THE VAST NUMBER OF THE ANGELS.
"An innumerable company of angels." Heb. xii. 22.
Of the number of the angels we can form no proper conception. That their numbers are very great, we have evidence through Divine revelations. We are told that when the Law was given from Mount Sinai, there was in attendance upon the great Author of all "thousands of angels." Daniel, speaking of their attendance upon the "Ancient of Days" says, "thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him." When the star appeared in the "east," and led the wise men to Bethlehem where lay the promised hope of a perishing world, there appeared a multitude of the heavenly hosts, singing with sweet melody the anthem of redemption, and praises to God in the highest. When Peter unsheathed his sword to smite the servant of the High Priest who came to arrest his Master, the Saviour restrained him and said: "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels." While St. Paul speaks of an "innumerable company of angels in the heavenly Jerusalem."