Hierarchy of Angels:
 

For the past couple weeks I've been studying the angelic hierarchy. There are three primary hierarchies that I've found: Pseudo Dionysius the Areopagite, St. Gregory the Great, and The Apostolic Constitutions. Yet each of these had some issues in my studies. What follows is what I believe to be a more accurate Hierarchy of Angels.

Divine Source: GOD

Seven Spirits of God (Before the Throne of God): The Archangels (meanings of their names and areas of authority)

1.) Archangel Michael (Who Is Like God?/Angel of Protection)
2.) Archangel Gabriel (God Is My Strength/Angel of Resurrection)
3.) Archangel Raphael (God Heals/Angel of Healing)
4.) Archangel Uriel (Light of God/Angel of Provision)
5.) Archangel Jophiel (Beauty of God/Angel of Illumination)
6.) Archangel Chamuel (He Who Sees God/Angel of Love and Relationships)
7.) Archangel Zadkiel (Righteousness of God/Angel of Forgiveness, Transformation and Freedom)

First Heavenly Sphere (Third Heaven):

1.) Seraphim – Angels of Worship and Pure Love surrounding the throne of God. (Worship)
2.) Cherubim – Angelic Guardians of Heaven. (Guardians of Heaven)
3.) Thrones – Angelic High Council (24 Elders - Angelic Government)

Second Heavenly Sphere (Second Heaven):

1.) Dominions – Angelic Governors of the material world answering to the Thrones. (Galaxies)
2.) Powers – Angelic Guardians of the Second Heaven. (Solar Systems)
3.) Virtues – Angelic Authorities Over the Forces of Nature. (Planetary Bodies/Forces of Nature)

First Heavenly Sphere (First Heaven):

1.) Principalities – Angelic rulers of nations, places, bodies. (Regions on Earth)
2.) Guardian Angels– Angelic Guardians of individual people. (People)
3.) Angels – Angelic Messengers. (Messengers)

What are your thoughts???

Re: Hierarchy of Angels:
 

My thoughts are this... where did you come up with this list?

I have heard of most of the names you list but where do you get where they are in relation to others and which heaven they are in or relate to etc?

I see a lot of familiar information put together in a nice neat list that I know of no Bible to justify most of it.

What have you been studying?

Re: Hierarchy of Angels:
 

Also... from what I see on your list... Did Jophiel replace Lucifer?

Re: Hierarchy of Angels:
 

I was studing the ideas of Pseudo Dionysius the Areopagite, St. Gregory the Great, and The Apostolic Constitutions. But I felt something in my spirit about how they placed "archangels" so low on the hierarchy. Then I discovered the "Seven Spirits of God". I studied the ideas governing these "Spirits" and wasn't happy with any of them because they appeared to violate principles of Oneness doctrine. Then it dawned on me... a "Spirit of God" can be like a "Man of God". It doesn't mean that they are God in any way. Then I pondered as to if they were angels. And there I found a place for the archangels. Then I studied the top 7 and threw them in that slot "before the throne". Then I separated "Guardian Angels" from "Angels" to make up for the absence of the "Archangels". The list looks more "biblical" to me, even if it isn't necessarily "Bible".

Re: Hierarchy of Angels:
 

The Seven Spirits of God are seen in the Revelation standing before the very throne of God and virtually no explanation is given as to who or what they are. I believe it was in Daniel that Gabriel, an Archangel, states that he stands "in the presence of God". Therewith I connected the Seven Spirits of God to the angelic class of the Archangel.

Seraphim are seen in worship around God's throne in I think it was Isaiah.

Cherubim are seen in Genesis guarding the entrance to the Garden of Eden and I believe they are seen again around the throne in Ezekiel.

The only "Thrones" I found of any heavenly significance are the thrones of the 24 elders of Heaven in Revelation.

I believe Colossians 1:16 mentions "dominions, principalities, and powers" as being created for Jesus. Many commentaries take these as angelic beings.

"Strongholds" can be translated "Might/Power", which is translated in other places of Scripture as "virtue". So, I believe angelologists draw from this and set their distinction from "powers".

Principalities are mentioned several times in Scripture and the term normally has a connection to the notion of regional authorities.

Scripture presents the idea that God has angelic guardians appointed to individuals to protect them, even from the earliest ages, for the angels of children have direct access to the very face of God.

And... the idea of an "angel" being a messenger is really something nobody challenges and is quite clear in Scripture.

I'm sorry that this isn't very indepth of an explanation. I'm really working on something and I wanted to reply quickly. But this is my biblical basis for the hierarchy in brief.

Hope it helps.

Chris

Re: Hierarchy of Angels:
 

I think that's an interesting question. Let me study it out. He would appear to have taken over that area to which Lucifer was appointed.

Re: Hierarchy of Angels:
 

The 7 spirits of God according to the prophet Isaiah..........

Isa. 11;2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord

In some circles also known as the "us" of Gen.1:26 with Adam becoming the 'one of us" by accepting the spirit of council from himself instead of from God.

Blessings

Doug

Re: Hierarchy of Angels:
 

That makes sense in a way. However, "personifying" the attributes of God to the point wherein they actually stand before God's throne as distinct personages boarders on Trinitarian logic, expanding God to being 10 Divine Persons. In the verse you provided there is only one "Spirit of the LORD". The rest are just attribute attributed to the Spirit of the Lord's activity.

Revelation appears to make them rather distinct from God. Not to mention... the seven candle sticks not only represent the Seven Spirits of God... but the Seven Churches. And... when addressing the Seven Churches... Christ addresses the "Angel of the Church of..."

I think a stronger case can be built for the Seven Spirits of God being angelic beings. Just my opinion.

Blessings,

Chris

Re: Hierarchy of Angels:
 

Hello Chris

God is not sitting on a throne somewhere, but because the throne is the “sign of authority” given unto God who rules over all things, Jesus is seen at the right hand of God that reresents the power of authority coming from His Father the King. When Jesus is the authority that puts down all other authorities in us, every knee of every other authority bows before Him. Therefore, we see the "4 beasts before the throne".

There are no unclean animals located in a physical heaven seated around a throne, and what we're seeing is the different natures of mankind before the throne all having bowed down in submission to the Lamb singing holy holy holy.

The Book of Revelations is the revealing also known as the uncovering of Jesus Christ as in his appearance coming from WITHIN us.

Everyone needs to have their battle of Armageddon and as soon as they lose Christ wins

Blessings to you

Doug

BTW The seven spirits of God (seven is the number for divine completion) are the eyes of the Lord traveling to and fro over the earth looking for those who worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Re: Hierarchy of Angels:
 

Why would this JOphiel have to replace Lucifer? Since Lucifer DIDN"T EXIST in the oldest manuscripts and didn't show up until the Latin writings (Lucem Ferre(latin) = Lucifer), why would he need replaced? He doesn't and never did exist as an angelic being. Ezekiel TELLS us clear as day he was writing about an earthly king.

According to Judaism, Ha-satan (Satan) was never another angel called Lucifer. He was the angel charged by God with tempting man and recording the failings of man and reporting them to God. He was the "accuser" from the beginning. It appear sthat in the Second Temple period his character started to morph into the "enemy of God" chracter we now consider him to be. They did this by using apocalyptic writings, non-canon writings, and unchristian philosophies.

Re: Hierarchy of Angels:
 

Good observation!

The word “Lucifer” was a word used to describe the planet Venus and its fall from heaven scene when it comes out from behind the sun and then “falls to earth” as it is seen crossing the face of the sun in a eclipse of the sun. Ironically this particular eclipse from this position of the orbits of the planets around the sun happens once every 2000 years including last year. 2000 years before that we had the appearance of Christ on earth and 2000 years before that we have Abraham who was the father of faith appearing on earth preceded 2000 years by the arrival of Adam.

Yes you are correct in Ezekiel is prophesying of the fall of man by using an earthly king the same as Isaiah is.

Depending on the translation used we see the words translated as either a son of the morning, son of the DayStar, son of the morning Star, and I suppose there are a few more.

The real “MorningStar,” and not the son of it is the sun, that is a metaphor for the SON of God made very clear by the prophet Malachi.

Malachi 4:2
But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall

Solomon also understood this principle of metaphors and allegories seen in words describing both things on earth and in the heavens. I think most here can see the message within his following words.

Ecclesiastes 3:16
And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there

Jesus who is God incarnate is the morning star

Revelation 22:16
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

There are only two in the Bible who are given the title of being the son of God (morning star)....... one is Adam and the other is "his brother by a different mother," who is Jesus

Blessings to you

Doug

Re: Hierarchy of Angels:
 

The answer is progressive revelation. Ezekiel is addressing an earthly king... and the spirit that resided in him, Satan.

By the time the New Testament was finished... a more informed revelation of Satan's identity was provided.

Re: Hierarchy of Angels:
 

As for Jophiel replacing Satan, it's merely conjecture. A passing thought.

Re: Hierarchy of Angels:
 

The Father exists on the throne in theophany. The Son, the man Christ Jesus, is in a glorified human body... seated at the right hand of the Father's theophany. The Father, being God, is present both on the throne and in the man, Christ Jesus.

Re: Hierarchy of Angels:
 

If Jesus Christ is in a physical body far away from where we are here, what are the chances of Christ in us that is our only hope of glory being formed in us?

When Stephen took his last breath he beheld the heavens opened and Jesus at the right hand of God because Stephen was experiencing the new heavens and new earth having obtained the fullness of Christ given witness by the forgiveness of those who murdered him. However, Stephen had not gone anywhere as his body was still on earth the same as when Paul ascended onto the 3rd heaven his body did not go anywhere as his spirit and soul experienced the new heavens.

The same as in my testimony when I was declared dead and people were looking at my dead body at the same time the spirit/soul from within me experienced standing in judgment before the great white throne that is the "3rd heaven," yet physically I never went anywhere.

If the throne of heaven was an actual place you would not see unclean beast hanging around in heavenIn where nothing unclean can survive.

Also what about those Guardian Angels watching over us some of who are the spirits of those who have already died and gone to heaven (for lack of better words)? If they were a long ways from here how could they be our guardian angels here on earth?

Another thing to consider is when Jesus said he was in heaven while he was standing on earth, and so did the apostles essentially say the same thing with the words “our conversation is in heaven” that when translated defines their citizenship as being from heaven while they were ministering to people on earth.

Doug