Page 6
Friday, December 13,1996
Angels
are among us
George Spitzer
Design/Layout Editor
Comforting, holy, and beautiful are
all qualities of angels. They have been a
part of world beliefs for centuries.
An angel is defined as a celestial
being believed to function as a
messenger or agent of God in
Christianity, Tianity, Islam, Judaism,
and Zoroastrianism.
There are two different types of
orders of angels. The first sphere are
heavenly counselors: Seraphim,
Cherubim, and Thrones.
The second sphere of angels work
as heavenly governors: Dominions,
Virtues, and Powers.
There is also a hierarchy of angels.
The seven highest angels are Uriel,
Tartarus, Raguel, Michael, Saraquael,
Gabriel, Ramiel, and Raphael.
Each angel has a different task.
Uriel rules the world. Raguel takes
vengeance on the world of the
luminaries. Michael is set over the most
part of mankind and over chaos.
Saraquael is set over spirits. Gabriel is
the ruler of paradise, the serpents, and
the cherubim. Ramiel is set over those
who rise. Raphael rules the spirits of
men.
A vast majority of students
surveyed feel that angels do exist. “I do
think angels exist. They are biblical and
they have been sighted in human form, ”
Angela Hayes, freshman, said.
Today some people have become
enchanted by angels. It is believed that
angles can help heal the soul.
Peoples of years past also believed in
this principle. It has been proven by
many historians.
Ancient and medieval peoples
widely accepted the fact that there were
angles, evil spirits, and fallen angels. It
was during the middle ages that the
hierarchy of angels came into existence.
Christmas is directly associated with
angels. “The angels led the wise men to
Jesus,” James Cantey, freshman,
exclaimed.
Hayes also feels angels are
associated with Christmas. “The
scriptures say the angels came to the
shepherds and the angel of the lord came
to Mary.”
Just as Mary was encountered with
her guardian angel, people of today feel
they have one too. Ninety-five percent
of people surveyed believe in guardian
angels.
During this Christmas when the
family is together singing songs,
especially HarkJheJfcrakLAngels_Sing,
think of how angels have been a part of
society for centuries.
Gabriel
The Archangel Gabriel, whose name
means "God is my strength,"
explained to Daniel his vision of a
ram and a billy-goat foretelling
Alexander the Great’s conquest of
Persia and a prophecy foretelling the
freeing of the Israelites. In both these
cases the archangel is mentioned by
name but it has also been suggested
that Gabriel is the angel who wrestles
with Jacob In the fomi of a man and
that he was involved in the
destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
Enoch says that Gabriel was sent to
destroy the giant children of the
fallen "watchers” and did so by
turning them against each other in
‘Paradise Lost.”
» *. W'«.*
'.VW't 4
AN6EL
cAtrnel is the of
5* has four faces, one on
his hend/ one benenth his feet, one
on his front nnd one on his bflcb.
£)^lso/ his bodif is covered with
countless ejfes. ^vetg time nn eye
closes it signifies n dentb-
VK)ichnel is sometimes looked upon
AS the ^hristinn c>^ngel of ^eath-
^nrfl(|UAel is one contender, a
seraph tvho is aIso AssociAted tvith
heAling. yite idea of ah Angel
covered in eyes continues in at least
one other CAlled ^Ammael/
mentioned in the ^Almud. cA tenth
century scholAr, linking ^T^fxrAel to
the angel ^j^ing ^avid saw
threatening Jerusalem/ describes
An Angel formed of gellotvish flame,
with eges which shone with bluish
fire.
Michael
The Archangel Michael, whose name
means who is as God,' is generally
considered to be the foremost of the seven
archangels and the leader of the Host of
Heaven. He is the prince who defended
the Israelites and later, it was claimed, the
Christian Church, when as guardian he
may be called on (sometimes with
Gabriel) to defend church doors against
the devil. According to the Book of
Revelations, Michael and his angels' are
described fighting 'the dragon and his
angels' with the result that 'that old
serpent, called the Devil, and Satan...he
was cast out into the earth, and his angels
were cast out with him'. Hence Michael is
often shown fighting or overcoming a
dragon armed with spear or sword as
God's Warrior.
r