Let us make man

[Mike]

Originally Posted by ibigsam

I humbly object my brother. I believe a person makes a mistake taking our western understanding and language and applying it wholesale to an eastern book. The meaning of angel where Jacob refers to the "angel" that redeemed him is:

mal-awk'
From an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically of God, that is, an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher): - ambassador, angel, king, messenger.

So in one sense, God and all of us our angels, because we are kings, priests, ambassadors of God, and messengers, but not in the same sense as what we think of as angels. If you look at Isaiah it says:

Isa 6:2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

Seraphims there means:

saw-rawf'
From H8313; burning, that is, (figuratively) poisonous (serpent); specifically a saraph or symbolical creature (from their copper color): - fiery (serpent), seraph.

If you look later in this chapter you will find these creatures have six wings two to cover their head, two to cover their feet, and two to fly with. I haven't seen any men walking around with six wings yet. This angel doesn't even fit our normal view of angel, because our normal view of angel is a being with two wings to fly with.
Now let's look at Genesis 3:24

Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Cherubims means:

ker-oob'
Of uncertain derivation; a cherub or imaginary figure: - cherub, [plural] cherubims.

This language is even less clear as to what a cherub would be like but we do know that Satan was a cherub. And when the mercy seat was built with the cherubs and later on when Solomon built the temple they had wings on the cherubs. Ezekiel also speaks of cherubs. Now let's look in the New Testament.

1Co 4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

If angels and men are the same thing, then why would Paul say that we are made a spectacle unto angels and to men. If they are the same, he should just say we are made a spectacle unto angels. Again,

Mat 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Do you think Jesus was speaking of men here?

Mat 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Here he says that we will be as angels, in the sense that we won't be marrying and there won't be sex. It did not say that we would be angels, but we would be as angels. Angels always appear in the Bible as men, never is there a woman angel mentioned. God and the angels are masculine. The Bible speaks of God and the church as a husband and wife. It speaks of Jesus Christ as the Bride Groom. Though God is Spirit, he is still considered in the masculine sense.

Mar 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Again is this speaking of just men? Jesus will be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. What men have you seen that are holy?

1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Heb 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Heb 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

Heb 2:7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

2Pe 2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

2Ki 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Do you believe all these Scriptures are just speaking of regular old men? The Bible speaks of the angels as being are servants. But a child is put under governors until he comes of age. Surely not all these are referring to men. I do believe some of the Scriptures that speaks of angels are referring to humans in the sense that they are a messenger. But there is also a supernatural being that is a little higher than us, because Jesus was made a little lower than angels that He might suffer death. Angels are not men, and men are not angels. Now I wouldn't doubt God was talking to angels when he said let us make man, but that doesn't make us angels. He did consult with angels at times though. Example in Kings where God sends a lying spirit on the mouths of 400 prophets to lie so Ahab die.

Well yes Angels are not men. I never meant to imply they were. My point was that Angels and men have a similar image.