I went to church this morning (I know, I know... but I am a minister), and there was a very beautiful 'Christmas banner' adorning the front of the church. It had three feminine angels blowing three elegant trumpets. Lovely.
Except...
... What has this to do with Christmas????
Out of sheer awkwardness I asked a few people, and they said (and I parapharase), "well... Angels... Christmas... innit?"
Well... yes, but not angels with trumpets!
When angels are happy they sing, when they are trouble, they blow trumpets.
The angels who appear to the shepherds washing their socks by night are singing:
Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"
Angels with trumpets come from, you guessed it - the book of Revelation!
Revelation 8:2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
Revelation 8:6-9 Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets made ready to blow them. The first angel blew his trumpet, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were hurled to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea became blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
And so on, and so on, and so on...
When I pointed this out, I was asked by those close to me to keep quiet, and stop spoiling Christmas.
Bah Humbug.
But watch out for those angels with trumpets...
You'll also never convince everyone that there could have been any number of wise men, there's no mention of a 'little donkey' and a newborn would surely cry.
ReplyDeleteI was quite tickled in our service this morning when a kid told us all that Mary had been "dusting" when the angel came to her!
My great, great nephew, aged 5, is in his first school nativity play and sings of '...baby Cheetahs...'
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