When was the last time you thought about angels? Likely, Christmas and Easter are about the only two times we think about angels and how God used them. It seems at other times, we as Christians fail to recognize the spiritual realm in which we are to operate. After all, the spiritual realm is probably the more real dimension than is even our current reality and the place where we will spend most of our eternal existence. After all, we were created eternal beings. We will go from mortality to immortality once our life here is over. Our existence in our present reality is such a short period of time compared to eternity.
So, we should ask the question: Should, or can, Christians partner with angels? And is that even possible? Before we go there, though, let’s first consider the question: what do we know about angels? If you ask most people, you’ll likely get an answer that is not biblically based. Why? Because art and Hollywood have distorted our view of angels. What are some of the things we learn from such media?
There is a famous painting titled Sistine Madonna painted in 1512 by the Italian painter Raphael. While a beautiful painting, it gives us some errant information about angels. If you look at the bottom of the painting, you’ll see two infant cherubs. This part of the painting has even become more popular than the overall painting itself. You’ll see these cherubs on valentine cards and in many different types of decorations. Maybe you’re like me and didn’t even know they were part of another painting. They are drawn to look innocent, cute, and engender a sense of happiness and frivolity—and, sometimes, with just a hint of mischief. Also, when someone very young dies, you’ll often hear people say something like, God needed another angel in heaven, or something to that effect. Yet, the Bible’s view of a cherub is far different from this. Also, humans never become angels when they die, no matter how young they were.
Another famous painting is titled Song of the Angels, painted in 1881 by William-Adolphe Bouguereau. Again, it is quite beautiful and engenders a sense of happiness and tranquility as the angels in the painting are playing music for the infant Jesus to enjoy. Yet is this true? It, too, provides errant teaching. This painting portrays angels to be quiet, demure, and feminine. This is not how the Bible portrays angels at all. Everyone in the Bible who encountered an angel was usually at first terrified and fell to the ground in deference.
Also, Hollywood has had a huge influence on our understanding of angels. Remember Clarence Oddbody in It’s a Wonderful Life? He was George Bailey’s guardian angel and had come to earn his wings by helping George realize just how valuable to others he really was. It’s a great story. Just not true to Biblical teaching. Angels do not undergo self-improvement techniques to earn their wings and they do not go from one phase of being an angel to another.
Remember Touched by an Angel? Monica and her boss Tess had a caseload of humans to go through to try to better their lives and give them a helping hand. While the stories were wonderful and engendered a message of hope to its audience, the teaching was, again, errant in its overarching message. Angels are not put on assignment to better themselves or to be able to get to a desired designated rank.
So, this begs the question: What are angels? The designation “angel” simply means “messenger.” They are spirit beings who operate in this world without usually being seen by humans and were created by God. Some look human, some do not; some have wings, some do not. They operate under the direction of God; yet some are under the direction of Satan. There are hundreds of thousands of angels who operate in a hierarchy.
What kind of hierarchy, you ask? Let’s explore that question. Some have divided the angels into three orders and nine classifications:
Highest Order: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones
Second Order: Dominions, Archangels, Powers
Third Order: Virtues, Principalities, Angels
These names do come from Scripture, but someone had to use their own reasoning to put them in this particular order. Yet, as we’ll see, this order does make some sense. The prophet Isaiah had an encounter where he saw one order of angels, called seraphim: “Above him [the LORD] were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying” (Is 6:2). These are considered the highest order because they are around the throne itself. Their name means burning or fiery one—likely meaning they are of copper color.
The prophet Ezekiel experienced a different order of angels, called cherubim: “I looked, and I saw the likeness of a throne of sapphire above the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim” (Ek 10:1). The cherubim are considered the second rank because they are just below God’s throne.
The apostle Paul, in Ephesians, mentions several of the orders of angels: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers [principalities], against the authorities [virtues], against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ep 6:12). This verse is talking about Satan’s kingdom, yet, if the order of angels is true, it seems he gained some of the second and third order of angels into his domain. This shows that God is a God of order and Satan has exploited his work.
Paul mentions some of these same orders of angels in Colossians: “For by him [Christ] all things were created whether thrones or powers [dominions- this is a different Greek word than what was translated as powers in the Ephesians passage] or rulers [principalities] or authorities [virtues]; all things were created by him and for him” (Cl 1:16).
And we see the order of archangel in the book of Jude: “But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’” (Ju 9).
And of course, the generalized term “angel” is mentioned throughout the Bible.
This hierarchy of angels was codified by a man who originally claimed to be Dionysius (one of the converts by the apostle Paul in Athens) who was a member of the Athenian Areopagus. His exact identity is not known, so historians have termed him as Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite. The Areopagus was something like a Greek thinktank for people to come, discuss, and debate all sorts of ideas and beliefs. Paul used their process and curiosity to his advantage in his first visit to Athens to talk to the Athenians about their statue made to what they termed, “the Unknown God.” The Athenians believed in a pantheon of gods and did not want to snub a god whom they did not know. Paul used this as a means to discuss with them the God of the Universe. The Areopagus was also denoted as Mars Hill by many.
It is believed by some that this hierarchy of angels was a teaching of early Christians; some say by Gnostics. We do know that Gnostics had a habit of calling their works by a renowned biblical or Christian figure. While Scripture does allude to an angelic hierarchy, it is not specific in the exact hierarchy or the role of each of these divisions.
Let’s take a closer look at this hierarchy of angels and see what this Pseudo-Dionysius said about them.
Highest Order: Heavenly Angels
Seraphim (Is 6:1-17) – minister around God’s throne and have six wings.
Cherubim (Ek 10) – had four faces and wings; located under God’s throne in the stones of fire.
Thrones (Cl 1:16) – while not stated, perhaps these are the Living Creatures that are before God’s throne (Rv 4:6-8); each had six wings with eyes, and each had the face like of one of the heads of the Cherubim.
Second Order: Warrior Angels
Dominions (Cl 1:16) – deliver God’s justice in unjust situations.
Archangels (1Th 4:16; Ju 9) – likely leaders of warrior angels as one, Michael, helped a messenger angel get a message to the prophet Daniel by fighting a powerful demon; the Bible only names one archangel: Michael (Ju 9).
Powers (Cl 1:16) – warrior angels under the direction of Archangels.
Third Order: Messenger Angels (but not devoid of fighting)
Virtues (Ep 1:21 DRV) – “Unyielding courage”; strengthen mankind’s faith in God. [Note: Douay-Rheims is the only version that lists “authorities” as “virtues.” This translation is made from the Latin Vulgate version of Scripture and was the first English version of the Bible accepted by the Catholic Church.]
Principalities (Ep 1:21) – watch nations and ensure the fulfillment of God’s will.
Angels – minister to mankind.
There is another angel mentioned in Scripture who is different from the other angels we just mentioned and discussed. This is The Angel of the Lord. While he is called an angel, he is a special and unique angel. This angel would be called The Messenger of Jehovah, since “angel” means “messenger” and “LORD” means “Jehovah” [or Yahweh]. The definite article is always used in reference to this angel’s designation, meaning this entity is likely none other than the preincarnate person of Jesus Christ. This being the case, we see Christ was very active in the Old Testament as well. He appeared to various individuals: Hagar (Gn 17:7) when running from Sarah; Abraham (Gn 22:11) to let him know his son, Isaac, would be born to Sarah; Moses (Ex 3:2) at the burning bush; Balaam (Nu 22:22) to block the way of his donkey in order to get his attention so he would bless and not curse Israel as the king of Moab wanted him to do; Israel as a nation (Jd 2:1) to state not to make a covenant with Canaanites; Gideon (Jd 6:11) to tell him to deliver Israel from the Midianites; Manoah (Jd 13:15) as well as his wife (Jd 13:3) to tell them they would have a son, Samson; David (2Sa 24:15) to deliver judgment of a plague because he did a census of the Israelites against God’s will; Gad (1Ch 21:18) for him to tell king David to build an altar at the threshing floor of Araunah to stop the plague sent among the people; Elijah (1Ki 19:7) when he fled from Jezebel after killing her prophets of Baal; and Zechariah (Zc 1:11) to tell him to continue building the temple and to encourage Zerubbabel to do the same. He also executed judgment: on Israel (1Ch 21:12) because king David took an unsanctioned census, and on the Assyrians (2Ki 19:35) when they came against King Hezekiah in Jerusalem. He also camps around those who fear the LORD (Ps 34:7).
Now that we know about the classifications and potential hierarchy of these beings, our next question is, why should be care about these angelic beings? Join me next time, and we’ll discuss that very subject. Until then, may God bless.
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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens