Talk:Angel/Archive 3

Angels and origin of Satan in Islam
I acknowledge that Satan in Islam was originally from the jinn, but wasn't he also one of the lines of angels before God casted him out of heaven? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 60.52.136.33 (talk) 21:44, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Peer review of Judaism section
I'm not sure what "Biblical books" say that angels have free will. Can anyone source that or disprove it? I don't think it's correct.

The quotation from Maimonides' "Guide to the Perplexed" is unusually long for a Wikipedia article, especially considering that the opinions of other Jewish authorities are not quoted verbatim at all. It will take some work, but shortening and summarizing the quotation from Maimonides will make it more readable and more consistent with NPOV if other opinions can be quoted alongside Maimonides. Shalom Hello 02:28, 15 August 2007 (UTC)
 * You're right, no Biblical book specifies that. You're probably right that a summary of the quote will improve the article.  ◄   Zahakiel   ►  00:48, 18 September 2007 (UTC)
 * Yeah, I was suprised to see that. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Satan a "fallen" angel? Revelations 12:9 mentions Satan being hurled to earth with his angels...I don't know if you can take Revelations literally word for word though, because a lot of it's symbolism. I don't mean that it's faulty or anything, just that it can be easy to take it out of context. Anyway, I was thinking that if an angel could rebel then it wouldn't have free will.68.253.43.234 (talk) 06:53, 11 June 2008 (UTC)

Persian and Urdu words should be avoided when talked about Islam

 * In the Qur'an, angels are referred to as "Malaaikah" (Arabic مَلَائِكَة) or "Farishtay" (Persian,Urdu فرشته).

Don't get me wrong. I don't have any problem with Persian (Iran, Iraq) nor people speak Urdu (Pakistan, North India). However, IMO, when talked about Islam, it should use Arabic for Islamic terms. None of the persian nor urdu words familiar to muslims except to those who speak the language.

If someone insist the Persian/Urdu words should appeared on the article, why not input the other languages such as Huáyǔ or some word from Balkan language? Kunderemp (talk) 16:30, 19 June 2008 (UTC)

Restoration?
The current article, from which the material on Christianity has been removed to this discussion page, is completely unsatisfactory. The material on Christianity should be restored, I believe. 68.95.198.85 (talk) 14:27, 4 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Not without WP:RSs, it shouldn't. Please read WP:OR, particularly WP:PSTS & WP:SYNTH. HrafnTalkStalk 16:01, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

Angels
Angels rule —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.56.251.75 (talk) 01:33, 3 November 2008 (UTC)

The unsigned comment on the top of the page has a point. The fact that this page is missing any mention of the popularly secular view of angels (as in "mommy died and went to heaven and now she's an angel") is a gross oversight. This would be a particularly interesting inclusion to contrast it from the proper Christian dogma on angels (in which angels are not deceased human beings, but a different type of being altogether) given popular Western culture's tendency to confuse the two. I'd put it in myself, but I'm not sure how to go about the research. Minaker (talk) 19:18, 3 December 2008 (UTC)

Angels as human-like fugures with wings
Although the Hebrew scriptures mentions winged "angels," does not the familiar image of angels with wings come from Greek sources, such as their depiction on pottery of Eos, the rosy-fingered goddess of dawn?Jim Lacey (talk) 14:36, 4 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Probably! :p Source it and then include it, that is important to have in the article. Gerald T. Fernandez-Mayfield (talk) 20:11, 8 August 2008 (UTC)


 * I don't think the difference would be particularly meaningful to the reader lacking some information as to how the Greek depiction changed rather than merely gave shape to the conception of what angels looked like. HrafnTalkStalk 03:59, 25 August 2008 (UTC)

The article is entirely incorrect when it claims that Seraphim are the only angels who are said to have wings in the bible and I am changing that section accordingly. KJV: Exodus 25:19-21 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. Exodus 37:8-10 And the cherubims spread out their wings on high, and covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with their faces one to another; even to the mercy seatward were the faces of the cherubims. 1 Kings 6:23-25 And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.4.38.105 (talk) 14:02, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

Scientific evidence of angels
I would request that those attempting to introduce unsourced material on this issue read Talk:Angel/Archive 2. There is a clear consensus against including such material. HrafnTalkStalk(P) 07:44, 12 February 2009 (UTC)

A section is needed
A new section is needed: Angels in books, movies and advertisements.

I just saw this and it got me thinking... (El Al advertisement) -- Pashute (talk) 19:20, 20 May 2009 (UTC)

WP:SYNTH of the Qur'an in 'Islamic beliefs' section
The 'Islamic beliefs' section appears to consist almost entirely of WP:SYNTH of the Qur'an. The only source referenced is, quite anomalously, JewishEncyclopedia.com. I am therefore removing it here. If reliable secondary sources can be found to verify this interpretation of the primary source, it can be re-added. HrafnTalkStalk 05:29, 7 July 2008 (UTC)

In the Qur'an, angels are referred to as "Malaaikah" (Arabic مَلَائِكَة). The belief in angels is central to the religion of Islam, which articles of faith includes Belief in God, Belief in Angels, Belief in Books (Holy Scripture), Belief in Prophets and Messengers, Belief in Qiyamah (Resurrection/Doomsday) and finally Belief in Qada and Qadar (Arabic القضاء و القدر) (predestination) beginning with the belief that the Qur'an was dictated to Muhammad by the chief of all angels, the archangel Jibril (Gabriel). Angels are thus the ministers of God, as well as the agents of revelation in Islam.

In Islamic tradition, angels are benevolent beings created from a Divine Light. They do not possess free will, thus are incapable of doing evil or disobeying God. Unlike the Christian tradition, the Islamic tradition considers Satan (Iblis) to be a jinn, not an angel. Jinn, like humans, have free will. With rationality this Islamic actuality affords Satan (Iblis) the opportunity to forego a command by God, causing his eventual fall from Grace.

Behold! We said to the angels, "Bow down to Adam": They bowed down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns, and he broke the Command of his Lord. Will ye then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you! Evil would be the exchange for the wrong-doers! (Qur'an, )

Angels are wholly devoted to the worship of God. They are regarded as messengers of God, carrying out specific duties on His command. Angels are ranked and vary in their abilities and duties. Duties may include recording every human being's actions, placing a soul in a newborn child, maintaining certain environmental conditions of the planet (such as nurturing vegetation and distributing the rain), taking the soul at the time of death and more.

Angels are described as preternaturally beautiful. Having varying sizes and counts of wings.

Praise be to Allah, Who created (out of nothing) the heavens and the earth, Who made the angels, messengers with wings,- two, or three, or four (pairs): He adds to Creation as He pleases: for Allah has power over all things. (Qur'an, )

Angels are considered genderless.

Those who believe not in the Hereafter, name the angels with female names. (Qur'an, )

Angels can take on human form, but only in appearance. As such, angels do not eat, procreate nor commit sin as humans do. Humans cannot become angels upon death or otherwise, nor can angels become human.

Unlike a Christian tradition, angels and not Satan guard the gates of Hell. Instead, Satan resides on earth, waylaying man until the Day of Resurrection, after which he will be cast into hell along with the unbelievers.

And We have set none but angels as Guardians of the Fire; and We have fixed their number only as a trial for Unbelievers,- in order that the People of the Book may arrive at certainty, and the Believers may increase in Faith,- and that no doubts may be left for the People of the Book and the Believers, and that those in whose hearts is a disease and the Unbelievers may say, "What symbol doth Allah intend by this ?" Thus doth Allah leave to stray whom He pleaseth, and guide whom He pleaseth: and none can know the forces of thy Lord, except He and this is no other than a warning to mankind. (Qur'an, )

The archangel Gabriel is attributed with sending the message of God to all the Prophets, including the Psalms, Torah, Bible and Qur'an (as opposed to the Christian view that Gabriel is the angel of good news). Other angels include Mikail (Michael) who discharges control of vegetation and rain, Israfeel who will blow the trumpet at the Day of Resurrection, and Izra'il (Azrael), the angel of death . The angels Munkar and Nakir are assigned to interrogate the dead before Judgment Day, Ridwan ( Arabic : رضوان), is the angel guarding the Heaven's Gate while Maalik (Arabic :مالك) is the chief angel in charge of Hell (as opposed to a popular concept in Western folklore that Satan rules hell). A pair of angels known as Raqib and A'tid (called the Kirama Katibin (Arabic: كراما كاتبين) in the Quran) have the job of recording the daily actions of human beings, one assigned to good deeds and the other to transgressions. There are nineteen angels overseeing the punishments of hell (Surat Al-Muddaththir, 74:30). There are eight angels that support the Throne of God (Surat Al-Haaqqa, 69:17).

Imam `Ali explained the creation of Angels in the following words:

"Then He created the openings between high skies and filled them with all classes of His angels. Some of them are in prostration and do not kneel up. Others in kneeling position and do not stand up. Some of them are in array and do not leave their position. Others are extolling God and do not get tired. The sleep of the eye or the slip of wit, or languor of the body or the effect of forgetfulness does not affect them. Among them are those who work as trusted bearers of His message, those who serve as speaking tongues for His prophets and those who carry to and fro His orders and injunctions. Among them are the protectors of His creatures and guards of the doors of the gardens of Paradise. Among them are those also whose steps are fixed on earth but their necks are protruding into the skies, their limbs are getting out on all sides, their shoulders are in accord with the columns of the Divine Throne, their eyes are downcast before it, they have spread down their wings under it and they have rendered between themselves and all else curtains of honour and screens of power. They do not think of their Creator through image, do not impute to Him attributes of the created, do not confine Him within abodes and do not point at Him through illustrations."

[End of excised WP:SYNTH. HrafnTalkStalk 05:29, 7 July 2008 (UTC) ]

…2:02 A.M. E.S.T. Not in any manner here to be rude, though at first galnce if a youngster was to read the evaluation of the main article, and rite at the beginning it mentions Christianity Judaism Islam. Well I myself reflect on the first things first and then evaluated unfortunetly for I as a researcher and somewhat experienced Knowlegdeabl understanding person I may relate to a Halting thought and think o ya that is just, yes that had to be when the thinking stoped, again not being rude, though Islam Judaism Christianity should perhaps go like that fore Christianity was adopted in some researchers before christ as in the sequence of a leadership inwhich fortified a people whom sacked and burned a Roman town, the leader was named Christian, ofcourse there is other and perhaps a stronger beliefe that the terming came to be for a christ reason, christ being a formal name for a high acomplishment in sort of leadership. Islam is a strategic establishing of early times and Judaism well my research continues though perhaps it is again after Islam, then again King David 1010 BC was of a Jewish aspect. Ok i just think things shall be in order like the nose and eyes are in their strategic way, why have involvment where there is no meant at all. Just trying to help. 2:12 a.m.David George DeLancey (talk) 06:12, 4 August 2008 (UTC)


 * D.G, Your not being rude, your simply being non-factual. There is no dispute in recorded history over the sequence of these three monotheistic religions... The latter two having very exact dates to their coming into existance, actually not that long ago, and each explicitely referring to their predecessors. Sorry.
 * By the way, I daily walk and see remnants from these periods, since I live in Israel. Pashute (talk) 19:32, 20 May 2009 (UTC)

Angelism
There ought to an entry on the notion of angelism, which is defined as a theory of human existence that minimizes concupiscence and therefore ignores the need for moral vigilance to cope with the consequences of humanity's sin. It could also be described as a type of logical fallacy in which for something to be true, it quite literally has to be angelic, or at least morally unattackable, which puts impossible moral obstacles in the path of common human undersanding and acceptance of reality as it is. ADM (talk) 04:03, 30 July 2009 (UTC)


 * (i) The relationship of this viewpoint to the topic of angels is tenuous at best (ii) do you have any evidence that this is a prominent viewpint, to which WP:DUE weight should be given? HrafnTalkStalk(P) 05:20, 30 July 2009 (UTC)

Murder of angels
I once read a strange story about angels being hunted down and killed by occult forces, in a way that recalls how eleven out of the twelve original apostles of Christ were similarly killed by their adversaries. It would be valuable if related mythographical accounts of this could be gathered, in order to see if such a concept has a place in the history of religions. ADM (talk) 03:25, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

Angels in other religions
The article currently mentions angels as existing in several religions unrelated to the original Jewish concept (while the Christian/Muslim version is related). IMO, this is an abuse of the word, which detracts from the article. If these need mention (may well be the case), it should explicitly be in the form "religion A has a similar being called B", not "religion A also has angels".

Apart from being formally incorrect, this abuse also brings a risk of misunderstandings and misassociations, because the various concepts will merely be similar, not identical. 94.220.251.67 (talk) 08:04, 4 November 2009 (UTC)

Melech
Someone created a redirect from Melech to Angel, unfortunately, this is incorrect - in Hebrew Angel is מלאך,which is Malach, whereas, Melech, written מלאך, means King or Monarch. Please check it out, and correct the mistake  (talk) 12:15, 18 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Actually it was to Moloch originaly, but then someone redirected it here. I've fixed it (for future reference, you just go to the top, click the link in "redirected from: Melech," edit the page so it says {number sign}REDIRECT Moloch).  Also, new messages at the bottom.  Ian.thomson (talk) 19:20, 18 November 2009 (UTC)

Non-Religious
Why are non-religious angels completely vacant from the Wiki angels page? Angels are common in fantasy fiction (especially stories intended for a female audience), so where are the sections discussing the non-religious depictions? More people will want to read on the fantasy depictions than the religious. (Considering both people who feature them in their religion and those not of those religions can enjoy seeing them in a non-religious context.) Maybe put it in an "in popular culture" section, or if willing to really look into it give it a linked over page of its own that goes into greater detail. (FYI to the over-religious, angels and demons exist outside of western religions.)


 * Its odd no one answered your question. The entire world isn't under the Atheistic religion/belief, so not all believe Angels aren't real. You shouldn't assume its a universally accepted idea. Frankly I find it hard to believe all things exploding from nothing isn't supernatural. Therefore I consider "Evolution" which is described as an intelligence being, although they outwardly say otherwise and actually have no explanation for, to be a religion/supernatural belief. I don't know what you mean by over-religious, but the Angels and Demons that are trying to be described under this article are the ones that exist, and not the pseudo-western culture idea of Angels and Demons. All the world believes in religions, including you, so don't count yourself out of "over-religious" people. FYI to you, science exists outside your western religion. Mwarriorjsj7 (talk) 18:38, 2 August 2009 (UTC)

It's not "odd" at all, new threads placed at the top of a talk page (instead of at the bottom, where they belong) often get missed. As to why this hasn't been included in the article, I can suggest two possible reasons: HrafnTalkStalk(P) 18:55, 2 August 2009 (UTC)
 * 1) Lack of reliable WP:SECONDARY sources discussing this depiction.
 * 2) The likelihood that winged-huminoids lacking religious overtones will frequently be called something other than 'angels' in fantasy settings (Runequest's Glorantha mythos calls them 'Wind Children' for example).

Interesting. I was actually looking for the non-religious entry about angels when I found this page. That "angels" are called something else doesn't make them non-angels, and that could be more fully explored in this article. The opening line of the "non-religious/popular culture" section could be something like "Angels are also known as blah blah blah..." I don't know anything about non-religious angels (hence why I searched Wiki for it!) Someone please pony up and add some great stuff! :) Sliceofmiami (talk) 13:21, 20 March 2010 (UTC)

Explain WP:SYNTH Use
Please explain WP:SYNTH as the reason for removing the "Christian Beliefs" and "Islamic Beliefs" sections from the article. The Judeo-Christian Bible and the Qur'an are the primary sources of ALL beliefs about angels. All other writings are commentaries on these primary sources. Angels are supernatural beings that have arisen from ancient religious belief. So, why the objection to ancient writings as sources for these beliefs? Virgil H. Soule (talk) 00:11, 23 October 2008 (UTC)


 * There are already sections in the article covering Christianity and Islam. And they reference the primary sources of those religions. I don't see the problem you are seeing. ~Amatulić (talk) 00:50, 23 October 2008 (UTC)


 * Try again: What does WP:SYNTH mean in this context? Virgil H. Soule (talk) 13:19, 23 October 2008 (UTC)


 * Try again: Why are the Bible and the Qur'an rejected as primary references? Virgil H. Soule (talk) 18:42, 25 October 2008 (UTC)

"Any interpretation of primary source material requires a reliable secondary source for that interpretation. Without a secondary source, a primary source may be used only to make descriptive claims, the accuracy of which is easily verifiable by any reasonable, educated person without specialist knowledge." (WP:OR). Admittedly that passage is contained in WP:PSTS, but it is clearly describing the synthesis of novel WP:OR interpretation of the basis of a primary source. HrafnTalkStalk 03:42, 1 January 2009 (UTC)

Okay, I think what Hrafn suggests with bringing up "without a secondary source, a primary source may be used only to make descriptive claims, the accuracy of which is easily verifiable by any reasonable, educated person without specialist knowledge" is that as long as the information is bible/quran references, and near quotes, everything is okay. I'm okay with that too, but I think his removing a huge section of text is the worst of the sins (yes, I've used this word gingerly in this context). I think the material should be placed back in the article, and marked as synth appropriately, or whatever, so people can unsynth it. Anyone else? Sliceofmiami (talk) 13:33, 20 March 2010 (UTC)

Fallen Angels
Hello all. I believe the concept of the Fallen Angel should be addressed in some form. Currently, it appears in brackets without any explination of what a Fallen Angel is and without a link to the that article. I tried to add a small section, taken from the Fallen Angel article, but it was reverted without explanation. 98.221.133.96 (talk) 13:14, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

HrafnTalkStalk 15:43, 29 June 2008 (UTC)
 * 1) Find a WP:RS.
 * 2) Add material based on this RS to the article.


 * As there is already an article with the said topic of Fallen Angel, and it is up to Wikipedia standards, I don't believe it's out of line to add a short explanation on fallen angels and a link to the article where more information with WP:RS can be found by the reader. 98.221.133.96 (talk) 03:50, 2 July 2008 (UTC)


 * No. Fallen angel (capitalised A redirects to the dab) is not "up to Wikipedia standards" -- it is a poorly sourced mess. Citation to WP:RSs in therefore necessary for any material copied from there. HrafnTalkStalk 05:02, 2 July 2008 (UTC)

In a similar vein, there is considerable relevant material on Angels in the Book of Enoch - much of which is covered in the Watcher_(angel) article. I'm thinking at least a link would be beneficial, plus a mention that 'Watcher' is another Angel related term.Markir (talk) 09:57, 7 April 2010 (UTC)

Sumerian angels
It is unbelievable that you could write a section on angels and leave out Sumerian angels. First of all, the oldest depictions of angels are Sumerian. Akkadians mixed with Sumerians and eventually ruled Mesopotamia by 3000 BC. The language of the Akkadians was Semitic and the Sumerian language was non-Semitic, but by the time of Abraham the entire region was speaking a Semitic dialect. Abraham was born and raised in Mesopotamia. He brought his Semitic language and his Sumerian/Akkadian beliefs in angels with him to Canaan. Anyone who studies religions can trace how an older religion evolves into newer ones. Mesopotamia was the birthplace of western civilizations, and the birthplace of western religions. Since the oldest records we have are the cuneiform tablets of the Sumerians, that is the oldest religion with written records. That is the religion of Abraham's parents. Abraham eventually settled in Canaan, and helped give birth to Judaism, and Islam, both incorporating beliefs in angels. Then Christianity evolved from Judaism. Leaving out Sumerian beliefs is naive, because scholars trace the roots of the three major Western religions to Sumerian beliefs. Once you have read the Sumerian version of the great flood, and then compared it to the Old Testament version, you will be convinced they are the same story. Personally, I remember listening to a group of American tourists talking about a 4000 BC clay angel in the Sumerian exhibit at the national archeology museum in Beijing. They asked the guide if the Sumerians were Jewish, and thus believed in angels. The guide gave a short history as I discussed previously and we walked away. Everyone was in disbelief that the Jewish/Christian angels could be a carry over from a pagan religion. With regards to the possibility of Egyptian winged gods being the ancestor for Judeo-Christian angels, Semitic tribes with beliefs in angels were trading with Egyptians before the ancient Egyptian empires began. If you look up hieroglyphics in Wikipedia you will see that this writing evolved from Sumerian cuneiform. It is unlikely that the Egyptians who learned Sumerian cuneiform were not exposed to Sumerian religious beliefs. In fact there are ample similarities to conclude that ancient Egyptian religious beliefs were an offshoot of Sumerian beliefs. You need to do a little more research and rewrite this section on angels giving credit to the real origins of such beliefs. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.229.90.216 (talk) 03:35, 21 September 2010 (UTC)

Song of the Angels by Bouguereau, 1825–1905

 * Technically, this is a nice painting with a high level of detail. Representationally, it is inaccurate in that it shows female angels. Angels are always male, if differentiated by gender, and never female.  The named angels are Michael and Gabriel.  Psalm 148 declares:  "Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts."  The hosts are the armies of God. Itohacs 12:40, 29 October 2010 (UTC)  —Preceding unsigned comment added by Itohacs (talk • contribs)

history of angels and the heavenly assembly
This article really should mention the "heavenly assembly" talk that was part of every ancient near eastern religious context, and figured largely in the development of the concept of "angels." Mesopotamian, Canaanite, Hebrew, and every other known religion talked about it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.244.205.107 (talk) 22:01, 6 November 2010 (UTC)


 * You don't need to put your email address on the page. Also, do you have a source to cite for that?  Ian.thomson (talk) 22:54, 6 November 2010 (UTC)

Tibet Dakini and Angels
Although dakini are much older than Christian angels, they are similar in a general way. I began this article before the tilde was used to credit entries. Have not worked on wikipedia for a very long time, mainly because many would revise any new article into insensibility to suit their egoistic games of brinkmanship. (notice no brinkwomanship) ;) This explains the new link to Dakini from this article. BF (talk) 22:41, 25 November 2010 (UTC)
 * You may want to check WP:OWN. Ian.thomson (talk) 16:46, 26 November 2010 (UTC)

Plato? Western philosophy?
Plato? Western philosophy? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.157.109.127 (talk) 00:29, 25 January 2011 (UTC)


 * WP:RS? HrafnTalkStalk(P) 03:51, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

New Testament references
In the New Testament angels appear frequently as the ministers of God and the agents of revelation (e.g. (to Joseph), 4:11. (to Jesus), Luke 1:26 (to Mary), Acts 12:7 (to Peter)); and Jesus speaks of angels as fulfilling such functions (e.g. Mark 8:38, 13:27), implying in one saying that they neither marry nor are given in marriage (Mark 12:25). Angels are most prominent at the birth of Jesus and at Jesus' resurrection. The New Testament takes little interest in the idea of the angelic hierarchy, but there are traces of the doctrine. The distinction of good and bad angels is recognized. Good angels mentioned by name are Gabriel and Michael (Luke 1:19; Daniel 12:1). Scripture also mentions a tempter Satan, the scribes name the ruler of demons as Beelzebub, and the angel of the abyss Apollyon (Mark 1:13, 3:22; Rev. 9:11). Apollyon, (Hebrew Abaddon) a name for an angel mentioned in Revelation 9:11, is believed by some to be a good angel that guards the gates to the traditionally known hell. Revelation 10:1 describes another angel, although unnamed, some say it is Metatron. The Christian Greek scriptures also imply an angelic hierarchy; archangels (namely Michael, mentioned in both Daniel 10:13 and Jude 9, Gabriel, and Raphael), principalities and powers (Rom. 8:38; Col. 2:10), thrones and dominions (Col 1:16). The hierarchies of principalities, powers, thrones, and dominions are questionable by some Christian denominations due to the ambiguity of the context. Romans 8:38 May refer to other things besides angels if the context includes opposition beyond spirits themselves. The scope of Col. 1:16 covering "all things created" also extends far beyond angels by themselves. Other hierarchies accepted from the Old Testament include seraphim and cherubim.

Theological development


Since Saint Gregory and the Pseudo-Dionysian Celestial Hierarchy (5th century), Catholic theology has assumed nine orders of angelic beings; Angels, Virtues, Powers (called Lords), Principalities, Dominions (also called Kings), Thrones (Ophanim), Cherubim, Seraphim and Archangels, endorsed by medieval scholasticism (Summa Theologica). This is not official Church doctrine or dogma, however, and in general the faithful are not required to adhere to this categorization.

Angels occur in groups of four or seven (Rev 7:1). The Angels of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor are described in Rev. 1-3; the angels are the representative angels of the seven congregations. Daniel 10:12,13 also appears to depict angels in opposition (presumably fallen angels) to other angels, taking on the roles of prince-angels (of the order of Principalities) for nations, in this case the "prince of the kingdom of Persia." It is well-known that there are angels for nations, organizations, parishes, families, and individuals (angels presiding over individuals are called guardian angels.)

The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary in the traditional role of messenger to inform her that her child would be the Messiah, and other angels were present to herald his birth. In Matt. 28:2, an angel appeared at Jesus' tomb, frightened the Roman guards, rolled away the stone from the tomb, and later told the myrrh-bearing women of Jesus' resurrection. Alternately, in Mark 16:5, the angel is not seen until the women enter the already-opened tomb, and he is described simply as "a young man." In Luke's version of the resurrection tale (Luke 24:4), two angels suddenly appear next to the women within the tomb; they are described as being clothed in "shining apparel." This is most similar to the version in John 20:12, where Mary alone speaks to "two angels in white" within the tomb of Jesus.

Two angels witnessed Jesus' ascent into Heaven and prophesied his return. When Peter was imprisoned, an angel put his guards to sleep, released him from his chains, and led him out of the prison. Angels fill a number of different roles in the Book of Revelation. Among other things, they are seen gathered around the Throne of God saying the thrice-holy hymn.

Depiction in art
While angels and demons alike are generally regarded as invisible to human sight, they are frequently depicted as human-like creatures with wings, though many theologians have argued that they have no physical existence, but can take on human form (the traditional Eastern Orthodox term for angels is asomata, "bodiless [ones]"). Descriptions of angels in their angelic form mention wings (as in Isaiah, Zachariah, etc.) however, when appearing in human form, they look like men, or as young men. Seraphim are shown in art as having six wings (in accordance with ), and Cherubim four, having a quadruple face of lion, ox, eagle, and man. Putto are often confused with Cherubim, although they are completely different.

Most theologians agree that angels have no gender (see more extended discussion below). Therefore, they usually appear as androgynous, although guardian angels appear more feminine and maternal. Their exceptional beauty was well attested in Scripture. The long plain dress or tunic traditionally given to most angels comes hardly altered from the Byzantine tradition, where it had, if anything, a male connotation. In the Renaissance these were shown often bright-coloured, but before and after were mostly plain white.

Byzantine angels were also often shown in military outfits, and, transmitted by icons from Crete in particular, this tradition was transferred to Western art, especially for Gabriel and Michael, who wear versions of Byzantine officer's armour and clothing into the Baroque period and later. The same archangels, when in attendance on Christ or the Virgin, wear the loros, a jeweled strip of cloth hanging vertically down the front of the body. This was worn only by the Imperial family and their bodyguard; the archangels were seen as God's bodyguard. They also often carry long white staves of office. Hence, when a high-ranking Byzantine in a visionary dream in 586 saw two men he took to be bodyguards of the Emperor, they subsequently turned out to be angels. For other scenes, the same angels must appear incognito to accord with, for example, their appearance to Abraham. However artists are very reluctant to depict them in normal clothes, or without wings. The wings represent the angels' role as messengers of God (cf. Hermes).

Angels are often shown making music in heaven, sometimes in bands of a fair size, or in depictions of the Book of Revelation, blowing trumpets in accordance with the text. In the 15th century West in particular, angels are sometimes shown wearing versions of contemporary clerical vestments, especially the alb and crossed stole. There was a theological comparison developed between the role of Gabriel in the Annunciation and that of the priest saying Mass.

In the Renaissance, the classical putto, usually naked, was first revived in secular and mythological subjects, but they soon appeared, often in great quantity, as newly-created angels, becoming almost the norm in compositions with a number of angels merely in attendance.

[End of removed WP:SYNTH HrafnTalkStalk 18:35, 28 June 2008 (UTC) ]


 * I think that Hrafn was too aggressive in removing this section. Sure, some of it may border on synth, but it could be marked as synth so other people can work on it.  There seems to be quite a bit of references (to the bible) which is good.  I'd like this material pushed back into the main article, with appropriate synth markings. Anyone else?  Sliceofmiami (talk) 13:27, 20 March 2010 (UTC)

I agree with Hrafin. There is no point in pickling junk hoping it will become good one day. History2007 (talk) 13:31, 20 March 2010 (UTC)

Re: "Most theologians agree that . . . ." Now u know that is a ridiculous statement.(EnochBethany (talk) 23:14, 27 January 2011 (UTC))

Etymology
I am fixing the etymology of angel from the Greek aggelos. Obviously, the pronunciation of the first gamma as 'ni' in double gamma roots caused the confusion. I am adding a reference as well to the verb it stems from, aggelloo, 'bring a message, announce, report, notify'. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Laocoont (talk • contribs) 12:02, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

The OED states:

I am getting more than a little tired of the constant WP:OR/WP:SYNTH fiddling to this section. WP:Wikipedia is not a dictionary, so should not be going into such detail on etymology. HrafnTalkStalk(P) 13:36, 19 February 2009 (UTC)


 * It simply is standard practice to transliterate gamma gamma (as in a-g-g-e-l-o-s) as ng. Thus the transliteration is angleos, not aggelos. IMO, probably no one should have ever come up with the rule to transliterate gg as ng, but that is the standard scholarly practice; so one sticks with it. (EnochBethany (talk) 23:22, 27 January 2011 (UTC)).

Malach YHWH
Somewhere also there must be inclusion of the apparent equation in the Tanach between Malach YHWH and YHWH Himself. No doubt this also will require separate sections (1) for those who recognize that equation and find no other explanation, except that the Malach YHWH in the Tanach is Yehoshua', Jesus Christ making a pre-incarnate appearance and (2) for those who wish to promulgate another POV. (EnochBethany (talk) 23:03, 27 January 2011 (UTC))


 * That is interpretational. Wikipedia does not take any stance on doctrine or interpretation, it simply reports what has been said about a text. Ian.thomson (talk) 18:29, 28 January 2011 (UTC)

angels
can any one help i wish to know the name of the bad angel known as lucifer —Preceding unsigned comment added by 212.159.139.181 (talk) 18:18, 16 January 2010 (UTC)
 * He goes by the name of Lucifer. Thincat (talk) 14:24, 1 February 2010 (UTC)


 * Lucifer comes from the KJV of Isaiah 14, apparently taking Lucifer itself as a proper name. Now if you want a dogmatic, highly interpretive & dogmatic rejection of that view, see below. Then u may wish to google & find the other POV.(EnochBethany (talk) 06:50, 30 January 2011 (UTC))