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| Rv 1:4 | 7 angels bring peace | God in heaven and 7 angels "before his throne" bring eternal peace.
Some Protestants say these "seven spirits" represent the Holy Ghost, due to his different gifts. But in reply, there is no example of such an expression in all the Bible. Nor does the Bible place the Holy Ghost before the throne. This is usually assigned to seven principal angels. For example: Rev 7:11: "all the Angels stood round the throne." And Zech 4:10: "these are the seven eyes of the Lord." And Tob 12:15: "one of the seven, who stand before the Lord."
We cannot doubt but that the "seven spirits before the throne" are His seven principal Angels. Catholic belief, based on the Bible, is that it is good and profitable to invoke the assistance of the Saints and Angels. |
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| Gn 19:20-21 | Angels hear prayers of Lot | Prayers are not the same thing as worship. They are simply requests. Some have likened them to conversations. These requests are sent to those who may help us. As the bible informs us, in the hierarchy of heaven, saints and angels help carry our requests to God. [For example, see: Rv 8:3-4] |
| Gn 32:26-29 | Jacob asks for blessing of angel | |
| Gn 48:15-16 | Jacob invokes angel of God | Jacob not only acknowledges the angel as delivering him from evil, but again invokes him (along with God, of course) to bless his sons. |
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| 2 Kg 5:25-27 | Elisha sees sin from afar | Elisha, a living saint, sees, as if he were present, what has passed between Giezi and Naaman. |
| 2 Kg 6:11-12 | Elisha sees Syrian plans | God's prophet, Elisha, knows what is said in the secret council of the king of Syria who thinks that he is betrayed by his confidential friends.
If Almighty God can reveal to his servants on earth the knowledge of what was deliberated and done in their absence why should he not be able to favor his elect in Heaven with a similar revelation? |
| Ex 23:20-21 | Angel as earthly guide | Unquestionable testimony of the knowledge the blessed have in Heaven and the interest they take in our earthly concerns. |
| Ps 33:8 | Angel as protector | |
| Ps 90:11-12 | Angels from God protect us | |
| Mt 18:10 | children's Angels before God | Jesus: "For I say to you that their Angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven." The protectors of children have precedence before God over others. |
| Lk 15:10 | Angels rejoice over penitent | Angels see our struggles and rejoice in our right choices. Surely if the blessed spirits feel joy and exultation at this, they must consequently be aware of what passes in this world and deeply interested in our concerns. Besides, remember nothing can be more difficult to ascertain than the true repentance of a sinner. |
| Lk 16:19-31 | Abraham knows Lazarus' sins | Abraham in heaven heard the rich man's prayer. The rich man had a perfect knowledge and recollection of what was then actually being done in this life. And though Abraham had departed life long before the Law was written he still knew this circumstance. And Abraham is also acquainted with the prophecies. |
| Rv 12:10 | Devil accuses man before God | Shall it be supposed that the devil has more power and knowledge of mankind's actions than the heavenly host? Christians readily admit that demons are permitted to go about the earth to seek souls whom they may devour, whom they can draw into sin and "accuse them before God day and night." Shall no equivalent power, nor competent prerogative be granted by Heaven to its choicest favorites, to those most excellent and most perfect beings, that God in his goodness ever created? So strange a position is not consistent with reason or religion or the attributes of the Deity or the true sense of Scripture or with any declaration to be found in sacred scripture. |
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| Gn 19:20-21 | Angels hear prayers of Lot | Angels not only hear our prayers, but can act on them (in accordance with God's wishes). |
| Tb 12:12 | Angel takes prayers to God | Tobias is told by angel that he has heard Tobias' prayers and offered them up to the Lord. |
| Zc 1:12 | Angel intercedes before God | |
| Rv 5:8 | Prayers of the saints | The saints in heaven offer up before the throne of the Divine Majesty the prayers of the saints.
For an extended discussion of this topic, please see: The Communion of Saints. |
| Rv 8:3-4 | Angel takes prayers to God | Prayers of saints offered to God (not to mention that this active intercession is done with the aid of incense). |
