I would like to address some items which have been brought up, due to their lack of scripturality.
Jenna Posted~ "celestial heirarchy:
: a traditional hierarchy of angels ranked from lowest to highest into the following nine orders: angels, archangels, principalities, powers, virtues, dominions, thrones, cherubim, and seraphim"
I'm not sure what "tradition" you are speaking of. There is no Biblical evidence to support that statement. There are cherubims, seraphims, and angels mentioned in the scriptures. But, "angel" is not a separate class than a cherubim or a seraphim. But, rather those are both types of angels.
You see, in both the Hebrew[mal'ak] and Greek[aggelos], "angel" is a generic term that simply means "messenger". When Christ made appearances throughout the OT He was called "the angel of the Lord"* which simply means "sent from God". [*Note: I will elaborate more on that later.]
Also there is no evidence that a seraphim is not just a descriptive word for a Cherubim.
The word "seraphim", comes from the Hebrew word "saraph" that simply means "fiery ones".
Isa. 6:2 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.
Isa. 6:6 Then flew one of the seraphimsunto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
You see the "fiery ones" are described as having 6 wings, a lit coal, and hands.
Cherubims, interestingly have been portrayed as having 2 wings(1Kin. 8:7), 4 wings and hands(Eze. 1:6, 10, 21), and 6 wings(Rev. 4:8). Cherubs have also been associated with lit coals(Eze. 1:13, 10:2).
Cherub does refer to a specific heavenly creation whose descriptions varies throughout the scriptures. And, "saraph" does not refer to a specific creature but instead is only a description of a creature. So, since the fiery ones fit the same description as the Cherubims, there is no reason to assume they are not one and the same.
You mentioned; "principalities, powers, virtues, dominions, thrones". There is no place in the scripture that even hints that these are some sort of ranking for angels. And these things are never even associated with angelic beings.
I believe you must have misinterpreted these verses somehow.
Col. 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him"
Eph. 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
As you can see there is nothing in these verses nor is there anything in the context of those chapters to remotely suggest that "principalities, powers, virtues, dominions, thrones" are a "hierarchy of angels ranking".
That only leaves "archangels". And since that is a large and quite interesting subject, I will now post a study that I hope you will approach with an open heart, and let the scripture show you the truth of the matter. But, I will say for the record that someone mentioned that Gabriel is an archangel. There is nothing whatsoever to support that statement. There has only been one individual who was ever called an "archangel", and that's Michael.
Questions frequently arise in Christian circles about the true identity of the biblical Michael, sometimes called "Michael the great Prince" or "Michael the archangel." Some claim that Michael is the highest of the heavenly angels, one of the covering cherubs, or a special messenger like Gabriel, and as such is a created being. Others, such as the Bible commentator Matthew Henry, assert that Michael is simply another name for Jesus Himself. Can we know the real identity of this mysterious individual? The key to this puzzling question is found in the Scriptures.
A quick look in a Bible concordance reveals that there are 15 references to the name Michael. The first 10 of them are found in Old Testament chronologies and obviously refer to real people named Michael. In fact, the entry for "Michael" in the lexicon (a Greek and/or Hebrew dictionary) states: "The name of an archangel and nine Israelites." It is the identity of Michael, the archangel and prince, mentioned in the last five references that we are seeking.
The first three of these references are in the apocalyptic Old Testament book of Daniel. The last two are in the New Testament books of Jude and Revelation. During an honest study and comparison of these verses and others, clues emerge that lead us to an inescapable conclusion of the identity of Michael.
At first glance it appears that the Old Testament portrays Michael as a prince and the New Testament as an angel. But by looking at other related scriptures where similar language and wording are used, we will see a different pattern emerge.
It's In the Name
First, let's consider the meaning of some words and names. In the Greek New Testament, as compared to the Old Testament, the word "angel" means "messenger," and "arch" means "chief, principle, greatest, or highest." So "archangel" simply means "highest or greatest messenger." The Hebrew name "Michael" means "who is like God" or "Who is like God?" Whether this name is a question, statement, or a challenge will be clear by further study. One angel did profess to be like God. That fallen being is Lucifer, the covering cherub in the heavenly courts who became the devil, Satan, by claiming to "be like the most High" (Isaiah 14:14). In Revelation 12:7 Satan is opposed by "Michael and his angels" and is cast out of heaven.
It is not implausible to assume that if Christ came to earth and became a man in His battle against Satan to save human beings, He might also have identified with the angels to protect them from Satan's evil influence in heaven. In fact, there are several references in Scripture to a mysterious being identified as "the angel of the Lord" before Christ's earthly incarnation. Yet each time He is mentioned there are clues to His identity. Let's review them briefly.
Hagar
After Hagar bore Ishmael to Abraham, she and the barren Sarah could no longer coexist peacefully. Sarah mistreated her now haughty handmaid until Hagar fled into the desert. "And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness" (Genesis 16:7). The angel told Hagar to go back and submit to Sarah, and promised that her son, Ishmael, would be the father of a great nation. When the "angel" disappeared, Hagar, "called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me" (verse 13). It appears Hagar recognized that the "angel" who had spoken to her was really God.
Abraham
God told Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on mount Moriah. Just as he was about to plunge the dagger into his son of promise, the angel of the Lord stopped him. "And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me" (Genesis 22:11, 12).
It is clear that Abraham was offering his son to God and not to a mere angel. "And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee,
because thou hast obeyed my voice" (Genesis 22:15-1 . In recounting this experience of Abraham in Acts 3:25, Peter also identifies this "angel of the Lord" as God.
continued below....
), so I guess there's only one instance when I thought "that could be an angel", but I don't really like to come to conclusions unless I know for a fact that it's true. I think I might've sensed the presense of one once, but I'm not sure either. Oh well.....
