The Lord of Hosts and a Cloud of Witnesses

1/31/24 

More than 260 times in the Bible, God calls Himself the Lord of Hosts, meaning ‘the Lord of Heavenly Armies.’  “The term in Hebrew is Jehovah Sabaoth. This idea of hosts positions God in a light that I don’t know if we often think of Him in, which is in a military light. God is the Leader of heaven’s armies.” biblestudytools.com.

The Lord of Hosts is also the Lord of the ‘great cloud of witnesses.’  Who is in the cloud of witnesses?  Regarding our race of faith: Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.  Hebrews 12:1.

I mention this because I believe these witnesses include angels.  There are different theories on who is in the cloud of witnesses. 

“We see in Hebrews chapter 11-12 that the cloud of witnesses refers to people who have gone to heaven before us.  God’s people. They actively witness our activities and are also seen as high, hovering among the clouds, possibly alluded to in ‘cloud of witnesses.’  The sense would be that because of the angels, that support and oversee Christians on their race, we should all the more put aside our sin and complete the race.” Who Are the 'Cloud of Witnesses' in the Bible? (crosswalk.com).

I have seen this cloud of witnesses briefly.  In a dream, I entered a large room with a gallery of people looking down on me to my right.  I was waiting for a friend in order to reconcile with her, however she never showed up.  What I did notice though was a large white robed angel sitting beside me.  I sensed it was female and she was plump in a brilliant white robe.  I didn’t look directly at her out of fear.  I looked up at the people watching from the upper gallery and I pointed (excitedly) to the angel sitting next to me.  I sensed she was there to bring peace…she was singing.

In any event, it is my opinion that the witnesses are the saints from the Old Testament; saints from the New Testament (including our loved ones) and angels, which I might add, some are called ‘Watchers’.  So too, Satan is part of this group who observe or watch mankind according to Job 1:7-8.

And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?”  So, Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”  Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

HOLY WATCHERS

Some angels are called ‘Watchers’.  Could these ‘watchers’ be a part of the great cloud of witnesses?  It is possible.  This decision is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the word of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.  Daniel 4:17.

“This holy watcher from heaven gave orders for the tree to be cut down, and the stump and the roots bound with iron…’This sentence,’ said the watcher, is by the decree of the angelic watchers, and the decision is a command of the holy ones.  So, there were other “watchers” besides the one talking to Nebuchadnezzar, and they were entrusted in some manner with pronouncing God’s judgment. They could be a particular class of angels with special duty related to communicating God’s decrees.” Jeremiah, David. Angels: Who They Are and How They Help--What the Bible Reveals.

“Scripture does affirm the concept of heavenly beings who watch the earth (Ezekiel 1:15–20) and are interested in the affairs of humans: This Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen (1 Peter 1:12).

Noncanonical literature elaborates in detail regarding the watcher angels. According to the books of Enoch, watcher angels can be either fallen angels or holy angels. These watcher angels take a particular interest in the earthly affairs of human beings, ‘watching’ them, and, at times, even interfering in or controlling situations that concern people.” Who are the watcher angels.