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Angels in Christianity
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== General views == === Antiquity === {{Expand section|A general view of angels according to Christians in Antiquity|date=February 2023}} In chapter V of [[Ignatius of Antioch]]'s [[Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians|''Letter to the Trallians'']], the bishop gives a listing of angels not unlike that later proposed by Pseudo-Dionysius. In his [[First Epistle of Clement]], [[Clement of Rome]] exhorts his listeners to join the angels in praising God. [[Clement of Alexandria]] wrote that angels "breathe" in men's thoughts and reasonings, and "puts in" their hearts "strength" and a keener perception.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fathers of the Church Speak on Angels |url=https://www.orthodoxprayer.org/Angels/Fathers%20Speak.html |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=www.orthodoxprayer.org}}</ref> [[Evagrius Ponticus]] spoke of the concept of angelic companions and angels as models for behavior.<ref>{{cite book |title=Evagrius of Pontus: The Greek Ascetic Corpus |editor-first=Robert E. |editor-last=Sinkewicz |location=Oxford/New York |publisher=Oxford University Press |date=2003 |page=xvii}}</ref> [[Augustine of Hippo]] remarks, the angels were experiencing something new as the [[Genesis creation narrative|creation of God]] unfolded.{{sfn|Klein|2018|p=30}} Augustine also considers that the 'good' angels seek at all times, to direct us towards the true source of happiness, God; that they encourage us in [[Christian worship|worship of God]].{{sfn|Klein|2018|p=61}} === Pseudo-Dionysian hierarchy === {{Main|De Coelesti Hierarchia}} {{Further|Hierarchy of angels}} <!--The main topic of this article is NOT the Pseudo-Dyonisius' hierarchy; the scope of this article is very broad. Therefore, do NOT turn this Pseudo-Dyonisius section into the main focus of the article, and do NOT expand this section too much. The article [[De Coelesti Hierarchia]] is there if you want to extensively work on the Pseudo-Dyonisius' hierarchy.--> According to [[Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite]]'s ''[[De Coelesti Hierarchia]]'' (''On the Celestial Hierarchy''), there are three levels ("sphere") of angels, inside each of which there are three orders. Various works of [[Christian theology]] have devised [[Hierarchy of angels|hierarchies of angelic beings]]. The most influential Christian angelic hierarchy was put forward around the turn of the 6th century CE by Pseudo-Dionysius in his work ''De Coelesti Hierarchia''. He claimed to be an important figure who was converted by [[Paul the Apostle]], and the Pseudo-Dionysius enjoyed greater influence than he would have if he had used his actual name, until [[Erasmus]] publicised doubts about the age of the work in the early 16th century.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy |publisher=Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University |year=2019 |chapter=Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite |chapter-url=https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pseudo-dionysius-areopagite/#DioPer}}</ref> === Catholic Church === According to the ''[[Catechism of the Catholic Church]]'' (CCC) paragraph 328, "the existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that [[Catholic Bible|Sacred Scripture]] usually calls 'angels' is [[Dogma in the Catholic Church|a truth of faith]]. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of [[Sacred tradition|Tradition]]."<ref>{{cite web |title=Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraph 5. Heaven and Earth |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P1A.HTM |accessdate=March 4, 2022 |publisher=vatican.va}}</ref> The same [[catechism]] states: "The whole life of the church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of the angels [...] From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bordwell |first1=David |title=Catechism of the Catholic Church |author2=the Vatican |date=2002 |publisher=Continuum International Publishing |isbn=0-86012-324-3 |page=78 Β§Β§334β335 |ref={{sfnref|Catechism of the Catholic Church}}}} </ref> It also states, "Christ is the center of the angelic world. They are ''His'' angels [...] They belong to Him because they were created through and for Him".{{sfn|Catechism of the Catholic Church|loc=Β§331}} === The New Church (Swedenborgianism) === The [[The New Church (Swedenborgian)|New Church]] denominations that arose from the writings of theologian [[Emanuel Swedenborg]] have distinct ideas about angels and the spiritual world in which they dwell. Adherents believe that all angels are in human form with a spiritual body, and are not just minds without form.<ref>Swedenborg, Emanuel. ''Heaven and Hell'', 1758. Rotch Edition (revised). New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1907, in ''The Divine Revelation of the New Jerusalem'' (2012), n. 74.</ref> There are different orders of angels according to the three heavens,<ref>''Arcana Coelestia'', n. 459.</ref> and each angel dwells in one of innumerable societies of angels. Such a society of angels can appear as one angel as a whole.<ref>''Heaven and Hell'', n. 51β53.</ref> All angels originate from the human race, and there is not one angel in heaven who first did not live in a material body.<ref>''Heaven and Hell'', n. 311</ref> Moreover, all children who die not only enter heaven but eventually become angels.<ref>''Heaven and Hell'', n. 416</ref> The life of angels is that of usefulness, and their functions are so many that they cannot be enumerated. However each angel will enter a service according to the use that they had performed in their earthly life.<ref>''Heaven and Hell'', n. 387β393.</ref> Names of angels, such as Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, signify a particular angelic function rather than an individual being.<ref>Swedenborg, Emanuel. ''Heavenly Arcana'' (or ''Arcana Coelestia''), 1749β58 (AC). Rotch Edition (revised). New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1907, in ''The Divine Revelation of the New Jerusalem'' (2012), n. 8192.3.</ref> While living in one's body an individual has conjunction with heaven through the angels,<ref>''Heaven and Hell'', n. 291β298.</ref> and with each person, there are at least two evil spirits and two angels.<ref>''Arcana Coelestia'', n. 50, 697, 968.</ref> Temptation or pains of conscience originates from a conflict between evil spirits and angels.<ref>''Arcana Coelestia'', n. 227.</ref> Due to man's sinful nature it is dangerous to have open direct communication with angels<ref>''Arcana Coelestia'', n. 784.2.</ref> and they can only be seen when one's spiritual sight has been opened.<ref>''Heaven and Hell'', n. 76.</ref> Thus from moment to moment angels attempt to lead each person to what is good tacitly using the person's own thoughts.<ref>''Arcana Coelestia'', n. 5992.3.</ref> === Latter Day Saint movement === [[File:Engel Moroni Bern Tempel.JPG|thumb|160px|Temple statue of the [[Angel Moroni]], [[Bern]], Switzerland]] The [[Latter Day Saint movement]] views angels as the messengers of God. They are sent to mankind to deliver messages, minister to humanity, teach doctrines of salvation, call mankind to repentance, give [[priesthood (LDS Church)|priesthood]] keys, save individuals in perilous times, and guide humankind.<ref name="Mormon Doctrine">"God's messengers, those individuals whom he sends (often from his personal presence in the eternal worlds), to deliver his messages ({{bibleverse||Luke|1:11β38|KJV}}); to minister to his children ({{bibleverse||Acts|10:1β8|KJV}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|10:30β32|KJV}}); to teach them the doctrines of salvation (Mosiah 3); to call them to repentance (Moro. 7:31); to give them priesthood and keys (D.&C. 13; 128:20β21); to save them in perilous circumstances ({{bibleverse||Nehemiah|3:29β31|KJV}}; {{bibleverse||Daniel|6:22|KJV}}); to guide them in the performance of his work ({{bibleverse||Genesis|24:7|KJV}}); to gather his elect in the last days ({{bibleverse||Matthew|24:31|KJV}}); to perform all needful things relative to his work (Moro. 7:29β33)βsuch messengers are called angels.".</ref> Latter Day Saints believe that angels either are the spirits of humans who are deceased or who [[Pre-existence#Mormonism|have yet to be born]], or are humans who have been [[resurrection|resurrected]] or [[translation (Mormonism)|translated]] and have physical bodies of flesh and bones.<ref name="LDS-BD">{{cite web |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bd/angels |title=LDS Bible Dictionary-Angels |publisher=Scriptures.lds.org |date=21 February 2012 |access-date=30 July 2012 |archive-date=12 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312104407/https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bd/angels?lang=eng |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Joseph Smith]] taught that "there are no angels who minister to this earth but those that do belong or have belonged to it."<ref>[[Doctrine and Covenants]] [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/130.4-5?lang=eng 130:4β5] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220173654/https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/130.4-5?lang=eng |date=20 December 2019 }}.</ref> As such, Latter Day Saints also believe that [[Adam and Eve (LDS Church)|Adam]], the first man, was and is now the archangel [[Michael (archangel)|Michael]],<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-6-the-fall-of-adam-and-eve The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] "Chapter 6: The Fall of Adam and Eve", ''[[Gospel Principles]]'' (Salt Lake City, Utah: LDS Church, 2011) pp. 26β30.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/107.54?lang=eng |title=D&C 107:54 |publisher=Scriptures.lds.org |date=21 February 2012 |access-date=30 July 2012 |archive-date=21 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221174956/https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/107.54?lang=eng |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[[Mark E. Petersen]], [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1980/11/adam-the-archangel "Adam, the Archangel"], ''[[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]]'', November 1980.</ref> and that [[Gabriel]] lived on the earth as [[Noah]].<ref name="LDS-BD" /> Likewise the [[Angel Moroni]] first lived in a [[Nephite|pre-Columbian American civilization]] as the 5th-century prophet-warrior named [[Moroni (Book of Mormon prophet)|Moroni]]. Smith described his first angelic encounter in the following manner: {{blockquote|While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor. He had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness. It was a whiteness beyond anything earthly I had ever seen; nor do I believe that any earthly thing could be made to appear so exceedingly white and brilliant ... Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was glorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like lightning. The room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around his person. When I first looked upon him, I was afraid; but the fear soon left me.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1.31-33?lang=eng |title=Joseph SmithβHistory 1:30β33 |publisher=Scriptures.lds.org |date=21 February 2012 |access-date=30 July 2012 |archive-date=20 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620144846/https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1.31-33?lang=eng |url-status=live }}</ref>}} Most angelic visitations in the early Latter Day Saint movement were witnessed by Smith and [[Oliver Cowdery]], who both said (prior to the establishment of the church in 1830) they had been visited by the prophet [[angel Moroni|Moroni]], [[John the Baptist]], and the apostles [[Saint Peter|Peter]], [[James, son of Zebedee|James]], and [[John the Apostle|John]]. Later, after the dedication of the [[Kirtland Temple]], Smith and Cowdery said they had been visited by [[Jesus]], and subsequently by [[Moses]], Elias, and [[Elijah]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/110?lang=eng |title=D&C 110 |publisher=Scriptures.lds.org |date=21 February 2012 |access-date=30 July 2012 |archive-date=28 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728064542/https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/110?lang=eng |url-status=live }}</ref> Others who said they received a visit by an angel include the other two of the [[Three Witnesses]]: [[David Whitmer]] and [[Martin Harris (Latter Day Saints)|Martin Harris]]. Many other Latter Day Saints, both in the early and modern church, have said they had seen angels, although Smith posited that, except in extenuating circumstances such as the [[Restoration (Latter Day Saints)|restoration]], mortals teach mortals, spirits teach spirits, and resurrected beings teach other resurrected beings.<ref>[[Robert J. Matthews]], [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1989/12/the-fulness-of-times "The Fulness of Times"], ''[[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]]'', December 1989.</ref>
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