Originally Posted by
Parture
Since it is clear the angels take up the prayers of the saints then the crowns the archangels wear is because of their rulership and overcoming still for the battle is not yet won yet against the demonic realm. Not all angels, but just the 24 archangels wear the crowns because there is also the aspect of rulership over millions of angels. That's all a crown means here. And they overcometh because they kept their abode and did not fall with 1/3 of the angels. Part of the overcomers life is to simply keep what we are confidently assured of.
Let go of your petty self and that will help let the Scriptures breath life into their meaning. Stephanos is also used on Rev. 9.7 for the crown on evil spirits but obviously those are not crowns of overcoming and spiritually pleasing to God, but of rulership in the demonic realm. So I think you are making a mount out of nothing. Often our flesh tries to find some way to exalt itself. That's all you're trying to do. It's a game of one upmanship which is due to pride of trying to vaunt oneself.
I think the question to ask is why use stephanos instead of diadems for the 24 archangels? I think it is because you can only use one term, and to make the choice John went with stephanos because there is also the element of overcoming involved here. In other words, the battle has not yet been won. That seems to be reasonable. There is yet a great war in 2nd heaven that is to take place which Michael will fight for God and for Israel.
Whether Jesus is the "another angel" (Rev. 8.3) or not makes no difference. The aspect of being an "angel" is enough to know the angelic aspect is in taking up the prayers of the saints. It is enough to know it was not man who took up the prayers of the saints, but the hosts of heaven. Praise the Lord. Amen.
"And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand" (Rev. 8.4).
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