This page is about the angelology surrounding the angels of different religions, that may appear incorporeal or very corporeal indeed.

Angel, from the Greek word aggelos; messenger, envoy, announcer, based on the Hebrew Mal'ach (messenger) of the Old Testament.         In principle anybody can be a messenger; anybody can be an angel.       

Angels usually are divided into nine orders, or Choirs (Sebaim), but sometimes there are given seven, ten or twelve choirs.

                To be honest; we don't really know. 

How Cherubs and Seraphs got to be turned into little winged baby infants, like Eros and Cupid, is uncertain, but originally they were awesome powers, portrayed as the mythical Sumerian guardians, Kirubu (Cherubs), Aladlammû (protective spirit) or Lamassu. These guardians or Watchers were placed as big statues beside the Temple entrance, and had their origin the Zodiacal signs of Astrology. The Spring Equinox occurs around March 21 each year, when the sun enters the Cardinal sign of Aries and the spring season officially begins in the Northern Hemisphere. Six thousand years ago however, during the Spring-equinox, (March 21) the Sun would cross the heaven-equator (the imaginary plane through the Earth-Equator, dividing the Firmament into north and south) through Taurus, the Bull of Heaven. During the autumn-point she crossed the equator through Eagle (Scorpion), she went through Lion in the summer-point and through Man (Aquarius) in the winter-point. It was thought that a perfect ideal man, whose head reached into heaven, stood with both feet on the ground, uniting al heavenly qualities within him. These qualities were represented by the four animals of the four heavenly directions. Combinations of these animals were made and were pictured as mythical creatures.

Man plus Lion would give a Sphinx (like the Indian Purushamriga).

Lion plus Eagle would give a Griffin (gryphon).

Man plus Bull would either give a Kirubu (Cherub) or a Minotaur.

Eagle plus Man would either give an Angel, a Seraph or a Garuda Harpy.

Seraphs

All these creatures were called Kirubu or Karabu by the Babylonians, Cabir by the Greek and Karub, Cherub by the Jews.

So, after the Babylonian exile the Jews knew of four great Archangels, four pillars of the world, placed as Cherubs at the four sides of the throne of God. These animals became the "totems" of the four camps of the twelve tribes of Israel. The four emblems of the tribes, one for each group of three, lion (Judah), man (Reuben), bull (Ephraim) and eagle (Dan) according to Jewish tradition corresponded with the four letters of the name of God, YHVH, - Y with man, H with lion, V with bull and H with eagle. These animals are the four beasts of the Book of Revelations.

And the first beast was like a lion, and the second like an ox, and the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight...and the beasts give glory and honour to him who is seated on the high seat, to him who is living for ever and ever. Re 4:7

Front-Portal relief, Notre Dame Cathedral, Chartres France.

May Michael be on my right, Gabriel on my left, Uriel before me, Raphael behind me and the Shechina above my head. Jewish prayer.

There may be some confusion about the names of these angels. The original list apparently was; Michael, Sariel, Raphael and Gabriel. Although the name Sariel (Prince of God) has been replaced in many translations of 1Enoch 9;1 with the name Uriel, the name Sariel is used in 4QEnoch(b) 3;7 and should be considered original. In the parables of Enoch the name Sariel is replaced with Phanuel (1 Enoch 40;9 and 54;6) and this name is replaced with Uriel in the Apocalypse of Moses 40;2 and in Rabbinic literature. Apparently Uriel preceded Michael at some point as Sariel; the prince of the archangels, which had to do with the shifting of the Spring Equinox as described above. Uriel (Light or flame of God) is an Angelus Interpres, an elucidating angel. He is the angel of the lights in the sky; the fiery sun and the stars and is even called the angel of Hellfire, as in Gehenna and repentance and is as such comparable to the Acherusian Lake one has to be washed in before reaching God, that burns away sins and faults, leaving the true nucleus of the soul with the good works and achievements it has made, if any. An other name for Uriel is Ariel, the "Altar of God", a reminder of burn offers, made on sacrificial altars in order to receive redemption.

The Islam still knows four Archangels; Mikal (Michael), Gibril (Jibril; Gabriel), Iz-Aril (Ariel/Uriel); the Angel of Death, and IzRafil, Raphael; the Angel over the souls of man, who places the souls (the Refaim; shades) back in wombs. Raphael draws Rephaim; shades from Sheol and places them in human bodies to give them another chance in order to heal them. Uriel and Raphael; Death and (spiritual) Rebirth; Reincarnation.

In time, three were added by the Jews as messengers, which gave seven Archangels in accordance with the six Amesha Spentas; blissful immortals and highest spirits of Zoroasterism, who aided Ahura Mazda, (makes seven) the Wise Lord in his fight against the evil Ahriman. Seven Masters of men are also named in the Emerald Tablets of Thoth;

Masters are they of the great Secret Wisdom,
brought from the future of infinity's end.
Seven are they, the Lords of Amenti,
overlords they of the Children of Morning,
Suns of the cycles, Masters of Wisdom.

Formed are not they as the children of men?
THREE, FOUR, FIVE AND SIX, SEVEN,
EIGHT, NINE are the titles of the Masters of men.

Far from the future, formless yet forming,
came they as teachers for the children of men.
Live they forever, yet not of the living,
bound not to life and yet free from death.

Rule they forever with infinite wisdom,
bound yet not bound to the dark Halls of Death.
Life they have in them, yet life that is not life,
free from all are the Lords of the ALL.

Forth from them came forth the Logos,
instruments they of the power o'er all.
Vast is their countenance,
yet hidden in smallness,
formed by a forming, known yet unknown.

Emerald tablets of Thoth . Tablet 3

The Key of Wisdom

These messengers from the future are formless and incorporeal. They may even be highly evolved humans. It would explain accurate prophecies, but it would be dumb to suggest that there isn't a God "since we did it all ourselves". The existence of a true One and Only Allmighty loving God is all they ever speak of.

Great Archangels could (or should) be protectors; Cherubs, but could (or should) also be intermediators; Seraphs, which is why Michael as well as Satan before his fall were portrayed as winged humanlike angels as well as Cherubs or Seraphs. Mostly however angels are reported to appear as normal people; Ishim; men, be it radiant or not.

But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. And going in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And as they were much perplexed about it, it happened that, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Lu24;2

And a great light was seen shining in the room, and an angel of the Lord came to Peter and, touching him on his side so that he came out of his sleep, said, Get up quickly. And his chains came off his hands.  Ac12;5

Angels seem to come in three different sorts, mythical, like the Cherubs of Old, and as humanlike entities, be it incorporeal or corporeal. In the Bible, shiny angels mostly appear as one, two or three men, small groups of (six) men carrying shattering weapons, or even complete armies.  Shattering weapons suggest a somewhat more substantial quality then would normally be expected of angels. In fact not all angels are as incorporeal as angels commonly are made out to be.

Come and I will show you the souls of the angels

and the spirits of the ministers

whose bodies have been burned

in the fire of the Omnipresent One.

3Enoch 47;1

In PR (Madrash Pesikta Rabati) 22, 114a it can be read that the angels of destruction all have joints, which could indicate a material state. The fallen Watchers, the angels that descended to earth before the Flood, were Ishim (men) of great posture; Grigori; giants in the eyes of the people they visited and were able, if not interested, to mix with women.  It says angels here because also the demons, the messengers or helpers of Satan sometimes are called angels.

Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Mt 25:41

And Uriel said to me: "The spirits of the Angels who were promiscuous with women will stand here; and they, assuming many forms, made men unclean and will lead men astray so that they sacrifice to demons as gods. And they will stand there until the great judgment day, on which they will be judged, so that an end will be made of them. 1Enoch 18.11

Since these angels who came to be worshipped as gods have all to human streaks; they ate (even the angels that visited Abraham ate with him), argued amongst themselves, had sexual intercourse whenever they could, died and were buried (Osiris was buried in Abydos), it appears that different races of Aliens have united in a great council (as an imitation of the Divine Council) to reach collective decisions, but are not always in agreement concerning the creation and evolution of the human race, which resulted in a schism. You have to realize that these material angels or Aliens if you will, are beings just like us, with material bodies, souls and spirits. They may be more evolved, mentally and scientifically then we are, but are not infallible, which regrettably can be said of most angels.

And there is no one on my side against these, but Michael, your angel. Da 10:21

Truly, he puts no faith in his servants, and he sees error in his angels. Job 4;18

...it might be known from the Word that angels are men, since those that have been seen have been seen as men; and the Lord, who took all His Human with Him, appeared in like manner. It might be known also that as angels are men they have dwellings and places of abode, and do not fly about in air, as some think in their ignorance, which the angels call insanity, and that although they are called spirits they are not winds. Swedenborg, Heaven and Hell 183

From Brahma's world down, the dwellers of all the worlds are subject to repeated birth and death. Bhagavad-Gita 8.16 

...Including humans, angels and demons.

Every soul of every world is in a phase of moving up or down on the Jacobs Ladder to the Heavens and while doing so, he is accompanied by an incorporeal guardian angel.

*

Everybody has a

Guardian angel.

(Hafazah in Islam.)

The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you and prosper your way.  Ge 24:40

For he will give you into the care of his angels to keep you wherever you go. Ps91;11

Let it not seem to you that one of these little ones (children) is of no value; for I say to you that in heaven their angels see at all times the face of my Father in heaven.  Mt 18:10

... from which may be deducted that this is not always the case with "grownups".  This angel apparently forms a union with the one he is assigned to, which may backfire into having to remove himself from the proximity of God.

This angel is our guide and guards the development of our soul's spirit, which is not necessarily the same as guarding our safety. Gods first objective is to guide our souls to salvation; the body is of lesser importance.

It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail.  John 6:63  RSV

On your way through life, you may receive guidance from different angels, according to your spiritual development.

When a person is born, he receives a soul connected to the Ophanim; if he is worthy his soul is connected to the Hayoth and if he becomes even worthier his soul is connected to the Throne of Glory. Zohar 3;94b

Man's spiritual progress does not stop at death but goes on until he reaches his goal.

Nor in this world nor in the next, do the wise find rest; they go from strength to strength until they appear before God in Sion. Talmud; Berakot.64a.

Our goal is to become like angels in Heaven;

For in the resurrection they ... are like angels in heaven.  Mt 22;30

It is said, that our goal is to be transformed (back) into similar angels; enlightened souls, as our guardian angels. The Greek used to call them our Daemons or Daimones, which actually was a collective noun for higher developed spiritual powerfull beings. They may be higher developed and powerfull, they still are "not on their unreasoning side immune" as Plotinus described it, and liable to fall. Even the entire "clans" of Michael and Gabriel were once destroyed by fire for being proud. Perhaps it better to say their entire races were destroyed by fire from heaven; the entire planets they lived on, wiped clean of their existence. Bear in mind, that the entire human race is called Adam and that on Earth too the end will come by fire from the sky, leaving only those who trust in God.

First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 2 Peter 3

The same thing may have happened to earlier races of beings now known as angels.

"Michael", "Gabriel", and "Raphael", are no other than angelic societies so named from their function. 52-1 Swedenborg, Heaven and Hell sect. 2 (p22)

God in His wisdom hiving resolved to create man, He asked counsel of all around Him before He proceeded to execute His purpose--an example to man, be he never so great and distinguished, not to scorn the advice of the humble and lowly. First God called upon heaven and earth, then upon all other things He had created, and last upon the angels. The angels were not all of one opinion. The Angel of Love favored the creation of man, because he would be affectionate and loving; but the Angel of Truth opposed it, because he would be full of lies. And while the Angel of Justice favored it, because he would practice justice, the Angel of Peace opposed it, because he would be quarrelsome. To invalidate his protest, God cast the Angel of Truth down from heaven to earth, and when the others cried out against such contemptuous treatment of their companion, He said, "Truth will spring back out of the earth." The objections of the angels would have been much stronger, had they known the whole truth about man. God had told them only about the pious, and had concealed from them that there would be reprobates among mankind, too. And yet, though they knew but half the truth, the angels were nevertheless prompted to cry out: "What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that Thou visitest him?" God replied: "The fowl of the air and the fish of the sea, what were they created for? Of what avail a larder full of appetizing dainties, and no guest to enjoy them?" And the angels could not but exclaim: "O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! Do as is pleasing in Thy sight." For not a few of the angels their opposition bore fatal consequences. When God summoned the band under the archangel Michael, and asked their opinion on the creation of man, they answered scornfully: "What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that Thou visitest him?" God thereupon stretched forth His little finger, and all were consumed by fire except their chief Michael. And the same fate befell the band under the leadership of the archangel Gabriel; he alone of all was saved from destruction. The third band consulted was commanded by the archangel Labbiel. Taught by the horrible fate of his predecessors, he warned his troop: "You have seen what misfortune overtook the angels who said 'What is man, that Thou art mindful of him?' Let us have a care not to do likewise, lest we suffer the same dire punishment. For God will not refrain from doing in the end what He has planned. Therefore it is advisable for us to yield to His wishes." Thus warned, the angels spoke: "Lord of the world, it is well that Thou hast thought of creating man. Do Thou create him according to Thy will. And as for us, we will be his attendants and his ministers, and reveal unto him all our secrets." Thereupon God changed Labbiel's name to Raphael, the Rescuer, because his host of angels had been rescued by his sage advice. He was appointed the Angel of Healing, who has in his safe-keeping all the celestial remedies, the types of the medical remedies used on earth. Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews, the angels and the creation of Man.

So where are they now, since they no longer had physical bodies to live in. Were they placed in new bodies so they may continue their travel towards God aided by their holier brothers, watching over them as guardian angels?

It was told that the noble members of a race that once lived in the Golden Age. now are acting as our Guardian angels.

First of all the deathless gods who dwell on Olympos made a Golden (khryseoi) Race of mortal men who lived in the time of Cronos (Saturnus, Cernunnos) when he was reigning in heaven. And they lived like gods without sorrow of heart, remote and free from toil and grief: miserable age rested not on them; but with legs and arms never failing they made merry with feasting beyond the reach of all evils. When they died, it was as though they were overcome with sleep, and they had all good things; for the fruitful earth unforced bare them fruit abundantly and without stint. They dwelt in ease and peace upon their lands with many good things, rich in flocks and loved by the blessed gods. But after earth had covered this generation--they are called Pure Daimones (Greek; Wise ones) dwelling on the earth (epikhthonioi), and are kindly, delivering from harm, and guardians of mortal men; for they roam everywhere over the earth, clothed in mist and keep watch on judgements and cruel deeds, givers of wealth [i.e. agricultural bounty]; for this royal right also they received. Hesiod, Works & Days 109 ff

"For those who practise violence and cruel deeds far-seeing Zeus, the son of Kronos, ordains a punishment. Often even a whole city suffers for a bad man who sins and devises presumptuous deeds, and the son of Kronos lays great trouble upon the people, famine and plague together, so that the men perish away, and their women do not bear children, and their houses become few, through the contriving of Zeus Olympios. And again, at another time, the son of Kronos either destroys their wide army, or their walls, or else makes an end of their ships on the sea. You princes, mark well this punishment you also; for the deathless gods are near among men and mark all those who oppress their fellows with crooked judgements, and reck not the anger of the gods. For upon the bounteous earth Zeus has thrice ten thousand Spirits (daimones), Watchers of mortal men, and these keep watch on judgements and deeds of wrong as they roam, clothed in mist, all over the earth." Hesiod, Works & Days 238 ff

These people themselves were once led and guided by similar beings.

Long ages before even cities existed . . . there existed in the time of Kronos, it is said, a most prosperous government and settlement . . . Well, then, tradition tells us how blissful was the life of men in that age, furnished with everything in abundance, and of spontaneous growth. And the cause thereof is said to have been this : Kronos was aware of the fact that no human being is capable of having irresponsible control of all human affairs without becoming filled with pride and injustice; so, pondering this fact, he then appointed as kings and rulers for our cities, not men, but beings of a race that was nobler and more divine, namely, Daimones (Spirits). He acted just as we now do in the case of sheep and herds of tame animals: we do not set oxen as rulers over oxen, or goats over goats, but we, who are of a nobler race, ourselves rule over them. In like manner the god, in his love for humanity, set over us at that time the nobler race of Daimones who, with much comfort to themselves and much to us, took charge of us and furnished peace and modesty and orderliness and justice without stint, and thus made the tribes of men free from feud and happy. And even today this tale has a truth to tell, namely, that wherever a State has a mortal, and no god, for ruler, there the people have no rest from ills and toils; and it deems that we ought by every means to imitate the life of the age of Kronos, as tradition paints it. [Cf. The Daimones of Hesiod's Works and Days above.] Plato, Laws 713a

As our guardian angels, or Watchers they would guide us through life and to our next destination, which could be in Hades or on the Isles of the Blessed.

For after death, as they say the daemon of each individual, to whom he belonged in life, leads him to a certain place in which the dead are gathered together, whence after judgement has been given they pass into the world below, following the guide, who is appointed to conduct them from this world to the other: and when they have received their due and remained their time, another guide brings them back again after many revolutions of ages. Plato Phaedo 107d

When Saturnus (Cronos) fell to dark Tartara and Jove (Zeus) reigned upon the earth, the Proles Argentea (Silver Race) (of man) replaced the Gold, inferior, yet in worth above he tawny bronze. Then Juppiter (Jove, Zeus) curtailed the pristine spring and led the year through winter, summer, autumn’s varying days and brief precarious spring in seasons four. Then first the blazing sky with torrid heat sweltered, and ice hung frozen in the gale; then men sought shelter--shelter under caves and thickets and rough hurdles bound with bark; then in long furrows first were set the seeds of grain and oxen groaned beneath the yoke." Ovid, Metamorphoses 1. 113 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.)

The strong connection with their protegés made them susceptible to earthly pleasures.

Even Celestials, the Daemones, are not on their unreasoning side immune: there is nothing against ascribing acts of memory and experiences of sense to them, in supposing them to accept the traction of methods laid up in the natural order, and to give hearing to petitioners; this is especially true of those of them that are closest to this sphere, and in the degree of their concern about it. Plotinus Enneads IV.4.43

Just like with us humans there were many shades in goodness and badness. Not every single one was equally evil; the more enlightened ones live on in folklore as radiant beings known as Faeries. Many of these guardians fell and became known as Nephilim, or Fallen Watchers in Jewish Rabbinic literature. After the Flood their souls lived on as Evil spirits, Genii, Jinni or Genie in resp. Roman, Arab and English folklore. The Roman name for such a spirit was Genius and they would divide them into good and bad Genii; Larvae and Lares. So, there may be good or bad Genii; good or bad guides. It should be noted that both groups usually were accompanied by symbolic serpents. It should also be noted, that people who have contact with these guides, usually psychic people, or paragnosts, rapport that they originally had contact with one original guide, who soon "introduced" them to others forming a group of seven, or many many more "guides", not to mention the word Legions.

This is in contrast with what the Book of Adam and Eve says about this;

God the Lord gave us (Adam and Eve) two angels to guard us. Vita Adae 33;1

One each.

It also is in contrast with what the Bible and Bhagavad Gita say about guides;

Such is the equilibrium of all in the universal heaven that one is moved by another, thinks from another, as if in a chain; so that not the least thing can [occur from itself]: thus the universe is ruled by the Lord, and, indeed, with no trouble (SD 2466)¹. From this order of creation it may appear, that such is the binding chain of connection from firsts to lasts that all things together make one, in which the prior cannot be separated from the posterior (just as a cause cannot be separated from its effect); and that thus the spiritual world cannot be separated from the natural, nor the natural world from the spiritual; thence neither the angelic heaven from the human race, nor the human race from the angelic heaven. Wherefore it is so provided by the Lord, that each shall afford a mutual assistance to the other....Hence it is, that the angelic mansions are indeed in heaven, and to appearance separate from the mansions where men are; and yet they are with man in his affections of good and truth (LJ 9). Swedenborg

Your silent inner voice; a direct line to God.

*

The fallen ones, dating from the time of Cronus (Cernunnos, Enlil or later called;Satan), who are cut of from the Holy Spirit, which was their life-force, still try to inhabit humans, which literally would provide them with a warm place to stay. In return they might provide their human "symbiotic" companion with advise or perform small favors. In the beginning, these ancestral genii, or "familiar spirits" may even have the best of intentions, but when fought and pushed out, they usually get really possessive about it and call in help from stronger and more persistent and violent Demons, and the only way to get rid of them would be an exorcism. 

There is nevertheless a large group of evolved souls that are sometimes sent to guide and help a person or a cause, but they do not live in or upon the earth, but have their own place, which is why it sometimes may take a while to reach us and even then they can be thwarted by forces of evil.

But the angel of the kingdom of Persia put himself against me for twenty-one days; but Michael, one of the chief angels, came to my help; and when I came he was still there with the angel of the kings of Persia. Da 10:13  

These angels perform Gods will not because they are told to do so, but out of free will to do so. Free will is very important to God. It is wiser as well as more fun to collect friends around you instead of will less slaves. Our free will is important enough for God to let us make the mistakes we make so we might learn from it. It is not God's will that there is so much war and hunger in the world, we thank it all to ourselves. Even when driven by Demons having their own agendas; we don't have to act upon it.

It is His will that we learn to resist evil and learn how to do things right, and even more important, how NOT to do things wrong, but to do them according the will and commandments of GOD, which is inherent to GOOD. 

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Adam, Adam, do not fear. 

You wanted to be a god;

I will make you a god,

not right now,

but after a space of many years.  

Test. Adam 3;2

Related sites; http://www.visionsofjesuschrist.com; miraculous rescues by angels

http://www.padrepio.catholicwebservices.com/ENGLISH/Guard.htm; more miraculous savings by guardian angels