“Angels are not cute, cuddly, comfortable, chummy, or “cool”. They are fearsome and formidable. They are huge. They are warriors.” — Angels by Peter Kreeft I think our modern culture has done a real disservice to Angels. Tell me, when you think of Angels do you hear tinkling chimes, think of puffy clouds and picture naked babies with wings? Do you cringe, puff up your chest and say “I’m a man —man! I can’t talk about Angels!”? Or maybe you think of new age fairs or even Victoria Secret models (o.k. maybe you men would want to talk about those Angels). Similar to how the Rosary has been defamed by celebrities and gangs, Angels have gone from being an army of God complete with…
Learning, Cracking and Sharing The Mysteries of Catholicism
Posts tagged “Angel”
Is the Pope Catholic? Yes. Do angels have wings? Uh… not so much. This is a bubble bursting moment: some angels look like intersecting wheels with eyes! What!? Talk about feeling watched! Angels are so much more than those little Putti! May I dare to say they are… bad-ass? Because they are, especially Throne Angels, the third choir of angels! I couldn’t find a picture that represented this quality well enough so I went ahead and created the one you see above. In my head I hear the whaa, whoosh, whaa, woosh of it spinning. Something like the sound of a Star War’s lightsaber as it cuts through space. According to the bible, Thrones can move in any direction without turning. Maybe that is what the eyes are for? Or Are they symbolic or even all-seeing?
These Angelic Princes are often also called “Ofanim, Wheels or Galgallin.” It is said that they were the actual wheels of the Lord’s Heavenly Chariot (Merkabah). “The four wheels had rims and they had spokes, and their rims were full of eyes round about.” They are also frequently referred to as “many-eyed ones.”
Rosemary Gulley (1996: p. 37) states that:
The ‘thrones’; also known as ‘ophanim’ (offanim) and ‘galgallin’, are creatures that function as the actual chariots of God driven by the cherubs. They are characterized by peace and submission; God rests upon them. Thrones are depicted as great wheels containing many eyes, and reside in the area of the cosmos where material form begins to take shape. They chant glorias to God and remain forever in his presence. They mete out divine justice and maintain the cosmic harmony of all universal laws.[1]
Thrones in the Bible:
Colossians 1:16
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.
Ezekiels Vision of Ophanim/Thrones
Ezekiel 1:15
15 Now as I looked at the living beings, behold, there was one wheel on the earth beside the living beings, for each of the four of them. 16 The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was like sparkling beryl, and all four of them had the same form, their appearance and workmanship being as if one wheel were within another. 17 Whenever they moved, they moved in any of their four directions without turning as they moved. 18 As for their rims they were lofty and awesome, and the rims of all four of them were full of eyes round about. 19 Whenever the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them. And whenever the living beings rose from the earth, the wheels rose also. 20 Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction. And the wheels rose close beside them; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. 21 Whenever those went, these went; and whenever those stood still, these stood still. And whenever those rose from the earth, the wheels rose close beside them; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.
Daniel 7:9
“I kept looking
Until thrones were set up,
And the Ancient of Days took His seat;
His vesture was like white snow
And the hair of His head like pure wool.
His throne was [h]ablaze with flames,
Its wheels were a burning fire.
I recently posted, “Reality Bites – Let’s Believe in Angels!” where I promised more posts on angels. Well get ready because here they come! This is a typical example of how I forage. I have a question, like “What are the nine choirs of angels?” , I spend hours researching it and now thanks to this blog I can share my results! I try to use reputable references and since this is from a Catholic perspective, they are usually from Catholic sources. And I have tried to link whenever possible so you can read more. Here I am starting with a general explanation, then in upcoming posts, will delve into each separate choir of angels. I hope you find this information as interesting and…
