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Objection 1: It would seem that the orders of angels will not
outlast the Day of Judgment. For the Apostle says (1 Cor.
15:24), that Christ will "bring to naught all principality and
power, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God and the
Father," and this will be in the final consummation. Therefore for
the same reason all others will be abolished in that state.
Objection 2: Further, to the office of the angelic orders it
belongs to cleanse, enlighten, and perfect. But after the Day of
Judgment one angel will not cleanse, enlighten, or perfect another,
because they will not advance any more in knowledge. Therefore the
angelic orders would remain for no purpose.
Objection 3: Further, the Apostle says of the angels (Heb.
1:14), that "they are all ministering spirits, sent to minister
to them who shall receive the inheritance of salvation"; whence it
appears that the angelic offices are ordered for the purpose of leading
men to salvation. But all the elect are in pursuit of salvation until
the Day of Judgment. Therefore the angelic offices and orders will
not outlast the Day of Judgment.
On the contrary, It is written (Judges 5:20): "Stars
remaining in their order and courses," which is applied to the
angels. Therefore the angels will ever remain in their orders.
I answer that, In the angelic orders we may consider two things; the
distinction of grades, and the execution of their offices. The
distinction of grades among the angels takes place according to the
difference of grace and nature, as above explained (Article 4);
and these differences will ever remain in the angels; for these
differences of natures cannot be taken from them unless they themselves
be corrupted. The difference of glory will also ever remain in them
according to the difference of preceding merit. As to the execution of
the angelic offices, it will to a certain degree remain after the Day
of Judgment, and to a certain degree will cease. It will cease
accordingly as their offices are directed towards leading others to
their end; but it will remain, accordingly as it agrees with the
attainment of the end. Thus also the various ranks of soldiers have
different duties to perform in battle and in triumph.
Reply to Objection 1: The principalities and powers will come to an
end in that final consummation as regards their office of leading others
to their end; because when the end is attained, it is no longer
necessary to tend towards the end. This is clear from the words of the
Apostle, "When He shall have delivered up the kingdom of God and
the Father," i.e. when He shall have led the faithful to the
enjoyment of God Himself.
Reply to Objection 2: The actions of angels over the other angels
are to be considered according to a likeness to our own intellectual
actions. In ourselves we find many intellectual actions which are
ordered according to the order of cause and effect; as when we
gradually arrive at one conclusion by many middle terms. Now it is
manifest that the knowledge of a conclusion depends on all the preceding
middle terms not only in the new acquisition of knowledge, but also as
regards the keeping of the knowledge acquired. A proof of this is that
when anyone forgets any of the preceding middle terms he can have
opinion or belief about the conclusion, but not knowledge; as he is
ignorant of the order of the causes. So, since the inferior angels
know the types of the Divine works by the light of the superior
angels, their knowledge depends on the light of the superior angels not
only as regards the acquisition of knowledge, but also as regards the
preserving of the knowledge possessed. So, although after the
Judgment the inferior angels will not progress in the knowledge of some
things, still this will not prevent their being enlightened by the
superior angels.
Reply to Objection 3: Although after the Day of Judgment men will
not be led any more to salvation by the ministry of the angels, still
those who are already saved will be enlightened through the angelic
ministry.
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