Have you ever wondered what an Angel is? I mean beyond what we see on display as the images of Angels. Have you ever asked yourself if Angels have always existed, and if so what do they do specifically. Well besides the teachings that we obtain through our religious practices, exactly what are the answers to these questions and are there answers? What exactly is an "Angel".

According to most dictionaries an "Angel" is defind as a form of spirit. They include in their definitions terms such as: immortal, guardian, guiding, attendent, messenger, and harbinger. They usually provide a discription of how we envisioin them as being in human form with wings and dressed in a long white robe. They also generally give some form of a discription of a living being who is either very beautiful or kind and who displays those behaviors we would attribute to Angels (kindness, gentleness, selflessness, etc.). So the vision that we could obtain from their definition is of a human form of a spirit which is beautiful, dressed in a long white robe.





The word "Angel" comes from the greek work "angelos", which through Hebrew translation means "messenger." Therefore, they are generally envisioned as a messenger or intermediary between mortals and the Divine. The term "Angel" is use specifically in the Western religions to distinguish benevolent spirits from malevolent spirits (also called demons). It is applied to a form of spiritual being who mediates between the realm of the Divine (God or the gods) and the world of mortals. This description of "Angels" refers to their function rather than to their being or nature. They are frequently pictured as ministering to men in art. John Calvin, in his book Institutes of the Christian Religion, said: "Angels are the dispensers and administrators of the divine beneficence toward us. They regard our safety, undertake our defence, direct our ways, and exercise a constant solicitude that no evil befall us."

The Christian belief and many other religions, place the creation of Angels before mans, although there is no exact way of determining the time of their creation. The belief in Angels is generally found in some form in all religions and it is believed that this belief finds some basis in the concern of man with the relationship between mortals and the spiritual realm. It is found in many of the ancient religions (Greek, Egyptian, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) that this relationship was believed to have involved Angels. These religions envisioned Angels as divine messengers sent to interact with mortals by instructing, informing, or commanding them. It is further believed by many of the ancient religions, that Angels could function as a protective guardian, a heavenly warrior, and sometimes even as a cosmic power. Futhermore, the distinction between a good Angel and a bad Angel (somtimes referred to as a demon is not always clear. Therefore, through these beliefs, Angels can be described as personified powers mediating between the Divine and mortals.

The role of the Angel is elaborated more fully in the religions based on revelation, such as the Zoroastrainism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Where these religions emphasize the distance between mortals and the divine, they have the greatest need for an intermediary between the two. While in the polytheistic and monistic religions the gap between the two is less pronounced. There does exist a spiritual being similar to Angels, which exists to help individuals achieve a proper rapport with the gods and spirits. In the Hebrew scriptures, as in the Zoroastrainism, Angels praise and serve the Divine. They reveal the Divine truth, and act as extensions of the Divine's will, rewarding the good and punishing the wicked. They help mortals understand the Divine and they conduct the souls of the righteous to heaven. The Christian religion, like the Hebrew, sees Angels as the messengers and ministeries between mortals and the Divine. They see the Angels as being activily involved in the daily lives of Christians. They are seen as presiding over the sacraments and are therefore present at the most significant moments in a Christian's life. They will announce the Last Judgement and separate the just from the unjust. Angels help Christinas achieve salvation in countless ways, no service is beneath them. They carry the prayers to the Divine, they offer strength, and comfort to the faithful.

It is further believed by many religions that the Divine appointed a Guardian Angel for every man. They are envisioned as intelligent spiritual creatures divinely appointed to exercise individual care and protection over mortals. With a primary function of assisting mortals with their attainment of eternal salvation. Most take the concept of the Guardian Angel to mean a single Angle, and yet there are those (such as the Jewish Qunran) who believe that every mortal has at his side two Angels. This belief sees their function to include the recording of good deeds by one and the recording of bad deeds by the other. There are, however, some who are influential in Angelology, that never mention a personal Guardian Angel. Yet in the Middle Ages this belief prevailed heavily.

Through these beliefs of the functions of Angels, it is easy to understand the belief that prevails concerning the power and intelligence of an Angel. Angels have benn attributed with being more powerful than any known power to man and it has been said that they are more organized than any of the great armies throughout history. Yet no religion defines them as being "omnipotent" or "all powerful." Angels are also accredited with an extensive realm of knowledge, which they use for the good of mortals. Yet no where is it found that they are "omniscient" or "all knowing." There numerous testimonials given that enforce the beliefs of the power and the knowledge of Angels. These testimonials are found in the scriptures and in society as we know it today. Another belief that is held, is that angels are not "omnipresent," they are not accredited with the ability to be in more than one place at any given time. While they are believed to have the ability to move about freely without restraint, and are envisioned as being capable of moving from one place to another rapidly. They are only able to be in one place. These beliefs are held by most religions, with the belief that Angels are created beings or creatures and that they serve their creator.

Although it is agreed that Angels are spiritual beings, opinions vary greatly as to whether they bodies they assumed are material or simply gave the illusion of being so. During the pre-Christian Judaism, there existed the convection that Angels were spiritual beings without bodies. That as such they were only visible to man as apparitions and did not appear in material bodies. They were said not to have a body of flesh, which did not mean that they had no body of any kind. This was not to say that they were totally without form, but rather that they had an immaterial body corresponding to their nature. During this period their bodies wer considered to be in some form vaporous or firelike. The concept of Angels existing in a vaporous form was quickly replaced with the concept that an Angel existed in an ethereal body that was proper for it. In any case, so it was said, an Angel never showed himself in a body of flesh, nor in his true form, but in a special form suited to the apparition. While all religions see Angels as spirits, the beliefs of their appearance later changed to state that an Angel does have the power to assume the form of human bodies in order to make their presence visible to the senses of man.

While all beliefs of the Angels and their functions center on the concept of Angels being spiritual messengers from the Divine. Sent to carry out the duties of the Divine, their functions are not totally seen as that of ministering spirits, sent for the service of those who shall inhert salvation. The Angels are subject to the divine, and their primary role is to minister to the Divine and the Divine Kingdom. They also serve the Divine by offering praise and honoring the Divine. Through this offering of praise may be found the basis for the beliefs of Angel voices. While there are mentions in the Christian scriptures of Angels speaking to mortals as they carry out their duties for the Divine. The image of sweetnes, joyfulness, and happiness of Angel voices may also find basis in the belief that music is the ultimate vehicle of praise. Throughout history, there have been poems, songs, and stories written about the wonders of Angel voices. Along with this, there have been testimonies upon testimonies given by mortals who have proclaimed to have heard Angel voices during near death experiences and during death.

Throughout our lives we hear of the Angels and a large part of our beliefs are founded on those of our religious teachings, not matter what the religion. But the personal belief in Angels is always one of personal faith. With all the knowledge availabe to the scientific world today, one must be aware that science can never prove or disprove the existence or activity of Angels. One only knows that Angels exist, through faith.






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