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Glory to God in the Highest


Merry Christmas! When Jesus came to this earth, He did not come alone. He was attended by a multitude of the heavenly host. How many this is we do not know. It was a lot. “And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying [not singing], ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased’” (Luke 2:13-14).

There was a similar event recorded in Revelation, also about the Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God.

“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’ The four living creatures said, ‘Amen,’ and the elders fell down and worshiped” (Revelation 5:11-14).

Here it speaks of angels in myriads of myriads and “thousands of thousands.” A myriad is 10,000. Here it is plural, more than one myriad of other myriads. If it were one myriad times one myriad, that would be 10,000 x 10,000 or 100 million. This was myriads of myriads, which is a minimum of 200 million plus thousands of thousands, millions more.

Jesus’ birth got praise to the Father and peace to men. His death got more praise in Heaven. That is the reason for the mass angelic praise at His birth and after His death and for His death. The heavenly host did not sing here. This Christmas, let’s just say in unison what they said in unison. At Easter we can say, in unison, what the hundreds of millions said in Heaven.

The following is the reason for the birth and death of Jesus:

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).


This post coordinates with today's reading in the To the Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan, please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.

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