Stella Dimoko Korkus.com: The Nine Choirs Of Angels - Part 2

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Tuesday, April 19, 2022

The Nine Choirs Of Angels - Part 2

 Do you know that each person has a guardian angel? God has assigned them to each of us.










This post is to explain more on the NINE TYPES OF ANGELS AND THEIR DUTIES

The word angel means messenger but the scripture clearly makes distinction that it refers to a spirt or heavenly messenger.

We shall look at the Angels or the spirit-messengers from the following points:


• the meaning of the term in the Bible
• the duties/offices of the angels,
• the names and the divisions of the angelic choirs


Angels in the Bible

The angels are represented throughout the Bible as a body of spiritual beings intermediate between God and men: "You have made him (man) a little less than the angels" (Psalm 8:6). They, equally with man, are created beings; "praise ye Him, all His angels: praise ye Him, all His hosts . . . for He spoke and they were made. He commanded and they were created" (Psalm 148:2-5; Colossians 1:16-17). The angels wwere created first and men were created after them. They are spirits; and have freewill according to the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews says: "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister to them who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14).



Offices of the Angels

It is as messengers that they most often known in the Bible. This is only the name of their ofgice and expresses neither their essential nature nor their essential function. Here are others.



1. Attendants at God's throne

The angels are attendants upon God's throne in that court of heaven of which Daniel has left us a vivid picture:


I behold till thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days sat: His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like clean wool: His throne like flames of fire: the wheels of it like a burning fire. A swift stream of fire issued forth from before Him: thousands of thousands ministered to Him, and ten thousand times a hundred thousand stood before Him: the judgment sat and the books were opened. (Daniel 7:9-10)


See also Psalm 96:7; Psalm 102:20; Isaiah 6, Job 1:6; 2:1, Matthew 18:10, Tobit 12:15; Revelation 8:2-5, Isaiah 63:9 etc.)


2. God's messengers to mankind


The angels of the Bible generally appear in the role of God's messengers to mankind. They are His instruments by whom He communicates His will to men, and in Jacob's vision they are depicted as ascending and descending the ladder which stretches from earth to heaven while the Eternal Father gazes upon the wanderer below. It was an angel who found Agar in the wilderness (Genesis 16); angels drew Lot out of Sodom; an angel announces to Gideon that he is to save his people; an angel foretells the birth of Samson (Judges 13), and the angel Gabriel instructs Daniel (Daniel 8:16), though he is not called an angel in either of these passages, but "the man Gabriel" (9:21). The same heavenly spirit announced the birth of St. John the Baptist and the Incarnation of the Redeemer, while tradition ascribes to him both the message to the shepherds (Luke 2:9), and the most glorious mission of all, that of strengthening the King of Angels in His Agony (Luke 22:43). 


The spiritual nature of the angels is manifested very clearly in the account which Zacharias gives of the revelations bestowed upon him by the ministry of an angel. The prophet depicts the angel as speaking "in him". He seems to imply that he was conscious of an interior voice which was not that of God but of His messenger.




3. Personal guardians


Throughout the Bible we find it repeatedly implied that each individual soul has its tutelary angel. Thus Abraham, when sending his steward to seek a wife for Isaac, says: "He will send His angel before thee" (Genesis 24:7). The words of the ninetieth Psalm which the devil quoted to our Lord (Matthew 4:6) are well known.



4. Divine agents governing the world


There are passages, relating to the angels who have charge of various districts, enable us to understand the practically unanimous view that it is the angels who put into execution God's law regarding the physical world. The Semitic belief in genii and in spirits which cause good or evil is well known, and traces of it are to be found in the Bible. Thus the pestilence which devastated Israel for David's sin in numbering the people is attributed to an angel whom David is said to have actually seen (2 Samuel 24:15-17), and more explicitly, I Par., xxi, 14-18). Even the wind rustling in the tree-tops was regarded as an angel (2 Samuel 5:23-24; 1 Chronicles 14:14, 15). This is more explicitly stated with regard to the pool of Probatica (John 5:1-4), though there is some doubt about the text; in that passage the disturbance of the water is said to be due to the periodic visits of an angel.




The names and the divisions

The angels are categories into classes known as Choirs and arranged in the order of hierarchy.


The names each hierarchy is assigned is more of the attribute they share or relate with God.


1. Seraphim


These are the highest order or choir of angels. They are the angels who are attendants or guardians before God's throne. They praise God, calling, "Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of Hosts". the only Bible reference is Isaiah 6:1-7. One of them touched Isaiah's lips with a live coal from the altar, cleansing him from sin. Seraphim have six wings, two cover their faces, two cover their feet, and two are for flying.


2. Cherubim


Cherubim rank after the seraphim and are the second highest in the nine hierarchies or choirs of angels. The Old Testament does not reveal any evidence that the Jews considered them as intercessors or helpers of God. They were closely linked in God's glory. They are manlike in appearance and double-winged and were guardians of God's glory. They symbolized then, God's power and mobility. In the New Testament, they are alluded to as celestial attendants in the Apocalypse (Rv 4-6). Catholic tradition describes them as angels who have an intimate knowledge of God and continually praise Him.



3. Thrones

Thrones are the Angels of pure Humility, Peace and Submisssion. They reside in the area of the cosmos where material form begins to take shape. The lower Choir of Angels need the Thrones to access God.


4. Dominations

Dominations or Dominions are Angels of Leadership. They regulate the duties of the angels, making known the commands of God.


5. Principalities

In the New Testament Principalities refers to one type of spiritual (metaphysical) being which are now quite hostile to God and human beings. (Rom 8:38; 1 Cor 15:24; Eph 1:21; 3:10; 6:12; Col 1:16; 2:10, 15) Along with the principalities are the powers (Rom 8:38; 1 Cor 15:24; Eph 1:21; 1 Pt 3:22; 2 Thes 1:7); and cosmological powers (1 Cor 15:24; Eph 1:21; 3:10; Col 2:15);Dominions (Eph 1:21; Col 1:16) and thrones (Col1:16). The clarity of the New Testament witness helps see that these beings were created through Christ and for Him (Col 1:16). Given their hostility to God and humans due to sin, Christ's ultimate rule over them (ibid) expresses the reign of the Lord over all in the cosmos. This is the Lordship of Christ, which reveals God's tremendous salvation in conquering sin and death at the cross, and now takes place in the Church. (Eph 3:10)



6. Powers

Powers are Warrior Angels against evil defending the cosmos and humans. They are known as potentates. They fight against evil spirits who attempt to wreak chaos through human beings. The chief is said to be either Samael or Camael, both angels of darkness.


7. Virtues

Virtues are known as the Spirits of Motion and control the elements. They are sometimes referred to as "the shining ones." They govern all nature. They have control over seasons, stars, moon; even the sun is subject to their command. They are also in charge of miracles and provide courage, grace, and valor.




8. Archangels

Archangels are generally taken to mean "chief or leading angel" ( Jude 9; 1 Thes 4:16), they are the most frequently mentioned throughout the Bible. They may be of this or other hierarchies as St. Michael Archangel, who is a princely Seraph. The Archangels have a unique role as God's messenger to the people at critical times in history and salvation (Tb 12:6, 15; Jn 5:4; Rv 12:7-9) as in The Annunciation and Apocalypse. A feast day celebrating the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael is celebrated throughout the Church Sep 29. A special part of the Byzantine Liturgy invokes the "Cherubic Hymn" which celebrates these archangels and the guardian angels particularly.


Of special significance is St. Michael as he has been invoked as patron and protector by the Church from the time of the Apostles. The Eastern Rite and many others place him over all the angels, as Prince of the Seraphim. He is described as the "chief of princes" and as the leader of the forces of heaven in their triumph over Satan and his followers. The angel Gabriel first appeared in the Old Testament in the prophesies of Daniel, he announced the prophecy of 70 weeks (Dn 9:21-27). He appeared to Zechariah to announce the birth of St. John the Baptist (Lk 1:11). It was also Gabriel which proclaimed the Annunciation of Mary to be the mother of our Lord and Saviour. (Lk 1:26) The angel Raphael first appeared in the book of Tobit (Tobias)Tb 3:25, 5:5-28, 6-12). He announces "I am the Angel Raphael, one of the seven who stand before the throne of God." (Tb 12:15)


9. Angels


These angels are closest to the material world and human begins. They deliver the prayers to God and God's answers and other messages to humans. Angels have the capacity to access any and all other Angels at any time. They are the most caring and social to assist those who ask for help.




Culled from:
newadvent.org
catholic.org

Sent in By BV Fidel

22 comments:

  1. Nice topic, came across this in my Sunday school in Catholic Church.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @Dozzy
      I also came across it in my Catholic cathechisms,
      Except that there is a problem. This is from the United States
      conference of Catholic bishops website;

      Ephesians 6
      Battle against Evil.
      10
      * Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.
      11
      Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.g
      12
      For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.h

      Delete
    2. Yea, how can we be fighting against principalities and they term them angels of God? NO Principalities are the evil angels of darkness.

      Delete
    3. According to my Padre, there are good and bad principalities. The good ones are like the military who defend the land from bloodshed while the bad ones plunder and pillage like the terrorists.

      Therefore, we always pray that the bad principalities never have the upper hand through our Lord Jesus Christ who reigns with God now and forevermore, Amen.🙏🏿

      Delete
  2. thanks Stella. This is a better approach; citing Scriptures to buttress the points about the angels.
    However, there is a mix up when discussing;
    Principalities/powers/ruler -These are fallen angels and Christians are actually at war with them; Ephesians 6:12 as quoted above. We shouldn't mix fallen angels (devils) with the angels of God.
    Thrones and dominions have no scriptural references and no basis in this discussion.
    Thanks for the information.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The angel talked "with" Zechariah 2:3, not "in"

    ReplyDelete
  4. There is a mixture between the angels of Grace (God's angels) and angels in disgrace (devils) in this discourse. Otherwise, the cherubs, seraphim and messenger angels citations are lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Quoting The Catholic Bible;
    Ephesians 6
    Battle against Evil.
    10
    * Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.
    11
    Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.g
    12
    For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.h

    So how can the "evil forces" be angels of God?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are good forces doing the will of God. Reread the post again...

      Delete
  6. If you've found your own guardian angel please let me know.
    I'm sure I have one or at least something protecting me because the things God has protected me from ehn...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And what do you need your guardian angels for?
      Find Jesus; angels are just his servants to protect those who have
      been saved by him; those who will inherit salvation. (Hebrews 1:14) Do you have Jesus in your life?

      Delete
  7. Nice write up. There are good and bad angels of each divisions... just as we have good Seraphs there are bad ones.... Dominations, Thrones, Powers, Virtues & Principalities have the good and bad ones.... see scriptural references in the write up.
    Satan was a Seraph and when he was driven out of heaven took with others on his side. Read the post again...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Then why do we pray against principalities and powers?
    God is awesome gaskiya!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hmmm, Deep and insightful read.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Fidel thanks for the writeup. I learnt this from a radio program. I also learnt that angels are not beautiful as media and art portrayed them as they have a fearsome and scary look and that is why when they appear in the bible, the first word they say "Don't fear or don't be afraid"..

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you for sharing 🙏🏾

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks for this deep, spiritual and insightful write up. Truly appreciated.

    ReplyDelete

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