MANIFESTATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
By Milton C. Wilcox
"Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation." "But I [Gabriel] will shew thee that which is noted in the Scripture of truth; and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael [Christ] your prince." Dan. 9:21 and 10:21. "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John." Rev. 1:1. "Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." 1 Peter 1:11. "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter 1:21. By putting these scriptures and others of more remote bearing together, some have concluded that the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost was a particular angel, called by Daniel, Gabriel, and by John, "His [Christ's] angel." This angel is evidently the angel of revelation. See Luke 1:19, and Rev. 22:9. The first three passages at the head of this article do unmistakably declare that God gave revelations through this angel. But the last two passages just as clearly declare that God revealed his truth by his Holy Spirit. Is not this proof, says one, that the Holy Spirit is this angel? By no means. That this is not the case, the following will shew:— 1. The Spirit of God, or Holy Spirit, existed before angels existed. Angels were among the "thrones," "dominions," "principalities," and "powers"—the "all things"—created by the Son of God. Col. 1:18. "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath [spirit] of his mouth." Ps. 33:6. "By His Spirit he hath garnished the heavens." Job 26:13. This is also implied in Gen. 1:2, and Ps. 104:29. 2. God's power, separate from his personal presence, is manifested through his Spirit. This is evident from the above scriptures as regards creation. All the worlds and the hosts that inhabit them were created through the power of the Spirit of God. This of itself would be proof sufficient; for as all were created through the Spirit of God, and as angels are creatures, the power which brought them into existence must have a prior existence. And the angel which appeared to Daniel and John confesses his inferiority, placing himself as a creature on the level with John. See Rev. 19:10, and 22:9. And more, the Scriptures speak of the Holy Spirit as the power of God. In Luke 1:35 the Holy Ghost is called the "power of the Highest." Compare with Matt. 1:20. In Luke 4:14, it is said Jesus returned in "the power of the Spirit." In Acts 1:8, the disciples are told that they should receive "power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." The miracles and wonders wrought by Paul were by "the power of the Spirit of God." Rom. 15:19. 1 Cor. 6:14 reads: "God hath both raised up the Lord, and will raise up us by his own power." But the power by which God will raise up us is that of "his Spirit." Rom. 8:11. 3. The means by which the people of God are fitted to do his work are by gifts of his Spirit (1 Cor. 12:4, 7-11); the power by which they overcome sin is by his Spirit (Rom. 8:13); and the power which will recreate them or raise them from the dead is, as before shown, the same Spirit. The angels are God's servants the same as man. Rev. 22:9. Of nature much more powerful than man, especially in man's sinful state, they must yet depend on the power of God for any extraordinary strength; and the power of God is the Spirit of God. When God sends forth his servants, he bestows upon them his Spirit. And this is just as true of celestial servants as terrestrial. The angel of Rev. 18:1 was given power for his mission. So was Gabriel. He came to the prophets of God filled with the Spirit of God. He revealed to them truths, and yet not he, but the Spirit of God that spake through him. The Spirit was not dependent on the angel, but the angel on the Spirit. The Holy Ghost was not dependent on Isaiah, but Isaiah was dependent on the Holy Ghost. The Spirit of God dwells within his people independent of angels. God gives them all of his Spirit they are fitted to bear; he throws round about them sacred influences to draw them to him, and keep them from the angels of the devil, by sending holy angels to guard them and minister to them. So he sends his servants on this earth to minister and instruct his people. Angels and men have each their offices and gifts, but the power is all of God, through his Spirit. Much more might be said. We have by no means exhausted the subject or the evidence. But, it seems to us, we have conclusively shown that the Spirit of God, the power in creation, regeneration, sanctification, re-creation, revelation, and inspiration is not a creature. It is a power that all may possess, the humblest of earth as well as the highest in Heaven.