Angels: Ministering Spirits

[Aquila]

While studying this subject I've become convinced that there are at least 9 (maybe 10) kinds of "angels" comprising three distinct orders.

The Highest Order: Thrones, Cherubim and Seraphim.
The Middle Order: Authorities, Dominions and Powers.
The Lowest Order: Principalities, Archangels and Angels.

Humanity could be classified as the last order, but is more a "spiritual being" that gives worship and is considered a "messenger" (angel) of God. With regards to man, the term "angel" is used loosely because man technically isn't an angelic being. And man will never be an angelic being, instead, man will be glorified and elevated in being through the very divine nature of God's own indwelling Spirit (Christlikeness). This is why man will one day judge the angels.

Also, I've found it rather interesting to note that many ancient and Jewish and Christian theologians perceived angels as "emanations" of God. Meaning, they poured fourth from God's own being in accordance with His own desire to express and serve His creation through them. Therefore, while an angel is a "creation" and has free will... it's essentially a reality, emanated from God, through which God speaks, works, and is revealed. Thus, angels reflect the very glory of God in their being. Therefore, an angel might speak as an angel... or as God Himself (much as a prophet would). The mysterious "Angel of the LORD" is often viewed as the angel through which God speaks and reveals Himself throughout the OT. The Word of the LORD, the Logos, is the emanating mind, word, or thought of God that pours forth through this angel. It was this emanating expression of God's mind that was "made flesh" in the man Jesus Christ, the Living Word. As a result, God no longer speaks to man through the angels... but directly through the man Jesus Christ, as one of us... God made man.

Each order of angel is seen by some to have a mission on a given level of existence, or Heaven.

The First Heaven (our world or planet): Principalities, Archangels and Angels
The Second Heaven (the universe wherein celestial bodies abide, space): Authorities, Dominions and Powers
The Third Heaven (Heaven of Heavens, the abode of God): Thrones, Cherubim and Seraphim

God's various modes of being are therefore expressed creatively through the Father, redemptively through the Son, and regeneratively through the Holy Ghost. Emanating realities through which God works, the angels, are primarily concerned with more worldly affairs such as protection (physical & spiritual), encouragement, and revelation/guidance.

Any angelic communication must be authenticated by Scripture. No Holy (or Elect angel) will ever give a message that is opposed to Scripture or the deity of Jesus Christ.

Any other spirit being outside of the Heavenly Orders is classified as "demon". This of course defines fallen angels, Nephilim (speculative), and or ghosts of the unsaved (speculative). Each are to be rebuked as one would deal with any of the demonic forces.

Thoughts????