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Is Christ the Angel of God’s Presence? “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the Angel of his Presence saved them" (Isaiah 63:9 ASV) “Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him” (Exodus 23:20-21 KJV)"He was oppressed and he let himself be afflicted, But he would not open his mouth. He was brought like a sheep to the slaughter, Like a ewe that is silent before its shearers, And he would not open his mouth." (Isaiah 53:7)"And he was given a burial place with the wicked, And with the rich in his death, Although he had done no wrong And there was no deception in his mouth." (Isaiah 53:9)To deny the Angel of God’s Presence you would have to reject Jesus Christ as the Word of God. “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the Angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bore them and carried them all the days of old.” (Isaiah 63:9 ASV) You would have to reject that Jesus Christ was afflicted with our sins. You would have to reject that Jesus Christ is our Salvation. You would have to reject that Jesus Christ loved us or felt pity for us. You would have to reject that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer. You would have to reject that Jesus Christ died for our sins once and for all time. Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying: “This is my Son, the one who has been chosen. Listen to him.” (Luke 9:35) Accepting Jesus as the Christ can add a profound meaning for your Life. Jesus warned the wicked Religious Leaders of his day, “For I say to you, you will by no means see me from now until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in Jehovah’s name!’” (Matthew 23:39)To this very day, opposers of Jesus Christ continue to reject the Messenger in (Exodus 23:20-21 KJV) received the name Jesus which actually means ‘Jehovah is Salvation’.Such ones are abandoned, because they have rejected the Angel of God's Presence that was sent in God's Name and therefore, have grieved his Holy Spirit. "But they Rebelled, and grieved his Holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, [and] himself fought against them." (Isaiah 63:10)NOTE * Those who have grieved his Holy Spirit are abandoned in the sense of dying the second death of everlasting destruction in the same manner as Adam and Eve, they are returning to dust. It is considered the unforgivable sin. Amen.

*** it-2 p. 385 Messenger *** “Messenger of the Covenant.” In fulfillment of Malachi 3:1, John the Baptizer appeared as the messenger who prepared the way before Jehovah by getting the Jews ready for the coming of God’s chief representative, Jesus Christ.—Mt 11:10, 11; Mr 1:1-4; Lu 7:27, 28. As the foretold “messenger of the covenant,” Jesus Christ came to the temple and cleansed it. (Mt 21:12, 13; Mr 11:15-17; Lu 19:45, 46) He evidently was the messenger of the Abrahamic covenant, for it was on the basis of this covenant that the Jews were the first ones to be granted the opportunity to become Kingdom heirs. This was the covenant to which Peter appealed when calling upon the Jews to repent. It is also noteworthy that John the Baptizer’s father, Zechariah, referred to the Abrahamic covenant in connection with Jehovah’s raising up ‘a horn of salvation in the house of David,’ this horn being the Messiah.—Compare Mt 10:5-7; 15:24; 21:31; Lu 1:69- 75; Ac 3:12, 19-26. ----------------------------- I also remember the antitypical "messenger" Charles Taze Russell who opened up the way by preparing the slave class for the work ahead. I will need to look up some older references. I think I remember something about Elijah and Elisha as well but memory is failing me at the moment. @JW Insider