate in the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom.

Angelic Messengers and Warriors

Throughout the Bible, angels, as members of the heavenly host, serve as messengers and warriors, executing God's plans and delivering His messages to humanity. In the New Testament, the angel Gabriel is sent to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus, demonstrating the role of the heavenly host in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan (Luke 1:26-38).

Moreover, angels are often depicted as warriors who engage in spiritual battles on behalf of God's people. In Daniel 10:13 , the angelic being describes a conflict with the "prince of the Persian kingdom," highlighting the spiritual warfare that occurs beyond human perception. This passage illustrates the power and authority of the heavenly host in the cosmic struggle between good and evil.

The Heavenly Host in Worship

The heavenly host is also portrayed as engaging in continuous worship of God, reflecting His majesty and holiness. In Isaiah 6:3 , the seraphim proclaim, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth." This scene of heavenly worship is echoed in Revelation 4:8 , where the four living creatures never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

The worship of the heavenly host serves as a model for earthly worship, inviting believers to join in the eternal praise of God. The power of God, as magnified by the heavenly host, inspires awe and reverence, calling humanity to recognize His supreme authority and to live in accordance with His divine will.

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Revelation 4:11
You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.
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Revelation 5:13
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be to him that sits on the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever.
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Revelation 11:17
Saying, We give you thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which are, and were, and are to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and have reigned.
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Library

The Angel's Message and Song
... tidings to the shepherds, a multitude of the heavenly host expressed their ... Glory
to God in the highest ... a work, by which His goodness, wisdom, and power would be ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon x the angels message.htm

Summary view of the Pre-Existence and Divinity of Our Saviour and ...
... also, the successor of Moses, calls him, as leader of the heavenly angels and ... the
favor of God, in his own person as the saving power of God, not otherwise ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter ii summary view of the.htm

A Statement of the Manner in which Luke's Procedure is Proved to ...
... unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the ... there was with
the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter v a statement of the.htm

Book xii. At Length, with the Holy Ghost Speeding Our Way...
... but spiritual, not with earthly learning but with heavenly wisdom; so ... wast ever without
Thy Wisdom, and Thy Power, and Thy Word, without God Only-begotten ...
/.../the life and writings of st hilary of poitiers/book xii at length with.htm

Full Redemption
... spirit of the tempest, the Prince of the power of the ... is restored already to the
people of God, for he ... together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/full redemption.htm

Paul's Departure and Crown;
... and delivered thee from the condemning power of sin and ... noble kingdom, the kingdom
of God, which is ... shouldst exercise thyself; not making heavenly things which ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/pauls departure and crown.htm

The Sinner Arraigned and Convicted.
... oppose and provoke a God of infinite power and terror ... sail of your soul to catch
that heavenly, that favorable ... series of their lives have served God with great ...
/.../chapter iv the sinner arraigned.htm

Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals.
... The promise is made, "And I will give power unto my two witnesses ... it an angel, and
with him "a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter xi covenanting enforced by.htm

A Song among the Lilies
... so does the love of Jesus move every power and passion ... the Old Testament who is recorded
as saying "My God"? ... Even after that heavenly vision it took him touch ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 20 1874/a song among the lilies.htm

The Prophet Joel.
... (iii.) 11-13, where the address is directed to the heavenly ministers of ... denoting
the seven phases of the world's power opposed to God"are decisive ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet joel.htm