The are the
human messengers with spirit of Satan whom they serve. They serve to their own spirit of disobedience. Their spirits are their authority, power, and principalities (instead of Christ) where we all once were before we were born again. But some messengers who wore the armor of God before us, come to us and preached the Gospel, that helped us set free from the principalities and spiritual wickedness. This is the whole point why Paul wrote:
Colossians 2:14-15
- "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
- And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
Ahhh.. What do you think? Have you already forgot what the number
twelve spiritually signifies in Scripture? Let me give you a biblical lesson to understand what Christ is talking about in Matthew 26:52-53:
The number twelve is another prime example of spiritual significance. In other words, God uses this number to show us some spiritual truth in it's application. Would we be prudent Bible students in thinking that it has no meaning besides
a count, and it's mere coincidence the places which it is found? No, we would be negligent to think so. In my studies I have found that the
number twelve spiritually points to the Congregation of God.
A good example would be the twelve brothers, the twelve sons of Jacob who were the progenitors of the twelve tribes of Israel. This was the Old Testament congregation, or Children of God. The number twelve spiritually signified this! These twelve sons were not a coincidental number of births, they were God ordained! Likewise, the significance is passed on after the cross as the twelve apostles became the New Testament representative of the congregation or Children of God. The exact same spiritual number attached to God's congregation on both sides of the cross. We can see this brought forth Gloriously as in Revelation 21, the Bride of Christ, the New Jerusalem (Thee Church) comes down from Heaven.
Revelation 21:12
- "And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the Twelve Tribes of the Children of Israel:"
Revelation 21:14
- "And the wall of the City had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the Twelve Apostles of the lamb."
The twelve gates signify the entrance to the City. And note that the Old Testament congregation is represented as well as the New. The names of the twelve tribes of Israel at the gate, and the names of the twelve Apostles in the foundations. Why would anyone make the assumption that this number twelve is not spiritually significant, or that it's just some coincidence that there were twelve tribes, twelve Apostles, twelve gates, the City measuring twelve thousand furlongs, having twelve precious stones, etc. No, it is obviously not coincidence! And if it's not coincidence, then the number twelve has special meaning there. God "specifically" made sure there were twelve sons, and twelve Apostles, twelve gates, twelve fragments of food left over, etc.
That means He did it for a reason. And the reason is to show us some spiritual consistency in where He is using it. To say that the number twelve has no special significance, is to not fully understand that God's inspired Word, is not just words, they're numbers also!
When we look at the miracle that Jesus did for the damsel who was twelve years old in raising her from the dead, we see it was a signification that the Church would be raised from the dead. This is why it is meticulously pointed out that the woman was twelve. There is no other reason for God pointing out her age except this spiritual signification.
Mark 5:42
- "And straightway the damsel arose and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. and they were astonished with a great astonishment."
Likewise, the Church (The woman 12) would be raised from the dead by Christ. This miracle signified this arising from the dead, and the woman is 12 not by coincidence, but to indicate this. As the 12 stars of the woman in Revelation Chapter 12 are also pointing to the
Congregation of the Lord.
Things that might appear coincidental to the average or carnal reader are brought out spiritually by God to His people.
They are not understood by natural man, they are spiritually discerned.
Now, to you question above, here is another example is when the wicked men came to take Jesus away, and His Apostles were going to fight for Him, and Jesus told them to put away their swords, read carefully:
Matthew 26:53-54
- "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My father, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve Legions of Angels?
- But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?"
You see, He equates His army who would do battle with Him as
twelve legions. Coincidence? Not when you understand that the Church "IS" the Army of the Lord, which have on the whole armour of God and the Breastplate of righteousness, and carry the
Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. For example,
His father has presently given him twelve legions of Messengers, and
WE, as his messengers (angels)
do fight with Him. Not in a literal war with literal swords, but in a spiritual warfare with the Word of God as our sword!! And this is how it must be as it's all a matter of discerning the things which God has placed in His Holy Word!
And here is the extra, if you want to know more... how about the woman who had suffered many things of Physicians, and none could heal her. God meticulously points out that it was for twelve years..
Mark 5:25
- "And a certain Woman which had an issue of blood twelve years.."
This woman touched but the hem of Jesus garment, and was made whole. For example, what was unclean for 12 years was now clean. The garment of Christ is signifying the Righteousness of Christ. Just as scripture says we are clothed in the Righteousness of Christ! This Woman had been made righteous, by the virtue of Christ!
Mark 5:30
- "And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press and said, who touched My Clothes."
You see, this is signifying that we are made whole by Christ's virtue, by Christ's righteousness, and by Christ's garment. And the fact that this woman had this plague twelve years and "none" could heal her, signifies our predicament before we receive the virtue or the righteousness of Christ. But when we receive the virtue of Christ, we are made whole by his garment. For example, we are Clothed in the righteousness of Christ! So we understand the number twelve is used all throughout scripture in many different ways to signify the
Church! So Christ was talking about His church of "many" (legions) messengers that God gave to him to do His will.
Selah!