Angel

An **angel** is a celestial being created by God. The angels were the first beings made by God, and they serve him. There are many different types of angels and ranks of angels, each with their own specific tasks. The angels dwell alongside God in the city of light Empyrean in Heaven, but they often come to Paradise.

## History

Before God created Earth, humankind and the animals of Earth, he made the angels, who lived with him within Heaven, in the city of Empyrean. The highest regarded angel was the archangel, a rank that include Michael and formerly Lucifer. The angels were created as immortal beings.

When Lucifer began to nurture narcissistic thoughts of himself, he birthed evil, which was made possible by the existence of free will. Lucifer became jealous of God and his power, and when God finally made the humans, and declared that the angels should serve them, Lucifer became enraged, because he believed the humans were below the angels, for they were divine creatures, and humans were only mortals. Lucifer gathered followers among the angels, who came to think like him, and they rebelled against God. In a mighty battle between Lucifer's and God's angel army, the latter of which was led by Michael, Lucifer and his followers were defeated and then cast down towards Earth, and into a place below the ground that would later become Hell. From this comes the term "fallen angel." The fallen angels became devils and demons, and Lucifer became their king, the Devil.

### Angels become mortal

Several thousands of years ago Jehovah decided to make all beings within Heaven, as well as the saved humans in Paradise, mortal, and Death made it so. Thus, angels are no longer immortal beinge. The saved and the angels, however, seem to age much slower or live there for eons, as evidenced by the angel of death of the tenth plague of Egypt being alive, as well as Adam and Eve and Jesus' family.

## Anatomy

Angels resemble humans, but they have a pair of enormous, white swan wings sprouting out from their shoulder blades which they use to fly with and which they can fold together like a real swan. As an angel ages, their wings turn gray, such as with Michael whose wings were white in the past but became gray in his old age.

## Angel ranks

There exists different types of angels eah with their own task.
In Judaism and Christianity people have attempted to create hierachies for the different types that shows how important and closest to God different angels are. Normally the archangels are deemed one of the creator's most trusted, and it is also an archangel, Michael, who leads God's angel army.

### Types of angels

In this section is a list of the types of angels that have appeared in *The Great Devil War*.

#### Archangel

*Main article: Archangel*
Archangels are angels of the highest rank.

#### Cherub

*Main article: Cherub*
Cherubim (singular cherub) are angels that guard the Garden of Eden.

In Abrahamic religions cherubim are non-earthly beings who tend directly to God. The numerous depictions of cherubim give them many different roles, including guarding the entrance to the Garden of Eden. This role for the cherubim originate in Judaism. In the Jewish angel hierachy the cherubim has the ninth (second lowest) rank in Maimonides' Mishneh Torsk (12th century), and the third rank in the kabbalistic works like Berit Menuchah (14th century). *De Coelesti Hierarchia* places them at the highest rank, along with the seraphim and thrones.

In the *Book of Ezekiel* and (at least some) Christians icons, cherubim are depicted with two pairs of wings and four faces: that of a lion (representsation of all wild animals), an ox (striking animals), a human (humanity) and an eagle (birds). Their legs are straight, the soles of the feet like a bull's hoofs and glittering like polished brass. Later, they have been attributed with a wide variety of physical appearances. Sole earlierneorle in Mdrashic literature consider them incorporeal. In Western Christianity, cherubim are traditionally associated with *putto* (derived from classical Amor/Eros/Cupid), which has lead to depictions of small, chubby winged boys.

In Islam cherubim are the angels closest to God. Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall noted Rūḥ as one of the noblest among the cherubim. Others are Bearers of the Throne or the archangels. In Ismailism it is thought that there are seven cherubim, very similar to the Seven Archangels.

## Appearances

### *The Great Devil War*

* *The Devil's Apprentice* (mentioned)
* *The Die of Death* (mentioned)
* *The Wrongful Death*
* *The Angel of Evil*

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Kenneth B. Andersen. *The Wrongful Death*. Høst & Søn, October 19, 2018 (English print-on-demand paperback) (Original Danish version published April 30, 2009 by Høst & Søn)
2. ↑ Kenneth B. Andersen. *The Die of Death*. Høst & Søn, October 19, 2018 (English print-on-demand paperback). Høst & Søn, October 11 2018 (English e-book). (Original Danish version published August 31, 2007 by Høst & Søn)
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Kenneth B. Andersen. *The Angel of Evil*. (Publication House) October 20, 2019. (Original Danish version published April 29, 2010 by Høst & Søn)
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Kenneth B. Andersen. *The Fallen Devil*. (Publication House) Month #, 2020. (Original Danish version published September 16, 2016 by Høst & Søn)
5. ↑ Kenneth B. Andersen. *The Fallen Angel*. (Publication House) Month #, 2020. (Original Danish version published September 15, 2015 by Høst & Søn)