What are Angels ?

9 GROUPS OR CHOIRS

Since Medieval times and even further back they have been divided into 9 groups or choirs.

SERAPHIM

1. Seraphim:
 They are considered the highest order of spiritual beings.
 They surround God's throne and sing His praises "Holy, Holy, Holy."
 Said to have 4 faces and 6 wings they are the angels of  Love, Light and Fire.
 They are so far above human consciousness that they are seldom seen by us mortals.
 Key word: Love
The Angel Raphael is thought to belong to this group and at least 3 other groups.
 Cherubim, Dominions and Powers.)
 St. Michael and the fallen Angel Satan were said to be of this group.

CHERUBIM

2. Cherubim
In Modern times cherubim are often pictured as baby angels with sweet fat faces.
In earlier  times they were winged animals with human faces.
They usually guarded the outside of buildings.
Some times they are pictured as the "Order of Wheels" (Ophanim) which are closely connected with "Thrones"
Names in the old Testament as the guardians of paradise they were pictured with 4 wings and four faces.
In Exodus their images are made of gold and placed on either side of the Ark of the Covenant.
The Angel Raphael is their designated Chief
Key word :  Knowledge

 3. Thrones
These are the living creatures that function as the "Chariots of God"
Key word : Justice.

4. Dominions
Philo said that the oldest angels were called "Dominion"
They maintain Lordship over the lower Angels and are the Bureaucrats.
Key word : Leadership

5.  Virtues
They carry out the order of the Dominions
St. Michael is their Chief.
Michael shows up in many choirs and groups and in ancient times was regarded as a "god"
He is considered to be the greatest of the Angels.
He is revered by   Judaism , Christianity and the  Moslem religions
Key word : Miracles
It is  Virtues who are in charge of "Miracles"
They are also known as the "Shining Ones"
Melchisedec was called an " Angel of the order of virtues"
He was known as the fabled King of Salem that Abraham gave tithes to
Melchisedec was identified with the "holy ghost" in ancient writings.
He is also known in the " Book of Mormon' as the "Prince of Peace".

6. Powers
They fight against evil spirits and try to keep the demons under control.

They are the Earth's Princes and watch over the leaders, the nations and towns of this world.
They are the protectors of religion.

8. Arch Angels
The Arch Angels are the warriors
Michael often called St. Michael by the Catholic Church is Chief of the Arch Angels.
Michael is the Prince over the Jewish people.
Every nation has a Angel assigned to it.
There are thought to be 70 Angels assigned to the various nations.
Only the names of Persia, Italy, Egypt and Israel are known.
Gabriel and Michael are the only two Angels  mentioned by name  in the Old Testament.
They are both recognized by Judeo-Christian traditions and also the Moslem religion.
Raphael is the another angel that is mentioned in the "Book of Tobit"
He is known as the Angel of Healing.
This book was deemed  Apocryphal by the Protestants and is not in our current Bible
In the New Testament, in Rev. verse 2 chapter 8,  it talks about the 7 angels that stand before God.
The Angel Uriel was include in the top four Angels by the  early Christian Church

9. Angels
Angels are the couriers or messengers. They deliver our prayers and bring back messages from heaven.
They council man and explain heavenly symbols. This would include most " guardian angels ".
It is written that we have more than one guardian angel assigned to us.
It is written In Psalms 91:11  " For He has charged His Angels to guard you where ever you go".

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