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The Heavenly Hierarchy

There are nine Celestial Orders or Choirs, appearing in three distinct Triads:-

The First Triad
Clustered around the central core of purity.
1. Seraphim,
2. Cherubim,
3. Thrones

The Second Triad
An ultimate unification with "God the Source". All Orders within this Triad strive to balance or reconcile such opposites as good and bad, matter and spirit and higher and lower, thus risking corruption in doing so.
4. Dominations,
5. Virtues,
6. Powers

The Third Triad
Most exposed and vulnerable to any corrosion of flesh. Angels from these Orders are most well known to us simply because they are most like us.
7. Principalities,
8. Archangels,
9. Angels

Seraphim
The First Choir of angels is generally accepted to be the highest order of God’s Angelic Servants. When they appear to humans in their angelic form it is as six-winged and four-headed beings. Archangel Michael was known as a Seraph. It is believed that there were four major Princes who ruled over the Seraphim. Their chief is said to be either Metatron or Satan, while others are given as Kemuel, Nathanael and Gabriel.

Cherubim
The Second Choir of angels is the first angels to be encountered in the Bible. Ezekiel witnessed at close hand four Cherubim, each with four faces and four wings. These multiple-bodied, fabulous, winged beasts stand guard over holy places. How such magnificent and awesome beings shrunk to the size of tubby little winged babies remains a mystery.

Thrones
The Third Choir of angels is referred to as the great wheels or the many eyed ones. Again, Ezekiel (1:13-19) gives a detailed description, "...and their appearance was like burning coals of fire..." The ruling Prince of this order is commonly thought to be Raphael.

Dominions
The Fourth Choir of angels is described as Dominations, Lords, Kuriotetes and regulate angels duties. Ruling Lords are said to be Zadkiel, Hashmal, Yahriel and Muriel.

Virtues
The Fifth Choir of angels bestow blessing from on high, usually in the form of miracles and are most often associated with heroes and those who struggle for good. It was recorded in the Book of Adam and Eve that two Virtues acted like midwives at the birth of Cain. Known as the Brilliant or Shining Ones, their ruling princes are said to be Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Bariel, Tarshish and, before the great rebellion, Satanel.

Powers
The Sixth Choir of angels is supposedly the first angels created by God, appearing to act as a border guard, patrolling the Heavenly Pathways on the lookout for devilish infiltration. Camael is supposedly the chief of this order, but is decidedly contradictory as wavering on the path between good and evil. He is said to be one of the seven favored angels who stand in the presence of God, wrestled with Jacob, later appeared to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. On the darker side, Camael is identified as a Duke of Hell and in the occult, known as the ruler of the evil planet of war, Mars. Druids have Camael as their God of war.

Principalities
The Seventh Choir of angels were seen as an order which was in charge of nations and great cities on Earth. One contender for chief of the Princedoms is Nisrock, considered to be the chief chef to the Demon Princes of Hell. Another, more likely, candidate is Anael, who is named one of the seven angels of creation. He is also governor of the second heaven and is held to control all the kingdoms and leaders on earth. Another prince is Hamiel who was said to have transported Enoch to Heaven although he is more well known as the Chaldean deity Ishtar. The great Prince of Strength, Cervill, is claimed to have aided David in his bid to slay Goliath.

Archangel
The Eighth Choir of angels are known as messengers which carry Divine Decrees and considered the most important intercessionaries between God and humans. It is this Choir who command the legions of Heaven in their battle with the Sons of Darkness. Most famous are the Magnificent Seven - the seven angels who stand before God in Revelations. Four which appear regularly are Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel with the other three candidates usually chosen from Metatron, Remiel, Sariel, Anael, Raguel and Raziel.

Angels
The Ninth Choir of angels is the closest to humankind and known as a messenger or courier. One of the sub-classes of ministering angels is that of Guardian angels. Being closest to humankind, Angels have little resistance to corruption.
Information taken from Angels: An Endangered Species by Malcolm Godwin. This is an excellent source of information, providing a look at Angels through various religions and beliefs. Part One, The Treasure of Angelic Love, examines the Four Wings - Heavenly Hierarchy, Hell’s Angels, Heaven’s Above and The Heresy. Part Two, An Endangered Species, packs seven chapters with Eye Witness, Ancient and Modern Encounters, Archaic Memories, The Shining Ones, Heavenly Hypotheses and Last Judgement. It’s a definate must for Celestial enthusiasts.

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