The Bible does not give specific details about the order of angels. It does indicate that there is an order. God is not the author of confusion but of peace.(I Corinthians 14:33)
Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Lord of Hosts, the Chief Commander of All Angelic Beings.
Colossians 1:16,”For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities– all things have been created through Him and for Him.” NASB
I Peter 3:22, “who (Jesus) is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.” NASB
As we have seen from the previous post, angels are a reality, but they are not our servants, nor are we to worship them. They were created before the foundations of the world. They rejoiced over the creation of God. They were stationed at the garden. They are around the throne of God in heaven. They are involved in the affairs of governments and individuals of this world. They were involved with the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. They have visited many people down through the pages of the Bible. I have had several personal experiences with angels during my lifetime, and there are many stories of people seeing angels throughout the world today.
Angels are spirit beings without a physical body, however, they can and do appear in a physical body if they need to do so. Paul taught us to be alert, as we could be entertaining an angel without being aware, when we are speaking with strangers. (One Minister said that you always need to ask a stranger their name. If they give their name, they are not an angel. This comes from the story of Jacob wrestling with his angel.)
Angels do not marry. They are innumerable. All angels were created holy and good. God is ‘Light’ and without any darkness. He is holy and just. His angels reflect this light, holiness and justness.
The following is one possible hierarchy of angels. Some scholars refer to three choirs of angels.
We read of the Seraphim who seem to be hovering over and around the throne of God. They are described as having six wings. Two wings cover their face to shield them from the brightness of God’s Glory. Two wings cover their feet to show their humility. Two wings are used to fly. They seem to be using their voices to sing and praise God.
Next are the Cherubim, sometimes called Living Creatures, who seem to hover around and below the throne of God. They are described as having four wings. Cherubim were at the Garden of Eden. They were over the Ark of the Covenant. They were in the Jewish Temples.
We read of Thrones, Virtues, Dominions, Principalities and Powers in several of Paul’s letters.
There are the Archangels. Some say there are seven; Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, Uriel, Raguel, Remiel and Saraqael. Others say there are three; Michael, Gabriel and Lucifer, before he fell from heaven. Three are mentioned in the Bible. The Book of Enoch refers to seven.
Then there are Angels, which would include the Guardian Angels for children and adults.
These are separated into Nine Orders of Angels and into three groups.
Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones make up the first group.
Dominions, Virtues and Powers make up the second group.
Principalities, Archangels and Angels make up the third group.
The Seraphim means ‘Burning Ones’ and seem to be guarding God, His throne, and His Holy Nature from any intrusion that would contaminate.
The Cherubim, down through scripture, are always associated with guarding God’s throne, while overlapping what the Seraphim protect, while guarding below the throne. They seem to be a kind of double layer of protection around the throne.
Thrones seem to be God’s living symbols of justice and authority, and are also known as ‘Wheels’.
Dominions seem to be over the lesser order of angels and are assigned over nations.
Virtues are also known as ‘Strongholds’ and are charged with the order of the Cosmos and radiating the virility of God’s pureness.
Powers, or ‘Authorities’, are involved with the Principalities in watching over the regions and nations and cities of the world.
Principalities work closely with the Powers involved with geographical areas of the world; while also inspiring good, creative works of man.
Archangels, or Chief Angels, are said to be the guardian angels of countries. Others say they are the ‘Chief Angels’ over all other angels. Maybe they fulfill both offices.
Angels mean messengers and they are the ones assigned to individuals as guardian angels, protecting, delivering from evil, and giving encouragement and direction.
Lucifer is said to have been an Archangel until his fall. He is now known as Satan.
The Tabernacle was patterned after the Heavenly. Three parts of the Tabernacle correspond to the three areas of Heaven.
The Outer Court was where the sacrifices were offered for the sins of the people. The earth within our first heaven is where we live and operate and approach God from with our ‘right’ living.
The Holy Place was where the table of showbread was located which represents the Word of God. The Candlestick represents the Holy Spirit giving us Light or revelation or insight to read and understand the Word. Remember Jesus said that the ‘Words’ that He spoke were ‘Spirit’ and ‘Life’. Paul said the natural man cannot receive the things of God for they are ‘spiritually’ discerned. This is why it is difficult for some people to believe, because they approach it with their natural mind, instead of with their heart. The altar of Incense was also located in the Holy Place. This was where the priest placed a sweet-smelling offering that wafted up and into the Holy of Holies. Scripture refers to our prayers and praises as this sacrifice ascending up to God’s throne.
The Holy of Holies was where the Ark of the Covenant was located. It contained Aaron’s Rod that budded, a portion of Manna, and the tablets of the Law. The Ark had the golden Cherubim watching over it. This is symbolic of the Throne of God with the Seraphim and Cherubim surrounding Him and His glory.
Our Tripartite being of body, soul and spirit can be a type of this order of worship.
Our body would be the outer court where scripture teaches us to live justly, to love mercy and to revere our God. The soul is either wrapped up in the carnality of our natural world, serving self, or it can be trained to seek after God in quiet and meditation. The soul then would be like the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, or the spiritual side of the soul offering up thanksgiving and praise to the Creator. The spirit of man would be like the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle where God’s Presence dwells on His throne surrounded by His angels. Jesus taught us that when He went away, another comforter would come. The Holy Spirit would dwell in our spirit. Paul referred to us as Temples of God’s Spirit, and the need to allow the Word to transform our carnal minds to spiritual ones. He went on to list the works of the flesh and the fruit of the spirit.
The Bible teaches of three heavens. The first is our earth’s atmosphere. The second is where the stars and planets are located. The third is above the firmament where God’s throne is located.
Seraphim and Cherubim and thrones seem to guard the third heaven. Then it would seem that the second heaven has much angelic traffic, coming and going with Dominions, Virtues and Powers. Our atmosphere would be where the principalities, Archangels and Angels are busy overseeing the leaders and populace of the world. All angels have access to God.
When Elisha was surrounded by the armies of the enemy, his servant became concerned, so he said a prayer. It is recorded in I Kings 6:15-17.
“When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
Horses and chariots of fire were always used to describe the angels of God.
If we could only see with eyes of the spirit, instead of with these eyes of flesh, we would be astonished. Remember there are around 151,000 people dying each day, and around 361,000 babies being born each day. That is a lot of angelic activity. Jesus taught that angels are present at birth and watch over all children, and that angels escort those who die to their eternal abode.
Also, remember that the Occult and New Age teachings are imitations of the the true spiritual world around us. If there is a counterfeit, then there is the real article nearby.
Next we will look at the dark angels and then we will get back to the shaping of the soul of man….