Angelology
The Hierarchy of Angels
From Seraphim to Guardian Angels

The hierarchy of angels will answer questions you did not even know you had.

Angelology by the great religious thinkers of many of the major faiths have given a structure or rank to the heavenly society. Their angelology and the hierarchy of angels each rank angels according to their power and authority from the highest Seraphim to the last choir, the Guardian Angels.

Even Billy Graham in his book Angels, Gods Secret Agents agrees there is an order among the angels.

Islam does not have an angelic hierarchy divided into choirs since it was not directly addressed in the Qur’an. However, it is clear that they believe there is an order that exists among the angels according to their assigned jobs and tasks as commanded by God. Their belief in angels is one of their Six Articles of Faith.

The angelic hierarchy that follows is based on the Celestial Hierarchy written by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite a Syrian who lived about A.D.500.

It is the most quoted and used angelic hierarchy in Christian angelology. In fact Thomas Aquinas, considered the greatest theologian and philosopher of the Catholic Church, quoted him 1700 times and that is good enough for me.

Angelology in some ways creates as many questions as it answers. In the following hierarchy, I will try to give you more answers than questions.

There are three hierarchies and nine choirs in the angelic society. They are in descending order of their closeness to God.

The following descriptions at first glance may sound more like demons than heavenly angels but I assure you they are angels.

Of these three holy choirs which one do you think would be described as "the holy beast". I will give you a clue - guards the entrance to the Garden of Eden. Click here to find out if you were correct

This angelic choir surrounds the throne of God and constantly sing the trisagion ("holy, holy, holy"). They are the angels of love, light and fire "the burning ones" Did you guess correctly?

This mighty choir is known as "the multi-eyed" ones and are sent to "bring God's justice upon us". They were vividly described by Ezekiel get their full story here

The angels of the second hierarchy are not very well known. They are kinda like the second or middle child in a family. They receive their commands from God through the Seraphim and Cherubim, the first children. Even though they are quite and have very little contact with mortals God has given them tremendous responsibilities.

One these choirs is responsible for not only keeping order in the universe but also for assigning all of the other angels their duties. I call them the "community organizers" Click here to find out which one it is.

One of these choirs, and if you clicked on the other two you already know the answer, are the angels of encouragement. They gave David the courage to pick up a small stone put it in his sling shot and face a giant all by himself. So which angels are they?

Of all the celestial beings in angelology, we are more familiar with the angels of the 3rd hierarchy which includes the 7th, 8th and 9th choirs.

I guess this may be what God intended since these choirs have direct contact with us.

Principalities, the seventh choir what do you really know about them? Are they friend or foe, demon or angel? There seems to be some question on this.

The Archangels, the 8th choir The archangels are the chief angels and the warrior angels. I know you can name three of them but can you name the other four? Which archangel holds the keys to hell? Who is known as "beauty of God"? Which one is known as "righteousness of God? Which one is known as "he who seeks God?