Our Angels Are Different/Analysis

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Angels in The Bible can belong to several classes.

  • Archangel -- The highest class. Michael is one of two angels named and the only angel to hold this rank in the Protestant and Jewish Bible canons.
  • Elders -- (AKA Thrones) There are 24 of this class as mentioned in Revelation.
  • Living Creatures -- These angels are a specific set of four Cherubim mentioned in both Ezekiel and Revelation. Their descriptions vary slightly from both accounts, but they seem to have faces varying from that of a lion, ox, man, and eagle, eyes all over their bodies, and more than one pair of wings. (In other words, they are the angels most likely to fit the page image.)
    • In Ezekiel, each is paired with one of the four Ophanim, meaning "wheels", which are eye-covered, wheel-like interlocking chariot wheels. (Note: In this listing the Thrones and Ophanim are NOT identified as the same.)
  • Cherubim -- (singular Cherub) The Bible is silent on what normal angels of this class looked like, but according to Jewish tradition they were human looking, as both the Ark of the Covenant and Solomon's Temple included images of angels of this class in their design.
  • Seraphim -- (singular Seraph) Mentioned to have six wings, four of which are used to cover themselves. Their name means "burning ones".
  • Angels -- These are the ordinary inhabitants of Heaven; if something needs doing on earth, these are the guys who generally do it.

There is also a traditional celestial hierarchy of angels, which comes from an early Christian writing by one "Dionysius", into the following nine "Choirs" ordered from greatest to least, of which only the first and last two are commonly seen in art and literature:

  • Seraphim -- (singular Seraph) Traditionally six-winged, red, and fiery; represent God's love. The reason they have six wings is to cover their true form, which is so bright and glorious that merely witnessing it grants a one-way trip to Heaven... at the cost of bodily incineration. According to some texts they're also serpentine. Their chief is St. Michael. Satan used to be one of these (hence his six wings in Dante's Divine Comedy). If they're not covered and won't set you on fire, they're described as handsome... but tall, terrifying, fiery, and speaking in Earth-shaking (quite literally) voices.
  • Cherubim -- (singular Cherub) Tend to be depicted in blue, or as blue (or red, or lots of different colors); represent God's knowledge and act as soldiers and guardian angels. St. Gabriel is Head Cherub. In The Middle Ages, often misunderstood to be a single angel named "Cherubin". In The Renaissance, the Putti, chubby little children or even a chubby face between two or more wings, were later confused with Cherubim (or even Seraphim, as in this painting by Ghirlandaio).
  • Thrones or Ophanim -- Hold up God's throne. They serve as the headquarters of the Virtues and the Upper Choirs and control the natural laws as well as being the bringers of God's justice who represent His authority (and badassery).
  • Dominions -- Not mentioned in Protestant and Jewish Bible canons. Wear crowns; represent God's power. Each serves as the patron angel of a nation and ruler of all angels assigned to that nation.
  • Virtues -- Not mentioned in Protestant and Jewish Bible canons. Traditionally wear armor and swords and are considered to control the heavenly bodies. They live in the Thrones. The previous three choirs form the bulk of the heavenly army.
  • Powers -- Not mentioned in Protestant and Jewish Bible canons. Carry flaming swords and chains to bind The Devil; serve as guardians. In Christian tradition the Angel with the Flaming Sword in Eden was one of these, the Archangel Jophiel. Are considered Angels Of Justice and are considered perfect, incorruptible ultimate angels created by God himself. (Sound familiar?) Naturally some beliefs list Satan as a former Power.
  • Principalities -- Not mentioned in Protestant and Jewish Bible canons. Traditionally bear armor and swords, and watch over rulers and nations. As well as acting as the head of a specific group of angels.
  • Archangels -- According to apocryphal works there are seven, including Michael, Gabriel (mentioned in The Bible canon but only as a normal angel), and Raphael (appears in the deuterocanonical book of Tobit)(names for the others, such as Zadkiel, Uriel, and Ithuriel, don't seem to have caught on). Each archangel is the head of one of the remaining upper choirs.
    • In the Eastern Orthodox Church, there are seven major archangels; however, other than the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael the names of the others vary radically. Also the arrangement of the choirs and the status of archangels vary. In Christianity, archangels often embody a particular function or idea: for instance, Raphael is the archangel of Healing, Raguel the archangel of justice and Jegudiel of politics.
  • Angels
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