Authority is a funny thing.
Recently, I received a text from my son-in-law clarifying the content of a previous discussion we’d had. Later I found out the text hadn’t been sent by my son-in-law at all, but instead was sent by my daughter, who had received permission to convey the message using my son-in-law’s cell phone. She had been given permission to communicate to me as though she were my son-in-law (in the first person), and had expertly done so—invested with “authority” by my son-in-law.
On a “macro,” or Omniscient level, divine investiture of authority is the process by which the Father allows the Son or the Holy Ghost to speak in his name, as if the Son or the Holy Ghost were the Father. (source: adapted from Google)
Elohim is the “ultimate” position of authority in His kingdom (excepting, of course, the hypothesis that the elements/matter are the ultimate Sovereign). See post HERE.
Throughout religious history God has sent authorized servants (aka messengers, or angels) to deliver messages, or provide other heavenly interventions. Why does God do this? Afterall, He is all powerful and clearly capable of moving about at speeds faster that the speed of light. It would appear His Plan provides for the “training” and/or association of other messengers in a “down-line” authority to accomplish His work. For what purpose?
Earthly prophets bind on earth and bind in heaven—they speak for and on behalf of the Lord Himself.
Certain angels (unembodied, disembodied and re-embodied) speak “as if” they were God Himself, by divine investiture of authority.
The most common example used throughout the scriptures, is the instance of John the Revelator’s interaction with an angel in the Book of Revelation.
Revelation 1:1-2
1 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:
2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
The angel speaks to John, in the first person, as if he was the resurrected Christ Himself:
Revelation 1:8
8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
(BD, p. 606 Alpha. First letter of the Greek alphabet, often used in conjunction with Omega, the last letter, and applied descriptive names of the all-encompassing nature of Christ, being the first and the last, the beginning and the end [Rev. 1:8,11; 21:6; 22:13; 3 Ne 9:18; D&C 19:1; 38:1; 45:7])
During the progression of the vision, John is overcome with the power of the testimony of the angel, and he falls to the feet of the angel:
Revelation 19:9-10
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
As the revelation closes, the angel, speaking in the first person, as the resurrected Christ Himself, says (note how John responds, again):
Revelation 22:7-9, 12-13
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Why is all this important?
It’s relevant because, for this discussion, authority is delegated “power.” Delegated “up,” or delegated “down,” power is in the possession of the ultimate Sovereign body. (The body of the People or the body of a Person; The Elements or a King.)
Divine power is ultimately derived from motive—Love and Honor.
* * * * *
Love and honor.
POWER. The capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events: “she had me under her power.”
Some common synonyms of power are authority, command, control, dominion, jurisdiction, and sway. While all these words mean “the right to govern or rule or determine,” power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence. (web)
Agency
