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The Five Ranks/Kinds of Angels

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

According to the Holy Bible, there are five kinds of Angels recorded for the ministry of grace, and each kind of Angels have different appearances, purposes, might and power, and also their dwellings are different from one another. All Angels dwell in the heavens, but some live nearest to the throne of God and others appear before the throne of God once in a while as determined by God, and others are watchers and guardians of mankind and other God’s creations.


1. THE SERAPHIMS

In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2: Above it stood the Seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain, he covered his feet, and with twain, he did fly. 3: And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4: And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.


The first class of the Angels are the Seraphims, they are the most powerful Angels, these never leave the throne of God, they are all round about the throne of God. They protect the Throne of God and they proclaim and declare His glory to one another and to the second class of Angels day and night. They don’t stop proclaiming nor do they get tired.


The Seraphim have the following features;

  • They each one have six wings

  • With twain they cover their feet

  • With twain they do fly

  • They each have one face


2. THE CHERUBIM

And Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. 6; and everyone had four faces, and everyone had four wings; 7; and their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot; and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. 8; and they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. 9; Their Wings joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went everyone straight forward. 10; as for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had a face of an ox on the left side; they four had a face of an Eagle. 11; thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward: two wings of everyone were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. 12; and they went everyone straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went. 13; As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright; and out of the fire went forth lightening.


This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims. Everyone had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.


The Cherubims are the second class of the Angels following the Seraphims, Cherubims are all around the throne of God and they are protecting Angels, they protect the throne of God and protect His glory from affecting and destroying God’s creations.

When Man sinned and fell away from the presence of God, (Genesis 3:24) God drove him out of the garden and the bible says that, God set the cherubims to keep the way to the Garden of Eden.

“So he drove out the man; and placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned everyway, to keep the way of the tree of life” (KJV)


God appointed Cherubims to provide absolute protection to sacred things. Cherubims are fierce fiery beings. In the book of (Exodus 25:18-20); Moses was instructed to make two cherubims and place them on top of the Ark of the covenant and put the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle. The Cherubims were placed guarding the mercy seat where the name of God was. This reveals that Cherubs are mainly in charge of safeguarding the majestic Throne of God and all the mysteries thereof.


“And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat; 19; and make one cherub on the one end, and the other Cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. 20: And the Cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.


Cherubims dwell close to the throne of God; they have wings with which they guard the glory of God.

The appearance of the Cherubims;-

  • They everyone have four faces

  • They have the face of a man,

  • They have the face of a lion, on the right side

  • They have a face of an ox on the left side;

  • They have a face of an Eagle

  • They everyone have four wings

  • They have the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides

  • They each have straight feet like the sole of a calf’s foot

  • They have their faces and their wings

  • They are covered with eyes all over their body

  • Their appearance is like burning cools of fire, and like the appearance of lamps


3. THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES (ORPHANINS)

And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. They rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.


The Orphanins are the third class of the Angels also great in mighty following the Cherubims. Orphanins declare and proclaim the glory and the works of the Lord to the rest of the classes of the Angels and to the servants of God the prophets. The word of the Lord God is given through the Seraphims, and they convey it to the Cherubims, who also pass it on to the Orphanins and these Living creatures declare it to the next class of Angels or to the Prophets directly.


Orphanins worship the Lord day and night just like the Seraphims and the Cherubims and these cry out loudly; HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, is the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.


The appearance of the Living Creatures (Orphanins);-

  • They are creatures full of eyes before and behind

  • The one creature has a form like a lion

  • The other beast like a calf,

  • The other beast has a face as a man

  • The other beast has a form like a flying eagle

  • They rest not day and night proclaiming the glory of the Lord God

Note;

The first three classes of Angels perform their duties in the heaven of heavens at the Throne of God. They rarely intervene in the affairs of men which was reserved for the Arch Angels and the Guardian Angels (Watchers).



4. THE ARCH ANGELS


These are high-ranking Angels who are put in charge of other Angels below them. They are the commanders of the Armies of heaven. They are servants of God sent forth to execute his will both in heaven and on earth. They are charged to always intervene in the affairs of the earth and heavens. They are in charge of all God’s creations that were created. Each one of them has a specific ministry given to them by God Almighty to operate.


The Two common Great Arch Angels


The Arch Angel Michael;


The Arch Angel Michael and Gabriel have been more profound in the scriptures as we have seen them several times sent by God to convey a message or fulfill a certain task both in heaven and on Earth. Let’s dive into the scriptures to be enlightened more on who these divine servants of the Most High God are and their roles. In the book of Joshua 5:13, God’s servant Joshua comes in contact with one of them while he prepared Israel for Battle;

“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? 14: And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant. 15: And the captain of the Lord’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou stand is holy. And Joshua did so.”


On this particular Occasion; this commander of the host of the Lord throughout the scriptures is revealed as the Arch Angel Michael who is in Charge of the Armies of heaven. God sent him at this particular point to assist God’s servant Joshua to achieve the task of rescuing the land given unto them and distributing it among each tribe.

When Daniel the prophet dedicated himself to Prayer and fasting for twenty-one days seeking to understand the time when they would be released from captivity in Babylon, the bible says that a command was given in heaven regarding his request, and one of the Arch Angels was sent to bring down the message to Daniel; however on his way to the earth, he was restrained until he called for help from another Arch Angel in charge of the Armies of heaven for his rescue.

“Then said he unto me, fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13: But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia.


Arch Angel Michael is called on to rescue the Angel Gabriel from the Angels of Darkness who were withstanding him. Being the one in charge of the Armies of HEAVEN, God anointed him with great power and authority over all Angelic and human affairs in the spiritual realm. The word of God points him out as one who stands in for the children of Israel (Daniel 12:1).


The book of Enoch says that he is put in charge of the best part of humankind, and in Charge of all Nations. He is the holy Angel who presides over human virtue and commands the nations. He is also a warrior Angel.


The Arch Angel Gabriel

This is a Messenger of God who stands before the Lord and delivers messages from God to his servants. He delivered the message to Zacharias concerning the conception and birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:13-19), He also delivered the message concerning the birth of Jesus Christ the saviour of the world to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-31). Arch Angel Gabriel was the one sent to deliver the message to Daniel the prophet during his consecration.


With reference from the book of Enoch, we are introduced to other Princes of heaven or Arch Angels and their ministries are revealed. Enoch is the only man who surveyed the extremities of the heavens and the earth and learned mysteries that were hidden from man.

There are many other Princes or Arch Angels which include;

Raguel; He is one of the Holy Angels who takes vengeance on the world and on the Lights.

Sarakiel; One of the holy Angels who are in charge of all the spirits of men that transgress.

Raphael: He is in charge of the places where the souls of men are kept when they leave the earth (die).

Uriel: He is one of the holy Angels, who presides over clamour and terror.

Michael: One of the holy Angels who preside over human virtue and commands the nations. He is also a warrior Angel.



5. THE NUMEROUS ANGELS


This is the last class of Angels who are many in number as the scripture below describes them, “And behold, I heard the voice of many Angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands”(Revelations 5:11).


These are God’s servants and they worship him day and night; they serve the holy one with praises and worship. In them are Guardian Angels who are assigned to watch over every soul and spirit of men born in this world (Mathew 18:10, Acts 12:15, Hebrews 13:2).

Some of these Numerous Angels are completely wingless and others have six wings.


Every man and woman born on earth has got a guardian angel assigned to him by God to help him serve his purpose on earth. There is no child born by mistake; everyone is accountable before the Lord and has been pre-ordained to do the will of God. The Guardian Angels help to protect us, fight spiritual battles on our behalf; safeguard us as we walk in the valley of the shadow of death, warn us when there is coming danger, strengthen us in times of weakness and they also pray for us to God on our behalf.


Guardian Angels become dormant the moment we sin and fall away from God’s presence. They only act upon God’s word and will. We can all today activate our Guardian Angels by repenting and confessing our sins to the Lord Jesus Christ. God knew that man is so insufficient that’s why He sent forth guardians who are mightier in power to help us walk safely through this earthly life full of evil.


11: For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12: They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13: Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.



 
 
 

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