3. Man’s Superiority to Angels

World Scripture

Do you not know that we are to judge angels?
1 Corinthians 6.3

Behold, your Lord said to the angels, “I will create a vicegerent on earth.” They said, “Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? —while we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy name?” He said, “I know what you know not.” And He taught Adam the names of all things; then He placed them before the angels, and said, “Tell me the nature of these, if you are right.”
They said, “Glory to Thee! Of knowledge we have none, save what Thou hast taught us: in truth it is Thou who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom.”
He said, “O Adam, tell them their natures.” When he had told them, God said, “Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth, and I know what you reveal, and what you conceal.”
Qur’an 2.30-33

When Moses ascended on high, the ministering angels spoke before the Holy One, blessed be He, “Sovereign of the Universe! What business has one born of woman among us?” “He has come to receive the Torah,” He answered them. They replied, “That secret treasure, which You have hidden for nine hundred and seventy-four generations before the world was created, You desire to give to flesh and blood! ‘What is man, that Thou art mindful of him, And the son of man, that Thou visitest him?’ ‘O Lord our God, How excellent is Thy name in all the earth! Who hast set Thy glory [the Torah] upon the heavens!’” (Psalm 8.5, 2).
“Reply to them,” said the Holy One to Moses… Moses then spoke before Him, “Sovereign of the Universe! The Torah which You give me, what is written in it?” “I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the Land of Egypt” (Exodus 20.2). He said to the angels, “Did you go down to Egypt; were you enslaved to Pharaoh; why then should the Torah be yours? Again, what is written in it? ‘You shall have no other gods’ (Exodus 20.3); do you dwell among peoples that engage in idol worship? Again, what is written in it? ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy’ (Exodus 20.8); do you perform work, that you need to rest?… Again, what is written in it? ‘You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal’ (Exodus 20.13-15); is there any jealousy among you; is the evil Tempter among you?” Straightaway the angels conceded to the Holy One, blessed be He, for it is said, “O Lord our God, How excellent is Thy name in all the earth,” (Psalm 8.10) whereas “Who hast set Thy glory upon the heavens” is not written.²⁹
Talmud, Shabbat 88b-89a (Judaism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon

Angels are beings that serve God. Hence, should the sons and daughters of God appear, they should rule the angels. It is the dignity of human beings to rule the angels.
(84:98, February 22, 1976)

It was not only to prevent their fall that God gave immature human beings the commandment.³⁰ God also wanted them to enjoy dominion over the natural world—including the angels—by inheriting His creative nature. In order to inherit this creatorship, human beings should perfect themselves through their faith in the Word as their own portion of responsibility.
God gave the commandment not to the Archangel but only to the human beings. God wished to exalt the dignity of human beings as bestowed by the Principle of Creation, which entitled them to stand as God’s children and govern even the angels.
(Exposition of the Divine Principle, Fall 3.2)