CHAPTER SEVEN – The Hierarchy Of Angels
I thought it would be helpful if I list the ranks of Angels. It starts from the lowest rank, up to the highest; there are 9 in total. Note that this information was found from a website and it copyrighted to Sarah.
There are many ranks of Angels. These ranks are grouped together in 3 hierarchies known as Choirs. Each hierarchy is comprised of three ranks of angels. This list is also useful for when other characters are introduced, and are given ranks.
(MY STORY VERSION: Sakura and her family are not any specific rank. However, their authority is equivalent to the Cherubim. Thus making them lower rank than the Seraphim who do not reside in the kingdom Sakura will soon rule. Instead, they live along side his holiness in the upper most part of heaven.)
A/N: I don't really know where the angels all reside and what not. However, for the purpose of my fanfiction, then what you have read above will be put into action. And for those of you who actually read the list; I request that you PLEASE REVIEW and suggest what kind of Angel Neji, Tenten, Lee, and Temari should be. Or any other characters for that matter; that you think should be added. Note: Gaara will be a demon...
THE THIRD HIERARCHY
These ranks of angels are most like the humans and most well known because of this. Thus, they are most venerable, and exposed to any kind of flesh corrosion.
ANGELS: Lowest rank in the hierarchy. Angels have two major tasks they are to do. The first one: responsibility in watching over human affairs in a very direct manner. Instead of watching over nations and such, they watch over individual mortals, and perhaps households; guiding them in a subtle way, and keeping them safe from demonic attacks. They also are messengers; carrying God's word to mankind, and couriers to both God and higher ranked angels.
ARCHANGELS: Second rank in the hierarchy. Their task is to not only watch over the duties of the angels, but to also lead them in the divine army during battle; acting as their leader. Therefore, you could call them something like a captain in an army, guiding his/her platoon.
PRINCIPALITIES: They are the head of the final choir. It is their duty to guide and protect earth's nations, cities, and towns; watching over the mortal world more directly. Alongside that, they are also given protection over religion and politics. As such, it is contemplated that the gift to act with much freedom than lesser angels has been stowed upon them, as well as the responsibility of carrying out divine acts of conduct that concern their area of jurisdiction.
As a final duty, they are given the task of managing the duties of the angels.
THE SECOND HIERARCHY
These angels have an ultimate unification with 'God the Source.' All the ranks in this triad strives to balance or settle such opposites like good and evil, matter and spirit, high and low; but at the same time they risk corruption amongst them.
POWERS: They are the spirits of form. They hold on of the most dangerous tasks; maintaining the border between Heaven and Earth. They are constantly on the lookout for demonic attack; acting like an elite guard. Power Angels are also the major line of defense and battle during heavenly warfare.
Another one of their tasks is to guard the celestial byways between two realms, and ensuring souls that have left the human world reach heaven safely.
VIRTUES: Virtues are given two main tasks to follow through. Not only are they concerned with maintaining aspects of the natural world, but also with bestowing blessings unto the material world.
For the first task: they lead the movements of the celestial bodies, and events of weather such as rain, snow, wind etc. In second, they are given orders that they then turn into miracles for God's favored. Different names for them are the Malakim and the Tarshishim.
DOMINIONS or DOMINATIONS: Holding the task of regulating the duties bestowed upon lower angels; it is the Dominions who act as a middle management between the upper and lower hierarchy.
Orders are given to them by the Seraphim and Cherubim, and they are responsible for ensuring the cosmos remains in order. It is however, in extreme rarity of, that the Dominions would make themselves physically known to the humans. Instead, they quietly concern themselves with the details of existence. As spirits of wisdom, the Majesty of God; through them is manifested.
The Dominations also hold an orb and or scepter as an emblem of their divine authority.
THE FIRST HIEARCHY
Simply put: they are clustered around the very core of purity.
THRONES or OPHANIM: These angels serve the primary function of being God's chariot. Alongside this, the also noted as the dispensers of God's almighty judgment; acting with modesty and impartialness to bring about the Lord's desires. The Ophanim have the most bizarre physical form of the celestial host. They are also described as great wheels; covered with many eyes, and glowing with light. One explanation for this, besides being God's chariot, would be that they mark the end of the first Choir, where the emanations of God begin to take on a more material form, and exist in a state of alteration.
CHERUBIM (Singular: CHERUB): The cherubim hold the knowledge of God, and are only second to the Seraphim. It is the cherubim who are often sent to earth with greatest of tasks. The task being: expulsion of Man from the Garden of Eden, and Annunciation of Christ.
Cherubim are also spirits of the Harmonies. They are also guardians of the fixed stars, keepers of the celestial records, and bestow knowledge. The chief rulers of this rank are Ophaniel, Rikbiel, Zophiel, and before his fall, Satan.
SERAPHIM: These are the angels closest to the throne of God; the uppermost section of the hierarchy. It is the Seraphim who unceasingly chant the Trisagion: "Holy, holy, holy…", encircle the throne, and exist off the love God himself emanated. The term 'fiery serpents' is given to them due to this fiery love. In the fiery serpent form, it is said that the light they emit is at such an intense level; the other divine beings may not gaze upon them. There is said to be but only four of these angelic beings. In the book of Revelation, they are listed as the four holy beasts; described as angels with four faces and six wings.
