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ABOUT THE ANGELIC REALMS Ranks of Angels
The Angelic Choirs have evolved over time in Jewish and Christian lore. They are categorized by level of importance and ways with God. By rank, this is a list of the individual choirs. Click on each to see a synopsis of the angels in each choir and what position they hold. The First Hierarchy - Those closest to God who contemplate God's goodness. *Seraphim *Cherubim *Thrones The Second Hierarchy - Those who preside over the ordering of the universe. *Dominations *Virtues *Powers The third heirarchy - Those who have dominion over human affairs *Principalities *Archangels *Angels |
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The Seraphim The Seraphim Choir is the highest and most magnificent of the nine accepted Angelic choirs. Without question they are the closest in all of heaven to the very throne of God, and their primary function is to circle the incomprehensibly beautiful throne in perpetual adoration of the Lord. This is a task that is not nearly as monotonous as it may seem to mortals, given the nature of the angels (who have perfect powers of concentration) and the delight that such an honour actually brings to the spirits.
The Seraphim are almost always identified with fire-not the burning, painful flames and heat of hell, but the healing flame of Love. They are literally living flames. The intensity of their adoration and pure Love of God pure out of them as a flawless reflection of the divine Love that emanates from the Lord. Like the rising sun, each angel radiates such light that even the other holy beings, the cherubim and the thrones, cannot look upon them. According to Enoch, each Seraphim has six wings. In the Old Testament Book of Isaiah (6:1-3) he writes "...I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim; each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew." In the Book of Revelation (4:8) is another possible reference: "And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to sing 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come!" Members of this Angelic Choir Seraphiel Gabriel Michael Metatron Uriel Nathanael Jehoel |
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The Cherubim Function and Philosophy
The Cherubim Choir is the second of the nine accepted choirs of angels, placed second as well in the first triad of the angelic hierarchy(with the seraphim and thrones). They are some of the most powerful and awe-inspiring of all angels, standing below only the seraphim in direct closeness to God. Their illuminative knowledge and wisdom are thus so great as to be utterly incomprehensible to the mortal mind, blinding the blessed human who has the honour of actually beholding them in this world. In Islamic lore, the Cherubim was allegedly created out of the tears shed by the archangel Michael for all the sins of humanity. They are the first angels to be encountered in the Old Testament, being posted in the Book of Genesis in the east of Eden to ensure that no one entered after the expulsion of Adam and Eve. Their chief task in the celestial hierarchy is to sing the praises of God, but they are also declared in occult lore to have the responsibility of driving the chariot of the Lord, a key symbol of heaven. The Cherubim are also given the task of maintaining the records of heaven and seeing to the details necessary to keep order in the Heavenly Host. Characteristics: Cherubim had the bodies of a winged bull, an eagle, or a sphinx and the faces of men or lions. As is clear from Ezekiel's encounter, the cherubim possess four wings and four faces, symbolizing their eternal vigilance and knowledge, which reaches every direction of Creation. They are also often presented with peacock feathers bearing a host of eyes, again in reference to their all-seeing omniscience. Members of this Angelic Choir Cherubiel Gabriel Ophaniel Raphael Uriel Zophiel |
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