Angels

The Bible also recognizes a number of groups of angels with different functions and attributes called the hierarchy. Different faiths recognize the different groups. The groups include seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominions, virtues, powers, the principalities, archangels, and angels (Stevenson 20). All together, the groups are known as the choir because they are said to praise God through song and music (Stevenson 21). While the Bible does not recognize the functions of each of the groups, each group has its own unique character and purpose.

They are luminous and charming and can have a varying number of wings (Ghazālī, 2000). It is believed that angels were created before man and have a connection with the forces that created man, as God told the angels of His intentions to create man as stated in a few places in the Qur’an such as in al-Baqarah 2:30 (Ali, 1950). Angels were not, however, given free will as man and jinn were, thus making man superior to angels (Ali, 1950). Angels are completely obedient to God and cannot disobey in any way (Gulevich, 2004). Despite this, angel and man are closely connected.

INTRODUCTION The Bible contains many stories of people having an encounter with angels. An encounter alludes to an unexpected meeting. The word “angel” is a transliteration from the Hebrew word “mal’ak” in the Old Testament (Strong’s H4397) and the Greek word “angelos” in the New Testament (Strong’s G32). Both words mean “messenger” and describes one who executes the plan and will of the person whom they serve. God created an innumerable quantity of angels.

The belief in angels has been around for a very long time. The gods of the Hittites and Canaanites had their supernatural messengers, and parallels to Old Testament stories of angels are found in Near Eastern literature (Cavendish). Angels are found in many religions throughout many holy books. These religions include Christian, Jewish, Roman Catholic and Islamic. They are known to carry out jobs for God and are mentioned in both the Old Testament and New Testament.

Many things may come to mind when you think of the word, angel. You probably think of winged beings who sit on clouds all day singing and playing lyres. If you had thought that, you are wrong, very wrong. Angels are warriors of God, abiding by His Laws and His Laws only. They are protectors of earth and its inhabitants and sometimes, the destroyers.

Concluding that angels and demons were created by God, acting as ministers sent by a loving and divine God to oversee and participate in world events and to reveal our eternal salvation through Jesus Christ. THE ORIGIN AND ROLE OF ANGELS AND DEMONS So that we know what we are talking about let’s begin with a definition. Angels are typically knows as benevolent celestial beings created by God that act as an intermediaries between heaven and earth, and figure prominently in Christianity. The creation of the most influential Christian angelic hierarchy is attributed to Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, also known as Pseudo-Denys, who was a Christian theologian and philosopher of the late 5th to early 6th century. In his book De Coelesti Hierarchia Pseudo-Dionysius (The Celestial Hierarchy) he drew on passages from the New Testament, specifically Ephesians 1:21 and Colossians 1:16, in an attempt to develop a schema of three Hierarchies, Spheres or Triads of angels, with each Hierarchy containing three Orders or Choirs which resulted in First sphere consisting of: 1.

ANGELS God’s holy angels carry out a variety of tasks and deeds, as well as the angels of Satan. They carry out what the will of heaven is on earth when god Himself wants. Sometimes they appear as normal humans and sometimes with all the radiance of heaven shining upon them, and making known that a part of heaven is on earth. What I am going to try to explain is that I don’t think that angels have a role. I think that any angel does whatever heaven’s will wants it to do, when it wants it.

This indicates that angels belong to religions where there is a belief in one God, but there are spiritual servants, messengers, courtiers, soldiers, etc. who serve God (Jones 37). Angels serve a role within the created order and plan of God. All the western religions including Christianity believe that angels are spiritual creatures (Jones 37). It is said that among with creating the world and everything else in it, God also created the angels.

In the bible in Hebrews 13:2 it says 'Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. '; There are over 300 references in the bible about angels. For example, in the new testament angels announced the birth of Christ, in Luke 2:8 angels told shepards where to find the infant Jesus, also in Luke an angel went to a tomb of Christ to announce his resurrection (Auburn University 1). Billy Graham wrote a very good perspective of angels in his book Angels: God's Secret Agents. He stated: Lucas 2 ' I am convinced that these heavenly beings exist and that they provide unseen aid in our behalf.

An angel is a pure spirit created by God and it is given to certain spiritual beings or intelligences of heavenly residence. “Angel" comes from the Greek angelos, which means 'messenger'. God's messengers are heavenly beings that are working for Him and for the ultimate benefit of mankind. God created angels because he cannot be approached by human beings. The angels allow bridge the gap between the holiness and perfection of God in heaven and the shortcomings of dying people on earth.