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Angels constantly appear in the bible, from Genesis to Revelation--fighting battles, delivering messages, comforting, and carrying out the requests of Jehovah.  But most us do not fully understand these beings nor how they operate within our reality.  Later on, we will review some of the most memorable biblical passages of angels in action.  Down through the ages, millions of people have felt the grace and uplifting power of angels.  Thousands have been helped, saved, guided, or comforted by their guardian angels.  

The word "angel" is a generic term for the collective group of beings of "inner space".  Angels are intelligent beings, capable of feelings, yet a different species, who have their existence on a slightly finer vibrational frequency from the one to which our physical senses are tuned to.  We cannot perceive them ordinarily with our eyes or ears, but they can perceive us.  Their responsibilities include the harmonious organization of the inhabited universe.  There are millions of angels who tend our planetary reality.  Angels are also messengers of our Creator.  

Most angels are either genderless or male.  But in Angels: An Endangered Species, the author contends that Gabriel is unique--for it is almost certain that Gabriel is female.  She is the only one mentioned in the Old Testament by name, except for Michael, and is said to sit at the left hand of God, which is further evidence to support her being female.

Angels are here.  They are with us whether we believe in them or not.

Orders of Angels (from highest to lowest)

The first hierarchy of angels was formalized by religious scholars in the 4th century, who based their rankings on the writings of Paul, among others (including Ephesians 1:21, Colossians 1:16).

1st Sphere--angels who serve as heavenly counselors:
1.  Seraphim  (highest order of angels that surround the throne of God; singing and regulating the movement of the heavens as it emanates from God; often called "the burning ones" who radiate pure light; Satan was originally of this order)
2.  Cherubim  (guardians of light and stars; more remote for our realm, but still their light touches our lives; they guard the gates of Eden)
3.  Thrones  (called "many-eyed ones" and are often represented as "fiery wheels" such as the vision that Ezekiel saw; companion of planets; our planet has the Earth Angel)

2nd Sphere--angels who work as heavenly governors:
4.  Dominions (govern the activities of all angelic groups lower than they are)
5.  Virtues  (beamers of massive levels of divine energy for our planet; bring God's blessings to the earth; often called the "shining ones" who accompanied Christ at His ascension)
6.  Powers  (bearers of the conscience of all humanity, the keepers of our collective history; of birth and death)

3rd Sphere--angels who function as heavenly messengers:
7.  Principalities  (guardian angels of large groups such as multi-national corporations, cities, nations; they guard against the invasion of fallen angels; Cervill, the Prince of Strength, helped David slay Goliath)
8.  Archangels  (Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, Uriel--tend to larger concerns of human endeavors; they carry God's messages and commands God's army in the constant battle with "sons of darkness") See note below...
9.  Angels (closest to humanity; they act as intermediaries between the Almighty and mortals) 

Note (Correction):  In spite of the listing from our reference material above, we could only find Michael as being referred to as an archangel in the bible in Jude 1:9; the others are referred to as angels.  Michael and Gabriel are recognized as archangels in Judaism, Islam, and by most Christians. Some Protestants consider Michael to be the only archangel. Raphael —mentioned in the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit —is also recognized as a chief angel in the Catholic and Orthodox churches. 

A Few Categories of Angels...

Uriel means "light or fire of God".  Science, economics, and politics full under Uriel's domain.  This includes everything from toxic clean-up, to hunger, homelessness, political reform, and job-related issues.  Gabriel means "man of God or God is my strength". 

Gabriel is it the protector of the South, of noon and the sun's heat, of summer, and the color green--arts, creativity, emotions, relationships.  He symbolizes the voice of God.  He or she brought news to Mary and Elizabeth about the births of Jesus and John the Baptist.

Raphael means "healed by God or God heals".  The protector of the West, of twilight, evening, autumn, and the color red.  The guardian of our physical bodies and of healing.  Raphael healed Abraham of the pain of circumcision and gave Noah a medical book after the flood.

Michael means "who is like God".  Michael is the protector of the North, which is the house of night, winter, and the color blue.  The North is the realm of spirit and of dreaming.  The guardian of peace, harmony, and global cooperation.  He is usually depicted as the warrior angel.  It was he who defeated Lucifer in the heavenly battle and who overnight destroyed 185,000 soldiers in the Assyrian army to save Jerusalem.

Your Companion Angel--works with you most intimately, in all your life situations.  Your personal angel is teacher, comforter, and beloved friend.  We call them our guardian angels.  Our guardian angels may appear as humans, as glorious flashes of light, as a soft and unseen touch, or as the "still small voice" that often speaks to us in times of crisis.  They work to help us live more joyful lives.  As death approaches, they often come to comfort and reassure both the living and the dying.  They cause medical miracles and help protect children.

Connecting Angel--where ever two or more people gather together, one of these angels is drawn to work with them, to help connect their energies and their intentions.  Some are with us for long periods of time, others are temporary, depending on the frame of the relationship.

Information Angel--known as recording or wisdom angels.  They provide information to anyone who asks for it.  They may arrange to guide or present information to us directly or by filling us with inspiration.

Healing Angel--is drawn to those who are sick to awaken the healer within us.  They attend to the sick, serve in hospitals, hospices, and with medical and healing practitioners.

Technology Angel--is drawn when we engage in any activity that involves manufactured devices, from ball-point to mainframe computers to sanctify the tools we work with.  Everything we make, from steel to plastic, comes from the earth.

Environment Angel--are guardians of the mountains, rivers, forests, and seas.  They watch over things that humans have created, such as homes, offices, airports, and other public places.

Angel of Nature--works with four elements--earth, water, fire, and air.  They are the guardians of everything from the viruses, to rivers, to redwood trees.

Angels in the Bible

Genesis 16
An angel finds Hagar in the desert and delivers a comforting message to her from God.

Genesis 19
Two angels in the form of men come to visit Abraham and proceed to Sodom to save Lot and his family.

Exodus 23 and 33
God sends an angel to keep the newly-freed Israelites and to fight for them and travel with them and to make sure that they arrive in the land that He had promised them.

Judges 6:22
Gideon proclaimed, "I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face."

Daniel 7:10
Daniel sees thousands of thousands of angels ministering to him and standing before him.

Daniel 9:21
Daniel sees the angel Gabriel in a vision.

Psalm 91:11
"For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all their ways."

Matthew 4:11
Angels minister to Jesus after Satan attacks Him in the wilderness.

Luke 1:26
Angel Gabriel appears to Mary to bring the news from God that she is to be the mother of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.

Luke 22:31-32

Jesus tells Simon Peter that, Satan desires to have you, that he may sift him as wheat: He tells Simon--But I have prayed for thee, that your faith does not fail: and when you are converted, strengthen your brethren. 

Luke 22:43
An angel appears unto Jesus and gives Him strength as He prepares to die for our sins.

Acts 5:19
An angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison to free the apostles.

Acts 12:6-10
An angel of the Lord stood before Peter and released him from his chains where they passed through first and second guards to freedom.

Revelation 3

The angels of the 7 churches and the seals.

Who's Who of the Fallen Angels

Revelation 12:7-12

7And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,   8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 12Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. All through the New Testament, we find Jesus casting out devils from many of the inhabitants of and around Jerusalem.

Luke 8:26-33

26And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.   27And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.   28When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.   29(For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)   30And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.   31And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.   32And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.   33Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

One of history's most famous exorcists, Father Sebastien Michaelis, described the ranking of devils (fallen angels) in his Admirable History (1612) along with the relative sin.

Leader:
The Devil: Lucifer (aka Dragon, Satan, Father of the Lie)

First Hierarchy:

Beelzebub (pride--referenced several times in the bible)
Leviathan (sins directly repugnant unto faith)
Asmodeus (luxury and wantonness)
Balberith (homicides, quarrels, blasphemy)
Astaroth (idleness and sloth)
Verrine (impatience)
Gressil (impurity and uncleanliness)
Sonneillon (hatred)

Second Hierarchy:
Carreau (hardheartedness)
Carnivean (obscenity)
Oeillet (temptation to break the vow of poverty)
Rosier (causes people to fall hopelessly in love, turning them from God or from their spouses)
Verrier (disobedience)

Third Hierarchy:
Belias (arrogance)
Olivier (mercilessness toward the poor)I
uvart (various)

6 Bands of demons that serve the Devils by Friar Francesco Guazzo (1608)

Fire devils--live in the upper air and supervise the other 5 groups
Aerial devils--inhabit the air around us and has the most direct access to us
Terrestrial devils--dwells in the woods, fields, and forest
Aqueous devils--reside in rivers, lakes, and seas
Subterranean devils--abide in caves and underground
Heliophobic devils--hate the light and move about only at night

Interesting note:  There is a place in Venezula known as Angel Falls, aka home of the devil.  It is 400,000 square feet of rain forest with places where no human footsteps have ever been.

Warning Note:  Do not delve off into the occult (cults, ouji boards, tarot cards, soothsayers, black magic, voodoo, witchcraft, satanism, vampirism, fortune tellers, etc.).  You can cause great harm to your being, your family's being, and your environment.  Participation in these types of things can serve to invite demons into your world.  Don't do it in any shape, form, or fashion!