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M$1.00  Funded By Mahalo ? |  April 30, 2009 02:03 AM

What are the different classes of angels (in Christianity)?

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April 30, 2009 03:13 AM
--quote--

In the 5th Century A.D., a Middle Eastern Scholar named Dionysius studied the references to Angels in the Scriptures and other non-biblical sources. He concluded that there were 9 "classes." or "choirs" of Angels which were divided into 3 "spheres." Even though there are some minor discrepencies in the field of Angel scholars, Dionysius' Hierarchy of Angels is still accepted today and are as follows (starting with those closest to God)"

1st Sphere - Seraphim, Cheribum and Thrones
2nd Sphere - Dominions, Virtues and Powers
3rd Sphere - Principalities, Archangels and Angels.

--endquote--
Source(s):
http://healingdeva.com/cathi_angels.htm



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April 30, 2009 12:56 PM
Starting with the most obvious first:

--Angels--
This is all over the place. Here's a couple:
Genesis 28:12 (ESV)
"And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it"

Hebrews 1:5-7 (ESV)
"For to which of the angels did God ever say, 'You are my Son, today I have begotten you?' Or again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, 'Let all God's angels worship him.' "

2 Peter 2:4 (ESV)
"God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment"

--Archangels--
Jude 1:9 (ESV)
"But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you."

So angels are archangels are clearly mentioned by name.

There are also a variety of other spiritual beings referred to. It should be noted that the Greek word for angel is αγγελος (angelos), which literally just means "messenger," so an angel could be taken just to refer to a heavenly messenger. If you really wanted to restrict yourself to the source text, you'd probably have to stick with appearances of the word αγγελος.

At any rate, there are also:

--Seraphim--
Isaiah 6:2 (ESV)
"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"

--Cherubim--
Ezekiel 10:1 (ESV)
"Then I looked, and behold, on the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim there appeared above them something like a sapphire"

As well as:

--Thrones--
--Dominions--
--Principalities--
--Powers--
All found here: Colossians 1:16, (KJV)
"For by him were all things created , that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him"

--Virtue--(?)
As far as I can tell, a "Virtue" is not referred to in the Bible in the sense of a sentient being (like Dominions and Powers, e.g.), although this description seems to indicate it's an alternate translation of "Might" from reference = Ephesians 1:21 (KJV)
"Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named , not only in this world, but also in that which is to come"

It seems to be a bit of a stretch to me to call all of these angels, but that's just my $0.02.

As far as supernatural beings are concerned, there's also a mention of 4 "living creatures" (Ezekiel 1:4-14). If Seraphim and Cherubim are to be classified as angels (not to mention Powers, Virtues, etc.), why not these unnamed beings? There's certainly a more detailed description of them than of just about any other angel classification.

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