Hierarchy of angels

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According to medieval Christian theologians, the Angels are organized into several orders, or Angelic Choirs.

The most influential of these classifications was that put forward by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite in the Fourth or Fifth century, in his book The Celestial Hierarchy. However, during the Middle Ages, many schemes were proposed, some drawing on and expanding on Pseudo-Dionysius, others suggesting completely different classifications (some authors limited the number of Choirs to seven).

In The Celestial Hierarchy, the author drew on passages from the New Testament, specifically Ephesians 6:12 and Colossians 1:16 (considered by modern scholars to be very tentative and ambiguous sources in relation to the construction of such a schema), to construct a schema of three Hierarchies, Spheres or Triads of angels, with each Hierarchy containing three Orders or Choirs. In descending order of power, these were:

Image:Francesco Botticini - The Assumption of the Virgin.jpg

First Hierarchy:
- Seraphim
- Cherubim
- Thrones or Ophanim
Second Hierarchy:
- Dominions or Kyriotetes
- Virtues or Dynameis
- Powers or Exousiai
Third Hierarchy:
- Principalities or Archai
- Archangels
- Angels

1 First Sphere
2 Second Sphere
3 Third Sphere
4 Hierarchies and Zodiacal signs
5 References
6 See also

[edit] First Sphere

The angels of the first sphere were thought to serve as heavenly counselors. They are likely of equal rank to each other.

[edit] Seraphim

Main article: Seraph

The Seraphim (singular "Seraph") are the highest order of angels, serving as the caretakers of God's throne and continuously singing his praises: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. All the earth is filled with His Glory." It is said that they surround the throne of God, singing the music of the spheres and regulating the movement of the heavens as it emanates from God. It is also said that such a bright light emanates from them that nothing, not even other divine beings, can look upon them. It is said that there are four of them surrounding God's throne, where they burn eternally from love and zeal for God.

Some theologians believe that Seraphim and Cherubim are in fact different designations of the same rank, due to the large number of similarities in the description of their appearance and services (eg. Is.6:2; Rev.4:8b).

Unlike other Seraphim who had six wings, Lucifer was featured to have twelve wings.^{[citation needed]}

The Seraphim are mentioned in Isaiah 6:1–7 [1]

Names of known Seraphim:

[edit] Cherubim

Main article: Cherub

The Cherubim (singular "Cherub") are beyond the throne of God; they are the guardians of light and of the stars. It is believed that, although they are removed from man's plane of reality, the divine light that they filter down from Heaven still touches the lives of living things.

They are sometimes described as having four wings (Ez.1:6) and sometimes with six (Rev.4:8), lending more evidence towards the argument of the Seraphim, Cherubim and Ophanim being different designations of the same "living creature". They are sometimes interpreted as having four faces such as the "living creatures" (ζῷα) described by Ezekiel (1:5), one of man, ox, lion, and eagle. Although in Rev.4:7-6 John describes 4 separate "living creatures" (ζῴον). "The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like an ox, the third creature had a face like a man’s, and the fourth creature looked like an eagle flying."

Cherubim are considered the elect beings for the purpose of protection. Cherubim guard Eden and the throne of God.

Their rank among angels is uncertain but they are always categorized in the First Sphere. Some believe them to be an order or class of angels; others hold them to be a class of heavenly beings higher than angels. Cherubim have perfect knowledge of God, surpassed only by the love of the Seraphim.^{[citation needed]}

The Cherubim are mentioned in Genesis 3:24 [2]; Ezekiel 10:17–20 [3]; and 1 Kings 6:23–28 [4].

Names of known Cherubim:

[edit] Thrones

The Thrones or Ophanim are traditionally identified with the "wheels" of Ezekiel 1 and Ezekiel 10 in the prophet Ezekiel's visions of the throne of God (Merkabah). They are described as having rims full of eyes, and arranged as "something like a wheel within a wheel." Since they are said to move in any direction without turning, this has sometimes been depicted in art as a pair of wheels intersecting at right angles.

Thrones are likely to be of the same rank as Cherubim and, like the Seraphim and Cherubim, might be the same creature. They must, in any event, be closely connected with the Cherubim: "When they moved, the others moved; when they stopped, the others stopped; and when they rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them; for the spirit of the living creatures [Cherubim] was in the wheels." (Ezekiel 10:21).

Names of known Ophanim:

[edit] Second Sphere

Angels of the Second Sphere work as heavenly governors.

[edit] Dominions

The Dominions, also known as the Hashmallim, hold the task of regulating the duties of lower angels. They receive their orders from the Seraphim, the Cherubim, or God Himself, and are responsible for ensuring that the cosmos remains in order. It is only with extreme rarity that the dominions make themselves physically known to mortals. Instead, they quietly concern themselves with the details of existence.^{[citation needed]}

Although the term dominions was used by Paul in Colossians 1:16 [5] and Ephesians 1:21 [6] he may have used it to refer to the dominions of nations and men, instead of referring to angels.

[edit] Virtues (Fortresses, Strongholds)

The Virtues, also called Fortresses or Strongholds, lie beyond the Thrones and are equal to the Principalities. Their task is to oversee groups of people. They are shaped like sparks of light that inspire living things to many things such as art or science.^{[citation needed]}

It is unclear from where the name of this order originated.

[edit] Powers

The Powers are angelic beings shaped like brightly colored, hazy fumes. They are the bearers of conscience and the keepers of history. The angels of birth and death are Powers. They are academically driven and are concerned with ideology, philosophy, theology, religion, and documents pertaining to those studies. Powers are the brain trusts: a group of experts who serve as advisers and policy planners. Their duty is to oversee the distribution of power among mankind, hence their name.^{[citation needed]}

Paul used the term powers in Colossians 1:16 [7] and Ephesians 1:21 [8] but he may have used it to refer to the powers of nations, societies or individuals, instead of referring to angels.

[edit] Rulers & Authorities

These two types of angels are equal in power and authority. Rulers develop ideologies whereas Authorities write the documents and doctrines.^{[citation needed]}

Both Powers and Rulers are involved in formulating ideologies. However, Powers are all-encompassing whereas Rulers are more focused on specific lines of thought.^{[citation needed]}

Authorities specialize in putting those ideas into print and in producing actual documents.^{[citation needed]}

Paul used the term rule and authority in Ephesians 1:21 [9], and rulers and authorities in Ephesians 3:10 [10]. He may have been referring to the rulers and authorities of men or societies, instead of referring to angels.

[edit] Third Sphere

Angels who function as heavenly messengers.

[edit] Principalities

The Principalities are angelic beings shaped like rays of light. They lie beyond the group of archangels. They are the guardian angels of nations and countries, and are concerned with the issues and events surrounding these, including politics, military matters, commerce and trade. One of their duties is to choose who amongst living things will rule.^{[citation needed]}

Paul used the term principalities in Colossians 1:16 [11] and Ephesians 1:21 [12] & 3:10 [13] but he may have used it to refer to the principalities of the world, a nation, a country or a society, instead of referring to angels.

[edit] Archangels

The Archangels are usually considered the second lowest order of the Third Sphere; these angels tend the larger arenas of living endeavor and act as the administrative leaders of the Heavenly beings. An archangel is usually given a task of great importance to men. According to Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite's Angelology, however, the Archangels lie just above the lowest of the angel orders, the common Angels.^{[citation needed]}

The word archangel is used only twice in the canonical Scripture (but several times in the Septuagint): once to refer to Michael the archangel [14] and the other to refer to a being believed to be Gabriel during the return of the Lord (Gabriel is preferred over Michael since he is the messenger angel). [15]

The belief that Satan was a seraph before his fall from heaven is a more modern development. This belief is based on the idea that (a) the seraph who fell was a King on earth^{[citation needed]}; and (b) the matchup in Revelation against the archangel Michael seems to show that he was an archangel [16]

Some insist that archangels aren't a separate order but that the traditional Catholic archangels (Michael, Raphael, Gabriel and sometimes Uriel) are either cherubim or seraphim in addition to being archangels. This could mean that instead of being a rank in itself, Archangel is a military-like title given to certain highly trusted, or highly capable angels. Sometimes, Lucifer is also considered to have been an archangel before his fall. As God's "second in command," he was likely not below the Seraphim/Cherubim, which gives support to the argument.

[edit] Angels

The Angels are the lowest order of the angels, and the most familiar to men. They are the ones most concerned with the affairs of living things. Within the category of angels, there are many different kinds, with different functions. The angels are sent as messengers to men.

An example of such an angel as portrayed in popular media was Michael Landon's character on the show "Highway to Heaven".

[edit] Hierarchies and Zodiacal signs

According to the Rosicrucians, each astrological sign in the zodiac represents one of the "Twelve Great Creative Hierarchies" that had, or have, a relation to mankind's evolutionary process. They are described as Hierarchies of Spiritual Beings evolving in our solar system, God's habitation. The division below is adapted from the contents presented in Max Heindel's The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception or Mystic Christianity [17]:

These two Orders of beings gave some assistance at the beginning of mankind's pilgrimage; they have already gone into liberation:
- Aries (Image:Aries.svg): Nameless
- Taurus (Image:Taurus.svg): Nameless

First Sphere, these Orders worked of their own free will to help man till the end of the involutionary period; they have also passed into liberation:
- Gemini (Image:Gemini.svg): Seraphim
- Cancer (Image:Cancer.svg): Cherubim
- Leo (Image:Leo.svg): Lords of Flame (Thrones?)

Second Sphere, these Orders are active in the present period and assisted the previous hierarchies, during the involutionary period, with the task of starting man' subtle bodies :
- Virgo (Image:Virgo.svg) : Lords of Wisdom (Dominions?)
- Libra (Image:Libra.svg): Lords of Individuality (Virtues?)
- Scorpio (Image:Scorpio.svg): Lords of Form (Powers?), this Order has special charge of evolution in the present period

Third Sphere, these Orders are active in the present period [18]:
- Sagittarius (Image:Sagittarius.svg): Lords of Mind (Principalities?), Order related to The Father (its highest Initiate, Who made His union with the first[higher] aspect of God: Will)
- Capricornus (Image:Capricorn.svg): Archangels, Order related to the Christ, The Son (its highest Initiate, Who made His union with the second aspect of God: Wisdom)
- Aquarius (Image:Aquarius.svg): Angels, Order related to Jehova, The Holy Spirit (its highest Initiate, Who made His union with the third aspect of God: Activity)

Note: The Hierarchy of Pisces (Image:Pisces.svg) is constituted, according to the Rosicrucians, by the Virgin Spirits: the current evolving mankind. As it is presented above, only seven Orders of Celestial Beings (Hierarchies), or Choirs, are currently active.

[edit] References

Copeland, Mark. Ministering Spirits: Angels In The Old Testament. Executable Outlines. 2004.
Copeland, Mark. Terms And Descriptions Of Angels. Executable Outlines. 2004.
Fares, Aymen. Angelics and the Angelic Realm. Spiritual.com.au Pty. Ltd. 2000.
Tatum, Johnny. The Hierarchy of Angels: Hierarchical Chart of Angels. Worldnet Grace Ministries.
Tatum, Johnny. The Hierarchy of Angels: Distinguishing the Higher Ranked. Worldnet Grace Ministries.
The Bible (Searchable online version)
Pseudo-Dionysus the Areopagite. The Celestial Hierarchy.

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