Angels

Angeles

An angel is a pure spirit created by God. The Old Testament theology included the belief in angels: the name applied to certain spiritual beings or intelligences of heavenly residence, employed by God as the ministers of His will.

HISTORY

Are Angels ambassadors sent from God to guide us, protect us or bring messages from heaven? The word angel comes from the Greek word "angelos" which means messenger. The Bible says that God has appointed many angels to those who love God and call to Him, "Psalms 91:11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways." The bible refers to different types of angels, with varying duties such as ugides, protectors, messengers and angels of the Lord, or as Cherubim, Seraphim, or Archangels, and not to be worshipped for they are "creatures" Col. 2:18; Rev. 19:10; 22:9.

The meanings of angels, their appearance and purposes vary throughout history and the world. Artists have given us their visions of angels as winged creatures, usually beautiful figures that are glowing, shining, floating, in human form or as a voice. Saints as well as everyday people tell about being visited by or helped by angels

In the bible, angels have appeared as messengers, guides, and healers. They also make up the celestial court. "And I beheld and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the number of them was thousands of thousands." - St. John, the Evangelist. Angels are even recorded in the Koran, "You shall see the angels circling around the throne, giving glory to their Lord".

The world's great literature and art tell us about many angel characters - some we're familiar with and some obscure to us now. Yet, the common thread that weaves amongst the legends and the lore is the undeniable influence that angels have had upon nearly every culture and religion known to man

Types of Angels

There are different types of angels depicted in the bible that have varying degrees of divine missions, different names and descriptions. First of all they are said to be with God

Angels are found throughout the Old Testament and also in the New Testament, though less often. Origen, one of the earliest biblical scholars living at the time of the first Century, recognized the notion of Guardian Angels. St. Jerome told us that each of us is given a Guardian Angel at birth, and St. Thomas concurred with this belief. The Old Testament was not explicit on a personal Guardian Angel but there was a belief that guardian angels put people under their protection

Angels of the Lord" "As he considered this, he fell asleep, and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded. He brought Mary home to be his wife." Matthew 1:20-24

Dionysius, a 5th or 6th century writer gives us the hierarchical order of the angels. The first group is the seraphim, cherubim and thrones. The word seraphim (singular is saraph) is taken from the fiery imagery often associated with the Presence of God-- Ezek. 1:27. Cherubim are represented as guardians with many wings. Thrones have been depicted wearing stoles and kneeling before God

Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew" . Isaiah 6:2

So He drove out the man; and placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life". Gen. 3:24

The 2nd group is composed of dominations, virtues and powers. Each group is associated with specific symbols. The dominations held scepters and wore crowns. The virtues are shown with flasks of perfume, trumpets, and rays of lightening. The powers are depicted wielding flaming swords

Archangels: The 3rd group includes the principalities, protectors of nations, the archangels, and the angels who protect humans. The word "archangel" is not found in the Old Testament

Raphael is the healing angel. Many nurses and physicians claim angels have guided them.

Gabriel, the angel of the enunciation,

Uriel is an angel of death who was also thought to be the angel of transformation, is believed to be standing by people on the verge of death

Michael the archangel appears as a warrior angel in 1 Thess. 4:16 and Jude 9. Michael is said to be the defender angel who does battle Daniel 10:13, 21; and 12:1. Also in Romans. 8:38, Eph. 1:21, and Col. 1:16. . The guardian angels are all aspects and forms of Michael, personal guardian angels, as well as those that help armies and protect nations. They say that earth has an angel.

There is another angel that appears if a person has died. There is said to be an angel called the Gatekeeper who comes to gently lead them inot

the spiritual realm

The meaning of angels throughout history and the world have different powers, are able to do special things for their followers or believers. Each angel was a distinct species. Medieval thought was that angels were a distinct being, endowed with intelligence and free will, which humans could never hope to attain

Angels have made us curious, fired our imagination and filled us with something hope, love and thankfulness. We hear about people who have seen angels, people who believe they have been visited by them; angels who have appeared as people who save them from disaster, or whisper to them what they should do. Whose lives angels have been changed. Angels who watchover us, who are with us from birth, who protect us, and guide us.

People's Perceptions of Angels

In the middle ages it was believed that the angelic mind had a greater power of understanding than any human could hope to attain. St. Thomas Aquinas, the great scholar and theologian, said angels could communicate with one another by opening their minds and