Mystic Info - Angels - Introduction
Angels Introduction
An angel is a spiritual being which assists and serves God or the gods in many religious traditions and is considered to be much more powerful than a human.
Angels comprise ethereal matter, allowing them to take on whichever physical form best suits their immediate needs. In Christian, Muslim, Jewish and other theologies an angel can be one who acts as a messenger, attendant or agent of God.
In Christian religion and theology an angel can also be a member of the ninth and lowest order of the nine-fold celestial hierarchy; a ranking which comes directly below archangels. A fallen angel is often classed as a devil, like Satan himself; whereas a guardian angel is classed as a human guide or protector. Angels are commonly represented by a figure with wings and wearing a long white robe.
They are also sometimes depicted wearing halos which emanate from the angels' heads in a glorious wreath of light, serving as a symbol of divine wisdom. Angels do not die or age, they are immortal, created by God and existing since the Creation. Generally they are accepted as being the guardians of souls. Although angels are generally divine, they have been shown to be fallible and prone to sin, particularly pride. One of the most notable examples of this being Satan and his fallen army.
Angels can take on a variety of different forms. The image of an angel with wings tends to symbolise the spiritual nature of the being. The purpose of the wings being to allow the angel to travel through the ether as well as being a symbol of divine authority.
The word angel is thought to be derived from the Greek word angeloi which means "messenger". Throughout the bible it is generally seen that the will of God is usually imparted or carried out by angels.
In Jewish and Christian sources, there are seven Archangels, while in the Koran, there are said to be only four - only two are named: Jibril (Gabriel) and Michael. The Jewish and Christian sources differ in who they name as their seven.
All agree on Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel.
