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?
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 the 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 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.
The Second celestial intelligence 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.)
I guess that the four living creatures are among the cherubim since they are in the midst of the throne, and they are full of eyes.
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, the celestial intelligence described sitting in the thrones is the twenty-four elders. And their sitting denotes to their stability and pride. They are dressed in white, referring to, their purity and holiness.
The Forth celestial intelligence is Dominions or Lordships. Dominions referring to their highness in pride and authority.
The Fifth celestial intelligence is 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).
The 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.
The seventh celestial intelligence is principalities. (And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.) (COLOSSIANS 2:10).
The 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)
The 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).
Secondly, 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).
Tawfik, S. (2022). Angels’ massive powerful celestial intelligences. www.orthodox-beliefs.com
Source is HOLY BIBLE. NEW KING JAMES VERSION. Arabic New van Dyck text. C. The Bible Society of Egypt. Fifth edition Third print 2019. ISBN 978-1-84364-188-9. Printed in China.
Reference is book (Theoretical theology) (Part two) for Egyptian Monk Benjamin Meeharika. (The heavenly hosts).
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