What’s nature of angels? what’s their number? what’s their food? what about their movement? do they have a freewill? what’s their language? where do they live?
The evidence for the creation of angels. Can we know how they were created? why did God create them? and the timing for such creation.
What are the different titles of angels? what about their attributes? and what’s the difference between them and human-beings?
What are the different angels’ celestial intelligences? and what’s the evidence for this? how do they look like? what’s the position of each one of them?
Nature of angels
They are luminous beings, spiritual in nature and created by God from lumen. They Are Spirits sent by God for the man to serve him. They are invisible creatures we cannot see or feel except when they take a specific picture enabling us to realize their existence. They Can deal with us by inspirations to protect, help or serve when we walk in the path of Righteousness. Cause, they are created from lumen and fire, they are having a perfect Nature differ from that of us in that it is more transparent, gentle and Kind than our Extensive material flesh, which is from the sand of the land. (There are also celestial Bodies and terrestrial bodies.) (1 CORINTHIANS 16:40)
They are beings limited in place
Since, no one of them can exist in more than one place at the same time. For example, When Gabriel was withstood by the king of Persia, waiting for twenty one day till Michael came. ( Then he said to me, ” Do not fear, Daniel for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble your self before your God your word were heard; and I have become because of your words. But, the prince of the Kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty one day, and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with kings of Persia.) ( DANIEL 10:12-13).
They are rational beings having freewill
The proof that they are free beings that there’s a falling angel rank, Saint Paul the Messenger said about, (Spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.) (EPHESIANS 6:12)
They are immortal and fixed in number
They are immortal cause, they are not composed of a material body and a soul so, they Do not perish or die. ( Nor can they die any more, for they are equal to the angels and Are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.) (LUKE 20:36)
Their number is a very great one, no one knows an exact number, but God alone knows it. (Is there any number to His armies?) (JOB25:3)
Angels' living location
It’s well known that heavens is the living location for all of the angels. (Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels Always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.) (MATHEW 18:10)
Angels’ movement
we think they are moving so fast. ( and the living creatures ran back and forth, in Appearance like a flash of lighting.) (EZEKIEL 1:14). behold, the body of angel is extensive in nature, he can cuts across distances through blocks.( since, they are not hemmed in by walls or doors or bars or scales ) John of Damascus.
Angels' Language
Angels do have a language praises God with. (Through I speak with the tongues of men and of angels but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a changing cymbal.) (1 CORINTHIANS 13:1)
Angels' Food
Angels are spiritual in nature, they do not eat or drink. ( I seemed indeed eat and drink with you: but I use an invisible meat and drink which can not seen by men.) (Tobias 12:19). So, the food of angels is spiritual and intellectual they get it from the wisdom of God they exist in His attendance.
Angels' Appearance to Man
Usually they appear to man result in a great fear to man, For example, the one seen by Joshua made him fell on his face. ( So, He said, ” No, but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth.) (JOSHUA 5:14)
The truth of angels' existence
Firstly, the logical evidence, when we say in the law of faith, what’s seen and what can’t be seen, we do mean the unseen beings, the angels. Since, nothing is impossible for God and His unlimited power, he can create a spirit united with a non-dense flesh who are the angels.
Secondly, the evidence of the scripture. In the Old Testament, (Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord.) (JOB1:6). In the New Testament, (Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.) (LUKE1:11)
(And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven.) (MATTHEW28:2)
The creation of angels
Angels are created beings, because, all the beings are created except God, because He is the First cause of all of the creatures. (For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him) (COLOSSIANS 1:16).
Neither the Holy Bible, nor, the fathers of the church mentioned the way in which angels were created. ( Saint Basil of Caesarea said, the mode of the creation of the Heavenly powers is passed over in silence, for the historians of the cosmogony has revealed to us only the creation of things perceptible by sense).
But do thou, who hast Power from the things that are seen to form an analogy of the Unseen, glorify the maker by whom all things were made, visible and invisible, Principalities and powers, authorities, thrones, and dominions, and all other reasonable Natures whom we cannot name.
The reason behind the creation of angels
God is perfect in all His attributes so, He definitely does not need any other. But only For His love and goodness, He wanted to spread out the goodness out side His Godly Divine so, He decided to create angels.
John Chrysostom says, in his explanation for the saying of Saint Paul the messenger ( The divine nature knows no want. And therefor, then would He have us praise and Glorify Him? it is that our love towards Him may be kindled more frequently within us.)
He desires nothing we can render; not our service, nor our praise, nor any other thing. But, our salvation; this is His object in every thing He does. And he who praises and marvels at the grace displayed towards Him self will thus be more devoted and more earnest.
Saint Gregory theologian says, the goodness should be poured and spread out God’s divine to multiply those whom get His favors so, God thought firstly in the creation of Heaven hosts.
The time for creating angels
The Holy Bible did not mention the time for creating angels. But, from the written, we Can prove that God created them before the material creature when God said to Job, ( Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? tell me if you have understanding. Who determined its measurement? surely you know! or what stretched The line upon it? to what were its foundations fastened? or who laid its corner stone, When the morning stars sang together and all of the sons of God shouted for joy?) (JOB 38:4-7)
Angels' Titles
1- Sons of God
( Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present them selves before the Lord.) (JOB 1:6)
(For who in heavens can be compared to the Lord? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord?) (PSALM 89:6)
2- The saints
(Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousand of His saints, to execute judgement.) (JUDE 14)
3- The morning stars
(When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.) (JOB 38:7)
4- The servants
(And of them He says: ” Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of Fire.”) (HEBREWS 1:7)
5- Hosts of (The Lord-heavens)
(So He said, ” No, but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.) (JOSHUA 5:14)
(And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God And saying: ” Glory to God in the highest.) (LUKE 2:13-14)
6- The army of God
(Until it was a great army, like the army of God.) (1 CHRONICLES 12:22).
7- The congregation of God
(God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods.) (PSALM 82:1)
Tawfik, S. (2022). Angels are unbelievable creatures. www.orthodox-beliefs.site
Source is THE HOLY BIBLE NKJV. Arabic New Van Dyck text C. The Bible Society of Egypt. Fifth Edition Third print2019.ISBN 978-1-84364-188-9. Printed in China.
Reference is book theoretical theology (part two)- Heavenly hosts- prepared By Egyptian monk, Benjamin Meeharika.
Angels' attributes
1- They are Holy
They are holy, from written. (When the son of man comes in His glory, and all the Holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.) (MATHEW 25:31)
Its holiness comes from constancy in holiness and grace, they do not apt to do bad as human-being because they succeeded in the test.
2- They are glorious
It’s well known that lest junta of angels is more glorious than that of the human soul. Cause, only one angel can lumen the whole earth. (After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven having great authority, and the earth was Illuminated with his glory.) (REVEALATION 18:1)
3- They are more powerful than human-beings
Cause, in one night, just one angel killed one hundred and eighty-five thousand from the army of Sennacherib defending Jerusalem. (And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one Hundred and eighty-five thousand.) (2 KINGS 19:35).
4-Their obedience
All of these beings obey God’s orders. (Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word. Heeding the voice of His word.) (PSALM 103:20). And their execution for God’s well is characterized by two things. The first, they do it so Fast. the second, is that they do it without any sort of arguing.
We, as humans should be the same, in that we serve God and obey Him In diligence, steadiness, seriousness, constancy and in awareness.
So that, we should better be worthy, for His great promise: (Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.) (1CORINTHIANS 2:9)
5-Their knowledge
The spirit of angel is more knowledgeable than that of man because, man gets his knowledge through the five senses while, angels get them from being in God’s divine Presence. And because man sleeps while angels do not.
Angels are spirits differ in glory, luminosity, power and specialization, position and actions, the same as the stars of heavens.
(But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, and behold; Michael, one of chief Princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the Kings of Persia.) (DANIEL: 10:13)
(I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority and the earth was illuminated with his glory.) (REVELATION18:1)
Angels’ celestial intelligences differ in ranking and position not in nature and they are named in names suit their position like, Michael meaning who’s like God.
There’s no promotion from rank to another for them. As St. Athanasius says: “Each of these is made according to its kind and they do remain in their own essence, as they were created.”
Nine celestial intelligences in three ranks
Clement of Alexandria (A.D150-215) says: the grades here in church, of bishops, presbyters and deacons are imitations of the angelic glory.
Dionysius the Areopagite mentioned nine celestial intelligences in three ranks saying:” Theology has given to the celestial beings nine interpretative names, and among these our divine initiator distinguishes three threefold orders.”
“In the first rank of all he places those, who as we are told, dwell eternally in the constant presence of God and cleave to Him, and above all others are immediately united to Him”.
And he says: that the teachings of the Holy Word testify that the most holy are Thrones and Many-eyed and Many-winged ones, named in the Hebrew tongue Cherubim and Seraphim, are established immediately about God and nearest to Him above all others.
The second, he says, contains the Powers, Virtues, and Dominions, and the last and lowest choirs of the Celestial Intelligences are called Angels, Archangels and Principalities.
(And seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, for above all Principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that’s Named.) (EPHESIANS1:20-21)
The First celestial intelligence is Seraphim; it is a Hebrew word means heat and keenness. The singular for Seraphim is Seraph, he looks like a burnet fire, having six wings.
(Above it stood seraphim, each one, each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he Covered his feet, and with two he flew.) (ISAIAH 6:1)
They stand between the hands of God, celebrating His glory, inspiring in His Godly Divine presence in a full Godly Divine condole censes according to its aptitude and deservedness knowing the Godly divine mysteries as it is uncovered by God.
Second, is Cherubim, it is a Hebrew wording, its singular is Cherub meaning, the many-eyed.
Dionysius the Areopagite says: The name Cherubim denotes to their power of knowing and sighting God, their receptivity to the highest Gift of Light and their contemplation of the Beauty of the Godhead in its First Manifestation, and that they are filled by participation in Divine Wisdom, and bounteously outpour to those below them.
(The Lord reigns; Let the people tremble! He dwells between the cherubim; let the earth be moved!) (PSALM99:1)
(Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.) (REVELATION4:6.)
The Third celestial intelligence is thrones, they are also called the holy lampstands.
(For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.) (COLOSSIANS1:16)
(Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones, I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.) (REVELATION4:4)
So, celestial intelligence described sitting on thrones is the twenty-four elders; its sitting denotes to their stability and pride. They are dressed in white, referring to, their purity and holiness.
Fourth comes Dominions or Lordships. Dominions refer to its highness in pride and authority.
Fifth celestial intelligences are powers. Dionysius the Areopagite says: “The name of the holy powers, co-equal with the divine dominions and virtues, signifies an orderly and unconfined order in the divine receptions and the regulation of intellectual and supermundane power which never debases its authority by tyrannical force, but is irresistibly urged onward in due order to Divine. It beneficently leads those below it, as far as possible, to the supreme power which is the source of power.
(Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities having been made subject to Him.) (1PETER 3:22).
Sixth celestial intelligence is virtues denotes to their mighty power and undefeated championship.
Dionysius the Areopagite says: “The name of the holy virtues signifies a certain powerful and unshakable virility willingness forth into all their Godlike energies; not being weak and feeble for any reception of the divine Illuminations granted to it; mounting upwards in fullness of power to an assimilation with God.”
seventh comes, principalities. (And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.) (COLOSSIANS 2:10).
Eighth celestial intelligence is Archangels.
Dionysius the Areopagite says: “The choir of the holy archangels is placed in the same three-fold order as the celestial principalities; for, as has been said, there’s one hierarchy and order which includes these and the angels.”
(And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thundering’s and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.) (REVELATION4:5)
Ninth celestial intelligence is angels;(Who makes His angels spirits and His ministries a flame of fire.) (HEBREW1:7)
Services provided by angels
Angels serve God, worship Him and standing in front of Him to execute His orders. ( Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit Salvation?) (HEBREWS 1:14).
So, Firstly, they guard believers, protecting them and saving them from Adversity. (For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in your ways.) (PSALM 91:11). (The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads.) (Genesis 48:16).
Second, they carry the believers to the house of eternity. (So it was that the Beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham ‘s bosom.) (LUKE 16:22).
Thirdly, they separate the righteous from the wicked. (And He will send His angels with a great Sound of trumpet, and He will gather together His elect from the four winds, From one End of heaven to the other.) (MATHEW 24:31).
Fourthly, they offer believers’ prayers to God. (When thou didst pray with tears, and didst leave the Dinner, and hide the dead by Day in the house, and bury them by night, I offered the prayer to the Lord. (Tobias 12:12).
Fifthly, praying for believers and ask for their safety. (Then the angel of the Lord answered and said, ” O Lord how long you will not have Mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which you were angary, these Seventy years?”) (ZECHARIAH 1:12).
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